THOUSANDS VISIT KERRVILLE CROSS IN 2022
6X CITY POPULATION VISITS CROSS
CROSS DRAWS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO KERRVILLE
Six times the population of Kerrville visited its spiritual art park during 2022, according to a digital vehicle counter at The Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden. An estimated 150,965 people climbed the hill overlooking the city last year to enjoy the garden. On average, 414 people a day visited the site, many from other states and countries. Most were drawn by the unique, seven story “The Empty Cross” sculpture, which is visible for miles from IH-10. Many were pleasantly surprised to find a free, 24.5-acre, landscaped garden filled with a dozen monumental sculptures. The world-class outdoor art, worth over 2.5 million dollars, was donated by three professional, Christian artists, Beverly Paddleford, David Broussard and Max Greiner, Jr.
On the last day of 2022, garden founder, artist/architect/evangelist, Max Greiner, Jr. went to the park to observe the crowds. During his 30-minute visit, the garden was packed with people. Most of the parking spaces were filled. Dozens of motorcycles, owned by members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association from San Antonio, were parked side by side, at the entrance steps to the 300’ cross-shaped garden.
2021 had an estimated 171,987 guests, 471 people a day. In 2020, despite the Covid-19 Pandemic, an estimated 141,431 pilgrims came to the garden, 388 per day on average. In July of 2022, Trip Advisor, the leading tourism website in the world, designated Kerrville’s garden in the top 10% of all tourist attractions worldwide.
The Coming King Foundation (TCKF) expects even larger crowds in 2023 and 2024 because two rare eclipses have been predicted by scientists. Kerrville will be one of the best places on earth to witness both eclipses, one lunar and one solar. The TCKF Office and the Kerrville Convention & Visitors Bureau are already receiving calls from people planning trips. The bureau says it is possible that hundreds of thousands of tourists will descend on the area for the October 14, 2023, and April 8, 2024 astronomical events.
Debbye Meszaros, Executive Director of The Coming King Foundation, who is coordinating with the Kerrville Convention& Visitors Bureau said: “We welcome everyone to witness these signs and wonders in the heavens, from the top of God’s garden! TCKF will be creating special gift packages for eclipse watchers. The 24.5-acre park will be one of the best places in our area to view the heavenly events, due to our 1,930’ elevation.”
In addition to the monumental outdoor art on permanent display at the Sculpture Prayer Garden, there are 77 Bible scriptures carved in stone in three languages, waterfalls, walking trails, picnic areas, native Texas plants, world-class landscaping and a 400’ long Prayer Path. A myriad of Prayer Rocks have been left along the Prayer Path by visitors from around the world, proclaiming their praises and petitions to God. This Kerrville attraction is similar to the Western Wall in Jerusalem because thousands of notes are left for God. Kerrville happens to be at the same latitude as Israel. It is similar in appearance too because of the rolling hills, vegetation and limestone rocks. Some visitors even
refer to the Kerrville spiritual garden as the “Jerusalem of Texas.”
Back in 2001, Kerrville residents, Max Greiner, Jr. and his wife Sherry, believe they were called by God to build beautiful, free, spiritual art gardens across the USA and world to connect people to Jesus Christ. The first, prototype “Covenant Certified” garden was built by TCKF, a non-profit, 501c3 organization in Kerrville. The unique art park was dedicated on September 13, 2015. The controversial 77’7”, Cor-ten steel cross sculpture was raised in July of 2010. Hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world have visited Kerrville to experience the presence and power of the God of the Bible.