Noah's Ark Attraction to Open Sans Kentucky Taxpayer Help

A controversial Noah's Ark attraction will open in Kentucky on July 7 – a date picked for its Biblical significance – but the big boat project won't be getting any help from taxpayers, at least not anytime soon.

Ken Ham, founder and president of Answers in Genesis, said his massive Ark Encounter in Williamstown will be open for "40 days and 40 nights" during its first 40 days of operation, in reference to the Noah's Ark story in the Bible. He said he picked the opening date because of its numerical biblical significance, noted the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Answers in Genesis embraces the literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis and teaches that the Bible "provides a reliable, eyewitness account of the beginning of all things."

The organization is expecting 1.4 to 2.2 million to attend the attraction annually. And the ark is only part of far grander plans to include a pre-flood city and Tower of Babble. Answers in Genesis already runs a Creation Museum in Boone Count.

"We are so excited that the construction progress and schedule landed on this 7/7 date," said Ham in an Answers in Genesis statement. "Genesis 7:7 states that Noah and his family entered the Ark. So it's fitting we allow the public to enter the life-size Ark on 7/7."

"The purpose of the ark is quite intentionally to proclaim our Christian faith," Answers in Genesis co-founder Mark Looy told WLWT-TV. 

Kentucky State Rep. Brian Linder said the attraction will draw people to the area.

"This is going to be an economic boom, not only for Grant County but for all of Northern Kentucky to Cincinnati and really the state of Kentucky,” said Linder.

The project, though, has found its way to court. Answers in Genesis claims in a lawsuit that Kentucky officials violated its right of religious expression by denying the project state tax incentives, noted the Courier-Journal.

The election of Matt Bevin as he new governor earlier this month may break the tax incentive logjam. Bevin has previously appeared to support extending $18 million in state tax rebates to the project.

"That's right now in the hands of a federal judge, we don't know when that decision will be," said Looy concerning the lawsuit. 

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