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'''Ark Encounter''' is a [[Evangelicalism|Christian evangelical]] [[theme park]] that opened in [[Grant County, Kentucky|Grant County]], [[Kentucky]] on July 7, 2016.<ref name=WKYT>{{cite web|url=http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Ark-park-teaches-Creationism-but-will-it-create-jobs-385829691.html|title=Visitors, protesters turn out for Ark Encounter opening in Grant County|first=Alain |last=Sherter|work=wkyt.com}}</ref><ref name = NYT160626 /> The centerpiece of the park is a large representation of [[Noah's Ark]] as it is described in the [[Genesis flood narrative]] contained in the [[Bible]]. It is {{convert|510|ft|m|0}} long, {{convert|85|ft|m}} wide, and {{convert|51|ft|m}} high.
'''Ark Encounter''' is a [[Creationism|creationist]] [[theme park]] that opened in [[Grant County, Kentucky|Grant County]], [[Kentucky]] on July 7, 2016.<ref name=WKYT>{{cite web|url=http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Ark-park-teaches-Creationism-but-will-it-create-jobs-385829691.html|title=Visitors, protesters turn out for Ark Encounter opening in Grant County|first=Alain |last=Sherter|work=wkyt.com}}</ref><ref name = NYT160626 /> The centerpiece of the park is a large representation of [[Noah's Ark]] as it is described in the [[Genesis flood narrative]] contained in the [[Bible]]. It is {{convert|510|ft|m|0}} long, {{convert|85|ft|m}} wide, and {{convert|51|ft|m}} high.


Ark Encounter is operated by [[Answers in Genesis]] (AiG), a [[young Earth creationist]] organization that also operates the [[Creation Museum]] {{convert|45|mi|km|-1}} away in [[Petersburg, Boone County, Kentucky|Petersburg, Kentucky]].<ref name=WKYT/> The theme park promotes creationist beliefs about the [[age of the universe]], [[age of the Earth]], and co-existence of man and non-avian [[dinosaur]]s which has led to criticism leveled against the park for promoting [[pseudoscientific]] [[young Earth creationism]].<ref name = NYT160626>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/us/noahs-ark-creationism-ken-ham.html|title=A Noah’s Ark in Kentucky, Dinosaurs Included|last=Goodstein|first=Laurie|date=2016-06-26|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-04-29|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=2016-08-13|title=That sinking feeling|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0262407916314567|journal=New Scientist|language=en|volume=231|issue=3086|pages=18–19|doi=10.1016/S0262-4079(16)31456-7|issn=0262-4079}}</ref><ref name=Ortiz>{{Cite news
Ark Encounter is operated by [[Answers in Genesis]] (AiG), a [[young Earth creationist]] organization that also operates the [[Creation Museum]] {{convert|45|mi|km|-1}} away in [[Petersburg, Boone County, Kentucky|Petersburg, Kentucky]].<ref name=WKYT/> The theme park promotes creationist beliefs about the [[age of the universe]], [[age of the Earth]], and co-existence of man and non-avian [[dinosaur]]s which has led to criticism leveled against the park for promoting [[pseudoscientific]] [[young Earth creationism]].<ref name = NYT160626>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/us/noahs-ark-creationism-ken-ham.html|title=A Noah’s Ark in Kentucky, Dinosaurs Included|last=Goodstein|first=Laurie|date=2016-06-26|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-04-29|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=2016-08-13|title=That sinking feeling|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0262407916314567|journal=New Scientist|language=en|volume=231|issue=3086|pages=18–19|doi=10.1016/S0262-4079(16)31456-7|issn=0262-4079}}</ref><ref name=Ortiz>{{Cite news

Revision as of 18:10, 6 September 2018

Ark Encounter
Noah's Ark at Ark Encounter (2016)
LocationGrant County, Kentucky, United States
Coordinates38°37′20″N 84°35′32″W / 38.622240°N 84.592282°W / 38.622240; -84.592282
StatusOperating
OpenedJuly 7, 2016 (2016-07-07)
OwnerArk Encounter, LLC
Operated byAnswers in Genesis
ThemeNoah's Ark
Slogan"It's bigger than imagination"[1]
Operating seasonYear-round
Attendance862,471 - 1 million (July 2017–June 2018)
Websitearkencounter.com

Ark Encounter is a creationist theme park that opened in Grant County, Kentucky on July 7, 2016.[2][3] The centerpiece of the park is a large representation of Noah's Ark as it is described in the Genesis flood narrative contained in the Bible. It is 510 feet (155 m) long, 85 feet (26 m) wide, and 51 feet (16 m) high.

Ark Encounter is operated by Answers in Genesis (AiG), a young Earth creationist organization that also operates the Creation Museum 45 miles (70 km) away in Petersburg, Kentucky.[2] The theme park promotes creationist beliefs about the age of the universe, age of the Earth, and co-existence of man and non-avian dinosaurs which has led to criticism leveled against the park for promoting pseudoscientific young Earth creationism.[3][4][5][6]

After feasibility studies projected that the park would be a boon to the state's tourism industry, the Ark Encounter received tax incentives from the city, county, and state to induce its construction. This drew criticism from groups concerned with the separation of church and state.[7] A dispute over AiG's hiring practices was adjudicated in U.S. federal court, which found in 2016 that the organization could require Ark Encounter employees to sign a statement of faith as a condition of their employment, prompting criticism of the park's discriminatory hiring practices.[2]

Visitor experience

The ark contains 132 bays, each standing about 18 feet (5.5 m) high, arranged into three decks.[8][9] Visitors enter on the lowest deck and move between decks on ramps constructed through the center of the ark.[10] Bays on the first deck contain models of some animals that AiG believes were on the ark; there are no live animals within the ark.[11][12] However, the attraction has a petting zoo.[13] The models are meant to represent "kinds" of animals, which AiG says gave rise to modern animals through a process of rapid speciation following the flood.[14] Among the models presented, according to AiG co-founder Mark Looey prior to the Ark's opening, are dinosaurs and a pair of unicorns.[12]

The second deck contains more animal models, along with dioramas of Noah's workshop and a blacksmith.[11] Bays on the third deck contain displays presenting AiG's ideas of what may have happened inside and outside the ark during the flood.[11] Displays in three of the bays display artifacts from the Green Collection and promote the Museum of the Bible, a Washington, D.C. attraction constructed by the Green family, who donated to the Ark Encounter's construction.[15] RoadsideAmerica.com wrote that the displays depicting the sinful state of the world before the flood, including a priest sacrificing an infant to an unnamed snake god and people murdered in a gladiatorial event in an arena, were among the most memorable exhibits in the attraction.[16]

The ark is held 15 feet (4.6 m) off the ground by a series of concrete towers. The starboard side of the hull merges into three 80-foot (24 m) masonry towers containing stairwells, elevators, and restrooms.[8] A gift shop is positioned below the ark, while a restaurant called Emzara's Kitchen – an allusion to the traditional Jewish name for Noah's wife – is located behind the ark.[17] The Ararat Ridge Zoo, a petting zoo, is also part of the attraction.[2][17]

History

Planning

On December 1, 2010, the young Earth creationism group Answers in Genesis (AiG) and the for-profit corporation Ark Encounter, LLC announced that they would partner to build a theme park called Ark Encounter that, as they claimed, would "lend credence to the biblical account of a catastrophic flood and to dispel doubts that Noah could have fit two of every kind of animal onto a 500-foot-long ark".[18] The partners projected that the fully completed park would cost $150 million, which they intended to raise privately.[19]

Under a program enacted by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2010, Ark Encounter investors applied for economic development incentives that would allow them to recoup 25 percent of the project's construction costs by keeping a portion of the park's sales taxes during its first ten years of operation.[20] Receipt of the incentives would be contingent upon Ark Encounter meeting established performance goals upon opening.[21] A press release from Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear's office cited a feasibility study commissioned by Ark Encounter, LLC and conducted by consumer research corporation America's Research Group Limited, Inc.[21] The company had also conducted the feasibility study for AiG's Ark Encounter and an attitudinal survey included in Ken Ham's book Already Gone; ARC founder C. Britt Beemer was credited as a co-author of the book.[21] This projected the park could employ 900 people, attract as many as 1.6 million visitors in its first year of operation, and generate a $214 million economic impact for the region.[18][21] The group selected an 800-acre (320 ha) parcel near Interstate 75 in Grant County, Kentucky, near the city of Williamstown and about 45 miles (70 km) from AiG's Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky.[22]

The city of Williamstown designated a 1.25-mile (2.01 km) radius around the Ark Encounter site as a tax increment financing district, meaning 75 percent of sales and property taxes collected in the district would return to Ark Encounter for a period of 30 years.[23] Employees working in the district would also pay a 2 percent employment tax over the same time frame that would go to the Ark Encounter.[23] The Grant County Industrial Development Authority paid Ark Encounter, LLC $195,000 to compensate the corporation for the fact that word of their interest in building the attraction in Grant County had leaked early, causing land prices to double in the area.[24] Further, the Grant County Fiscal Court discounted the sale price of 100 acres (40 ha) of the site to influence the final selection.[24] Citing the proffered incentives, Ark Encounter, LLC made the Grant County site their final selection and scheduled groundbreaking for August 2011.[25] Plans for additional phases of the park include a model of the Tower of Babel, along with replicas of an ancient walled city and a first-century Middle Eastern village.[26]

Financing

Ark Encounter, LLC finalized the purchase of the entire Ark Encounter site in February 2012.[27] At that time, AiG announced the decision to construct the park in phases, saying it had raised only $5 million[28] of the $24 million[29] needed to begin construction. The first phase included a full-scale model of Noah's Ark and a petting zoo.[30] Plans for five subsequent phases included replicas of an ancient walled city, a first-century Middle Eastern village, and the Tower of Babel; an aviary; and a 500-seat special effects theater.[30][31]

Ken Ham, the founder of Answers in Genesis, the group behind Ark Encounter

In December 2013, the city of Williamstown offered $62 million using tax increment financing of bonds to jump-start construction on the Ark Encounter.[32] The unrated bonds were backed by the Ark Encounter's projected future revenues, but the city was not liable for repaying them in the event that the revenues didn't materialize.[32] At the time of the offering, Ark Encounter, LLC had raised approximately $14 million toward construction of the park.[32] A group of atheist objectors to the Ark Encounter attempted to disrupt the offering by registering for the sale themselves and conducting a public relations campaign against the bonds.[15] In early January 2014, only $26.5 million in bonds had been sold; if at least $55 million in bonds were not sold by February 6, all of the bonds would be automatically redeemed.[33] On February 27, 2014, AiG founder Ken Ham announced that his February 4 debate on the viability of creationism with TV personality Bill Nye "the Science Guy" had spurred bond sales, and that the Ark Encounter had raised enough money to begin construction.[34] AiG officials said the final cost of the park at its opening exceeded $100 million, including $62 million from the Williamstown bond offering and $36 million from individual donations.[2] The second phase of the park construction is projected to commence in 2018 or 2019.[31]

The 2014 Kentucky General Assembly allocated $1.15 million to Grant County for road improvements to accommodate the heavier traffic expected to be generated by the Ark Encounter.[35] The Assembly also projected the need for $9.1 million in 2017 to improve the Interstate 75 interchange at Williamstown, but this allocation was beyond the scope of the state's two-year road funding plan.[35] The 2016 General Assembly allocated $10 million to create a new interchange between Kentucky Route 36 (KY 36) and Interstate 75.[36] Until the improvements are completed, AiG is paying for workers to direct traffic on KY 36 near the Ark Encounter.[36] After the initial allocation by the state, AiG invested $500,000 of its own money into improving KY 36; this, and better-than-expected traffic flow, led to the Kentucky Department of Transportation scaling back the proposed improvements, awarding a $3.5 million contract in December 2017.[37] The project is projected to be completed November 2, 2018.[37]

Design and construction

View of the Ark Encounter from the exterior ground level, October 2016

Cary Summers, who headed Herschend Family Entertainment from 1992 to 1998, was hired as the lead consultant for the Ark Encounter.[20] Patrick Marsh, who helped design exhibits for the Creation Museum and previously designed attractions for Universal Studios Florida, was part of the planning and design team.[38] The Troyer Group, a construction firm in Mishawaka, Indiana, was contracted to oversee construction of the ark, which was constructed by Amish builders using traditional timber framing techniques.[22][39] In total, over 1,000 craftsman were employed in the ark's construction.[40] As possible, board pulling was used rather than steaming. Steel nails were used to conform with building code regulations.[1]

While the builders originally planned to hold the ark together with wooden pegs, modern building codes required the builders to use steel fasteners, thus 95 tons of metal plates and bolts were used to connect the wood together.[41] The electric lighting inside was designed to look like oil lamps.[8] According to AiG, the Ark Encounter is the largest timber frame structure in the United States.[2]

AiG considered twelve different possible lengths for the biblical cubit, and AiG chose to use a length of 20.1 inches (51 cm); this produced plans for an ark measuring 510 feet (155 m) long, 85 feet (26 m) wide, and 51 feet (16 m) high.[42] The Ark Encounter consists of approximately 3,300,000 board feet (7,800 m3) of wood.[1] The framing of the ark consists mostly of Englemann spruce, while the exterior is made of pine; some of the logs were as long as 50 feet (15 m) long and 36 inches (91 cm) in diameter.[43]

The park's structures and infrastructure were constructed using environmentally friendly Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified methods, including geothermal heating, rainwater capture, active and passive solar heating.[44] The Washington Post wrote that the decision to use such techniques was exemplary of "a fundamental shift in how religiously conservative Christians think of two basic biblical ideas: dominion and stewardship".[44] Construction crews began clearing timber from the site late in 2012 in order to remove the shagbark hickory trees before the endangered Indiana bats migrated to the area to nest in them.[45] Much of the wood used to build the Ark Encounter was sourced from renewable forests or trees infested by beetles.[46] During construction, former President Jimmy Carter toured the Ark Encounter, accepting an invitation from LeRoy Troyer, president of the Troyer Group.[47]

Opening

Ark Encounter opened on July 7, 2016, a date (7/7) chosen to correspond with Genesis 7:7: "And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood."[48] AiG also announced that, for the first 40 days and 40 nights of Ark Encounter's operation – an allusion to the inundation period (rain and subterranean hydrological eruptions) of the biblical flood – it would extend its hours of operation, offering day and evening tickets.[49] On July 5, AiG held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Ark Encounter, during which members of the media and an estimated 7,000 donors to the project were given an early tour of the ark.[50] According to the park's publicists, there were 30,000 visitors in its first six days of operation (an average of 5,000 per day).[51]

Tri-State Freethinkers planned to protest the Ark Encounter's opening with a nearby billboard depicting people drowning around Noah's Ark with the caption "Genocide and Incest Park: Celebrating 2,000 years of myths", but billboard companies Lamar Advertising Company and Event Advertising and Promotions LLC rejected the design.[52] The Courier-Journal reported that approximately 150 opponents of the Ark Encounter gathered near the highway exit to protest the park on its opening day.[17] Eric Hovind of Creation Today led a counter-protest during which he offered to pay for any of the ark protesters to tour the ark; the Northern Kentucky Tribune reported that 21 anti-ark protesters accepted Hovind's offer.[53]

The next day, ark opponent Bill Nye accepted Ken Ham's invitation to tour the Ark Encounter,[54] and they had an informal debate as they toured the structure.[55] Nye stated, "It's all very troubling. You have hundreds of school kids there who have already been indoctrinated and who have been brainwashed. (...) This is about the absolutely wrong idea that the Earth is 6,000 years old that's alarming to me." Earlier in the debate, Ken Ham stated, "My biggest concern is you're teaching generations of young people that they're just animals."[56][5] Footage from Nye's visit was subsequently included in the documentary film Bill Nye: Science Guy, which was released in 2017.[57]

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, an organization that advocates for the separation of church and state, sent letters to over 1,000 public school districts in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia warning them not to organize field trips to the Ark Encounter, arguing that such trips would "expose children to religious proselytizing in violation of the constitutional separation of church and state."[58][59] Grant County, Kentucky Education Commissioner Stephen Pruitt responded that approval of field trips is a decision of local school boards but that such trips should be directly related to curriculum. He said it is not appropriate for "outside third parties to dictate field trip selections."[60] Contending that FFRF was incorrect in their assertion, Ham posted on his blog that he would encourage public school groups to visit the ark by offering admission of $1 per child and no charge for accompanying teachers for the remainder of 2016.[61]

Subsequent events

The Tri-State Freethinkers has protested annually at the Ark Encounter on the anniversary of its opening, citing its hiring practices, anti-evolution teachings, and acceptance of state tax incentives as causes for protestors' concerns.[62] Local media coverage estimated the size of the 2018 protest to be between 120 and 200 people.[62]

In December 2016, for the holiday season, AiG lit the Ark with rainbow colors, the purpose being to "reclaim the symbol from the gay rights movement" and remind viewers of the Noahic covenant.[63] In February 2017, Ken Ham announced AiG would permanently continue the rainbow lighting.[64] Permanent lights were installed in July 2017.[65][66] AiG also plans to open a "Rainbow Garden" near the petting zoo where flowers create a rainbow display.[67]

In November 2017, construction began on a 2,500-seat theater on the park's grounds. The theater was originally projected to be completed in time to host the "Equipping Families to Stand" conference, scheduled for July 18, 2018, but construction has been delayed, and the building is now projected to open before the end of 2018.[67][68] AiG also announced a new children's play area scheduled to open in spring 2019 and an expansion to the petting zoo projected to open by mid-2019.[67]

In the media

On October 22, 2016, the Ark Encounter hosted the premiere of evangelist Ray Comfort's film The Atheist Delusion.[69][70]

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ozzy Osbourne and his son, Jack, visited the Ark Encounter in April 2017 to film an episode of their reality television series Ozzy & Jack's World Detour.[71] The episode, entitled "Kentucky Fried Osbournes", aired on A&E on November 29, 2017.[71]

Ark Encounter was designated the "Sight of the Week" for January 1–7, 2018, by Doug Kirby's RoadsideAmerica.com.[16] The site gave Ark Encounter its highest rating ("The Best"), noting, "the Ark is an attraction that should be visited -- if only because it's unlikely that you'll ever visit anything else like it."[16] The review characterized the ark as "a very nuts-and-bolts American Ark, with Noah and his clan in the mold of self-sufficient Pilgrims and innovative pioneers" (emphasis in original).[16]

Attendance

AiG initially predicted yearly attendance for the attraction of 1.4-2.2 million people. After a year of operation, AiG reported attendance of about 1 million, attributing the lower number to opening in the middle of tourist season.[72][73][74]

On February 24, 2017, Executive Director of the Grant County Chamber of Commerce Jamie Baker stated that the Ark had drawn additional tourism to the area, and that the challenge now was to expand accommodation and other local amenities in order to convert this into economic growth for the county.[75] In March, the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau presented the Ark Encounter with its Star of Tourism award for 2016.[76] Bureau President Eric Summe reported a $23 million increase in visitor spending in nearby Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties in 2016 over 2015, the year that the region hosted the Major League Baseball All-Star Game; Summe attributed a large part of the increase in spending and hotel occupancy to the opening of the Ark Encounter and an expansion of its sister attraction, AiG's Creation Museum.[77] In June 2017, Mayor Jim Wells of Dry Ridge, Kentucky stated that the Ark Encounter had a positive effect on the town, with hotel occupancy rates increasing from 60 to 98 percent since the opening of the attraction.[78] In July 2018, Nashville-based Athena Hospitality Group broke ground on a hotel and restaurant development in Dry Ridge, citing the need for more accommodations for Ark Encounter visitors as the motivation.[79] The planned development will accommodate three hotels and three restaurants, with the first hotel, an 80-room Comfort Suites projected to open in the third quarter of 2019.[79]

AiG President Ken Ham has criticized media reports reporting low regional economic benefits[80] and wrote an op-ed to the Lexington Herald-Leader criticizing a June 2017 story it published on the attraction's effects.[81]

At the end of Ark Encounter's second year, AiG reported an attendance of 1 million visitors for the year.[82] Subsequently, The Courier-Journal reported that the Freedom From Religion Foundation had disputed those numbers based upon data obtained through open records requests made to Grant County.[83] According to the Foundation, the amount of money collected by the Grant County via its safety assessment fee on ticket sales indicated that only 862,471 people visited the attraction between July 2017 and June 2018.[83] In response, AiG spokesman Mark Looy told the paper that this method for calculating attendance was not reliable because it did not include non-paying guests such as children under 5, annual pass holders, and those with lifetime passes, all of whom are admitted to the park for free.[83]

Tax incentives

Organizations dedicated to supporting the separation of church and state were divided on the question of providing tax incentives for the Ark Encounter. Barry W. Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State opined that "The government should not be giving tax incentives for religious projects. Religion should be supported by voluntary donations, not the government."[18] Bill Sharp, the staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, countered that "Courts have found that giving such tax exemptions on a nondiscriminatory basis does not violate the establishment clause, even when the tax exemption goes to a religious purpose."[18] Edwin Kagin of American Atheists brought up the difficulty of litigating against the incentives provided by state laws, saying, "The legislation is so drafted that they will give this incentive to any organization that is going to increase tourism in Kentucky, and there's no question whatsoever that this group will."[38] The editorial board of the Lexington Herald-Leader wrote that "Ark Encounters [sic] is a private company seeking to make a profit off of a biblical theme. As such, it seems as entitled to apply for incentives from promised profits as any other private, for-profit company in Kentucky."[84] Still, the board was critical of using the incentives to attract low-paying jobs and to facilitate construction of an attraction it characterized as hostile "to science, knowledge and education", which could be off-putting to "the kind of employers that will provide good-paying jobs with a future".[84]

Governor Beshear favored the incentives, stating "The people of Kentucky didn't elect me governor to debate religion. They elected me governor to create jobs," Beshear said, adding, "There's nothing even remotely unconstitutional about a for-profit organization coming in and investing $150 million to create jobs in Kentucky and bring tourism to Kentucky."[18] Responding to an open records request by the Lexington Herald-Leader, Beshear's office later admitted it had not seen the feasibility study cited in its press release, and an administration representative said that the state tourism department would have to conduct its own study in order for the park to be eligible for the incentives.[21] The state-commissioned study by Hunden Strategic Partners and paid for by Ark Encounter, LLC, projected that the park would draw nearly 1.4 million visitors a year, but could require the state to widen the Interstate 75 interchange at Williamstown, at an additional cost to the state of about $11 million.[25][85] In May 2011, the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority voted unanimously to grant incentives of up to $43.1 million to Ark Encounter, LLC. for the project, by then projected to cost $172 million.[25][85] In an editorial in late December 2010, The Courier-Journal questioned the potential cost to the state government of the project, including highway upgrades and the likelihood that increases to hospitality industry infrastructure would seek further subsidies.[86]

In June 2017, Grant County Judge Executive Stephen P. Wood told the Lexington Herald-Leader that the tax incentives offered to the Ark Encounter were "a really bad deal for taxpayers".[87] Although the valuation of the property within Ark Encounter's tax increment financing district increased from $1.3 million in 2011 to $55 million in 2017, under the terms of its deal with Ark Encounter, the county only retained $63,000 of the $250,000 in property taxes collected within the district, with the rest returning to the park.[87] School taxes were exempted from the deal, and Grant County Schools saw a 58% increase in property tax revenue from 2016 to 2017.[87]

In April 2017, the city of Williamstown implemented a "safety assessment" of 50 cents per ticket sold at the Ark Encounter, the Williamstown Family Fun Park, and Main Street Gardens to upgrade the city's emergency equipment to sufficiently serve the attractions.[88] AiG maintained that, as the largest of the three attractions, the assessment placed an undue share of the cost on Ark Encounter.[89] After Williamstown officials rejected AiG's request to cap its share of the cost, first at $350,000 and later at $500,000, Ark Encounter LLC sold the main parcel of land for the attraction to its non-profit affiliate, Crosswater Canyon, for $10 and requested an exemption from the fee based on their status as a religious entity.[89][90] County officials rejected that request.[89]

On July 18, the state of Kentucky notified Ark Encounter that the sale of the property to Crosswater Canyon put them in breach of their agreement for $18 million in tax incentives.[91] Three days later, Crosswater Canyon reversed the sale, transferring the land back to Ark Encounter, LLC for $10.[91] On July 25, Ark Encounter said they would pay the safety assessment and had been collecting it on tickets sold beginning July 1.[89] In a public statement, AiG spokesman Mark Looy said, "The filing for an exemption as a religious non-profit (as permitted in the ordinance), was done in an attempt to get the county to change the wording as it currently stands, which would exempt the Ark Encounter. It was not to avoid paying its fair share, as some articles have suggested."[89] AiG gave no official explanation for the transfer of land to or from Crosswater Canyon, which Williamstown officials had feared could be an attempt to avoid paying property taxes.[91][89] The Grant County News and Express reported in December 2017 that the safety assessment had generated approximately $213,000 for the city in four months, with less than $500 of that amount being paid by attractions other than Ark Encounter.[92]

In its first year of operation, Ark Encounter generated over $2.28 million in sales taxes for the state of Kentucky, a figure which excluded the period during which the attraction was owned by Crosswater Canyon.[93] Ark Encounter received a rebate of $1.8 million of the collected taxes, the maximum amount allowed for the year under terms of its agreement with the state.[93]

Hiring practices

In July 2014, with the approved tax incentives set to expire if work on the park had not begun, Ark Encounter withdrew the approved application and filed a new one to receive incentives on the $73 million first phase.[94] The new application required a new feasibility study to be conducted.[95] AiG paid for the study, again conducted by Hunden Strategic Partners, which projected a more conservative 400,000 visitors a year, 787 new jobs, and a $40 million economic impact.[95] Shortly after the application was given preliminary approval by the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority, Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo said he believed the incentives to be unconstitutional; he added that he expected the state to be sued and lose a costly lawsuit over the issue.[96]

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State petitioned the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority in August 2014 to withdraw its preliminary approval of tax incentives for the Ark Encounter because of AiG's hiring practices, which required all applicants to profess Christianity and sign a statement of faith attesting to their beliefs in young Earth creationism and that homosexuality is sinful among other requirements.[97][98] Zovath countered that the Ark Encounter's hiring policies had not been written yet and that the hiring policies of AiG should not be a factor because Ark Encounter, LLC was the entity receiving the incentives.[97] In response to Americans United's petition, a spokesman for the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet said, "As a condition of any incentive program, all projects must follow all state and federal laws, including all laws related to hiring."[97] Following Americans United's petition, the Lexington Herald-Leader editorial board also called for the incentives to be rescinded.[99]

In October, Kentucky Tourism Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Bob Stewart wrote to AiG requesting "express written assurance from Ark Encounter that it will not discriminate in any way on the basis of religion in hiring for the project".[100] Citing the Supreme Court's decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, which found that individuals had the right "to run their businesses as for-profit corporations in the manner required by their religious beliefs", AiG refused, insisting that Ark Encounter had the right to "include religion as a criteria in its future hiring decisions".[101][102] In December 2014, Stewart announced that the incentives would be withdrawn, because the facility was to be used for religious indoctrination instead of as a tourist attraction, and because of complaints of hiring discrimination.[103] During the Christmas holidays, AiG conducted a billboard public relations campaign in support of the project in several metropolitan areas in Kentucky and a digital billboard in New York City's Times Square.[104]

Ark Encounter LLC, filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against the state in February 2015.[105] Freedom Guard chief counsel Mike Johnson represented AiG for free in the suit, which alleged the state of Kentucky violated Ark Encounter's First Amendment free speech rights by denying the incentives.[105] AiG officials maintained that the incentives, potentially worth $18 million, were not necessary to complete construction of the ark, but they would accelerate the timeline for constructing additional phases of the Ark Encounter.[106] After conservative Matt Bevin was elected to succeed Steve Beshear as governor in November 2015, Kentucky Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer said he would encourage the new governor's administration to restore the tax incentives and render AiG's lawsuit moot, but Ham insisted that AiG preferred to have the matter adjudicated to set a legal precedent.[107]

On January 25, 2016, Federal Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky ruled in favor of AiG in the case of Ark Encounter LLC et al. vs. Bob Stewart et al., ordering the state to commence processing the application for the tax rebate incentives that would become available once the Ark Encounter opened.[108][109] Bevin announced that the state would not appeal Van Tatenhove's decision, and later replaced four of the nine members on the Tourism Development Finance Authority.[23][110] Ark Encounter began advertising to fill 300 to 400 jobs in the park in April 2016; applicants were required to sign a statement of faith before being hired.[111] Two weeks later, the Tourism Development Finance Authority approved the incentives.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Meehan, Mary (June 26, 2016). "Massive ark attraction set to open in Northern Kentucky". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sherter, Alain. "Visitors, protesters turn out for Ark Encounter opening in Grant County". wkyt.com.
  3. ^ a b Goodstein, Laurie (2016-06-26). "A Noah's Ark in Kentucky, Dinosaurs Included". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
  4. ^ "That sinking feeling". New Scientist. 231 (3086): 18–19. 2016-08-13. doi:10.1016/S0262-4079(16)31456-7. ISSN 0262-4079.
  5. ^ a b Ortiz, Erik (July 16, 2016). "'Absolutely Wrong': Bill Nye Takes on Noah's Ark Exhibit". NBC News. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
  6. ^ Lost city, found pyramid : understanding alternative archaeologies and pseudoscientific practices. Card, Jeb J.,, Anderson, David S., 1978-. Tuscaloosa. p. 86. ISBN 9780817319113. OCLC 952421434.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ^ a b Loftus, Tom (April 26, 2016). "Ark Park Tax Incentives Worth Up to $18M Approved". Courier-Journal. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  8. ^ a b c Ward, Karla (June 26, 2016). "Noah's Ark takes shape in Grant County". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  9. ^ Weed, Alexis (July 7, 2016). "Noah's Ark opens at Kentucky theme park". CNN. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  10. ^ Blackford, Linda (July 7, 2016). "Massive Noah's Ark park opens in Kentucky". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  11. ^ a b c Sirianni, Maura (July 7, 2016). "Ark Encounter opens in northern Kentucky". WDRB. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  12. ^ a b Westerman, Ashley (July 5, 2016). "Life-Size Noah's Ark To Open Amid A Flood Of Skepticism". National Public Radio. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  13. ^ "These Creationists Have a Bigger Plan than a Giant Ark". The Herald. June 12, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Gabbat, Adam (July 6, 2016). "Creators of the lost ark: replica of Noah's vessel unveiled in Kentucky". The Guardian. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  15. ^ a b Pilcher, James (June 28, 2016). "Who pays for the new ark? Taxpayers help". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  16. ^ a b c d "Noah's Ark". RoadsideAmerica.com. January 1, 2018. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  17. ^ a b c Shapiro, Bobby (July 7, 2016). "What to know if you're visiting Ark Encounter". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  18. ^ a b c d e Alford, Roger (December 3, 2010). "Full-scale replica of Noah's Ark planned in Kentucky". USA Today. The Associated Press News Service. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  19. ^ "Plans announced for 'Noah's Ark' attraction in NKY". WISTV. November 30, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  20. ^ a b Hopkins, Shawntaye (December 2, 2010). "Beshear defends use of tax incentives". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  21. ^ a b c d e Blackford, Linda B. (December 18, 2010). "State cited feasibility study it hadn't seen on Ark park". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  22. ^ a b Goodstein, Laurie (December 5, 2010). "In Kentucky, Noah's Ark Theme Park Is Planned". New York Times. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  23. ^ a b c Tucker, Lindsay (January 29, 2016). "Noah's Ark Rises in Kentucky, Dinosaurs and All". Newsweek. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  24. ^ a b Blackford, Linda B. (August 9, 2011). "Noah's Ark theme park to get deep discount on property taxes". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  25. ^ a b c Hansel, Mark (June 11, 2011). "Ark park could break ground in August". Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati. Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Booker, Ted (July 6, 2016). "Mishawaka firm builds a new Noah's ark – without the flood". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  27. ^ "Ky. Noah's Ark attraction gets final piece of land". kypost.com. Cincinnati: E. W. Scripps Company. Associated Press. February 16, 2012. Archived from the original on June 19, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "Final Piece of Land for Full-size Ark Purchased". Answers In Genesis. February 16, 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2017.  Accordingly, the Ark Encounter will be built in multiple phases ...
  29. ^ "Our Greatest Need". Ark Encounter. February 16, 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2017. ... $24 million price tag ...
  30. ^ a b "From the Makers of the Creation Museum Comes 'Ark Encounter,' a Noah's Ark Theme Park". National Religious Broadcasters. November 14, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  31. ^ a b Demeropolis, Tom (October 7, 2015). "Will the Ark Encounter Rain $4 Billion On the Region's Economy?". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  32. ^ a b c Blackford, Linda B. (November 27, 2013). "City seeks to jump-start stalled Ark Encounter park with $62 million 'junk' bond offering". Lexington Herald-Leader. The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  33. ^ Chappatta, Brian (January 3, 2014). "Planned Ark park in Northern Ky. faces collapse without more bond buyers". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky: The McClatchy Company. Bloomberg News. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  34. ^ Lovan, Dylan (February 27, 2014). "Noah's ark project spurred by evolution debate". Associated Press. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  35. ^ a b Brammer, Jack; Cheves, John (April 15, 2014). "Lawmakers approve road-building plan, scholarship bill in final hours of legislative session". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky: The McClatchy Company. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  36. ^ a b Wartman, Scott (April 23, 2016). "State will pay for revamped exit for Ark Encounter". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  37. ^ a b "Road improvements coming to KY 36 near Ark". Grant County News and Express. December 20, 2017.
  38. ^ a b Lovan, Dylan T. (August 17, 2011). "New Noah's Ark in Ky. aims to prove truth of Bible". Associated Press.
  39. ^ Hansel, Mark (March 11, 2013). "Ark park construction to start this year in Grant". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky.
  40. ^ Boyd, Gordon (July 7, 2016). "Ark Encounter opens to praise, protests". WAVE. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  41. ^ Ramey, Corinne (July 8, 2015). "Meet the Creationist Group Building a Life-Size Noah's Ark". Curbed.com. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  42. ^ "Hope floats: Builders of life-size Noah's Ark put faith in $50 million tourism project". USA Today. November 19, 2012.
  43. ^ Schneider, Roger (July 3, 2016). "Anabaptist craftsmen use skills to help create ark attraction". Goshen News. Goshen, Indiana. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
  44. ^ a b Kennicott, Philip (January 5, 2011). "Noah's Ark replica shows conservative Christians are embracing green building". Washington Post. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  45. ^ "Timber! Grant's Ark Park is a go". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky. January 31, 2013.
  46. ^ "5 Must-See New Architecture Projects For 2016". The Urban Developer. January 19, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  47. ^ Walsh, Sarah (10 June 2016). "Former president Jimmy Carter visits planned Ark Encounter theme park in Kentucky". WCPO Cincinnati. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  48. ^ A flagship for a biblical worldview, The Washington Post, 8 July 2016
  49. ^ Law, Jeannie (January 26, 2016). "Ken Ham's Ark Encounter to Host Millions of Visitors in 40 Days, 40 Nights Opening". Christian Post. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  50. ^ Wartman, Scott (July 5, 2016). "Thousands descend on rural Ky. town to board ark". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  51. ^ Engel, Liz (July 14, 2016). "Repeat business key to Ark Encounter success: Can attraction keep people coming back?". WCPO. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  52. ^ "Atheist Group's Anti-Ark Encounter Billboard Rejected". ABC News. Associated Press. May 11, 2016. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  53. ^ Hansel, Mark (July 9, 2016). "Ark Encounter protesters and supporters share common ground in an unlikely place". The Northern Kentucky Tribune. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  54. ^ Contrera, Jessica (July 10, 2016). "Bill Nye Visited a Noah's Ark He Doesn't Believe Should Exist". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 11, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  55. ^ Nye, Bill; Ham, Ken (13 March 2017). "Nye/Ham: The Second Debate Premiere (video - 117:04)". YouTube. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |lastauthoramp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
  56. ^ Nye, Bill; Ham, Ken (13 March 2017). "Nye/Ham: The Second Debate Premiere (video - 11:43)". YouTube. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |lastauthoramp= ignored (|name-list-style= suggested) (help)
  57. ^ Addiego, Walter (November 17, 2017). "The evolution of the science guy". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  58. ^ "Public schools warned about taking field trips to Noah's Ark park". kentucky.com. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  59. ^ Associated Press, WCPO Staff (12 July 2016). "Noah's Ark, Ark Encounter, Answers in Genesis: Public schools warned against visiting Noah's ark attraction in N. Kentucky". WCPO Cincinnati. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  60. ^ Lotus, Tom (July 13, 2016). "Can public schools take field trip to ark park?". Courier Journal.
  61. ^ Blackford, Linda (July 14, 2016). "Ark park offers $1 admission to public school kids after field-trip warning". Lexington Herald Leader.
  62. ^ a b "Protesters gather at Ark Encounter on anniversary". Grant County News and Express. July 11, 2018.
  63. ^ Wartman, Scott (December 23, 2016). "Kentucky Ark Builder Wants to Take Rainbow Back". USA Today. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  64. ^ Ham, Ken (February 3, 2017). "We're Keeping the Rainbow at the Ark Encounter". Answers in Genesis. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  65. ^ Eads, Morgan (July 23, 2017). "A Christian Theme Park Claims It Is 'Taking Back' the Rainbow From the LGBTQ Community". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved July 26, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  66. ^ Puckett, Jeffrey Lee (July 20, 2017). "Ark Encounter Thrills Gay Nation With Rainbow Light Display; Twitter Explodes". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved July 26, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  67. ^ a b c "Ark celebrates 2nd year, eyes expansion". Grant County News and Express. July 18, 2018.
  68. ^ "Ark Encounter building expansion to host larger events". WLWT-TV. November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  69. ^ Malado, Jardine (September 22, 2016). "Ray Comfort's 'The Atheist Delusion' movie to premiere at Ark Encounter in October". The Christian Times. Retrieved November 19, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  70. ^ Zaimov, Stoyan (October 27, 2016). "Ken Ham Celebrates 400K Visitors to Ark Encounter, Says He's on Mission With Ray Comfort to Reach Unbelievers". The Christian Post. Retrieved November 19, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  71. ^ a b Kelly, Amanda (December 6, 2017). "'Crazy Train' Ozzy Osbourne makes stop in Grant County". Grant County News. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  72. ^ "Ark Encounter Makes Enormous Impact in First Year". Answers in Genesis. July 6, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  73. ^ James, Josh (July 8, 2017). "Ark Encounter, Protesters Mark One-Year Anniversary". WUKY. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  74. ^ Smith, Lawrance (July 6, 2017). "1 Year After Opening, Ark Encounter's Attendance and Impact is Growing". WDRB. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  75. ^ Smith, Lawrence (February 24, 2017). "'Ark Encounter' park bringing a flood of tourists to Grant County, Kentucky". WDRB. Retrieved May 1, 2017. The ark did exactly what it said it would do
  76. ^ "NKY Tourism Report: Ark Encounter, Kona Ice Honored". The River City News. March 23, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  77. ^ Ashwill, Vickie (May 16, 2017). "Ark Encounter helped tide of Northern Kentucky tourism rise in 2016". WCPO. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  78. ^ Weber, Don (June 6, 2017). "As One Year Anniversary Approaches, Ark Encounter a Boon for Dry Ridge Hospitality Businesses, Mayor Says". Spectrum News. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  79. ^ a b "Hotel development breaks ground in Dry Ridge". Grant County News and Express. July 18, 2018.
  80. ^ Ham, Ken (June 12, 2017). "The Secularist Media War Against the Ark Continues". Answers in Genesis. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  81. ^ Ham, Ken (June 9, 2017). "Economic Benefits of Ark Park Unfairly Downplayed". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved June 12, 2017. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  82. ^ Knight, Cameron (July 5, 2018). "Ark Encounter reports 1 million visitors in second year". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  83. ^ a b c Novelly, Thomas (August 2, 2018). "Not as many people are flooding into Ark Encounter as projected". Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  84. ^ a b "Embracing the Ark Incentives mean cheap jobs, poor state image". Lexington Herald-Leader. December 3, 2010.
  85. ^ a b Alford, Roger (May 20, 2011). "Noah's Ark theme park gets go-ahead in Kentucky". The Herald-Dispatch. Huntington, WV. Associated Press. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  86. ^ "A costly modern Ark". The Courier-Journal (Editorial). Tysons Corner, VA: Gannett Company. December 28, 2010. Retrieved 2014-10-08.
  87. ^ a b c Blackford, Linda (June 2, 2017). "Town expected flood of business after Noah's Ark opened. So far, it's a trickle". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  88. ^ "Williamstown plans to reject Noah's Ark tax exemption request". Lexington Herald-Leader. June 29, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  89. ^ a b c d e f Blackford, Linda (July 25, 2017). "After months of disagreement, Noah's Ark operators say they will pay safety tax". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  90. ^ "Ark Encounter requests safety fee exemption". Grant County News. June 28, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  91. ^ a b c Blackford, Linda (July 24, 2017). "After state suspends tax break, Noah's Ark park transfers land back to for-profit entity". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  92. ^ "Grant County News and Express". Grant County News and Express. December 13, 2017.
  93. ^ a b Blackford, Linda (September 7, 2017). "Noah's Ark theme park getting $1.8 million state tax rebate after first year". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  94. ^ Loftus, Tom (July 28, 2014). "Tax incentives sought for Noah's Ark theme park". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky.
  95. ^ a b Blackford, Linda B. (January 22, 2015). "Ark park impact in dispute". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  96. ^ Brammer, Jack (July 30, 2014). "Stumbo: State tax incentives for Noah's Ark theme park violate constitution". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  97. ^ a b c "Group opposes tax incentives for Noah's Ark park". Associated Press State Wire. August 23, 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  98. ^ Costello, Carol (June 21, 2016). "Kentucky's magnificent, controversial ark". CNN. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  99. ^ "No more state aid for Ark Park". Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. August 27, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  100. ^ Blackford, Linda B. (October 8, 2014). "Ark tax incentives in limbo over hiring". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  101. ^ Blackford, Linda B. (December 11, 2014). "State denies $18M in incentive". Lexington Herald-Leader.
  102. ^ Lovan, Dylan (December 10, 2014). "Kentucky: No tax breaks for Noah's Ark project". Associated Press State Wire. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  103. ^ "Tax Breaks Are Withdrawn For Park That's Site of a New Noah's Ark". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 11, 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  104. ^ Baker-Nantz, Jaime (December 18, 2014). "Ark isn't sunk; 'it's happening'". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky.
  105. ^ a b "AiG to file discrimination suit against Kentucky". WHAS. February 3, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  106. ^ Loftus, Tom (June 16, 2015). "Noah's Ark park moves ahead with or without state help". The Messenger. Madisonville, Kentucky.
  107. ^ Williams, Chris (November 12, 2015). "Ky. lawmaker supports Ark Encounter tax breaks". WHAS. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  108. ^ Lovan, Dylan (January 25, 2016). "Ark Encounter Builder Wins Legal Battle Over Tax Incentive". WPCO.com. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  109. ^ Caproni, Erin (January 26, 2016). "Judge Rules on Ark Encounter Incentives". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  110. ^ Blackford, Linda B. (April 27, 2016). "Noah's Ark park – State awards $18 million tax break to theme park". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  111. ^ Lovan, Dylan (April 14, 2016). "Noah's Ark job float your boat? Then you must be Christian". Associated Press State Wire. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
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