Preview offers a glimpse inside AiG’s Ark Encounter in Williamstown; attraction opens Thursday

By Mark Hansel
NkyTribune managing editor

A crowd of more than 7,000 visitors, including 150 members of the media, got a sneak preview of the Ark Encounter in Williamstown Tuesday.

The full-sized replica of Noah’s Ark officially opens Thursday in this Grant County town of about 4,000 residents, located 45 minutes south of Cincinnati.

AiG president Ken Ham greets visitors at the Ark Encounter preview and ribbon-cutting Tuesday

Answers in Genesis (AiG), the Apologetics ministry that developed the Creation Museum in Boone County, built the massive structure.

AiG president and co-founder Ken Ham said the Ark will embolden Christians to express their faith publicly.

“It’s going to challenge non-Christians too, as they come here, and cause them to think about the Bible and that’s really what we want to happen,” Ham said. “We want people from all walks of life and all religions to come and see the Ark.”

The $100 million first phase of the Ark Encounter also features the Ararat Ridge Zoo, which includes a petting zoo, a zipline, a 1,500 seat restaurant and a gift store underneath the Ark.

The massive 510-foot ark dwarfs visitors waiting in line for a view of the interior (photos by Mark Hansel).

Ham said the Ark was designed as a family attraction that has something for everyone and he is surprised when he is asked if homosexuals, people of other faiths, or even atheists are welcome at the attraction.

“Of course, we want everyone to come here,” Ham said. “They don’t have to believe what we believe, that’s up to them, but we want them to see the message of Christianity. That’s why we built this.”

While everyone will be welcome when the Ark officially opens, most of those in attendance Tuesday were invited guests who supported the Ark in one way or another.

Brandon Collaso and his parents traveled all the way from Apple Valley, California to get an Ark he made in woodshop signed by AiG leaders.

Brandon Collaso, 19, traveled from California to get a replica of the Ark he made in wood shop signed by AiG leaders.

I have been corresponding with them for a few years and I just wanted to come and see it for myself, Collaso, 19, said. “It’s just really exciting. The sheer size of the Ark and all of the exhibits inside are fascinating.”

The Ark Structure is billed as the largest free-standing timber-frame building in the world. It was built to Biblical proportions using the Hebrew long cubit of about 20.4 inches. It is 510-feet long, 85-feet wide and 51 feet high.

The distance from ground level to the top of the bow is 104 feet.

A total of 132 exhibit bays display the story of Noah and a depiction of life on the Ark at the time of the flood.

When the Ark was announced in 2010, there were plenty of doubters. Some said the attraction should not be entitled to state incentives provided for other tourist attractions because of its Christian theme. Others doubted whether AiG could raise the funds needed to finance the project.

An Ark Encounter display shows Noah releasing a dove to determine if flood waters had receded.

Ham sees a comparison to Noah and the criticism he received when he built the Ark.

“On Thursday, when the Ark opens to the public, to make it even more authentic, the atheists are going to be protesting out front,” Ham said. “We’re going to have our own live stalkers on July 7.”

AiG believes the Earth is only about 6,000 years old and that dinosaurs and man coexisted at the time of Christ.

The Ark Encounter is consistent with that belief and dinosaur-like creatures are included in some of the exhibit bays.

This episode of the Northern Kentucky Tribune/KET program, Inside Northern Kentucky provides information about how the exhibits were created and the animal kinds for the Ark Encounter were chosen.

With the opening date looming, AiG leaders are eager to finally show off the Ark, but there have been plenty of bumps along the way.

The attraction was originally designed to include 11 exhibits that would be built all at once and would open in 2014.

The economic challenges associated with building a themed attraction of that scale, however, convinced developers to build the Ark Encounter in phases. The opening date for Phase I was also delayed as funds were raised to complete the project.

The issue of eligibility for economic incentives, in the form of sales tax rebates, was not resolved until January of this year when a federal judge ruled in favor of AiG.

The incentives could total more than $18 million if certain benchmarks are achieved.

Independent findings from America’s Research Group, a private consultant contracted by AiG projects up to 2.2 million visitors in the first year. The economic impact is estimated at 4 billion over the first 10 years, which includes the creation of 20,000 jobs, most of which will be outside of the attraction.

While those numbers might seem optimistic, America’s Research Group also set the projections for the Creation Museum, which has met or exceeded its benchmarks since opening in 2007.

For the Ark Encounter website, which includes drone video, photos and ticketing options, click here.

Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com