Tag: MWM

Long Forgotten Christian-themed Amusement Park

Heritage USA

In Monochrome

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness is a non-themed week; my own theme this week is surrounded by photos I’ve recently digitized about Heritage USA. To make viewing easier, I have made a slideshow of the monochrome photos in the beginning and ending with the original photos from my dad’s slides.

Heritage USA was a Christian -themed  amusement park opened in 1978 by televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, founders of The PTL Club. At its peak, it was the third-largest park in the USA behind Disney World and Disney Land, with almost 6 million visitors annually.

In the late 1980’s, Heritage USA was rocked by two debilitating scandals all while they were in the middle of a massive expansion. The organization had its tax-exempt status revoked after Jim Bakker was indicted on various federal fraud charges. Later he was accused of sexual improprieties with an encounter with a church secretary.

To add to the problems Heritage USA was experiencing, the park was heavily damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, it shut down for good shortly after.

In this present day and age, only a few remnants of the park are still visible. The abandoned 21-story Heritage USA Hotel stands as an eerie and empty shell looming over the suburban landscape. The Upper Room Chapel was purchased sometime after the park’s closing and is maintained as a prayer room for a local ministry. The Heritage Grand Hotel is now the Heritage International Ministries Conference Center. 

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit: ©️1980 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.

Location: Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA 

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Monochrome Madness #10: People

Throwback to 1974/5

Aboard the Queen Mary

I have been reminiscing about the good old days as I go thru processing my dad’s old slides into a digital format. These are from 1974 and 1975 when we toured the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.

Here I am looking out over the ships railing into the parking lot waiting for everyone to climb aboard.

Other people are milling about conversing with one another as they wait for the tour to proceed.

Let’s take a gander over yonder at the Pacific Ocean . Isn’t it amazing how vast and beautiful the views are watching the ripples in the ocean waters.

Hey look, there’s a father and son looking out over towards Long Beach.

What do you know? Seems somebody took a photo of my mom and dad.

Mom & Dad
Color Pop

Are you ready? The tour is over and people are waiting for us to disembark.

Queen Mary

Thank you for joining us on our tour of the Queen Mary.

Monochrome Madness #10-People

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit:©️1974-5 Nornal H. Waters (my dad) … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Minolta XG-7 35mm

Location: Aboard the Queen Mary; Long Beach, California, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Contrasting B/W and Colorful Windows Squared

Hotel del Coronado

Good Day! Be sure to click on each photo for larger viewing.

The Hotel Del Coronado has been a living legend for more than One Hundred Thirty (130) years. It has proudly hosted U.S. Presidents, movie stars, celebrities, and royalty as well as many beach loving guests (tourists and locals) for many many decades of generations throughout history.

With Non-Squared

B/W & Color Windows

The Hotel del Coronado was built in 1888 after much dreaming, planning, and inspiration of its founders Elisha Babcock and Hampton Story. Babcock and Story enlisted a local San Diego developer, Alonzo Horton to help them survey Coronado beach in 1886. The natural beauty of Coronado inspired the founders to buy the island and build the magnificent hotel.

Babcock and Story created the Coronado Beach Company and then proceeded to establish several enterprises to support and develop the Coronado Community. Those enterprises included a ferry company, a water company, a railroad company, and an electrical power plant.

Construction began on the hotel in 1887 with approximately 250 men working the construction crew. It was built entirely wood using many different types from across the United States. The lumber used included Douglas Fir for framing, California Redwood for its exterior siding; hemlock and cedar was also made available for use. The Hotel’s lobby featured Illinois White Oak while the Crown Room ceiling was done with Oregon’s Sugar Pine. Each type of lumber was selected for their unique qualities to enhance the hotel’s beauty and ensure its longevity.

Coronado Island and The Hotel del Coronado are wonderful places to visit. The beautiful landscape, the beautiful ocean views, the stunning elegance of the hotel are sites to behold and experience. I have to admit I have never stayed in the hotel (too rich for my blood), however I have visited and walked along the beach with friends. A truly wonderful experience for sure and for certain.

Monochrome Madness-Windows

Ludwig’s Monday Window

Photo Credit:©️2024 Amanda Waters Beagles (my niece) … All Rights Reserved.

Location: Hotel del Coronado; Coronado, California, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 CWWC: March 28 —Any Which Way

Which Ways in Monochrome

For this week I’ve dug into my archives for various selections of which way to travel.

First, let’s make a stop in Raleigh, North Carolina where I attended Ancestry Day hosted by The Friends of the Archives in conjunction with the State Archives of North Carolina, the Government and Heritage Library, and the North Carolina Genealogical Society.

McKimmon Center
and nearby trail
Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
November 2015

Next, we’ll head over to Lenoir, North Carolina for a Watson/Greer/Trivette family reunion at the Yadkin Valley Community Park.

Greer/Watson/Trivette Family Reunion Yadkin Valley Community Park
Lenoir, North Carolina, USA
June 2016

Then we’ll spend some time in Jacksonville, North Carolina where one of my sons ( my 2nd born, David) was stationed while serving in the United States Marines. While there for the weekend my eldest son, John and I visited the Lejeune Memorial Gardens.

Lejeune Memorial Gardens
Jacksonville, North Carolina, USA
February 2017

Finally, let’s take another drive. This time let’s drive to Columbia, South Carolina before returning home for some quiet time of rest and relaxation. In Columbia I am joined by my daughter, Trisha and her daughter, Alona. We decided to visit the Riverbanks Zoo to see the animals. We enjoyed the short train ride around a small portion of the Zoo.

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Columbia, South Carolina, USA
August 2017

Cee’s Which Way Challenge – 03.28

God Bless. Thank you for visiting with us in our memory travels and for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Black Bears + on Display

Bears in the Museum

American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
The Kermode bear,
sometimes called the spirit bear
(Ursus americanus kermodei),
is a subspecies of
the American black bear.
Coleman
Exploring the
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness #1: The Letter B

MWM

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S 55-250mm lens

Location: North American Exhibits; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

2024 MWM: Pier Battered by High Surf

B/W
Ocean Beach Pier

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

MWM

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts., I appreciate y’all.

2023 MWM: Early Log House

Early Log House
Catawba Indian Village
Schiele Museum of Natural History
Gastonia, North Carolina

A Look Inside an Early Log House:

Sleeping Area
Eating Area

Hand Woven Basket
Fireplace
Wooden Chair and Table
Hand Woven Baskets on Floor

Outside an Early Log House:

Coleman Looking Inside the Door
Coleman thinking about Shutting the Door

Weakened by diseases. broken treaties , and the loss of tribal lands to European settlers, many Catawba people moved westward into the North Carolina Mountains where they were greatly influenced by their Cherokee neighbors, This cabin known as a Log House (ca. 1860) contains European-style fumiture, crockery, and other items that reflect the time period. It reflects the continued assimilation of the Catawba People into European settler culture and is similar to many 19th century homes found in non-native seftlements of the mountains and piedmont.

These photos of an Early Log House and its contents are examples of how the Catawba Indians lived and how European culture influenced their everyday existence.

Leannes Monochrome Madness

Mid-Week Monochrome

Thursday Doors

Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters

Camera: iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Catawba Village; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate y’all.

Y Thursday Trios

🐝 Three 🐝 Beehives 🐝
Three Pull-up Bars
Trio of
Eastern Sensitive-Briar
(Mimosa microphylla)
Trio of Flags
waving in the breeze

Thursday Trios

Leannes Monochrome Madness

Mid-Week Monochrome

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i and iPhone 14 Pro Max

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

LAPC #235: Shadows and Reflections in Monochrome

Trees & Human Shadows
on the Trail
Reflections & Shadows
in & Along the Creek
Shadows on Land &
Reflections in the Water
Shadows:
Coleman & Alona combined shadow
Shadows of Trees

Lens-Artist challenge

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
Bren’s Mid-Week Monochrome #122

Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters

Shot on Canon Rebel T3i Lens: Canon 18-55mm; Altura Super Macro with Altura Fisheye

Copyright: ©️2023@gfpacificbeeinteospection.com … All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.

MWM #119: SD Harbor

San Diego Harbor
PhotoCredit: Valerie Williams Jenkins

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
Bren’s Mid-Week Monochrome

God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.

Mid-Week Monochrome #118: Grandfather’s Military Service

My maternal grandfather served in the U. S. Army during World War I. These are photographs of his service in the military. I treasure the photos as there are a link to a slim part of our family history.

U. S. Army Battalion
World War I
The ship
my grandfather
was on when he returned
from the War in France 🇫🇷.
My Maternal Grandfather,
Harvey Martin Watson
U.S. Army
World War I

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness
Bren’s Mid-Week Monochrome #118

God Bless. Thank you for sharing my memories. I appreciate y’all.

Midweek Monochrome #120 – Coleman’s Christmas

Coleman
Coleman’s new Flag shirt
Coleman

MWM #119 – A Child’s Perspective

Taken by
Coleman,
my 3 year old
grandson
Coleman
coloring
on a
whiteboard
Coleman’s
Artwork
Learning
to
grip
It
Hand
Gripping

Photo Credit:

1st photo: ©️Coleman Gouveia (my 3 yr old grandson). All others: ©️2022@gfpacificbeeintrospection.com

Posted as part of Mid-Week Monochrome. Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness photography challenge.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.

Mid-Week Monochrome #117: Around a Campground

Fire 🔥 Pit
Andrew Jackson
State Park
Lancaster, South Carolina
AJSP
Shelter 2
Pathway
to the
Lake
Canoes 🛶
at the
Lake
Anyone
for a
game of
Horseshoes?

Photo Credit: ©️2022@gfoacificbeeintrispection.com

Posted as part of Mid-Week Monochrome. Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness photography challenge.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting. I appreciate y’all.

CMMC: Alphabet T at the middle or end of a Word – November Challenge

Twisted Trees
along the Trail
Baxter Community
Center Association
Posted on a Tree
along the Trail
Slightly Tilted
and Twisted Trees
from a
Slanted View
Cactus Plant
spotted
while Hiking

Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge (CMMC)

Mid-Week Monochrome

Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness photography challenge

God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.

Pull Up A Seat – Riverwalk Seating

Coleman
on a
bench
Group
seating
How
about
a
picnic?
Coleman
sitting
on a
rock 🪨
Take a
breather
– Pull
Up A
Seat

Posted as part of Kate’s Pull Up A Seat Challenge and Brashley’s Mid-Week Monochrome Challenge.

God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.

Mid-Week Monochrome # 108: 10/05 – Power-lines Amongst Cloudy Skies

Power-lines
I
See
While
Watching
the
Airplane
Amongst
Cloudy
Skies

God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all. #MWM #Mid-WeekMonochrome

Mid-Week Monochrome: #106 – 9/22/2022

Greenway monochrome shots: Tracks, Tables, Tree Shrooms.

Railroad Tracks
Campsite Table/Stand
Built by Ian Burke
2021 Eagle Scout
Troop 422
Picnic Tables
Tree Shrooms

God Bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.

Mid-Week Monochrome: #103


Main Hospital Soldiers Home
Dayton, Ohio

This is actually one of my maternal grandfather’s photos I inherited after his passing when I was 12. It is very precious to me. On the back of the photo, he wrote what the name of the place. My maternal grandfather, Harvey Martin Watson, stayed on the fifth floor of the building on the right side of the photo. While he was there he received treatment for a wound he received during World War I. I not only gained a photo, but a piece of his history as well. That in itself means a great deal to me. It is extremely precious and definitely appreciated.

God bless. Thank you! I appreciate y’all.