There's free admission on Thursday to Christian theme park

The Holy Land Experience, the Christian-themed attraction near Interstate 4 in Orlando, will hold its annual free-admission day on Thursday, a perk for visitors that lets the park keep its tax-exempt status as a religious organization.

The park is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and with a capacity of about 2,000 people, it has filled up by early afternoon in recent years on its free day.

Normally, Holy Land admission is $50. Visitors between 5 and 17 pay $35, and 4 and younger are free.

The park opened in 2001 with a $16 million recreation of first century Israel. When Trinity Broadcasting Network bought the park in 2007, it gave it a total makeover.

But recent years have seen a decline in revenues.

In 2016, the Holy Land Experience sold off scores of items such as a near life-size Nativity scene amid declining contributions. IRS documents show that in 2014, the attraction had anywhere from $1.9 million to $2.5 million in contributions. By contrast, it had $42 million in contributions in 2010, according to the Associated Press.

But the free day actually saves the Holy Land Experience money.

It comes from a four-year legal fight concerning unpaid property taxes that the Orange County Property Appraiser said was owed. State lawmakers settled the matter in 2006 by granting a tax exemption as a religious display, similar to the one used by museums that present historical information. The law requires the park to offer an annual free admissions day.

While Holy Land announced its free day in advance this year, the park has been criticized in the past for not clearly publicizing it or announcing it only a few days before.

The attraction boasts the largest indoor replica in the world of the city of Jerusalem, as well as daily shows and experiences such as the Roman Soldier Training Camp for kids and a daily recreation of the resurrection of Lazarus.

A new production called "The Empire and the Kingdom" opened this month in the 2,000-seat, state-of-the-art Church of All Nations. It tells the story of Peter on his journey to Rome to encourage the faith of the believers.

For more information, go to holylandexperience.com.

Contact Sharon Kennedy Wynne at swynne@tampabay.com. Follow @SharonKWn.