The city also issued Hams company $62 million in unsecured bonds and arranged for them to be repaid via diversion of tax revenue. What Ken Ham Isn't Telling You About Ark Encounter Funding The states tourism secretary wrote a letter Wednesday saying that Answers in Genesis, which is funding the planned Ark Encounter theme park, was requiring salvation testimony and a Creation belief statement in its job postings, which the state said was discriminating based on religious grounds. How to Make a Financial Plan | A Comprehensive Guide, How to pick out the proper payroll software for your enterprise, Elevate your e-commerce business by enhancing packaging, Security Tips For Every Web Developer Should Follow, Top 15 Decentralized Autonomous Organization Companies, 10 Must-Have Skills for Any Web Developer (Latest Guide 2023), Does Chobani Have Live Cultures? How Is The Ark Encounter Doing Financially? 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. They finally reopened on June 7, 2020, but until now, very few people had any desire to visit, presumably due to COVID. The Creation Museum also hosts daily presentations from AiGs speakers bureau and employs approximately 70 full-time staff members and 300 seasonal employees. Far from actively supporting the community that opened its coffers to his organization, Ham has repeatedly acted to enrich the park at the towns expense. As a result of excellent 2021 attendance, area hotels, restaurants, and other tourism-related businesses are booming. Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. If they had given Ham land closer to downtown, instead of a whole half-mile away, perhaps things would be better. It does not store any personal data. Good question! The imagery and artwork used to depict what the world could have looked like in Noahs time is beautiful and heartbreaking. Screaming Eagle located at the Ark Encounter can offer all that for a price. And, oh, was it hot! The Creation Museum opened in May 2007, following a five-year legal battle over whether or not it would be allowed to operate as a religious institution or not. Plus, after reading a thousand exhibit placards, most kids need a place to expend some of that pent-up energy. The Ark Encounter is the Creation Museums sister attraction, a life-size replica of Noahs Ark that opened in 2016. Think funnel cakes and pretzels. 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. My family doesnt mind that drive, but for some that may feel tedious. Any visitors needing accommodations will have to find lodging in the area on their own. According to the latest financial reports from Answers in Genesis, the park generated approximately $25 million in revenue during the first half of 2021. Now, take a look at the options available for meals and snacks. 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. Required fields are marked *. The Arkwhich you first glimpse as the bus crests a hillis genuinely impressive. Keep in mind this experience is not included with the cost of entry. Despite the pandemic, the Ark managed last year to open a $3 million high-tech Virtual Reality experience, Truth Traveler, funded by a supporter. It features exhibits that present a literal interpretation of the Bibles creation story and its flood narrative. In addition to operating the Ark Encounter, AiG runs the Creation Museum, which has also become a major family attraction, with over 500,000 annual guests. Overall, I highly recommend a visit to the Ark Encounter, but I also believe we should walk in with realistic expectations. Additionally, the Ark Encounter has had a positive impact on the local economy, generating over $500 million in economic activity and creating over 2,000 jobs in the region. Ark Encounter Sees Record Crowds, Announces Future Expansion Plans as You're almost done! Selling old doors and barn boards. A unique concept, the Ark Encounter is a Christian evangelical and fundamentalist theme park. By far the biggest was the government-mandated COVID-19 closure of the Ark last year that lasted almost three months. 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.