10 Years of Ark Encounter

Even before the Creation Museum opened (in 2007), AiG’s strategic plan (adopted in 2005) included building a life-size Noah’s Ark. At the time, we thought it would be on the museum property—we didn’t realize it would be its own attraction until we started planning and realized how many people would come. The museum property simply wasn’t big enough for parking for all those guests, let alone more room for expansion. So we stepped out in faith and purchased 800 acres in nearby Grant County, KY.

In 2014, we broke ground on the life-size Noah’s Ark structure. Constructions crews, including (around 90) Amish and Mennonite timber framers, labored on the Ark building, while our artists worked in our design studios to prepare the exhibits that would be installed inside the Ark. As we moved closer to the July 7 opening date (7/7 because Genesis 7:7 is when God commanded Noah to go into the ark), we weren’t sure we were going to be able to open—if you had seen the Ark even the day before we opened, you’d never have believed we could actually open on time! And yet by God’s grace (and a lot of sacrifice from our staff!) and tremendous cooperation from some of the authorities, we did!

We’ve seen the Lord use this massive testimony to the truth of his Word to strengthen people’s faith, to challenge their unbelief, and to call them to himself.

That was an incredible moment. But it was just the beginning. Since the Ark opened a decade ago, we’ve seen the Lord use this massive testimony to the truth of his Word to strengthen people’s faith, to challenge their unbelief, and to call them to himself. The main message as you tour the Ark is this: Because the history in God’s Word is true, the gospel message is also true.

My favorite feature—and the most photographed feature—is the door. Illuminated on the door (inside and outside at night) into the Ark is a cross. Signage reminds people that just as there was one door into the Ark, Noah and his family had to pass through to be saved, so there is one door, the Lord Jesus, we must go through to be saved from God’s judgment on our sin. I so love to see people lingering at this exhibit, reading the signage and considering what the gospel means.

We praise the Lord for a decade of powerfully and boldly proclaiming the truth of God’s Word at the Ark Encounter (and for all the upgrades and additions that have taken place over the past 10 years). We’re excited to see what he does over the next 10 years! Coming in March, the Megiddo Mosaic exhibit will be displayed (a phenomenal archaeological exhibit), and in 2028, the first-century Jerusalem model should be ready! And our master plan shows we have so much vision, our great-great-grandchildren could still be working on it.

Please take time today to thank the Lord along with us and to ask for his continued blessing over the world’s leading Christian themed attraction, the Ark Encounter.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.