Jump to content

Ark Encounter: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Line 64: Line 64:


Governor Beshear favored the incentives, stating "The people of Kentucky didn't elect me governor to debate religion," Beshear said. "They elected me governor to create jobs. That's what we're doing here, and that's what we're going to continue to do."<ref name=arkannounce /> He added, "There's nothing even remotely unconstitutional about a for-profit organization coming in and investing $150 million to create jobs in Kentucky and bring tourism to Kentucky."<ref name=arkannounce /> Responding to an [[Freedom of information in the United States|open records]] request by the ''Lexington Herald-Leader'', Beshear's office later admitted it had not seen the feasibility study cited in its press release, and an administration representative said that the state tourism department would have to conduct its own study in order for the park to be eligible for the incentives.<ref name=feasibility /> The state-commissioned study by Hunden Strategic Partners and paid for by Ark Encounter, LLC, projected that the park would draw nearly 1.4 million visitors a year, but could require the state to widen the Interstate 75 interchange at Williamstown, at an additional cost to the state of about $11 million.<ref name="Hansel">{{cite news |last=Hansel |first=Mark |date=June 11, 2011 |title=Ark park could break ground in August |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/article/20110610/NEWS0103/106110327/Ark-park-could-break-ground-August |work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer|cincinnati.com]] |location=Tysons Corner, VA |publisher=[[Gannett Company]] |accessdate=2012-12-10}}</ref> <ref name="alford1">{{cite news |last=Alford |first=Roger |date=May 20, 2011 |url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/briefs/x202034968/Noah-s-Ark-theme-park-gets-go-ahead-in-Kentucky |title=Noah's Ark theme park gets go-ahead in Kentucky |newspaper=[[The Herald-Dispatch]] |location=Huntington, WV |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=2014-10-07}}</ref> In May 2011, the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority voted unanimously to grant incentives of up to $43.1 million to Ark Encounter, LLC. for the project, by then projected to cost $172 million.<ref name="Hansel" /><ref name="alford1" /> In an editorial in late December 2010, ''[[The Courier-Journal]]'' questioned the potential cost to the state government of the project, including highway upgrades and the likelihood that increases to [[hospitality industry]] infrastructure would seek further subsidies.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=A costly modern Ark |url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20101229/OPINION01/312290053 |newspaper=[[The Courier-Journal]] |type=Editorial |location=Tysons Corner, VA |publisher=Gannett Company |date=December 28, 2010 |accessdate=2014-10-08}}</ref>
Governor Beshear favored the incentives, stating "The people of Kentucky didn't elect me governor to debate religion," Beshear said. "They elected me governor to create jobs. That's what we're doing here, and that's what we're going to continue to do."<ref name=arkannounce /> He added, "There's nothing even remotely unconstitutional about a for-profit organization coming in and investing $150 million to create jobs in Kentucky and bring tourism to Kentucky."<ref name=arkannounce /> Responding to an [[Freedom of information in the United States|open records]] request by the ''Lexington Herald-Leader'', Beshear's office later admitted it had not seen the feasibility study cited in its press release, and an administration representative said that the state tourism department would have to conduct its own study in order for the park to be eligible for the incentives.<ref name=feasibility /> The state-commissioned study by Hunden Strategic Partners and paid for by Ark Encounter, LLC, projected that the park would draw nearly 1.4 million visitors a year, but could require the state to widen the Interstate 75 interchange at Williamstown, at an additional cost to the state of about $11 million.<ref name="Hansel">{{cite news |last=Hansel |first=Mark |date=June 11, 2011 |title=Ark park could break ground in August |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/article/20110610/NEWS0103/106110327/Ark-park-could-break-ground-August |work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer|cincinnati.com]] |location=Tysons Corner, VA |publisher=[[Gannett Company]] |accessdate=2012-12-10}}</ref> <ref name="alford1">{{cite news |last=Alford |first=Roger |date=May 20, 2011 |url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/briefs/x202034968/Noah-s-Ark-theme-park-gets-go-ahead-in-Kentucky |title=Noah's Ark theme park gets go-ahead in Kentucky |newspaper=[[The Herald-Dispatch]] |location=Huntington, WV |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=2014-10-07}}</ref> In May 2011, the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority voted unanimously to grant incentives of up to $43.1 million to Ark Encounter, LLC. for the project, by then projected to cost $172 million.<ref name="Hansel" /><ref name="alford1" /> In an editorial in late December 2010, ''[[The Courier-Journal]]'' questioned the potential cost to the state government of the project, including highway upgrades and the likelihood that increases to [[hospitality industry]] infrastructure would seek further subsidies.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=A costly modern Ark |url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20101229/OPINION01/312290053 |newspaper=[[The Courier-Journal]] |type=Editorial |location=Tysons Corner, VA |publisher=Gannett Company |date=December 28, 2010 |accessdate=2014-10-08}}</ref>

On April 25, 2016, the Tourism Development Finance Authority of Kentucky approved the tourism tax incentives worth up to $18 million.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Loftus | first1=Tom | title=Ark Park Tax Incentives Worth Up to $18M Approved | url=http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/ky-governor/2016/04/26/ark-park-tax-incentives-worth-up-18m-approved/83540204/ | date=April 26, 2016 | publisher=''[[Courier-Journal]]'' | accessdate=April 27, 2016}}</ref>


===Hiring practices===
===Hiring practices===

Revision as of 19:12, 27 April 2016

Ark Encounter
LocationGrant County, Kentucky
StatusUnder construction
OpensJuly 7, 2016 (2016-07-07)
OwnerAnswers in Genesis
ThemeNoah's Ark
Operating seasonYear-round
Websitehttps://www.arkencounter.com/

Ark Encounter is a planned Christian theme park scheduled to open in Grant County, Kentucky on July 7, 2016. The centerpiece of the park will be a full-scale replica of Noah's Ark. Ark Encounter will be operated by Answers in Genesis, the Christian apologetics ministry that operates the Creation Museum.

At 510 feet long, and 81 feet high, the Ark Encounter is the largest timber frame structure in the world.[1][2][3]

Planning

On December 1, 2010, Answers in Genesis (AiG) and Ark Encounter, LLC announced a project to build a theme park called Ark Encounter that would "lend credence to the biblical account of a catastrophic flood and to dispel doubts that Noah could have fit two of every kind of animal onto a 500-foot-long ark".[4] The first phase of the park's construction will include a full-scale interpretation of Noah's Ark and a petting zoo.[5] Plans for subsequent phases include replicas of an ancient walled city, a first-century Middle Eastern village, and the Tower of Babel; an aviary; and a 500-seat special effects theater.[5] AiG and Ark Encounter, LLC projected that the fully completed park would cost $150 million, which they intended to raise privately.[6]

According to a feasibility study commissioned by Ark Encounter, LLC and conducted by the American Research Group, the park could employ 900 people and attract as many as 1.6 million visitors in its first year of operation.[7] It was projected to generate a $214 million economic impact for the region.[4] A press release from Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear's office noted public interest in Noah's Ark, citing a CBS News survey released in November 2009 indicating that 49 percent of respondents were most interested in the ark being the next major archaeological discovery to be announced, ahead of Atlantis with 17 percent.[8]

The announcement said the ministry had considered sites across the nation and favored an 800-acre (3.2 km2) parcel near Interstate 75 in Grant County, Kentucky, near the city of Williamsburg.[4] The site is about 45 miles (72 km) from AiG's Creation Museum.[9] Government entities at the state, county, and city levels offered incentives to attract the park. Under a program enacted by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2010, Ark Encounter investors applied for economic development incentives that would allow them to recoup 25 percent of the project's construction costs by keeping a portion of the park's sales taxes during its first ten years of operation.[10] Receipt of the incentives would be contingent upon Ark Encounter meeting established performance goals upon opening.[7] In August 2011, the city of Williamstown granted the Ark Encounter site a 75 percent property tax discount for 30 years.[11] The Grant County Industrial Development Authority paid Ark Encounter, LLC $195,000 to compensate the corporation for the fact that word of their interest in building the attraction in Grant County had leaked early, causing land prices to double in the area.[12] Further, the Grant County Fiscal Court discounted the sale price of 100 acres (0.40 km2) of the site to influence the final selection.[12]

Citing the proffered incentives, Ark Encounter, LLC made the Grant County site their final selection and scheduled groundbreaking for August 2011.[13] The group was unable to finalize the purchase of the entire site until February 2012.[14] At that time, AiG announced the decision to construct the park in phases – with the ark as the initial phase – saying it had raised only $5 million of the $24 million needed to begin construction.[15] In July 2012, AiG announced construction would start in 2014.[16]

On May 1, 2014, the Creation Museum hosted a special Ark Encounter event called the "Hammer and Peg Ceremony" in the Legacy Hall of the Creation Museum. The private ceremony celebrated the launching of the ark project. Attendees included several leaders of the ark project along with state and local officials.[17] Funding is in place for the Ark Encounter construction to begin. Funding for the project was spurred on by the Bill Nye–Ken Ham debate.[18] The Troyer Group, the construction management team, will begin the bidding process for different facets of the project.[19]

Design and construction

Cary Summers, who headed Herschend Family Entertainment from 1992 to 1998, was hired as the lead consultant for the Ark Encounter.[10] Patrick Marsh, who helped design exhibits for the Creation Museum and previously designed attractions for Universal Studios Florida, was also part of the planning and design team.[20]

Although AiG researchers identified 12 different possible lengths for the biblical cubit, they chose to use a length of 20.1 inches (51 cm); this produced plans for an ark measuring 550 feet (170 m) long, 85 feet (26 m) wide, and 51 feet (16 m) high.[21] The ark was constructed by Amish builders using timber framing and wooden pegs.[9] AiG vice-president Mike Zovath said that the original designs would have produced a seaworthy ark, but the infrastructure and amenities needed to make it a working tourist attraction meant the finished product would not be capable of floating.[21] The Ark Encounter is the largest timber frame structure in the world.[1]

In May 2015, a blog was posted to the Ark Encounter website, announcing "wood to arrive all summer".[22] According to this post, construction continues on the project, with over a million board feet to be delivered throughout the summer of 2015.

The park's structures and infrastructure were constructed using environmentally friendly Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified methods, including geothermal heating, rainwater capture, active and passive solar heating.[23]

On November 12, 2015, AiG announced that Ark Encounter would open on July 7, 2016, a date (7/7) chosen to correspond with Genesis 7:7: "And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood."[24]

Controversies

Tax incentives

"If a church or a religious organization sought the same incentives for the same purpose, there would be clear reason to object on constitutional grounds. Ark Encounters [sic] is a private company seeking to make a profit off of a biblical theme. As such, it seems as entitled to apply for incentives from promised profits as any other private, for-profit company in Kentucky."[25]

Lexington Herald-Leader editorial board

Organizations concerned with the separation of church and state were divided on the question of providing tax incentives for the Ark Encounter. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State opined that "The government should not be giving tax incentives for religious projects. Religion should be supported by voluntary donations, not the government."[4] A staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky countered that "Courts have found that giving such tax exemptions on a nondiscriminatory basis does not violate the establishment clause, even when the tax exemption goes to a religious purpose."[4] Edwin Kagin of American Atheists agreed, saying, "The legislation is so drafted that they will give this incentive to any organization that is going to increase tourism in Kentucky, and there's no question whatsoever that this group will."[20] The editorial board of the Lexington Herald-Leader wrote that "If a church or a religious organization sought the same incentives for the same purpose, there would be clear reason to object on constitutional grounds. Ark Encounters [sic] is a private company seeking to make a profit off of a biblical theme. As such, it seems as entitled to apply for incentives from promised profits as any other private, for-profit company in Kentucky."[25] Still, the board was critical of using the incentives to attract low-paying jobs and to facilitate construction of an attraction it characterized as hostile "to science, knowledge and education", which could be off-putting to "the kind of employers that will provide good-paying jobs with a future".[25]

Governor Beshear favored the incentives, stating "The people of Kentucky didn't elect me governor to debate religion," Beshear said. "They elected me governor to create jobs. That's what we're doing here, and that's what we're going to continue to do."[4] He added, "There's nothing even remotely unconstitutional about a for-profit organization coming in and investing $150 million to create jobs in Kentucky and bring tourism to Kentucky."[4] Responding to an open records request by the Lexington Herald-Leader, Beshear's office later admitted it had not seen the feasibility study cited in its press release, and an administration representative said that the state tourism department would have to conduct its own study in order for the park to be eligible for the incentives.[7] The state-commissioned study by Hunden Strategic Partners and paid for by Ark Encounter, LLC, projected that the park would draw nearly 1.4 million visitors a year, but could require the state to widen the Interstate 75 interchange at Williamstown, at an additional cost to the state of about $11 million.[13] [26] In May 2011, the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority voted unanimously to grant incentives of up to $43.1 million to Ark Encounter, LLC. for the project, by then projected to cost $172 million.[13][26] In an editorial in late December 2010, The Courier-Journal questioned the potential cost to the state government of the project, including highway upgrades and the likelihood that increases to hospitality industry infrastructure would seek further subsidies.[27]

On April 25, 2016, the Tourism Development Finance Authority of Kentucky approved the tourism tax incentives worth up to $18 million.[28]

Hiring practices

In December 2014, the Kentucky tourism secretary announced that up to $18 million in tax rebates to Answers in Genesis, supporting the development of the Ark Encounter, that had received preliminary approval in July would be withdrawn, because the facility was to be used for religious indoctrination instead of as a tourist attraction, and because of complaints of hiring discrimination.[29] In response to the Kentucky tourism secretary withdrawing the tourism incentives, Ark Encounter LLC, the developer of the attraction, filed a religious discrimination lawsuit in February 2015. In the lawsuit, entitled Ark Encounter LLC et al. vs. Bob Stewart et al., Ark Encounter alleges the state of Kentucky violated the group's First Amendment free speech rights by denying an $18 million tax incentive.[30]

University of Kentucky law professor Scott Bauries said the religious freedom law allows the plaintiffs to argue that the state discriminated against them "[b]ecause the state of Kentucky seeks to hold them to a higher standard than what the ordinary anti-discrimination laws would hold them to—and because it doesn't seek to do that with any non-religious employers—that it's discriminating against them based on their religion." Under federal and state anti-discrimination laws, religious employers are allowed to hire "coreligionists" if doing so furthers the religious purpose of the organization.[31]

On January 25, 2016, Federal Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky ruled in favor of AiG, ruling that Kentucky officials violated builders' First Amendment protections, and ordering the state to commence processing the application for the tax rebate incentives that would become available once the Ark Encounter opens.[32][33]

References

  1. ^ a b Demeropolis, Tom (October 7, 2015). "Will the Ark Encounter Rain $4 Billion On the Region's Economy?". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved April 27, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "Building A Life-Sized Noah's Ark". coloradotimberframe.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "About The Ark". arkencounter.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Alford, Roger (December 3, 2010). "Full-scale replica of Noah's Ark planned in Kentucky". USA Today. The Associated Press News Service. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "From the Makers of the Creation Museum Comes 'Ark Encounter,' a Noah's Ark Theme Park". National Religious Broadcasters. November 14, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  6. ^ "Plans announced for 'Noah's Ark' attraction in NKY". WISTV. November 30, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Blackford, Linda B. (December 18, 2010). "State cited feasibility study it hadn't seen on Ark park". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  8. ^ Murphy, Tim (December 1, 2010). "Kentucky Offers Tax Breaks for Noah's Ark Theme Park". Mother Jones. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Goodstein, Laurie (December 6, 2010). "Tourist Attraction a New Noah's Ark for Kentuckians". Houston Chronicle.
  10. ^ a b Hopkins, Shawntaye (December 2, 2010). "Beshear defends use of tax incentives". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  11. ^ "Noah's Ark project gets property tax break". The Associated Press State Wire. August 9, 2011.
  12. ^ a b Blackford, Linda B. (August 9, 2011). "Ark park gets 75 percent property tax cut over 30 years". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  13. ^ a b c Hansel, Mark (June 11, 2011). "Ark park could break ground in August". cincinnati.com. Tysons Corner, VA: Gannett Company. Retrieved 2012-12-10.
  14. ^ Lovan, Dylan T. (February 16, 2012). "Ky. Noah's Ark attraction gets final piece of land". Associated Press.
  15. ^ Hansel, Mark (February 17, 2012). "Funding forces change in Ark park plans". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky.
  16. ^ Goodwin, Liz (July 5, 2012). "The Creation Museum evolves: Hoping to add a life-size ark project, the museum hits fundraising trouble". The Lookout (Blog). Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  17. ^ "Ark Encounter: Behind the Scenes—Pegs and Beams". Ark Encounter. Hebron, KY: Answers in Genesis. May 16, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  18. ^ Hannah, Jim (February 27, 2014). "Bill Nye debate spurs Noah's Ark park funding". cincinnati.com. Tysons Corner, VA: Gannett Company. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  19. ^ "Contractors". Ark Encounter. Hebron, KY: Answers in Genesis. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  20. ^ a b Lovan, Dylan T. (August 17, 2011). "New Noah's Ark in Ky. aims to prove truth of Bible". Associated Press.
  21. ^ a b "Hope floats: Builders of life-size Noah's Ark put faith in $50 million tourism project". USA Today. November 19, 2012.
  22. ^ "Wood to Arrive All Summer". Ark Encounter.
  23. ^ Kennicott, Philip (January 5, 2011). "Noah's Ark replica shows conservative Christians are embracing green building". Washington Post. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  24. ^ Pilcher, James (November 12, 2015). "Answers in Genesis' Ark Encounter announces opening date". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  25. ^ a b c "Embracing the Ark Incentives mean cheap jobs, poor state image". Lexington Herald-Leader. December 3, 2010.
  26. ^ a b Alford, Roger (May 20, 2011). "Noah's Ark theme park gets go-ahead in Kentucky". The Herald-Dispatch. Huntington, WV. Associated Press. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  27. ^ "A costly modern Ark". The Courier-Journal (Editorial). Tysons Corner, VA: Gannett Company. December 28, 2010. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
  28. ^ Loftus, Tom (April 26, 2016). "Ark Park Tax Incentives Worth Up to $18M Approved". Courier-Journal. Retrieved April 27, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ Associated Press (December 11, 2014). "Tax Breaks Are Withdrawn For Park That's Site of a New Noah's Ark". The New York Times.
  30. ^ "Lawsuit filed against Kentucky over denied Ark Encounter tax incentives". WLWT. 5 February 2015.
  31. ^ Ryland Barton. "Ark Project Using Kentucky's Religious Freedom Law to Sue State". weku.fm.
  32. ^ Lovan, Dylan (January 25, 2016). "Ark Encounter Builder Wins Legal Battle Over Tax Incentive". WPCO.com. Retrieved February 1, 2016. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  33. ^ Caproni, Erin (January 26, 2016). "Judge Rules on Ark Encounter Incentives". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved February 1, 2016. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

Category:Grant County, Kentucky

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ark_Encounter&oldid=717445557"