What Kind of Trees Were Used to Construct Ark Encounter?

When you visit the Ark Encounter next year, one of the things that will just blow you away is the massive scope of the Ark and the colossal size of the trees that were used to construct it. We’ve heard people ask what type of trees they are and where they came from. The trees were standing dead Englemann spruce that were over 200 years old.

They were responsibly harvested from a forest in Utah. There are select forests managed by the forestry service where dead trees, before they begin to rot, are harvested and repurposed; then the forest is replanted for future harvests. What’s really nice about these gigantic 66 foot tall logs that are 50 inches in diameter is the fact that they are already dry, so they won’t move or twist once in place.

Here’s an example of how big these trees are: It took six guys two days to cut each log that you will see standing and paired up down the center of the Ark.

Also, to imagine the enormity of the Ark, consider the following: the average 3,000-square-foot full-timber frame house takes 15,000 board feet of timber. The Ark will take about a million and a half board feet of timber. If placed end to end, the amount of board feet would stretch from Williamstown, Kentucky to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Once constructed, the Ark Encounter will be the largest timber-frame structure in the world.

Don’t miss out on getting priority boarding for the Ark Encounter. Find out how you can get your tickets.