A $100 million representation of Noah's Ark opened to ticket holders on Thursday in Williamstown, Kentucky. According to the critics, religious enterprise shouldn't receive government tax breaks.
The huge exhibit, probably the largest timber frame structure in the world, sits on the grounds of a Christian theme park, Ark Encounter which is a for-profit enterprise founded by Ken Ham. He said that the park is a scriptural tool aimed to teach creationism, a literal interpretation of the the Book of Genesis.
Ham said, "I find some of the aggressive secularists try to shut down people talking about the bible. So for us it's 'How can we get a message out there about the Bible?'"
According to Ham, 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high ark is constructed based on dimensions derived from scripture. Its three decks span is more than 120,000 square feet.
Ham stated, "It is much more than you can ever imagine. When you see the architectural algorithms you need, engineering diagrams. And all the supporters, thousands upon thousands of supporters who financially made this possible .I mean it's amazing." Investors, donors, as well as the state of Kentucky, Grant County, and the city of Williamstown, helped to launch the ark project. Ham informed, that $62 million was raised from investors who bought Williamstown's unrated municipal bonds, and near about $38 million raised from donors.
The city of Williamstown sold nearly 100 acres of land to the Grant County Joint Local Industrial Development Authority for $10. The land is now part of the park, which was subsequently purchased by Ark Encounter as a part of a 318 acre sale. The city created a special tax district to forgive 75% of Ark Encounter's property taxes over 30 years.
The park will provide 20,000 jobs in the area and $4 billion in tourism revenue, when combined with Creation Museum established by Ham.
The head pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Georgetown, Kentucky, stated that the ark project fades the line between church and state. He added, "I have a great deal of difficulty when the state is asked to promote a religious position and through funding. So my concern is that when the state offers tax incentives to what is essentially a religious enterprise, they are promoting that religious group."
The ark exhibit, has the features of a petting zoo, zip lines, live entertainment, a 900 seat auditorium and a 1,500 seat restaurant.
By Prakriti Neogi
