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NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. For NPR News, I'm Cheri Lawson in Williamstown, Ky.Ĭopyright © 2016 NPR. They plan to add a walled city, a Tower of Babel and a Middle Eastern village. LAWSON: Park officials expect 2 million visitors the first year. They will have a religious theme but they're not going to keep you there until you say you believe. RICK SKINNER: I don't think they're going to push religion down their throats. Williamstown Mayor Rick Skinner is excited about the opening and dismisses the controversy. Wooden decks and ramps line the structure. LAWSON: Inside the ark, there are lifelike models of people and close to 100 sculpted animals, including dinosaurs. HAM: That's where they then leave the modern world, so to speak, and come up here and come into Noah's world. Ham says to get to the ark, visitors will ride a mile-long shuttle that travels across a valley and over a creek.
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The surrounding park includes a lake, zip lines and even a petting zoo. It's 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet high.
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The ark is based on dimensions in the Bible. He's used money from private donations and bonds to complete the $100 million Ark Encounter. LAWSON: The naysayers haven't stopped Ken Ham. Geologist Dan Phelps is the president of the Kentucky Paleontological Society.ĭAN PHELPS: It's reinforcing the stereotype of Kentucky as being very uber religious and anti-science and backwards. LAWSON: Scientists have railed against the project. In my tradition, the Baptist tradition, separation of church and state has always been an essential component. But the controversy continues for Kentuckians like Baptist minister Bob Fox.īOB FOX: I oppose this on principle. Answers in Genesis sued and won in what they called a victory for religious freedom. Kentucky state officials originally promised $18 million in tax incentives but later withdrew that offer because the company requires employees to sign a statement of biblical faith. LAWSON: The biblical boat has had its share of problems. You know, in our lifetime, to be able to see that, I just think it's amazing. ROBIN DOYLE: I am so excited to see the Bible come to life. Like some in this town of 4,000 she can't wait for the ark. LAWSON: Ham doesn't have to convince Williamstown resident Robin Doyle. This is going to help them see this could've been feasible. HAM: Today, a lot of people just scoff at the idea that Noah could fit the animals on board or this could've really happened. Now Ham has turned his attention to his latest creation. It's been popular since it opened nine years ago despite its controversial claims - the world is 6,000 years old and dinosaurs roamed the Earth with humans. LAWSON: Ken Ham is CEO of Answers in Genesis and the man behind the nearby Creation Museum. And the research shows that very, very clearly. But you're going to get non-Christians as well as Christians coming. I believe it's going to be one of the greatest Christian outreaches of our era history. KEN HAM: It's going to be a world-class attraction. It's here where there's a massive timber-framed structure - Noah's Ark. Here's Cheri Lawson of member station WEKU.ĬHERI LAWSON, BYLINE: Midway between the rolling hills of Cincinnati and Lexington sits Williamstown, Ky. The $100 million project, called the Ark Encounter, has been shrouded in controversy since it was announced six years ago. The centerpiece is a life-sized Noah's Ark. A new theme park opens this week in Kentucky.