Ark Encounter

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[[File:ArkEncounter.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Even dry land couldn't save ''this'' Ark from tanking.<ref>[http://wp.production.patheos.com/blogs/religionprof/files/2016/12/img_0350.jpg The Year In Science 2016]. "Hey, down here! I built an Aaaaak!"</ref>]]
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{{Cquote|You either [[Reality-based_community|live in reality]] or you spend $92 million building a giant Ark for rational people to laugh at.|||[[Hemant Mehta]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160629172323/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/06/26/ken-ham-evolution-is-a-religion-of-death Ken Ham: Evolution is a “Religion of Death”] by Hemant Mehta, June 26, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref>}}

{{Cquote|...the fact that a huge team of professionals hired by AiG can build a boat-shaped building using modern construction equipment and sophisticated engineering software does not prove that one 500-year-old man built a similarly sized ''seafaring vessel'' thousands of years ago using a wood hammer and a rock.|||Tyler Franke, Christian blogger<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151116024846/http://www.godofevolution.com/friday-fun-ken-ham-says-science-is-satans-primary-weapon-in-our-day Friday Fun: Ken Ham Says Science is Satan’s ‘Primary’ Weapon In Our Day.] godofevolution.com, 13 November 2005.</ref>}}

The '''Ark Encounter''' is a $102 million<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/us/noahs-ark-creationism-ken-ham.html A Noah’s Ark in Kentucky, Dinosaurs Included] by Laurie Goodstein, July 26, 2016, ''The New York Times''</ref> amusement park in Williamstown, [[Kentucky]]; it features "a full-size [[Noah]]'s Ark, built [[Not even wrong|according to the dimensions given]] in the [[Bible]]",<ref>[https://arkencounter.com/about-the-ark/ About the Ark] at arkencounter.com.</ref> the world's third such structure, or, to be more accurate, "a boat-shaped building held together with riveted steel brackets". Ark Encounter opened in 2016 amidst controversy and chaos, as per usual for anything involving [[Ken Ham]] and [[Answers in Genesis]].

=="Malarkey Encounter"==
In 2010, Answers in Genesis started the "Ark Encounter" project about 40 miles from the [[Creation Museum|Creation "Museum"]] and built a life-sized [[Global flood|ark]]<ref>[http://arkencounter.com/ Ark Encounter]</ref> for it. The attraction is a for-profit venture part-owned by AIG subsidiary Crosswater Canyon Inc., who will supposedly be providing the day-to-day management of the park as well as maintaining at least a 20% stake in the business. Other, unnamed private investors were said to be providing the other 80% of the funding required.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140306220821/https://www.leoweekly.com/news/investors-lost-ark Investors of the Lost Ark] by Joe Sonka, August 1st, 2012, ''Leo Weekly''</ref> Another $150 million<ref name="AEFAQ">[http://arkencounter.com/faq/ The Ark Encounter website's "Frequently" Asked Questions]</ref> well spent! Plans dictated that the ark will be built precisely to the specifications described in the Bible, down to the {{wpl|cubit||.}}<ref group=note>The cubit is not an exact unit of measure. The {{wpl|Noah's Ark (Hong Kong)|450ft Ark in Hong Kong}} built in 2009 can also claim that it is built to biblical specifications, even though it is 450 feel long, and the AiG Ark is 510 feet long.</ref> The result of this is that Creationist families will marvel in awe at the size of the boat, before a sudden, startling realization that it couldn't fit two of every animal.

Set to open in 2014, the Ark Encounter was to feature a [[animal|petting zoo]], a replica [[Tower of Babel]], and the "historical" biblical journey from [[Abraham]] to the [[Evidence for the Exodus#Parting the Red Sea|parting of the Red Sea]].<ref name="AEFAQ"/> Due to difficulties securing funding, this has since been scaled back to a "first phase" consisting of just the Ark itself, 30 pairs of stuffed animals that won't take up more space than is available,<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2016/06/27/they-wouldnt-have-this-bathroom-problem-if-only-god-would-kill-the-evil-people/ They wouldn’t have this bathroom problem if only god would kill the evil people] by PZ Myers, 27 June, 2016, ''Pharyngula''</ref> and a smaller petting zoo. Even this smaller petting zoo risks serious animal health and animal welfare problems which the organizers apparently did not consider.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131207133508/http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/12/the-ark-park-needs-to-sink/ Noah’s Extremely Bad Animal Husbandry Advice] by Gwen Pearson, December 3rd, 2013, ''Wired''</ref> Other attractions are said to be scheduled for "future phases". With its super accurate account of history, the project is aimed mainly at being an educational experience for its soon-to-be-enlightened visitors (of which they expect 1.6 million a year).<ref name="AEFAQ"/> Unfortunately, fundraising stalled at half the $24 million to start the first phase of the project, construction of the ark itself.<ref name="Stern">Stern, Mark Joseph. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20140729042154/http://www.watoday.com.au/federal-politics/society-and-culture/darwin-dinosaurs-and-the-devil-20130213-2eck1.html Darwin, dinosaurs and the devil.]" watoday.co.au, February 13, 2013.</ref> As of 2013, ground had yet to be broken on the project. Meanwhile, a Dutch creationist showed them how it was done by building another Ark replica in 2012.<ref>{{wpa|Johan's Ark}}</ref>

Also dubbed "Malarkey Encounter", "Unmarketable Encounter", and more,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160813050740/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/08/10/we-fixed-ark-encounters-misleading-billboards We Fixed Ark Encounter’s Misleading Billboards] by Tracey, August 10, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref> the theme park opened in 2016, amid controversy, because bands from two public schools played at the opening ceremony, allegedly violating [[United States Constitution|Constitutional]] [[Separation of church and state|church/state separation]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160708132415/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/07/07/two-public-school-marching-bands-played-at-ark-encounters-ribbon-cutting-ceremony/ Two Public School Marching Bands Played at Ark Encounter’s Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony] by Hemant Mehta, July 7th, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref> although the bands' performance likely would have been within the guidelines set forth by the United States Department of Education dating to [[Bill Clinton|the Clinton era]] regarding proper separation of church and state, which explicitly state that schools should treat religious groups the same exact way as secular groups.<ref>https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayer_guidance.html</ref> Despite years of planning and building, the project did not appear successful.<ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2016/07/07/i-shoulda-gone-to-the-ark-park-today-ohnoahhedidnt/ I shoulda gone to the Ark Park today #OhNoahHeDidnt] by PZ Myers, 7 July, 2016, ''Pharyngula''</ref> Hemant Mehta wrote:

{{quotebox|There’s a reason Ham didn’t use a picture from Ark Encounter’s actual opening day: The attendance was abysmal. It didn’t meet anyone’s expectations.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160718061558/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/07/15/creationist-ken-ham-caught-misleading-people-about-ark-encounters-attendance-on-opening-day Creationist Ken Ham Caught Misleading People About Ark Encounter’s Attendance on Opening Day] by Hemant Mehta, July 15th, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref>}}

[[Jerry Coyne]] said:

{{quotebox|Maybe all the good Christians were in Church that morning and would show up later. Still it’s worrisome—to Ham, not me, as I’m delighted. Who wants big attendance at an exhibit devoted to purveying [[lie]]s to children?<ref>[https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2016/09/02/skimpy-attendance-at-the-ark-park/ Skimpy attendance at the Ark Park?] by whyevolutionistrue, September 2nd, 2016, ''Why Evolution Is True''</ref>}}

Later visitors did not describe the site as truthful or accurate.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160731092402/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/07/28/how-are-people-describing-ark-encounter-lets-just-say-accurate-didnt-make-the-cut How Are People Describing Ark Encounter? Let’s Just Say “Accurate” Didn’t Make the Cut] by Hemant Mehta, July 28th, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref> The sight of an Ark with a bulbous bow — a 20th-century invention for ships which have to move through the water — and a modern stern was not a good start.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160630093221/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/06/27/ken-hams-version-of-noahs-ark-is-horribly-designed Ken Ham's Version of Noah's Ark is Horribly Designed] by John, June 27th, 2016 ''Friendly Atheist''</ref>

===Problematic finance===
{{Cquote|I wanted it to fail. I didn’t want it to open. Now I’m counting down the days until it closes.|||Hemant Mehta<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160724000844/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/07/22/ken-ham-isnt-a-big-bad-ogre-why-i-feel-bad-about-ark-encounter/ Ken Ham Isn’t a Big Bad Ogre: Why I Feel Bad About Ark Encounter] by Tracey, July 22nd, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref>}}
The Ark Encounter applied for tax breaks to the tune of $43 million from the Kentucky state government. That was a bit steep, but tax breaks were controversially granted.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110521020748/https://www.kentucky.com/2011/05/20/1745988/43-million-tax-break-approved.html $43 million tax break approved for Ark Encounter theme park] May 20th, 2011, ''Lexington Herald-Leader'' (archived from May 21, 2011)</ref> Secular organizations such as Americans United for the Separation of Church and State see it as a clear violation of the [[First Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution|US Constitution]]. Still, the state government claimed they had no right to deny the Ark Encounter tax incentives they would give to any other for-profit tourist venture of similar size in the state. There were delays beginning construction and difficulties getting funding, so the Ark Encounter missed deadlines tied to tax incentives they applied for and was forced to refile to secure them again. The plans for the Ark Encounter have been scaled down a great deal after their first application.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/31/noahs-ark-theme-park_n_3367579.html 'Ark Encounter', Noah's Ark Theme Park, Hopes To Show Biblical Flood Was 'Plausible'] by Mary Wisniewski, May 31st, 2013, HuffPost</ref> In 2014, Kentucky’s state tourism board gave preliminary approval for tax subsidies for the Ark Park.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140920170103/https://www.au.org/church-state/september-2014-church-state/au-bulletin/ark-park-in-ky-receives-approval-for-tax-breaks Ark Park In Kentucky Receives Approval For Tax Breaks] September 2014, ''Americans United for Separation of Church and State''</ref> Then it was announced that the project had lost the incentives from the state because they intended to discriminate on religious grounds.<ref name="li">[https://web.archive.org/web/20141227212515/http://insiderlouisville.com/metro/lost-ark-kentucky-will-not-grant-tax-incentives-ark-encounter/ The Lost Ark: Kentucky will not grant tax incentives to Ark Encounter] by Joe Sonka, December 10, 2014, ''Insider Louisville'' (archived from December 27, 2014)</ref> As one commenter put it, "There very well may be dinosaurs on Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter boat in Grant County at some point in the future, but much like 'Noah,' it appeared he would now have to build this with his own money."<ref name="li"/>

{{quotebox|Why does God need so much taxpayer help?

Really, has God been so lame spreading the good news that AIG must "counter the myths floating around about the Bible-upholding Ark Encounter," on a digital video board in New York's Times Square?

Does God need to be defended with the demagogic language AIG and its founder Ken Ham use in the holy war against "[[Psychological projection|intolerant liberal friends]]," "secularists," "[[Militant atheism|Bible-scoffers]]," and, the most telling, "agitators outside the state?"<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150412182108/https://www.kentucky.com/2014/12/11/3587411/few-questions-for-answers-in-genesis.html ''Herald-Leader'' editorial: Few questions for Answers in Genesis] December 11, 2014, ''Lexington Herald-Leader'' (archived from April 12, 2015)</ref>}}

In fall 2013, AiG finally gave up trying to raise the necessary funds to build the Ark Encounter from their flock. The new plan was to do a bond issue together with the city of Williamstown to raise funds for the project.<ref>[http://legacy-cdn-assets.answersingenesis.org/assets/pdf/ark/ark-bonds-letter.pdf Answers in Genesis - Bond issue letter] August 26, 2013, ''Ark Encounter'' (archived from March 11, 2014)</ref> Interestingly, the official bond issue site describes Ark Encounter LLC. as wholly owned by Crosswater Canyon Inc., the AiG subsidiary.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131216061855/http://www.arkbonds.com/ Ark Bonds.] "''The bond issuer will be the City of Williamstown, KY and the co-borrowers will be Crosswater Canyon, Inc., a non-profit organization controlled by Answers in Genesis, and Ark Encounter, LLC (co-borrower; solely owned by Crosswater Canyon, Inc.)."'' Retrieved on 5 September 2016. (archived from December 16, 2013)</ref> This suggests that AiG's partners have now bailed out, forcing the project to be entirely debt-financed. According to the project summary, the "first phase" of the project is projected to cost $73 million and AiG is providing the $13 million already raised from their credulous supporters in donations towards this. The whole of the remaining $60 million is to come from the bonds. They project the "future phases", i.e. everything other than the ark, will cost $52.6 million and hope the profits of the park over the first decade that it's running will pay for this. Remember the project is to be 80% debt-financed. Isn't that ridiculously optimistic? AiG continues to use the original estimates of annual visitor numbers from when the project was announced, pegged at 1.6 million or up to 2 million if some decide on a two-day visit. Jie Yang, a professor of finance at Georgetown University, notes ''"Should the project be unsuccessful, AiG holds no responsibility in meeting the interest payments of these bonds and the bonds may default."''.<ref>[http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/11/ark_encounter_finances_obamacare_sank_ken_ham_s_creationist_theme_park.html Ark Encounter, a creationist theme park, is selling junk bonds.] by Mark Joseph Stern, November 12, 2013, ''Slate''</ref> 

Kentucky refused state-based funding for the Ark Park, sparking a lawsuit and later a $190,000 legal bill which the state had to pay.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160626143033/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/06/25/after-losing-battle-against-noahs-ark-theme-park-kentucky-officials-pay-190000-legal-bill/ After Losing Battle Against Noah’s Ark Theme Park, Kentucky Officials Pay $190,000 Legal Bill] by Hemant Mehta, June 25, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref> AiG claims that when the State of Kentucky is not actively funding a religious organisation (i.e. Ham's nonsensical creation circus), this is "[[Persecution complex|religious persecution]]", or at least interferes with "[[religious freedom]]". This AiG [[irony|version]] of "religious freedom" [[hypocrisy|includes the right to discriminate based on religious belief (or lack thereof) when recruiting its staff]].<ref>[http://pandasthumb.org/archives/2014/12/ark-encounter-t.html Ark Encounter Sues State] by Matt Young, December 10, 2014, ''Panda's Thumb''</ref> Employees are required to disavow [[abortion]], [[euthanasia]], [[homosexuality]], [[premarital sex]], [[same-sex marriage|gay marriage]], and [[transgender]] rights. They must believe in [[Adam and Eve]], that [[Genesis]] is literally true, the [[Global flood]], the [[Holy Spirit]], [[Jesus]], [[Satan]] as enemy of God and humanity, and a [[Young Earth creationism|6,000-year-old earth]]. Employees may not believe in [[evolution]] [[science]], must provide salvation testimony, and must dutifully attend a Bible-believing local church.<ref name=Slate>[http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2014/10/ken_ham_ark_encounter_theme_park_religious_discrimination_may_block_kentucky.html Non-Christians Need Not Apply] by Mark Joseph Stern, October 27, 2014, ''Slate''</ref> By contrast, [[Kentucky]] citizens (whose tax dollars help to finance 'Ark Encounter') hold a range of different beliefs about religion and ethics.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160622220953/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/06/21/cnn-slams-ken-hams-ark-encounter-for-being-a-state-sponsored-ministry-that-only-hires-christians/ CNN Slams Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter for Being a State-Sponsored Ministry That Only Hires Christians] by Hemant Mehta, June 21, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref><ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/21/opinions/kentucky-ark-costello/index.html Kentucky's magnificent, controversial ark] by Carol Costello, June 21, 2016, ''CNN''</ref>

U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ruled in favor of Answers in Genesis in January 2016, and this appears to be the end of the dispute (unless Ark Park still manages to go bankrupt) because then-Kentucky governor Matt Bevin, who has been in favor of taxpayer support of the Christian religion, opted not to appeal the case.<ref>[http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2016/01/26/noahs-ark-park-wins-battle-tax-incentives/79336296/ Noah's Ark Park wins battle for tax incentives] by Dylan Lovan (7:34 a.m. EST January 26, 2016) ''Courier-Journal''</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160320152619/https://www.au.org/church-state/march-2016-church-state/people-events/ky-ark-park-wins-legal-case-securing-tax Ky. ‘Ark Park’ Wins Legal Case Securing Tax Incentive Package] (March 2016) American's United ''Church & State''.</ref> Ken Ham stated [[deceit]]fully for an Australian television program that the funding was entirely from private donations. Australian television apparently missed out on fact checking.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160524141710/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/05/23/australian-news-report-on-ken-hams-ark-encounter-is-more-fluff-than-facts/ Australian News Report on Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter is More Fluff than Facts] by Tracey, May 23, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref>

===Disappointing result===
Tourist trade around the attraction is far less than was hoped, and people in the area may wonder if the tax rebates gave value for money.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160808165545/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/08/07/surprise-ark-encounter-isnt-providing-the-economic-boost-local-communities-were-expecting/ Surprise! Ark Encounter Isn’t Providing the Economic Boost Local Communities Were Expecting] by Hemant Mehta, August 7, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref> It seems Ark Encounter is attracting at best under 5,000 visitors a day, well below what was hoped.<ref name=panic>[http://www.liberalamerica.org/2016/08/14/ark-encounter-ken-ham-creation-sinking/ Ark Encounter Is A Financial DISASTER, Ken Ham In A Panic] by R. L. Paine, August 14, 2016, ''Liberal America''.</ref> On the bright side, some visitors have been enjoying [[cognitive dissonance]] by camping at nearby Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, the "Birthplace of American Vertebrate Paleontology", where [[fossil]]s from 13,000 BCE have been found according to the State of Kentucky.<ref name=panic/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121114001925/http://parks.ky.gov/parks/historicsites/big-bone-lick/ Big Bone Lick State Historic Site]</ref> [[Hemant Mehta]] expects attendance to fall further during the less pleasant times of the year and also expects falling attendance because visitors who have seen the attraction once will generally not come back.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160917142802/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/09/16/creationist-ken-ham-just-lowered-attendance-estimates-for-the-first-year-of-ark-encounter/ Creationist Ken Ham Just Lowered Attendance Estimates for the First Year of Ark Encounter] by Hemant Mehta, September 16, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref> Ark Encounter has not benefited the local economy despite the tax breaks they got.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170228220533/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/02/26/referring-to-economy-grant-county-ky-official-says-ark-encounter-has-not-done-us-good-at-all Referring to Economy, Grant County (KY) Official Says Ark Encounter Has “Not Done Us Good At All”] by Hemant Mehta, February 26, 2017, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref><ref>Rob Boston, [https://www.au.org/the-latest/articles/ark-encounter-six/ Six Years Later, A Creationist Theme Park Is Not Paying Off For Kentucky]. ''Americans United'', 12 April 2022.</ref>

==Back to the future==
The 10-year plan for the park includes "a [[Tower of Babel]], concept snack shacks, a 3,200-seat amphitheater and a [[G'Tach|10-plagues-of-Egypt]] thrill ride. ''Frogs! Fiery hail! Locusts!''"<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/a-giant-ark-is-just-the-start-these-creationists-have-a-bigger-plan-for-recruiting-new-believers/2017/05/24/b497bd14-2920-11e7-be51-b3fc6ff7faee_story.html?utm_term=.f4db5272d5ac&wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1 A giant ark is just the start. These creationists have a bigger plan for recruiting new believers.] by Karen Heller (May 24, 2017 at 10:08 AM) ''The Washington Post''.</ref>

==Controversy==
''[[Biologos]]'', a Christian group that promotes [[theistic evolution]], claims that Ark Encounter and [[Answers in Genesis]] generally force people to choose between science and literal interpretations of the [[Bible]]. ''Biologos'' adds that people taught [[Biblical literalism]] can lose [[faith]] in Christianity totally when they find how science conflicts with literal interpretations of the Bible.<ref>[http://biologos.org/blogs/deborah-haarsma-the-presidents-notebook/biologos-responds-to-the-ark-encounter BioLogos Responds to the “Ark Encounter”] by Deborah Haarsma, July 9th, 2019, ''Biologos''</ref>

[[Bill Nye]] fears that children are being ''“brainwashed”'';<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160712215038/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2016/07/bill-nye-says-he-hopes-that-the-ark-encounter-goes-bankrupt-and-closes-before-it-is-completed/ Bill Nye says he hopes that the Ark Encounter goes bankrupt and closes before it is completed] by Dan Arel, July 10th, 2016, ''Danthropology''</ref> the ''"absolutely wrong idea that the Earth is 6,000 years old"'' alarms him.<ref>[http://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/absolutely-wrong-bill-nye-science-guy-takes-noah-s-ark-n608721 'Absolutely Wrong': Bill Nye the Science Guy Takes on Noah's Ark Exhibit] by Erik Ortiz, July 16th, 2016, ''NBC News''</ref> The [[Freedom From Religion Foundation]] warned schools that field trips to Ark Encounter have no educational value and could lead to costly legal action over the 1st Amendment and violation of the Establishment Clause. Ken Ham got worked up about this and called it bullying;<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160714224959/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/07/13/ken-ham-ffrf-is-bullying-schools-by-warning-them-against-taking-field-trips-to-ark-encounter/ Ken Ham: FFRF Is “Bullying” Schools By Warning Them Against Taking Field Trips to Ark Encounter] by Hemant Mehta, July 13th, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref> he's now offering kids who are part of field trips entry for only $1 with teachers free.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160918175337/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/07/14/ken-ham-if-students-visit-ark-encounter-as-part-of-a-field-trip-ill-only-charge-them-1/ Ken Ham: If Students Visit Ark Encounter As Part of a Field Trip, I’ll Only Charge Them $1] by Hemant Mehta, July 14th, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref> A lawsuit would give further free publicity to Ark Encounter. Will there be legal fireworks?

[[PZ Myers]] is also unimpressed:
{{quotebox|[[Bill Nye]] is not going to be persuaded by the fake Ark, because he knows what the actual evidence is, and seeing the place lying at every point is the opposite of persuasion — it’s active dissuasion to anyone knowledgeable at all. It’s a giant affirmation of ignorance, and so the ignorant will revel in it, while everyone else will be repelled. This is why I’m not afraid to encourage scientists and atheists to visit: what needs to be done to correct its influence is informed discussion of its fundamental dishonesty. To do that, we need to witness it. But unless we fail to educate the public, this foolishness is ultimately doomed.<ref name=Myers09/07/2016>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2016/07/09/smug-and-delusional/ Smug and delusional] by PZ Myers, 9 July 2016, ''Pharyngula''</ref>}}

Admission is a whopping $49.95 (plus tax), and for many/most potential visitors, the cost of travelling there is comparable or higher. By no means will every scientific atheist want to pay out to see the "Ship of Fools".<ref>[https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2016/07/09/ark-park-a-meme/ Ark Park: a meme] by whyevolutionistrue, July 9th, 2016, Why Evolution Is True</ref> Still, all that is needed is a sufficient number of atheist visitors to debunk the museum thoroughly. [[Credulity|Children or gullible adults]] who have seen 'Ark Encounter,' or read descriptions, may benefit from accounts by scientifically-minded people who also saw it. Books and online material point out how unreasonable the [[Noah's flood]] story is as well as [[:Category:Global flood|many other problems with Noah and the flood]]. This also helps and costs far less.

An atheist group tried to erect a billboard describing Noah's flood as [[genocide]] and drawing attention to necessary [[incest]] if after the flood Noah's family procreated. The company dealing with the billboard refused, arguing the advertisement was offensive, fraudulent, inaccurate, or a few more similar options. Jim G. Helton, who is involved in the campaign, agrees that the Bible quote, ''"So God said to Noah, 'I am going to put an end to all the people.'"'' ({{bible|Genesis|6|13}}), is offensive and that is the only relevant writing on the revised billboard. Helton also agrees that the Bible is offensive, misleading, and fraudulent, but regrets that the group have not been able to exercise [[First Amendment]] rights and put the poster up. ''"I guess the Bible is too offensive for a billboard."'' (Hemant Mehta)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160611112307/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/06/08/censored-version-of-atheist-groups-genocide-and-incest-park-billboard-also-rejected-by-vendor Censored Version of Atheist Group’s “Genocide and Incest Park” Billboard Also Rejected by Vendor] by Hemant Mehta, June 8th, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref>

Ark Encounter is by far the largest wooden structure in the world. Therefore, nobody anywhere in the world has experience of how fire would behave in such a large wooden structure. The fire risk is likely impossible to estimate. Ken Ham is unwilling to pay the town where the Ark is situated for safety features, including a fire truck, that are needed to protect people who work there and visitors.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170717215506/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/07/17/creationists-have-sold-ark-encounter-to-themselves-for-10-to-avoid-taxes/ Creationists Have Sold Ark Encounter. To Themselves. For $10. To Avoid Taxes] by Hemant Mehta, July 17th, 2016, ''Friendly Atheist''</ref>

==Gallery==
{{expand section}}
<gallery>
File:Ark Encounter 012.jpg|Answers in Genesis doesn't like the chibi version of the Ark in children's literature, so they made an entire exhibit out of it.
File:AE animal bays.jpg|Animal bays for the Ark. Seems a little crammed.
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Mike Johnson]] — Speaker of the [[House of Representatives]] had given legal representation to the Ark Park<ref>[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mike-johnson-young-earth-creationist_n_653adc81e4b0d69ae7068a0b New House Speaker Thinks Creationist Museum Is 'Pointing People To The Truth': An ark replica with dinosaurs "is one way to bring people to this recognition ... that what we read in the Bible are actual historical events,” Mike Johnson said.] by Liz Skalka & Paul Blumenthal (Oct 26, 2023, 07:59 PM EDT; Updated Oct 27, 2023) ''HuffPost''.</ref>

==External links==
*[https://arkencounter.com/ Official site]
*[https://ncse.com/library-resource/kentucky-gets-ark-shaped-second-creation-museum Kentucky Gets an Ark-Shaped Second Creation Museum] by Dan Phelps, President, Kentucky Paleontological Society. Phelps understands [[paleontology]] and explains in detail how 'Ark Encounter' gets things wrong.
*[https://www.pbs.org/video/we-believe-in-dinosaurs-hnhjlz/ "We Believe In Dinosaurs"], 2019 documentary about the construction of the site and the reactions of it.

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Answers in Genesis]]
[[Category:Creationism]]
[[Category:Homophobia]]
[[Category:Pseudoscience]]
[[Category:Transphobia]]

Categories: Answers in Genesis, Creationism, Homophobia, Pseudoscience, Transphobia