The Ark Encounter is a one-of-a-kind historically themed attraction. In an entertaining, educational, and immersive way, it presents a number of historical events centered on a full-size, all-wood Ark, which should become the largest timber-frame structure in the USA.
Additional future phases for the attraction include a Walled City, the Tower of Babel, a first-century Middle Eastern village, a journey in history from Abraham to the parting of the Red Sea, a walk-through aviary, an expanded large petting zoo, and so on.
It is designed to be family oriented, historically authentic, and environmentally friendly.
We also plan for the Ark Encounter to eventually include daily live mammal and bird shows, an extensive interactive children’s area, live entertainment, and many themed restaurants, creative food outposts, and shopping.
The Ark Encounter will be one of the largest “green” construction projects in the country, taking advantage of the latest environmental technologies to be good stewards of creation.
Yes, we are constructing a full-scale, all-wood ark based on the dimensions provided in the Bible (
Through the construction of a massive full-scale Noah’s Ark, the Ark Encounter will present America and other nations with a reminder about the Bible’s account of the Ark.
Many of the same talented team members that built the successful, high-tech Creation Museum are returning for the Ark Encounter. This new project is positioned to become an attraction that will capture the world's attention.
A private Limited Liability Company (LLC) will own the Ark Encounter. A non-profit subsidiary of Answers in Genesis will be one of the members of the LLC and will also be the managing member responsible for day-to-day operations.
When all phases of the Ark Encounter are completed, we anticipate employing up to 900 full and part-time staff at the Ark Encounter. It is also anticipated that additional staff will also be added at the Creation Museum to support its expected attendance increase.
The Ark Encounter will be an immersive, historically themed experience for the whole family focused on having fun while learning about history. It is not an amusement park. It will feature a number of daily live performances, as well as live special events. It will also include “edu-tainment” aspects–educational and entertaining experiences within each attraction.
Keep checking back for updates. You may also sign up for email updates on ArkEncounter.com.
Staff for the Ark Encounter will be hired by the Ark Encounter LLC when construction is complete. We will make their contact information available on this site at the appropriate time.
Construction, design, and other trade companies may provide contact information that will be forwarded to the construction management company as it is received.
The Ark Encounter will be located on I-75 in Williamstown, KY, about a 40-mile interstate drive south of downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Ark Encounter would be about a 45-minute drive from the Creation Museum. It is a separate, distinct attraction. While the Ark Encounter will complement the Creation Museum, the Ark Encounter is a special destination; either attraction could hold the interest of guests for the better part of two days. Visitors can conveniently plan their overnight stays between these two popular attractions and enjoy both over a long weekend or take an extended vacation in the greater Cincinnati area.
No. The Creation Museum is a special teaching ministry of Answers in Genesis and will continue to grow at its current location in Petersburg, Kentucky (west of the Cincinnati Airport). It will also go through its own expansion program to accommodate the anticipated increase in attendance expected from the Ark Encounter in the region.
There are numerous hotels and restaurants within a 30-minute drive from the Ark Encounter’s projected location. We expect that many more will be built close to the Ark Encounter prior to our grand opening.
Depending on fundraising, construction could begin in 2014 and a grand opening for the full-size Ark and petting zoo (the first of several phases) as early as 2015.
Phase One will be the full-size Ark and petting zoo. Other attractions at the site will be added in phases.
Based on an extensive independent feasibility study conducted by America’s Research Group, we expect over 1,600,000 guests our first year. Creation Museum attendance is also likely to increase by over 200,000 guests during the same year, to a total of about 500,000.
There will be several categories of tickets, ranging from single day to multi-day to season passes. The average one-day ticket price is expected to be comparable to other regional attractions.
Yes. The Ark Encounter is offering a special Charter Boarding Pass program. Details are available on the Ark Encounter website.
Charter Boarding Passes are the top-of-the-line lifetime memberships (not donations) that provide access to both the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum located 45 minutes away.
Several additional, unique benefits provided with the Charter Boarding Pass program include free parking, annual one-time use guest passes, discounts on food and merchandise, and invitations to special behind-the-scenes events.
There will be a nominal fee for parking at the Ark Encounter. However, free parking will be provided year-round for those purchasing certain Charter and Annual Boarding Passes. For information on boarding pass programs, go to ArkEncounter.com.
Yes. The Ark Encounter, like several other attractions nearby, will be designed for year-round operation, and it will be open every day except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. While some attractions are outside, most experiences will be indoors.
The bulk of the Ark Encounter will be built in phases by the limited liability company (LLC). Answers in Genesis is raising $24.5 million in donations and boarding pass sales for its part in the Ark Encounter project to help build an all-wood Ark, the centerpiece and first phase of a whole multi-attraction complex.
Individuals may make tax-deductible donations through the “Ark Pegs, Planks, & Beams” program, which gives everyone the opportunity to sponsor an actual peg, plank or beam that will be used to build the Ark. Sponsors will receive benefits that include a certificate of authenticity and special invitations to behind-the-scenes tours and grand opening events. Through the Ark website (ArkEncounter.com), all sponsors will have the opportunity to see the general location where their sponsored peg, plank, or beam is located in the Ark.
Additionally, individuals and families may purchase lifetime boarding passes (not-tax deductible) that will provide lifetime admission to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum and many other benefits. More details are available at ArkEncounter.com.
In a sense, the Ark Encounter is both a for-profit and not-for-profit endeavor. The Ark Encounter is a for-profit operation but is managed by a non-profit subsidiary ministry of Answers in Genesis. The LLC and its members will be responsible for all of the normal taxes required for pass-through business entities.
The Ark Encounter is going to be built by The Troyer Group, a leader in sustainable design, headquartered in Mishawaka, Indiana.
The Troyer Group has expertise in architectural, engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, construction management, and construction administrative services. All of these will be used in the Ark Encounter project.
The Creation Museum’s talented design director, Patrick Marsh, will be heading up design and “theming” of all of the attractions, to ensure that the quality mirrors that of the Creation Museum in every area.
Yes. The Troyer Group in Mishawaka, Indiana heads our construction management team. It has one of the largest LEED certified (Leaders in Energy and Environmental Design) staffs in the Midwest. We intend to integrate solar panels along with passive solar, geothermal, water, and wind technologies into our mechanical systems, as well as some other innovative and sustainable technologies to maintain good stewardship during construction and for long-term operations.
We plan to use as many local companies and locally manufactured products as possible in order to maximize efficiency while also enhancing the local economy.
Because feasibility studies revealed that the Ark would attract 1.6 million guests in the first year—and potentially more in future years, the project was master planned to be much more than just the Ark alone to handle the anticipated crowds. Accordingly, eight additional biblically themed attractions planned in phases for the Ark Encounter complex.
Due to the size of the Ark Encounter project, a for-profit LLC structure was selected to be able to help raise the funds necessary to build it. We also desired to avoid financing the project through primarily debt financing. In addition, this large amount of funding would not have been probable solely through donations and boarding pass sales. The for-profit LLC structure allows for the primary funding to come from private equity, while at the same time ensuring that the control of the content, design, and operations of the Ark Encounter will be led by Crosswater Canyon, a wholly owned subsidiary of Answers in Genesis.
The for-profit LLC structure also allows the Ark Encounter to be eligible for various economic development incentives that would not have been available with a non-profit structure.
The primary pass holder’s immediate family members are included. This consists of spouse and children—biological, adopted, foster, and step-children. Children are included whether they are dependent or living on their own.
Not included are any other family members such as parents of the primary, spouses of the children, grandchildren, aunts and uncles, or nieces and nephews, etc.
Yes. You will need to notify us of any additions to the family.
Some benefits only apply to the Primary Pass Holder. See the Boarding Pass benefits page for more information about those benefits.
All Family Boarding Pass members receive the designated benefits for their individual lifetimes. Their individual cards will remain active as long as they are alive. Upon death, the primary pass holder’s card will be deactivated and all related primary benefits will cease.
No. Since value is being received at least equal to the amount paid, the IRS does not permit a tax deduction for any part of the payment. You may make a separate tax-deductible donation to Answers in Genesis for the Ark project by sponsoring a Peg, Plank, or Beam or by making a general Ark donation at ArkEncounter.com.
No. These Boarding Passes will only be available to the first 5,000 individuals and 12,000 families to purchase. These will no longer be available once sold out or once the park opens. In addition, the earlier you purchase, the more benefits will be available.
Yes. The person receiving the gift will be entered as the primary pass holder, and they will receive the benefits of the Boarding Pass
If you purchase a Boarding Pass for someone else, it will be sent directly to you so that you can personally present it to them.
The name of the primary pass holder and immediate family member names are needed if you are purchasing a family boarding pass.
Yes. Your future spouse and children may be added later and receive the designated benefits for family members.
Yes. For a limited time, both a 12 and 24 month payment option will be available. These options, while available, will be displayed in the payment options on the boarding pass web page.
No. The Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter are two separate attractions.
No. Peg, Plank, Beam donations are tax-deductible and once they are processed by Answers in Genesis a tax-deductible receipt is issued. Boarding Pass purchases are non-deductible.
No. Due to the limited quantity of boarding passes that receive special extra benefits and the fact that Charter Boarding Passes will not be available once Ark Encounter opens, Boarding Passes are not upgradable.
No. However, in honor of our members, we have made this program available exclusively to members first and they will have the option of gifting the Creation Museum benefit that comes with the Boarding Pass to someone else.
Yes, a nominal fee to cover the cost of reprinting lost cards will be assessed.
No. Payment must be received at the time of purchase. Optional payment plans may be available with automatic credit or debit card payments. See ArkEncounter.com for details.
Admission rates have not been determined at this time. It will be similar to other large theme park attractions.
Yes, that is the intention at this time. We will have more information when we are closer to completion of the Ark Encounter.
No. Lifetime Boarding Pass cards will be issued closer to the completion of the Ark Encounter.
The Creation Museum lifetime admission cards are effective for immediate use as soon as holders receive them.
These special events will be scheduled as construction situations permit, likely well after construction has started. The primary pass holders will be notified of these events.
Upon receiving your Boarding Pass order, we will send out an acknowledgement letter providing a general timeline for receiving the additional benefits. Some items will not be delivered until the Ark is open. However, other key benefits such as the Creation Museum Lifetime admission will be delivered much earlier.
The Ark replicas received as a benefit of the Boarding Pass will begin being shipped out mid 2012.
The benefits come as a package and cannot be customized.
No. It is a special card/pass that will be given to the primary pass holder when the park is open. The Primary Holder may loan it to another friend or family member and does not have to be present for them to use it.
No. The one-day admission tickets are only valid during the time period specified on the tickets.
No. Boarding Pass holders do not have to be present for their guests to use the one-day admission tickets.
No. We will extend your current subscription.
No.
Your tax-deductible sponsorship donation will be assigned a unique serial number that you can use to look up the location of your peg, plank, or beam in the Ark.
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