ARK Encounter is a gigantic replica of Noah’s Ark, measuring 510 feet long and over 50 feet tall – with a price tag of $100 million.
The creationist museum in a Kentucky theme park took two years to build and is home to models of dinosaurs, biblical unicorns and mythical lion-cats.
The replica of Noah’s Ark is supposed to be ‘life-size’ based on measurements in the Bible
GettyThe Ark Encounter theme park in Williamstown, Kentucky is home to the giant structure[/caption]
GettyVisitors wander around one of its many decks (inside the ark)[/caption]
Ark EncounterA model inside designed to represent biblical life before Noah’s Ark[/caption]
Ark EncounterThe ark is over 500 feet long and seven stories high[/caption]
A mural claiming to explain the ‘true’ history of the world
The ark is part of a theme park in Kentucky built by American creationists that sees over a million tourists traipse through each year.
Over 100 bays nestled inside the enormous ark include models of animals, Noah’s workshop and other replicas of what museum creators believe was onboard.
The measurements of the enormous replica are based on “cubits”, a unit of size in the Bible that creationists have converted into modern terms.
The makers think that animals on board were ancestors of what we know today – so models on the ark include a cat-type beast with a head like a lion and a rhino-like animal with no horn.
Dinosaurs are commonplace, as the Christian group behind it – Answers in Genesis – think they lived at the same time as humans.
It stands seven stories high with three decks of exhibits and a petting zoo of live animals can be found on the grounds of the park outside the ark.
The ark, which is the largest oak-frame structure in the world, is supposed to be “life-sized”.
According to the website it is a true-to-size replica of Noah’s ark, which, if the story is to be believed, was built over 4,300 years ago.
It apparently saved thousands of animals from a biblical flood which lasted a year.
The first section of the Ark Encounter is supposed to represent a pre-flood world and includes models of battles between man and dinosaur, human sacrifices and people being mauled by sharks.
As visitors move through they are then greeted by signs explaining more about the religious sentiment behind the museum.
The story of Noah and his family is used to explain Christian morality beliefs in a modern day context – like for waste disposal.
Makers of the museum wanted to create a sort of Christian Disney-land to attract atheists and agnostics as well, but considering the overestimated ticket sales and strong content – that may not be the case.
A day ticket for an adult is just under £50, or $60, and for those between age 11 and 17 its £23.
Further rooms show how Noah and his family lived, and an exhibit on cute animals is actually about evil.
One exhibit called The Noah Interview has an actor playing Noah being interviewed by a mean British journalist from his local paper.
There’s even a graphic novel exhibit about university students questioning their faith.
And an enormous wall-covering mural explains the “true history of the world”.
Ken Ham, Ark Encounter CEO, told NPR: “We built it as a reminder, a reminder in regard to God’s word and the account of Noah and the flood.”
The park is in Kentucky, near a town of only 4,000 people.
Early estimates by Ham put footfall to the park at two million a year, but it hasn’t always lived up to that.
Between summer 2017 and 2018, only 860,000 tickets were sold.
The park has also been a point of controversy over the years.
The group behind its creation, Answers in Genesis, were given an $18 million tax break, according to the Guardian.
Then reports emerged that the group were only hiring Christian staff and the tax break was revoked, but after suing, they won their case.
In 2016 it also came out that they were asking staff to outwardly condemn same-sex marriage and pre-marital sex, even requesting that they sign a pledge.
Ken Ham said at the time: “If you’re a religious organisation, you can have a religious preference in hiring. It makes sense. I can’t think of Planned Parenthood employing someone like me.”
GettyTourists explore the enormous ark[/caption]
GettyPeople walk around the ark near signs on the wall about the Bible[/caption]
Ark EncounterA display inside the ark replica[/caption]
GettyAn exhibit of model animals is displayed inside[/caption]
GettyA family view an exhibit inside the Noah’s Ark replica[/caption]