Dinosaur Adventure Land

Dinosaur Adventure Land was a creationist amusement park in Pensacola, Florida, constructed in Kent Hovind's backyard in 2001. The park's theme is "Where dinosaurs and the Bible meet!" A fine institute of higher learning, Pensacola Christian College, can be found down the street.

DAL's adventure-filled logo.
The divine comedy
Creationism
Running gags
Jokes aside
Blooper reel
v - t - e
“”Dinosaur Adventure Land is a theme park and science museum that gives God the glory for His creation. It has rides and fun-filled events and activities, each involving a physical challenge, a science lesson, and a biblical truth.

Learn about dinosaurs, principles of science, and even how to make a paper airplane that can fly over 300 feet! Handle our real, live creaturesFile:Wikipedia's W.svg and take the Leap of Faith swing. Enjoyable and educational for all ages, it is specifically targeted for kids under a million years of age! Be prepared to be challenged to think and to follow the Lord in the way God the Creator has planned for you. If you do not know your Creator, we will be overjoyed to introduce you to Him.

Our funny and experienced guides will lead your family or group on the tour, declaring the works of the Lord and the words of the Lord.

DAL is not an amusement park, for "amuse" means “to not think,” and we want people to think. Rather, it is an amazement park. Come and stand amazed at the truths of the Creator and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.
—About Dinosaur Adventure Land[1]

Controversy

Building permit

Before going to jail under multiple counts of tax fraud and evasion, Kent Hovind first ran afoul of the local authorities by refusing to get permits for his creation themed park Dinosaur Adventure Land, which he built in his back yard.

Hovind was charged on September 13, 2002, for failure to observe county zoning regulations with respect to Dinosaur Adventure Land.[2] The Circuit court ruled the Hovinds in contempt of court, and the park's buildings were locked up.

Eventually Hovind pled nolo contendere (no contest) to various charges and was ordered to pay fines.[3] In June 2006, Hovind estimates he spent $40,000 in legal expenses on this case—all to evade a $50 permit fee.

Hovind's was a prominent example of several movements in extreme evangelical circles that attempt to deny the state's right to exert any authority on holdings of the church or church members. Building permits are a popular focus for groups to fight against.

Seizure

On account of Kent Hovind doing structured bank withdrawals to avoid reporting, in July of 2009 the US District Court ruled that the IRS may seize Dinosaur Adventure Land to pay for fines and the bank withdrawals associated with his structuring conviction.[4] The IRS set the seizure date for the 15th of September 2009.[5] Hovind's son Eric managed to raise the $380,000 and said that the government has agreed to let him purchase the seized property back.[6] However, the government came back and offered the property for purchase at the "fair market value" of $971,000. Without enough funds raised it is unclear what the current plans are for either the park or the nearly $400,000 raised that will not go towards what it was raised for.

gollark: Or just demonstrate that both are divisible by 63.
gollark: My calculator agrees.
gollark: Especially since malloc and sorting are so general.
gollark: I assume many people get that with the glory of *my* code, but in general.
gollark: Does anyone else do a thing where they see a cool library or algorithm and immediately want to integrate it in their projects regardless of the sanity of doing so?

See also

References
  1. About DAL at dinosauradventureland.com (archived).
    Dinosaur Adventure Land is a theme park and science museum that gives God the glory for His creation. It has rides and fun-filled events and activities, each involving a physical challenge, a science lesson, and a biblical truth.
  2. Martinez, Greg. A Journey to Hovind's Dinosaur Adventure Land. Skeptical Inquirer. November 2004.
  3. Escambia County Florida Clerk of the Circuit Court Courtviewer Records Search of Kent Hovind
  4. Judge clears way for dinosaur park to be seized at http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/.
    A ruling by U.S. District Judge Casey Rodgers states that the nine properties that make up Dinosaur Adventure Land as well as two bank accounts associated with the park will be used to satisfy $430,400 owed to the federal government.
  5. WND — Feds set to seize Dinosaur Adventure Land.
  6. WND — 'Dr. Dino' allowed to buy back seized property.
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