My Review of this theme park
We were going to be in the Kentucky area anyway, so I suggested to ‘the fam’ that we visit the newly constructed Ark Encounter. I mean, a life-sized Noah’s Ark? What Christian wouldn’t want to see this amazing Biblical-building replica?
Then we checked the admission price.
For adults, it costs nearly $50 per person. With two adult tickets, one senior, one teen, and parking, it cost us $180 just for starters. And then there are those other expenses like food, drinks, and souvenirs…
Ouch!
Nevertheless, to see this the Ark was absolutely thrilling, and at the end of the day, worth the price of admission… to be sure.
To say it was huge is an understatement. This boat is GINORMOUS! I mean, to walk within its massive wooden walls was surreal. If you ever doubted this story, by buying into the progressive notion that this story is just a “fairy tale,” walking onto the Ark Encounter will change that idea. What this theme park screams loud and clear is that Noah’s Ark was not an impossible feat, as some claim. This was doable, and the folks behind the construction explain just how doable this boat was to make.
How it was constructed
In Genesis 6:15, God tells Noah how big to build the boat. The following two chapters tell the story of the flood and what happens to Noah and his family. It doesn’t go into great detail about the ark itself, but these folks had to survive in that thing for nearly an entire year! That is a long time to be on the water with all kinds of living creatures. So, just how did they do it?
The Ark Encounter engineers did speculate, taking creative license with how Noah and his family might have lived on this floating survival ship. There were loads of details and hundreds of plaques to read on the walls along the way explaining their thinking and design elements. We spent a good three to four hours taking the time to read most of it. It is an education!
The engineers believed Noah probably used a ‘long’ cubit for the construction of the ark. One cubit equals about 20 inches long. God told Noah to use 300 cubits for the boat’s length. That’s over the length of a football field!
image: Lisa Q
The builders used 3.1 million board feet of heavy timber when reconstructing Noah’s ark. According to Ken Ham, the Ark is now the largest free-standing, timber-frame building in the world!
• 510 feet long; 85 feet wide; 51 feet high based on the Bible’s dimensions (300 cubits long; 50 cubits wide; 30 cubits high)
Life on the Ark
The designers did a fantastic job depicting life of the ark. The first floor was full of all kinds of animals. One of the first creatures you see as you enter the ark are some smaller dinosaurs. To me, that was a bit off-putting, because I am an ‘old earth’ creationist. In other words, I think the days in the first chapter of Genesis are not literal, 24-hour periods, but rather ‘ages’ or stages of time, and within those stages, God created. But the “young-earthers” interpret the days of Genesis as literal, 24-hours periods. In the end, God did it. We’ll agree on that!
Yet, many Christians have intellectual problems with the young earth theory, so much in fact, that some have walked away from the faith because they cannot reconcile the science with the accounts in Genesis. To me, it’s not a deal-breaker. Whether you believe in a literal 7-day creation week, or a span of 7-stages of creation, is not a salvation issue.
“In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity.”
Rupert’s Meldenius, c. 1627
So yeah, that young earth interpretation is front and center on the ark. If you are a ‘young-earther,’ then you’ll have no issues with any of it. And for me, it was not a big deal. I thought the dinosaur exhibits were kind of cool; they did a great job creating those beasts!
The second floor had the tamer beasts, and lots of food and water storage containers.
Finally, the third floor held the primary living quarters. Some of it, I thought, was a bit much. I am not sure Noah would have had such interior decorating style, but hey, his wife might have had some say in it… who knows?
Final Thoughts
A few years ago, during a chat at a wedding reception, I happen to be sitting next to a young woman who had just received her bachelor’s degree in geological studies from a young-earth Christian college. I was intrigued. We were having a friendly discussion, and I was inquiring about how her view could account for certain things that I found difficult to reconcile with the young earth view. Then her mother popped into the conversation. Finding out that I was a Christian apologist, she was shocked that I held to an old earth creation viewpoint. She told me straight to my face that: “How could I call myself a Christian apologist and not believe in a young earth?” Then, without waiting to hear my response, she huffed at me and left the table.
I was stunned.
I had never been treated like that before over an interpretation of the Genesis account. It left me thinking it was not a very gracious thing to do to another Christian sister. After all, in the Body of Christ, we are all in a spiritual family and should treat each other as such.
While my family and I read the information about the young earth theory throughout the Ark Encounter’s displays, we overheard others remarking similar things… “If you don’t believe in the literal account of Genesis, you might as well not believe anything in the Bible!” That is black-and-white thinking which doesn’t foster honest inquiry. As Christians, we can do better than that; we should allow for vigorous intellectual debate on these things, but not throw the “dinosaur off the ark,” so to speak. Yes, the young earth view has some interesting points, as does ‘old-earthers.’ Let’s agree to be civil about it.
All this to say is that the Ark Encounter heavily pushes the young-earth interpretation of the Genesis creation account. If that bothers you, just prepare yourself for it and make the best of the visit.
In the end, I think it is totally worth a visit. Just to walk within the walls of what is a recreation of Noah’s ark really brings history alive!
With God’s inspiration, Noah built a boat in the middle of dry land by faith. That faith saved humanity from complete annihilation. And what a ship it was to live upon for that long, watery year. After having visited the Ark Encounter, now I can imagine what that year might have been like for Noah’s family—impressive, to say the least.
I really enjoyed this post. I have wanted to visit. The price tag is prohibitive. I am disappointed in the criticisms you faced. I very much wish Christians (and others) would enjoy healthy debate without the condemnation or contempt. I learned at Hutchmoot years ago that no Chritian will get into Heaven with perfect theology. A very humbling truth! It definitely levels the playing field.
God bless and keep you in perfect peace.
Hi Margaret! Thanks for your comments. I agree with you whole heartedly that no Christian will go into heaven with perfect theology. Amen to that! God bless you.
Margaret, that’s such a good point. NONE of us have perfect theology! Remembering that definitely keeps us all humble.
Thank you for this article….. surely a must see as friends of ours just visited the display as well…..
Thanks, Kyle! It is a site to see.
For most scientists who visit, the Ark Encounter really just puts the Bible in the category of “the land of make believe.” It further shuts down potential conversations about the Bible describing real world events and creates (what I believe are) unnecessary barriers to the Gospel. I think if I went there, I’d just feel overwhelmingly sad. But I’m glad you posted this fairly balanced report.
Thanks, Krista. To be frank, the Young Earth view was overwhelmingly present throughout the encounter. It would have been gracious of the planners to have at least posted some alternative views on the Days of Creation interpretation of Genesis. Even if they would post the views just to argue against them, at least it would provide alternate viewpoints. That was blatantly absent. But again, to me, not a deal-breaker. The actual structure itself was pretty awesome to walk through.
I love your photos! My husband and I were considering a family visit to the Ark Encounter, but did notice that the price was steep. I’m glad to hear that it was worth the money! Did you visit the Creation Museum too?
I personally don’t have a set belief between the young and old earth theories. They both have good points. But I agree with you that it’s not a salvation issue and therefore not a deal breaker topic.
Great post Lisa! What an amazing feat- only God could pull something like that off!! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thanks Lisa. I always thought the ark exhibit might be off putting if it was poorly done. Now I am interested in seeing it. As far as old vs New earth, I am just happy to say my name is written in the Lambs book of life. All those questions can be answered when I reach my eternal home.
That price is pretty steep, but I do want to see it, along with the Creation Museum. Some day… I’m a young earther and some of my explanations of things to my children are based on that, but there is no reason young or old should be divided in other matters of faith. We are members of the same body and partners in the gospel. Thanks for the review.
Excellent, balanced review! Thank you for sharing your family’s experiences, Lisa, including the cost. The photos are breathtaking. It is very difficult to imagine the scale of the ark and you have helped me imagine through your photos. As for the issues of young or old earth, to me this is not a deal-breaker. I have heard both sides present thoughtful reasoning. I wish the site would present the possibility of either point of view, as that is not the real point of the story of Noah. Noah was a man who was faithful to God despite everything and everyone around him.
Love all the pictures, Lisa. And your interesting questions posed and thoughts conveyed make us ponder without negotiating God’s truth. We’ve never been, but my sister-in-law and family went and they raved about it for days and days and tell everyone at our church we should go.
This is fascinating! Thank you for sharing your perspective. The cost is surprisingly high, but the displays are extremely well done! Even though you hold a different view on the age of the earth, I’m glad you enjoyed it. And I’m glad you mentioned this issue. God works outside of time, yet he recorded his work for us in Genesis and assigned days. I’m willing to simply trust that he knows, and that we can use his wording, since he had it written down for us. The most highly educated scientists I know are young earthers, which might surprise some. I believe the Flood happened and that much of what looks like age can be attributed to this catastrophe. The geological evidence is impressive. Like the upcoming ending events, the beginning is God’s masterpiece, no need to speculate and no need to argue with others or to divide over it, as far as I’m concerned.
Too many of us have been too dogmatic and assertive about issues that are in question on this side of eternity. And not all of us progress in our faith as quickly as others.
G.R.A.C.E.–if we can just keep that in mind. Great message here, Lisa. God bless!
Thanks, Nancy. I agree wholeheartedly – GRACE is what we all need. Amen!
Good morning Lisa, first of all I can say is what a blessing is to be able to see this amazing monument in front of your eyes!!! Thank you for sharing what a blessing and thank you for your article about beautiful this place. I’m sure this has left a spectacular mark in your mind and your vision. Have a great day!
Thanks, Carrie! It definitely left an impression – an “ARK-sized” impression!