Why These ‘Abandoned’ Presidential Heads Are Just Sitting in a Virginia Field

CROAKER, Va. -- They were supposed to be an attraction that drew history buffs and Williamsburg tourists to Presidents Park near Water Country USA. But, the giant busts that depicted the presidents of the United States never did draw the crowds that their creators (and investors) had hoped.

That is one reason why, in 2010, Presidents Park closed six years after it opened. But what would become of the giant heads of Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy, Reagan and the others?  They wound up in a field in nearby Croaker, Virginia.

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“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” ‭‭(Romans‬ ‭13:1‬) ____________________________________________________________ President's busts from the (closed) Presidents Park in Williamsburg. Currently located on a private farm. These sculptures stand about fifteen to twenty feet tall and are being preserved by Williamsburg's Howard Hankins. If you're interested in helping support their restoration please visit the Williamsburg Presidential Museum Project at https://m.facebook.com/presidentsinwilliamsburg/ Photograph by © @abandonedearth 2016 #AbandonedEarth

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Instead of watching the presidential busts go boom, construction company owner Howard Hankins convinced their owners to let him move the heads to his land. The process was recently detailed in a Smithsonian Magazine article.

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“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” ‭‭(Acts‬ ‭5:29‬) ____________________________________________________________ "It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors." -George Washington ____________________________________________________________ "What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ." -George Washington ____________________________________________________________ 🇺🇸20' tall Presidents busts from the old Presidents Park in Virginia. Photograph by © @abandonedearth

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There the busts sit as money is raised in an effort to once again make the heads the centerpiece of a Virginia tourist attraction.

"We are currently raising money for a new Presidential Museum and Park in Williamsburg. This museum will create a total experience of the many facets of the US Presidents, their lives, daily operations, history and more," the Williamsburg Presidential Museum Project posted on Facebook. "This project will benefit Williamsburg, the state of Va and the people that visit. Plans include a new facility with exhibits featuring an Oval office, Presidential transportation, The White House, First ladies, a secret service and covert ops area and other Presidential documents and memorabilia."

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“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” ‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭61:1‬) _______________________________________________________ "The will of God prevails. In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be, wrong. God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time. In the present civil war it is quite possible that God's purpose is something different from the purpose of either party - and yet the human instrumentalities, working just as they do, are of the best adaptation to effect His purpose." -Abraham Lincoln _______________________________________________________ 🇺🇸President Abraham Lincoln’s bust from the (closed) Presidents Park in Williamsburg. Sculpted by artist David Adickes, weighs from 7,500 to 9,000 pounds. Learn about the Williamsburg Presidential Museum Project at www.facebook.com/presidentsinwilliamsburg/ Photograph by © @abandonedearth

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“And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.” ‭‭(1 Samuel‬ ‭17:8-10) ____________________________________________________ President busts from the (closed) Presidents Park in Virginia. They stand fifteen to twenty feet in height and are being preserved by Williamsburg's Howard Hankins. For more information please visit the Williamsburg Presidential Museum Project at https://m.facebook.com/presidentsinwilliamsburg/ or see link in bio. Photograph by © @abandonedearth 2016 #AbandonedEarth

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The Facebook post also detailed some of the history behind the park.

It started in 2004 when Hankins built The Presidents Park for Haley Newman across from Water Country USA in Williamsburg. The park failed in 2010 and Hankins was contracted to remove and dispose of the 20 ft presidential busts. He saved them and many other items from the park instead of destroying them.

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“When I left Springfield, I asked the people to pray for me, I was not a Christian. When I came to Washington, I was not a Christian. When my beloved son Willie died, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg, and there looked over those thousands of white crosses, I then and there consecrated my heart to Christ. Yes, I do love Jesus.” -Abraham Lincoln. __________________________________________________ “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” ‭‭(Romans‬ ‭10:9‬) __________________________________________________ Photograph ©@abandonedearth On Assignment #JesusChrist

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Photographer David Ogden took the photos of the presidential busts for his abandonedearth Instagram account.

"[The thing that] really stood out was just how alive they felt when I first saw them," Ogden said. "Another was being among them at night was actually the opposite of spooky, there was this peace to them all."

The heads are on private property and not part of an active tourist attraction.