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Coordinates: 38°37′20″N 84°35′32″W / 38.622240°N 84.592282°W / 38.622240; -84.592282
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The ''[[Daily Mail]]'' called the Ark Encounter "one of the largest green construction projects in the [U.S.]"<ref name=buildit>{{cite news |last=Parry |first=Hannah |title=If you build it, will they come? Huge $100m life-size Noah's Ark (complete with baby dinosaurs aboard) prepares to open as Kentucky’s newest tourist attraction |newspaper=The Daily Mail |date=June 27, 2016 |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3663211/If-build-come-Huge-100m-life-size-Noah-s-Ark-complete-baby-dinosaurs-aboard-prepares-finally-open-Kentucky-s-newest-tourist-attraction.html |accessdate=June 29, 2016}}</ref> The park's structures and infrastructure were constructed using environmentally friendly [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design]] (LEED) certified methods, including [[geothermal heating]], [[Rainwater harvesting|rainwater capture]], [[active solar|active]] and [[passive solar]] heating.<ref name=leed>{{cite news |last=Kennicott |first=Philip |title=Noah's Ark replica shows conservative Christians are embracing green building |newspaper=Washington Post |date=January 5, 2011 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/05/AR2011010505477.html |accessdate=April 21, 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' wrote that the decision to use such techniques was exemplary of "a fundamental shift in how religiously conservative Christians think of two basic biblical ideas: dominion and stewardship".<ref name=leed /> Construction crews began clearing timber from the site late in 2012 in order to remove the [[Carya ovata|shagbark hickory]] trees before the endangered [[Indiana bat]]s migrated to the area to nest in them.<ref name=timber>{{cite news |title=Timber! Grant's Ark Park is a go |newspaper=The Messenger |location=Madisonville, Kentucky |date=January 31, 2013}}</ref> Much of the wood used to build the Ark Encounter was sourced from renewable forests or trees infested by beetles.<ref name=mustsee>{{cite web |title=5 Must-See New Architecture Projects For 2016 |publisher=The Urban Developer |date=January 19, 2016 |url=http://www.theurbandeveloper.com/5-must-see-new-architecture-projects-2016/ |accessdate=June 8, 2016}}</ref>
The ''[[Daily Mail]]'' called the Ark Encounter "one of the largest green construction projects in the [U.S.]"<ref name=buildit>{{cite news |last=Parry |first=Hannah |title=If you build it, will they come? Huge $100m life-size Noah's Ark (complete with baby dinosaurs aboard) prepares to open as Kentucky’s newest tourist attraction |newspaper=The Daily Mail |date=June 27, 2016 |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3663211/If-build-come-Huge-100m-life-size-Noah-s-Ark-complete-baby-dinosaurs-aboard-prepares-finally-open-Kentucky-s-newest-tourist-attraction.html |accessdate=June 29, 2016}}</ref> The park's structures and infrastructure were constructed using environmentally friendly [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design]] (LEED) certified methods, including [[geothermal heating]], [[Rainwater harvesting|rainwater capture]], [[active solar|active]] and [[passive solar]] heating.<ref name=leed>{{cite news |last=Kennicott |first=Philip |title=Noah's Ark replica shows conservative Christians are embracing green building |newspaper=Washington Post |date=January 5, 2011 |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/05/AR2011010505477.html |accessdate=April 21, 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' wrote that the decision to use such techniques was exemplary of "a fundamental shift in how religiously conservative Christians think of two basic biblical ideas: dominion and stewardship".<ref name=leed /> Construction crews began clearing timber from the site late in 2012 in order to remove the [[Carya ovata|shagbark hickory]] trees before the endangered [[Indiana bat]]s migrated to the area to nest in them.<ref name=timber>{{cite news |title=Timber! Grant's Ark Park is a go |newspaper=The Messenger |location=Madisonville, Kentucky |date=January 31, 2013}}</ref> Much of the wood used to build the Ark Encounter was sourced from renewable forests or trees infested by beetles.<ref name=mustsee>{{cite web |title=5 Must-See New Architecture Projects For 2016 |publisher=The Urban Developer |date=January 19, 2016 |url=http://www.theurbandeveloper.com/5-must-see-new-architecture-projects-2016/ |accessdate=June 8, 2016}}</ref>

During construction, former [[President of the United States|President]] [[Jimmy Carter]] toured the Ark Encounter, accepting an invitation from LeRoy Troyer, president of the Troyer Group.<ref>http://www.wcpo.com/news/state/state-kentucky/former-president-jimmy-carter-visits-planned-christian-theme-park-in-kentucky</ref>


==Opening==
==Opening==

Revision as of 18:37, 13 July 2016

Ark Encounter
LocationGrant County, Kentucky
Coordinates38°37′20″N 84°35′32″W / 38.622240°N 84.592282°W / 38.622240; -84.592282
StatusOperating
OpenedJuly 7, 2016 (2016-07-07)
OwnerArk Encounter, LLC
Operated byAnswers in Genesis
ThemeNoah's Ark
Slogan"It's bigger than imagination"[1]
Operating seasonYear-round
WebsiteArkEncounter.com

Ark Encounter is a Christian theme park that opened in Grant County, Kentucky on July 7, 2016. The centerpiece of the park is a full-scale model of Noah's Ark 510 feet (160 m) long, 85 feet (26 m) wide, and 81 feet (25 m) high. Other attractions at the park include a petting zoo and zip-line course. Plans for additional phases of the park include a model of the Tower of Babel, along with replicas of an ancient walled city and a first-century Middle Eastern village. Ark Encounter is operated by Answers in Genesis (AiG), the Young Earth creationism group that operates the Creation Museum 45 miles (72 km) away in Petersburg, Kentucky.

After independent feasibility studies projected that park would provide a significant boom to the state's tourism industry, the Ark Encounter received tax incentives from the city, county, and state to induce its construction, drawing criticism from groups concerned with the separation of church and state. A dispute over AiG's hiring practices was adjudicated in U.S. federal court, which found in 2016 that the organisation could require Ark Encounter employees to sign a statement of faith as a condition of their employment.

Planning

On December 1, 2010, the the Young Earth creationism group Answers in Genesis (AiG) and the for-profit corporation Ark Encounter, LLC announced that they would partner to build a theme park called Ark Encounter that, as they claimed, 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".[2] The partners projected that the fully completed park would cost $150 million, which they intended to raise privately.[3] The announcement said the organisation 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 Williamstown.[2] The site is about 45 miles (72 km) from AiG's Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky.[4]

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.[5] Receipt of the incentives would be contingent upon Ark Encounter meeting established performance goals upon opening.[6] 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.[7] The release also cited a feasibility study commissioned by Ark Encounter, LLC and conducted by the American Research Group, that projected the park could employ 900 people, attract as many as 1.6 million visitors in its first year of operation, and generate a $214 million economic impact for the region.[2][6]

The city of Williamstown designated a 1.25-mile (2.01 km) radius around the Ark Encounter site as a tax increment financing district, meaning 75 percent of sales and property taxes collected in the district would return to Ark Encounter for a period of 30 years.[8][9] Employees working in the district would also pay a 2 percent employment tax over the same time frame that would go to the Ark Encounter .[9] 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.[10] Further, the Grant County Fiscal Court discounted the sale price of 100 acres (0.40 km2) of the site to influence the final selection.[10] Citing the proffered incentives, Ark Encounter, LLC made the Grant County site their final selection and scheduled groundbreaking for August 2011.[11]

Tax incentives controversy

Organizations dedicated to supporting the separation of church and state were divided on the question of providing tax incentives for the Ark Encounter. Barry W. 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."[2] 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."[2] 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."[12] The editorial board of the Lexington Herald-Leader wrote that "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."[13] 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".[13]

Governor Beshear favored the incentives, stating "The people of Kentucky didn't elect me governor to debate religion. They elected me governor to create jobs," Beshear said, adding, "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."[2] 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.[6] 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.[11][14] 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.[11][14] 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.[15]

Delays and financing

Ark Encounter, LLC finalized the purchase of the entire Ark Encounter site in February 2012.[16] At that time, AiG announced the decision to construct the park in phases, saying it had raised only $5 million of the $24 million needed to begin construction.[17] The first phase included a full-scale model of Noah's Ark and a petting zoo.[18] Plans for five subsequent phases included 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.[18][19] In July 2012, AiG announced construction would start in 2014.[20] The second phase is projected to commence in 2018 or 2019.[19]

Ken Ham, the founder of Answers in Genesis, the group behind Ark Encounter

In December 2013, the city of Williamstown offered $62 million in bonds to jump-start construction on the Ark Encounter.[21] The unrated bonds were backed by the Ark Encounter's projected future revenues, but the city was not liable for repaying them in the event that the revenues didn't materialize.[21] At the time of the offering, Ark Encounter, LLC had raised approximately $14 million toward construction of the park.[21] A group of atheist objectors to the Ark Encounter attempted to disrupt the offering by registering for the sale themselves and conducting a public relations campaign against the bonds.[22] In early January 2014, only $26.5 million in bonds had been sold; if at least $55 million in bonds were not sold by February 6, all of the bonds would be automatically redeemed.[23] On February 27, 2014, AiG founder Ken Ham announced that his February 4 debate on the viability of creationism with TV personality Bill Nye "the Science Guy" had spurred bond sales, and that the Ark Encounter had raised enough money to begin construction.[24] AiG officials said the final cost of the park at its opening exceeded $100 million, including $62 million from the Williamstown bond offering and $36 million from individual donations.[25][26][27][28][29]

The 2014 Kentucky General Assembly allocated $1.15 million to Grant County for road improvements to accommodate the heavier traffic expected to be generated by the Ark Encounter.[30] The Assembly also projected the need for $9.1 million in 2017 to improve the Interstate 75 interchange at Williamstown, but this allocation was beyond the scope of the state's two-year road funding plan.[30] The 2016 General Assembly allocated $10 million to create a new interchange between Kentucky Route 36 (KY 36) and Interstate 75, including a roundabout and a traffic light.[31] The project is scheduled for completion in 2017.[31] Until then, AiG will pay for workers to direct traffic on KY 36 near the Ark Encounter and will construct a turn lane in front of the park, at a cost of $500,000.[31]

Controversy over hiring practices

In July 2014, with the approved tax incentives set to expire if work on the park had not begun, Ark Encounter withdrew the approved application and filed a new one to receive incentives on the $73 million first phase.[32] The new application required a new feasibility study to be conducted.[33] AiG paid for the study, again conducted by Hunden Strategic Partners, which projected a more conservative 400,000 visitors a year, 787 new jobs, and a $40 million economic impact.[33] Shortly after the application was given preliminary approval by the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority, Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo said he believed the incentives to be unconstitutional; he added that he expected the state to be sued and lose a costly lawsuit over the issue.[34]

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State petitioned the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority in August 2014 to withdraw its preliminary approval of tax incentives for the Ark Encounter because of AiG's hiring practices, which required all applicants to profess Christianity and sign a statement of faith attesting to their belief in Young Earth creationism and the idea that homosexuality is sinful.[35] Zovath countered that the Ark Encounter's hiring policies had not been written yet and that the hiring policies of AiG should not be a factor because Ark Encounter, LLC was the entity receiving the incentives.[35] In response to Americans United's petition, a spokesman for the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet said, "As a condition of any incentive program, all projects must follow all state and federal laws, including all laws related to hiring."[35] Following Americans United's petition, the Lexington Herald-Leader editorial board also called for the incentives to be rescinded.[36]

In October, Kentucky Tourism Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Bob Stewart wrote to AiG requesting "express written assurance from Ark Encounter that it will not discriminate in any way on the basis of religion in hiring for the project".[37] Citing the Supreme Court's decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, which found that individuals had the right "to run their businesses as for-profit corporations in the manner required by their religious beliefs", AiG refused, insisting that Ark Encounter had the right to "include religion as a criteria in its future hiring decisions".[38][39] In December 2014, Stewart announced that the incentives 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.[40] During the Christmas holidays, AiG conducted a billboard public relations campaign in support of the project in several metropolitan areas in Kentucky and a digital billboard in New York City's Times Square.[41]

Ark Encounter LLC, filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against the state in February 2015.[42] Freedom Guard chief counsel Mike Johnson represented AiG for free in the suit, which alleged the state of Kentucky violated Ark Encounter's First Amendment free speech rights by denying the incentives.[42] AiG officials maintained that the incentives, potentially worth $18 million, were not necessary to complete construction of the ark, but they would accelerate the timeline for constructing additional phases of the Ark Encounter.[43] After conservative Matt Bevin was elected to succeed Steve Beshear as governor in November 2015, Kentucky Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer said he would encourage the new governor's administration to restore the tax incentives and render AiG's lawsuit moot, but Ham insisted that AiG preferred to have the matter adjudicated to set a legal precedent.[44]

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 in the case of Ark Encounter LLC et al. vs. Bob Stewart et al., ordering the state to commence processing the application for the tax rebate incentives that would become available once the Ark Encounter opens.[45][46] Bevin announced that the state would not appeal Van Tatenhove's decision, and later replaced four of the nine members on the Tourism Development Finance Authority.[9][47] Ark Encounter began advertising to fill 300 to 400 jobs in the park in April 2016; applicants were required to sign a statement of faith before being hired.[48] Two weeks later, the Tourism Development Finance Authority approved the incentives.[49]

Design and construction

Cary Summers, who headed Herschend Family Entertainment from 1992 to 1998, was hired as the lead consultant for the Ark Encounter.[5] Patrick Marsh, who helped design exhibits for the Creation Museum and previously designed attractions for Universal Studios Florida, was part of the planning and design team.[12] The Troyer Group, a construction firm in Mishawaka, Indiana, was contracted to oversee construction of the ark, which was constructed by Amish builders using timber framing techniques.[4][50] In total, over 1,000 craftsman were employed in the ark's construction.[51] Whenever possible, the builders employed techniques from the ancient era, such as manually bending the wood for the rudder rather than steaming it to make it more pliable.[1]

While the builders originally planned to hold the ark together with wooden pegs, modern building codes required the builders to use steel fasteners, thus 95 tons of metal plates and bolts were used to connect the wood together.[1][52] The electric lighting inside was designed to look like oil lamps.[53] According to AiG, the Ark Encounter is the largest timber frame structure in the United States.[28]

There are 12 different possible lengths for the biblical cubit, and AiG chose to use a length of 20.1 inches (51 cm); this produced plans for an ark measuring 510 feet (160 m) long, 85 feet (26 m) wide, and 51 feet (16 m) high.[54] The Ark Encounter consists of approximately 3,300,000 board feet (7,800 m3) of wood, harvested from as far away as Oregon and British Columbia.[1] The framing of the ark consists mostly of Englemann spruce, while the exterior is made of pine.[55] Colorado Timberframe was contracted to mill the logs, some of which were as long as 50 feet (15 m) long and 36 inches (91 cm) in diameter, because they were the only company in the United States capable of milling logs of this size to specifications within 1/32 of an inch.[1][55]

The Daily Mail called the Ark Encounter "one of the largest green construction projects in the [U.S.]"[56] 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.[57] The Washington Post wrote that the decision to use such techniques was exemplary of "a fundamental shift in how religiously conservative Christians think of two basic biblical ideas: dominion and stewardship".[57] Construction crews began clearing timber from the site late in 2012 in order to remove the shagbark hickory trees before the endangered Indiana bats migrated to the area to nest in them.[58] Much of the wood used to build the Ark Encounter was sourced from renewable forests or trees infested by beetles.[59]

During construction, former President Jimmy Carter toured the Ark Encounter, accepting an invitation from LeRoy Troyer, president of the Troyer Group.[60]

Opening

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."[61] AiG began pre-selling tickets in January 2016.[62] Because the opening date would occur during the summer vacation season, AiG also announced that, for the first 40 days and 40 nights of Ark Encounter's operation – an allusion to the inundation period (rain and subterranean hydrological eruptions) of the biblical flood – it would extend its hours of operation, offering day and evening tickets to ensure that the park did not exceed its 16,000 visitor capacity.[62]

An observation cabin allowing visitors to observe construction progress was opened in June 2015, just before assembly of the ark structure began.[43] On June 26, 2015, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that the third rib of the ark had been lifted into place.[63] On July 5, AiG held a ribbon-cutting ceremony ceremony for the Ark Encounter, during which members of the media and an estimated 7,000 donors to the project were given an early tour of the ark.[64]

Tri-State Freethinkers planned to protest the Ark Encounter's opening with a nearby billboard depicting people drowning around Noah's Ark with the caption "Genocide and Incest Park: Celebrating 2,000 years of myths", but billboard companies Lamar Advertising Company and Event Advertising and Promotions LLC rejected the design.[65] The Courier-Journal reported that approximately 150 opponents of the Ark Encounter gathered near the highway exit to protest the park on its opening day.[66] Eric Hovind of Creation Today led a counter-protest during which he offered to pay for any of the ark protesters to tour the ark; the Northern Kentucky Tribune reported that 21 anti-ark protesters accepted Hovind's offer.[67] The next day, ark opponent Bill Nye accepted Ken Ham's invitation to tour the Ark Encounter.[68][69][70]

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, a secular organization that advocates for the separation of church and state, sent letters to over 1,000 public school districts in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia warning them not to organize field trips to the Ark Encounter, claiming that such trips would "expose children to religious proselytizing in violation of the constitutional separation of church and state."[71][72] In responding, AiG stated in part that such trips were constitutional and that "it’s possible to attend the Creation Museum or Ark to teach rather than preach and to educate rather than indoctrinate."[73]

Visitor experience

On arrival, visitors ride a shuttle from the 4,000-space parking lot along a 1 mile (1.6 km) path to the ark.[74] The ark contains 132 bays, each standing about 18 feet (5.5 m) high, arranged into three decks.[53][75] Vistors enter on the lowest deck and move between decks on ramps constructed through the center of the ark.[76] Bays on the first deck contain models of some animals that AiG believes were on the ark; there are no live animals within the ark.[77][78] The models are meant to represent "kinds" of animals, which AiG maintains gave rise to modern animals through a process of rapid speciation following the flood.[79] Dinosaurs and unicorns are among the models presented.[78] The second deck contains more animal models, along with dioramas of Noah's workshop and a blacksmith.[77] Bays on the third deck contains displays presenting AiG's theories about what may have happened inside and outside the ark during the flood.[77] Displays in three of the bays display artifacts from the Green Collection and promote the Museum of the Bible, a Washington, D.C. attraction currently being constructed by the Green family, who donated to the Ark Encounter's construction.[22]

The ark is held 15 feet (4.6 m) off the ground by a series of concrete towers, and the back (or "starboard") side of the hull merges into three 80-foot (24 m) masonry towers containing stairwells, elevators, and restrooms.[53] A 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) gift shop is positioned below the ark, while a restaurant called Emzara's Kitchen – an allusion to the traditional Jewish name for Noah's wife – is located behind the ark.[19][41][50][66] The Ararat Ridge Zoo, a free petting zoo, is also part of the attraction.[66] At opening, a zip-line course and a restaurant atop the ark had not yet been completed.[66]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Meehan, Mary (June 27, 2016). "Massive ark attraction set to open with 'wow moment' in Northern Ky". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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.
  3. ^ "Plans announced for 'Noah's Ark' attraction in NKY". WISTV. November 30, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Goodstein, Laurie (December 6, 2010). "Tourist Attraction a New Noah's Ark for Kentuckians". Houston Chronicle.
  5. ^ a b Hopkins, Shawntaye (December 2, 2010). "Beshear defends use of tax incentives". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Murphy, Tim (December 1, 2010). "Kentucky Offers Tax Breaks for Noah's Ark Theme Park". Mother Jones. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  8. ^ "Noah's Ark project gets property tax break". The Associated Press State Wire. August 9, 2011.
  9. ^ a b c Tucker, Lindsay (January 29, 2016). "Noah's Ark Rises in Kentucky, Dinosaurs and All". Newsweek. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Blackford, Linda B. (August 9, 2011). "Ark park gets 75 percent property tax cut over 30 years". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ a b Lovan, Dylan T. (August 17, 2011). "New Noah's Ark in Ky. aims to prove truth of Bible". Associated Press.
  13. ^ a b "Embracing the Ark Incentives mean cheap jobs, poor state image". Lexington Herald-Leader. December 3, 2010.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "A costly modern Ark". The Courier-Journal (Editorial). Tysons Corner, VA: Gannett Company. December 28, 2010. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
  16. ^ Lovan, Dylan T. (February 16, 2012). "Ky. Noah's Ark attraction gets final piece of land". Associated Press.
  17. ^ Hansel, Mark (February 17, 2012). "Funding forces change in Ark park plans". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ a b c Demeropolis, Tom (October 7, 2015). "Will the Ark Encounter Rain $4 Billion On the Region's Economy?". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ a b c Blackford, Linda B. (November 28, 2013). "'Junk' bonds offered to help fund Ark park". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  22. ^ a b Pilcher, James (June 28, 2016). "Who pays for the new ark? Taxpayers help". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  23. ^ Chappatta, Brian (January 4, 2014). "Planned Ark park in N.Ky. in jeopardy". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  24. ^ Lovan, Dylan (February 28, 2014). "Noah's ark project spurred by evolution debate". Associated Press State Wire.
  25. ^ Lovan, Dylan (July 5, 2016). "Noah's ark of biblical proportions ready to open in Kentucky". Associated Press.
  26. ^ http://www.wlwt.com/news/ark-encounter-opens-to-public-thursday/40396580
  27. ^ http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2016/06/23/who-pays-new-ark-taxpayers/85481082/
  28. ^ a b http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Ark-park-teaches-Creationism-but-will-it-create-jobs-385829691.html
  29. ^ http://www.local8now.com/content/news/Protesters-gather-at-Ark-Encounter-opening--385942361.html
  30. ^ a b Brammer, Jack (April 16, 2014). "Final hours: $5.1 billion road plan among late flurry of bills approved". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  31. ^ a b c Wartman, Scott (April 23, 2016). "State will pay for revamped exit for Ark Encounter". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  32. ^ Loftus, Tom (July 28, 2014). "Tax incentives sought for Noah's Ark theme park". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky.
  33. ^ a b Blackford, Linda B. (January 22, 2015). "Ark park impact in dispute". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  34. ^ Brammer, Jack (July 30, 2014). "Stumbo: Tax incentives for Ark park unconstitutional". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  35. ^ a b c "Group opposes tax incentives for Noah's Ark park". Associated Press State Wire. August 23, 2014.
  36. ^ "No more state aid for Ark Park". Lexington Herald-Leader. August 28, 2014.
  37. ^ Blackford, Linda B. (October 8, 2014). "Ark tax incentives in limbo over hiring". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  38. ^ Blackford, Linda B. (December 11, 2014). "State denies $18M in incentive". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  39. ^ Lovan, Dylan (December 10, 2014). "Kentucky: No tax breaks for Noah's Ark project". Associated Press State Wire.
  40. ^ "Tax Breaks Are Withdrawn For Park That's Site of a New Noah's Ark". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 11, 2014.
  41. ^ a b Baker-Nantz, Jaime (December 18, 2014). "Ark isn't sunk; 'it's happening'". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky.
  42. ^ a b "AiG to file discrimination suit against Kentucky". WHAS. February 3, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  43. ^ a b Loftus, Tom (June 16, 2015). "Noah's Ark park moves ahead with or without state help". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky.
  44. ^ Williams, Chris (November 12, 2015). "Ky. lawmaker supports Ark Encounter tax breaks". WHAS.
  45. ^ Lovan, Dylan (January 25, 2016). "Ark Encounter Builder Wins Legal Battle Over Tax Incentive". WPCO.com. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  46. ^ Caproni, Erin (January 26, 2016). "Judge Rules on Ark Encounter Incentives". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  47. ^ Blackford, Linda B. (April 27, 2016). "Noah's Ark park – State awards $18 million tax break to theme park". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  48. ^ Lovan, Dylan (April 14, 2016). "Noah's Ark job float your boat? Then you must be Christian". Associated Press State Wire.
  49. ^ Loftus, Tom (April 26, 2016). "Ark Park Tax Incentives Worth Up to $18M Approved". Courier-Journal. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  50. ^ a b Hansel, Mark (March 11, 2013). "Ark park construction to start this year in Grant". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky.
  51. ^ Boyd, Gordon (July 7, 2016). "Ark Encounter opens to praise, protests". WAVE. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  52. ^ Ramey, Corinne (July 8, 2015). "Meet the Creationist Group Building a Life-Size Noah's Ark". Curbed.com. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
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  54. ^ "Hope floats: Builders of life-size Noah's Ark put faith in $50 million tourism project". USA Today. November 19, 2012.
  55. ^ a b Schneider, Roger (July 3, 2016). "Anabaptist craftsmen use skills to help create ark attraction". Goshen News. Goshen, Indiana. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  56. ^ Parry, Hannah (June 27, 2016). "If you build it, will they come? Huge $100m life-size Noah's Ark (complete with baby dinosaurs aboard) prepares to open as Kentucky's newest tourist attraction". The Daily Mail. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  57. ^ a b Kennicott, Philip (January 5, 2011). "Noah's Ark replica shows conservative Christians are embracing green building". Washington Post. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  58. ^ "Timber! Grant's Ark Park is a go". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky. January 31, 2013.
  59. ^ "5 Must-See New Architecture Projects For 2016". The Urban Developer. January 19, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  60. ^ http://www.wcpo.com/news/state/state-kentucky/former-president-jimmy-carter-visits-planned-christian-theme-park-in-kentucky
  61. ^ Pilcher, James (November 12, 2015). "Answers in Genesis' Ark Encounter announces opening date". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved November 12, 2015.
  62. ^ a b Law, Jeannie (January 26, 2016). "Ken Ham's Ark Encounter to Host Millions of Visitors in 40 Days, 40 Nights Opening". Christian Post. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  63. ^ Arensdorf, Kyle (June 26, 2015). "Ark Encounter's main attraction begins to take shape". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  64. ^ Wartman, Scott (July 5, 2016). "Thousands descend on rural Ky. town to board ark". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  65. ^ "Atheist Group's Anti-Ark Encounter Billboard Rejected". ABC News. Associated Press. May 11, 2016. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  66. ^ a b c d Shapiro, Bobby (July 7, 2016). "What to know if you're visiting Ark Encounter". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  67. ^ Hansel, Mark (July 9, 2016). "Ark Encounter protesters and supporters share common ground in an unlikely place". The Northern Kentucky Tribune. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  68. ^ Wartman, Scott (July 7, 2016). "Bill Nye to Take Private Tour of Ark Encounter Friday". cincinnati.com. Retrieved July 8, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  69. ^ Bailey, Phillip (July 9, 2016). "Bill Nye Visits Ark Encounter". Courier-Journal.com. Retrieved July 11, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  70. ^ Contrera, Jessica (July 10, 2016). "Bill Nye Visited a Noah's Ark He Doesn't Believe Should Exist". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 11, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  71. ^ http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article89061842.html
  72. ^ http://www.wcpo.com/news/education/school-groups-warned-against-visiting-noahs-ark-attraction-in-northern-kentucky
  73. ^ https://answersingenesis.org/public-school/public-schools-visiting-ark-encounter/
  74. ^ Booker, Ted (July 6, 2016). "Mishawaka firm builds a new Noah's ark — without the flood". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  75. ^ Weed, Alexis (July 7, 2016). "Noah's Ark opens at Kentucky theme park". CNN. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  76. ^ Blackford, Linda (July 7, 2016). "Crowd gathers as Noah's Ark park opens in Northern Kentucky". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  77. ^ a b c Sirianni, Maura (July 7, 2016). "Ark Encounter opens in northern Kentucky". WDRB. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  78. ^ a b Westerman, Ashley (July 5, 2016). "Life-Size Noah's Ark To Open Amid A Flood Of Skepticism". National Public Radio. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  79. ^ Gabbat, Adam (July 6, 2016). "Creators of the lost ark: replica of Noah's vessel unveiled in Kentucky". The Guardian. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
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