Over the last several days I have read more about Noah’s Ark than ever before thanks to all the publicity given the venture following a press conference announcing a group’s plans to build a full scale replica of Noah’s Ark in Kentucky. Rather than take a build an ark and tourists will come approach, the ark will serve as a main attraction in a theme park slated to open in the spring of 2014. The rest of the theme park will be constructed at an estimated cost of $125 million by a private for profit LLC. The ark itself will be provided for at the cost of $24.5 million by the non-profit group Answers in Genesis, which has already launched a fundraising campaign to raise the needed capital.
According to the Ark Encounter’s fast facts page, the theme park’s nine attractions will be:
- The Walled City: Along with plenty of shopping and food, guests experience Bible events through various themed venues situated on 40 acres.
- The Ark: A full-size wooden Ark.
- Noah’s Animals: Live shows with animals from around the world, and a large petting zoo.
- Children’s Play Area: A highly themed, interactive environment where kids can explore and play.
- The Tower of Babel: A 100-foot-tall themed building with exhibits and a 500-seat 5-D special effects theater
- Journey Through History: This themed attraction takes visitors on a trip through events of the Bible, experiencing spectacular special effects.
- The First-Century Village: This attractive area presents a town as it might have appeared in the Middle East.
- Aviary: three bird sanctuaries presented in a natural setting, plus a nearby butterfly exhibit.
- Special Events Area: A venue for large gatherings; this area will also showcase some of the Leader in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building techniques used to build the Ark complex.
To connect with the Ark Encounter, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, watch them on YouTube, or browse their website.
So What?
The stated goals for the Ark Encounter by those most involved include:
- If the project meets the expectations of its investors it will “create about 900 permanent jobs and have a $214 million economic impact in its first year of operation.”
- Mike Zovath, co-founder of the Answers in Genesis, estimates it will “draw some 1.6 million visitors a year.”
Interestingly, Answers in Genesis, which now proclaims it is the “world’s largest apologetics organization” may have the most to gain. Many visitors to the Ark Encounter will also likely visit Answers in Genesis’ nearby Creation Museum, which features a “state-of-the-art 70,000 square foot museum (that) brings the pages of the Bible to life, casting its characters and animals in dynamic form and placing them in familiar settings” and welcomes over 1 million visitors a year since opening in 2007.