Fulfilling Patrick’s Vision at the Ark Encounter

In 2001, as we began building the Creation Museum, Mike Zovath (one of our cofounders) and I discussed what exhibits we would display there.

Now, we had previously met Buddy and Kay Davis and learned of their vision to use the dinosaurs Buddy sculpted in a museum of sorts to reach people with the truth of God’s Word and the gospel. In reality, we didn’t have the expertise to know how to build exhibits, but we knew God had called us to do this.

Our plan to build the Creation Museum had been reported in our local newspapers. Someone who saw this article sent it to Patrick Marsh, who was living in Japan at the time. Patrick wrote to us and said that he was a Christian and creationist and wanted to use his experience and talents by designing exhibits for the Creation Museum. He had worked in theme parks around the world, including Universal Studios. The rest is history!

Patrick built an outstanding team to design and construct the exhibits at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter. As part of his vision for the Ark Encounter, Patrick worked on a master plan to place the permanent shuttle drop-off from the parking lot near the center of the attraction that would include a beautiful welcome center. He called this the Walled City and was working on it when he passed away last year. The placement of this structure would also be the key to developing the rest of the Ark Encounter over time, including the possibility of a Tower of Babel attraction.

Soon after Patrick’s passing, our leadership and design team met to work on fulfilling Patrick’s vision for the permanent shuttle loading and unloading area, including both a welcome center and walled city.

Our designers had been working on the world’s largest indoor model of the Jerusalem of Jesus’ day for an exhibit at the Ark Encounter that will teach more about the life of Jesus, who he is, and the Christian message based on history. This will be “part two” of the Borderland exhibit now open at the Creation Museum. It will teach both the truth of God’s Word and an understanding of history at the time Jesus walked on earth as the God-man. Most importantly, it will powerfully present the gospel!

Artist rendering of some of the strategic new additions to be built!

We all know Patrick’s sincere burden was to see people saved. So our designers have now come up with an ingenious design to fulfill Patrick’s vision and incorporate the Jerusalem model at the same time. What a wonderful way to honor Patrick and, most of all, to honor God’s Son, which is what Patrick would want.

In response to what we believe God has laid on our hearts, our 2022 end-of-year campaign goal is to raise $20 million to complete this project. We praise the Lord that a foundation and supporter have agreed to an $8.5 million matching campaign—they will match every dollar given, up to $8.5 million, in donations received through the end of this year.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

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