The Ark Encounter Welcomes Guests

Ark Encounter Welcomes Guests

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The Ark Encounter, a life-size version of Noah’s Ark in northern Kentucky, welcomed more than 8,300 VIP guests and 150 media representatives one day prior to the grand opening to the public on July 7.

Located on 800 acres of land in Williamstown, Ky., south of Cincinnati, the Christian theme park has a full-sized wooden replica of the ship from the Biblical story about Noah and the flood.

The park was built according to the biblical dimensions in Genesis 6; it stands seven stories high and is 510 feet in length. It is the largest freestanding, timber-frame structure in the world.

This massive project is the vision of Ken Ham, founder, president and CEO of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum located in northern Kentucky.

“In a world that is becoming increasingly secularized and biased, it’s time for Christians to do something of this size and this magnitude,” says Ham.

An independent feasibility study by America’s Research Group estimates that between 1.4 million and 2.2 million individuals will visit within the first year.

“I believe you’re going to find all sorts of people from all walks of life with all sorts of religious backgrounds who are going to come here,” says Ham. “And even if they don’t share our biblical view, they can’t help but be impressed by the structure, craftsmanship and by the attention to detail of the world-class exhibits inside. And who knows? Maybe they’ll be challenged to even talk about the Bible.”

In addition to the full scale Noah’s Ark with three decks of world-class exhibits, the theme park also features the Ararat Ridge Zoo, daily animal shows, zip lines, live entertainment, a 1,500-seat themed restaurant and fair-trade shopping.

To accommodate the crowds expected within the first few weeks, the Ark will welcome visitors within the first 40 days and nights from 9 a.m. to midnight, after which hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.