I'm Goin' to Praiseland

I'm Goin' to Praiseland is the nineteenth episode of Season 12. It originally aired on May 6, 2001. The episode was written by Julie Thacker and directed by Chuck Sheetz. Shawn Colvin guest stars as Rachel Jordan.

Synopsis
When he can stop thinking of her and to help him stop living in the past, Ned gets the Simpson family to help remove all the reminders of Maude he has around the house. Only one item misses getting thrown into the chipper, a sketchbook that contains Maude's vision of a Christian amusement park called "Praiseland." Ned goes on a quest to build this amusement park, which, opens to lackluster reviews; describe as the "height of tedium". When suddenly a miracle occurs, as a Maude mask floats in front of the Maude statue. It is quickly discovered that anyone who stands in front of the statue has visions. Is it truly a miracle, or just the passing of gas?

Plot
At an ice cream social at the church, Ned Flanders bumps into Rachel Jordan (from the episode "Alone Again, Natura-Diddly"). He invites her to spend the night at his place (with him sleeping on the couch), claiming to have gotten over Maude's death. Once there, she notices that he has a lot of photos of Maude, and he insists that she doesn't sleep on Maude's indentation in the bed. During the night he changes Rachel’s hair to look like Maude's; she screams and leaves, which causes Ned to realize that he hasn't gotten over Maude at all.

The next day the Simpsons volunteer to sort all of Maude's things while Ned is at the eye doctor. Homer brings over a shredder to help "sort" things faster. When Ned returns they have sorted everything of Maude's, and her face on their wedding photo has been replaced with Homers. Bart then finds Maude's sketchbook that apparently didn't get "sorted". Ned flips through and finds a sketch of a Praiseland amusement park that was Maude's last wish. Ned decides to fulfill Maude’s dream, and so he buys the old Storytown Village from the Rich Texan.

After weeks of work, it's finally time for the grand opening of Praiseland. The park features a ride that reads you all of the psalms of David, a Noah's Ark Gummi (flavored plain), and a statue of Maude with the phrase "She taught us the joy of shame and the shame of joy". Sadly (yet unsurprisingly), the amusement park is a flop.

Just as everyone is about to leave, a Maude mask floats up in front of the face of the statue. After this phenomenon ends Principal Skinner tries to argue it away, only to fall on the floor and speak in tongues. He then stands up to say that he had a vision of heaven. Praiseland becomes immensely popular as people pay to see "Miracle Maude". Ned then finds out that there is a leak in the gas line, and that instead of miracles, people are just getting goofy off the gas. Ned contacts a gas supplier about the leak, hearing that it is poisonous and permanent. He worries that someone could get hurt by it although Homer denies it as the park had rich people mingle with poor, bullies sharing bread with nerds and orphans putting lit candles near the statue. The latter which alarms them as the lit candles would ignite the leak and cause a gas explosion that would kill them all. Homer and Ned stop the orphans by lunging on them. Although the leak had not been ignited and that the visitors are unaware of it, the visitors are outraged by the two supposedly attacking orphans and leave. This prompts Ned to close down Praiseland forever.

Ned runs into Rachel again, who is wearing a wig after the hair incident. They then go back to Ned's house where they make the bed, erasing Maude's indentation.