Apr 12, 2022 ARK SAFETY FEE NUMBERS VIA KENTUCKY OPEN RECORDS ACT REQUESTS FROM WILLIAMSTOWN, KY First year: 800,000 ( as reported by Ken Ham) 2017: July: 142,626 (Safety Fee amount: $71,313.00) August: 106,161 ($53,080.50) September: 83,330 ($41,665.00) But a very strong 2021 is seeing the Ark not only returning to its 2019 position but is witnessing record crowds on many days. Lastly, the lower level of the massive Answers Center (the top level seats 2,500 people) is finished, including a fully equipped science laboratory in this multi-purpose center that is already in use for daily programs for Ark guests and select conferences. Also, it has had to counter the myth that the city of Williamstown is at risk on $62 million in Ark bonds. The big reveal is awesome. Nonetheless, my family liked it a lot. The Ark Encounter is located in beautiful Kentucky, 45 minutes south of Cincinnati, with dozens of nearby hotels and places to stay. Thanks. The bonds are private activity bonds and are not a debt of the issuer (Williamstown) but only the borrower (the Ark Encounter). Q&A with Ken Ham About the Ark's 5th Anniversary There are a few outdoor areas to check out like zip lines and kids play areas. $19,000 would go to Ark Encounter's real estate agent, representing 2% of the total purchase price of the land. Though, I recommend that Ken Ham stays in his lane in the world of destinations and attractions. The state owes your organization big time for changing travel in our state., Research has shown that over 92% of Ark and museum guests come from outside Kentucky. Find a Hotel Plan Your Adventure Junior Giraffe announces that all kids 10 and under enjoy free admission in 2023! The Ark Encounter has a variety of events to enhance your visit. I think I expected it to be less like an amusement park and more like the Creation Museum. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Required fields are marked *. I believe this summer will be our best season ever, particularly with our 40 days and nights of gospel music, August 2 September 10., On recent Saturdays, the Ark has drawn over 7,000 daily guests. Ham gets mad when Americans United points this out, but its true. I would really love to go and take my mom for Mothers Day or an upcoming holiday. There is something for everyone in your family to enjoy during your trip to the Ark Encounter! Inaugurated on the July 7, 2016, visitors visiting the Ark Encounter are in for a delight. Ive had entire meals of the same quality for a similar price. We're so incredibly thankful for those who partner with us through giving financially, praying, and volunteering. This shop was open, but all the store offered was Italian ice. Ken Ham, founder and CEO of Answers in Genesis, owner and operator of the Ark Encounter and its sister attraction the Creation Museum, noted, Compared to other national attractions right now, we are blessed. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 2023 Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. Im a homemaker, mother of five, and pastors wife. There are also lines galore to get into the Ark Encounter, and youd have to navigate that to return with the items from your car. We dont know of any that are seeing numbers equivalent to or better than their 2019 attendance. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The numbers are even more impressive when noting that very few motor coaches have been arrivingpeople are only now beginning to feel more comfortable traveling by bus and sitting among other passengers. It was not completed yet when we were there in May 2022, but Ken Ham was already incredibly excited about it and anticipating the delivery from Italy. Its made with wood beams and steel reinforcement bars and can hold up to 1,000 people at once. As for me, I really enjoyed my trip to the Ark Encounter, but I think the things I liked best were related to the Homeschool Experience being hosted there. No content on this site may be reused in any fashion without written permission. Screaming Eagle located at the Ark Encounter can offer all that for a price. Join our movement and pledge to uphold church-state separation. The exhibit of mans fall into evil is both well-done and comes with a warning. As COVID restrictions ease and the pandemic hopefully winds down, how has the Ark fared in 2020 and 2021? | Reading is a major element of the ark experience. It has never reached even the minimum number of visitors for its first year of operation, Trollinger wrote. Privacy Policy and Florence hotels ran close to 77% occupancy in May; the national average was 59.3% as reference.. Despite the pandemic, the Ark managed last year to open a $3 million high-tech Virtual Reality experience, Truth Traveler, funded by a supporter. My family and I have been to Disney World twice, and I had more fun than I knew was possible on a family vacation. That isnt out of the ordinary for buffet pricing, but it felt excessive given the lack of food options and mediocre quality. The second video is set at the Ark Encounter. Northern Kentucky has experienced a significant financial impact from our Ark guests.. In fact, he insists his attraction is a better value and vacation, overall. The Ark Encounter is the Creation Museum's sister attraction, and it opened in July 2016. 2. Bimal Patel, President of Rolling Hills Hospitality which represents ten properties in the region, expresses his appreciation for the visitors the attractions have brought to the area: Thank you for being great partners and driving immense amounts of tourism to Northern Kentucky, he said. Just pose for the picture, even if you hate being photographed. The Creation Museum has struggled financially since its inception because many people arent willing to shell out money for what they consider religious propaganda rather than an educational experience. A unique concept, the Ark Encounter is a Christian evangelical and fundamentalist theme park. Interestingly, the reason for the slowing traffic seems to be creationism itself, since the main exhibit has literally not changed in 5 years. The ark is hidden behind the trees along the road the busses take to the Answers Center (where the busses drop visitors off), and at the end of the trip the ark is suddenly completely visible. One of the positives to Emzaras is the size. They had plenty to see and we engaged with them while we went through the exhibits. I dont like crowds and lines so I probably wouldnt go . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Thanks for the info. Ladies, the struggle is real. If possible, every Christian should go and see it in person. It opened on May 28, 2007, and is operated by the Answers in Genesis ministry. Most reviews I read gave me no real idea of what I would experience. Rob Boston. What kind of terrible things might mankind have been up to that would lead God to flood the planet? Among other storylines, the film follows the relationship between the Ark Encounter and the city of Williamstown in Northern Kentucky, where the Ark is located. How Much Did It Cost To Build The Creation Museum? I am passionate about encouraging Christian women to grow in their faith, live godly lives, and discern truth from all the lies and noise of the world. Overall, it was a crowd pleaser. I'm sorry, Mr. Ham, but we have to get real here. It was built by Answers in Genesis (AiG), the same organization behind Ark Encounter. And with every passing year the tourist site falls farther short of what AiG promised., Trollinger and his wife Susan have visited the ark several times, most recently last month. Additionally, the parks commitment to operating efficiencies has allowed it to save costs and increase its profit margin. Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. Ham justified the raid on the public purse by asserting that Ark Encounter would be a great boon to the nearby town of Williamstown, whose leaders agreed to float $62 million in junk bonds to get the project going. Good question! These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Ark Encounter Sees Record Crowds, Announces Future Expansion Plans as Scripture was used to create this exhibit, but this entire section of the ark is based on what could have been. In other words, its Williamstowns own fault that theyre not benefiting from the Ark. Over the years, directly and indirectly, the Ark has added many tens of millions of dollars into the state and local treasuries, plus has seen the construction of new hotels to meet guest demand, especially new lodgings in the city of Dry Ridge, just north of the Arkyet recognizing that many more hotels still need to be built, for on some nights, no hotel rooms are available within an hours drive of the Ark. Ken Ham has been pitting the theme park giant, Disney World, against his Ark Encounter. So the state gained from this incentive, netting $3,029,278 more than was paid for the rebate. Magazines, Modern-Day Noah: Dutch Man Builds Ark of Biblical Proportions, Or create a free account to access more articles, Noahs Ark Theme Park Won't Get Tax Breaks. In a developing story from Kentucky, the Creation Museum is running out of money due to declining attendance, bringing their " Ark Encounter " project to a stand-still because of a lack of funding. That is due, in part, to Ray Comfort giving the presentation. The structure is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet tall. Remember, under standard pricing only children four and under are free. The profit margin of the Ark Encounter has been fluctuating throughout 2021. Ham justified the raid on the public purse by asserting that Ark Encounter would be a great boon to the nearby town of Williamstown, whose leaders agreed to float $62 million in junk bonds to get the project going. But I just dont think thats particularly helpful. The replica of Noahs Ark, constructed in Northern Kentucky, is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet high.