Review: Kentucky's "Ark Encounter" Is an Epically Inspiring Experience--See the Bible Come to Life!
- Book Nerd
- Apr 11
- 8 min read
If you're a Christ follower, then you already know that the Bible is the living, breathing Word of God. Kentucky's Ark Encounter, however, provides a stunning visual combined with scientific facts that will leave you in awe while countering skeptics who question the validity of the Flood and creationism.
What Is the Ark Encounter and Where Is It Located? Know Before You Go
The Ark Encounter is a Christian themed park located right off I-75 in Williamstown, Kentucky, and operated by Answers in Genesis, a young Earth creationist organization that also manages the Creation Museum--its sister attraction located 45 miles away in Petersburg.
The Ark Encounter features a representation of Noah's Ark that is built to the dimensions described in the bible. It is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high.
In addition to touring the ark's three levels, your admission covers an array of activities on the grounds, although several attractions cost extra.
Activities covered by admission:
Animal Encounters
Ararat Ridge Zoo
Carousel
Children's Playground
Educational Speakers
Concerts
Activities NOT covered by admission:
Animal Experiences
Camel Encounters
Camel Rides
Dining
Educational Programs
Guide Books
Mining Sluice
Seasonal Events
Shopping
Truth Traveler VR
Zip Lines
Ticket prices vary depending on the package you choose. To view those options, visit the Ark Encounter's website.
When you arrive at the Ark Encounter, parking costs $15 per vehicle, which you can pay upon arrival or when you order your tickets online. Shuttles run continuously between the parking lot at the Answer Center on the main grounds. Everything is well-organized, which minimizes wait times.
Seasonal hours vary, but I recommend arriving when the park opens. Most days, opening is 9am and closing ranges from 5pm-7pm, depending on the time of year. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are less busy than weekends, which makes it easier to enjoy touring the Ark. Many of the exhibits include written explanations, so the bigger the crowd, the more challenging it is to access, read, and digest the educational material.
There are several dining options on the grounds. Lines form quickly, so consider eating early to avoid the wait. We chose Emzara's Buffet. It included a large selection of foods for every palate--meats, entrées, sides, salads, desserts, kid-friendly options, and drinks, and it was reasonably priced for the amount of food offered.
How long does it take to see everything at the Ark? It depends. Our kids are teens, so we skipped the kiddie stuff. We only toured the Ark, visited the gift shop, and ate, so our visit lasted four hours. If you plan to watch the theater shows, listen to speakers, attend a concert, or take advantage of the other amenities, you could easily stretch your visit to last the entire day.
Exploring Deck One of the Ark Encounter-Introduction to Animal Kinds
Deck One of the Ark Encounter showcases the possible storage methods and feeding mechanisms Noah might have used as well as some of the animal cages.
Bags are stacked along the walls to represent the sacks of seeds, nuts, dried fruits, and vegetables Noah would have brought on the Ark. Grains were likely stored in clay pots, and wax seals would have been affixed to the top to prevent spoilage and animals from getting into the food if they escaped their enclosures. Other clay pots could have stored liquids, like olive oil to fuel the lamps, and water for drinking and cleaning would have been stored in cisterns on the second and third decks.
While some insects may have been brought on board as food sources for certain animals, it's doubtful that they were required upon the Ark. Genesis indicates only land animals "in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life" were necessary. Insects take in air through spiracles on their exoskeletons, so they could have survived the flood on floating debris as eggs or in larval or pupal form.
Deck One also provides a possible answer to skeptics who claim that freshwater fish could not have survived a global Flood. Interestingly, the ocean becomes saltier every year, so it would not have been as salty then as it is now. Many fish varieties live in both freshwater and saltwater during their lifetimes, so they may have been able to tolerate both types. Since freshwater and saltwater don't necessarily mix, it could have created layers within the waters, allowing freshwater creatures to survive in the freshwater layer.
I was surprised to learn that up to 85 dinosaurs were on the Ark!
How did they fit? It's likely that juveniles or small varieties were sent to Noah because they would have taken up less space, eaten less, created less waste, been easier to manage, and were more likely to reproduce after the Flood.
Researchers have narrowed down how many animal "kinds" would have been included on the Ark and what it would have taken to house and feed all of them. It's all outlined in the exhibit. Everything fits!
Deck One also explains the lumber Noah used to build the Ark, the waterproofing and engineering the project required, and the likely view that it took Noah 75 years to complete it.
Exploring Deck Two of the Ark Encounter-Pre-Flood World
Deck Two focuses on the pre-Flood world and explores how God prepared Noah for the task.
You will walk through an exhibit that shows the perfect world God created--one without sorrow, disease, bloodshed, or death. Humanity was perfect, man had perfect authority over the world, and he enjoyed a perfect marriage--until his rebellion corrupted creation.
In a little over 1,650 years from the time God created man, people had become so wicked and vile that God judged the world with the global Flood.
Noah would have been skilled at woodworking and as a blacksmith, so he put these skills to use when God told him to build the Ark.
Deck Two also features a mini open theater where you can sit for a spell to listen to an interview with Noah.
An interesting point that is raised is how the modern world looks back and assumes those who lived during ancient times without our technological advancements were somehow less intelligent or capable. The Ark proves that man, made in God's image, has always been able to rise to the task and create marvels.
The picture above shares the advanced methods by which Noah likely distributed water and feed to the animals on the Ark. In addition to delivering drinking water, he also developed a system to remove animal waste, sustain fresh air, and provide sufficient light.
How did animals respond to a world wiped clean by the flood? Based on the study of rock layers, it appears that they adapted quickly by exhibiting specializations that helped them survive and thrive in the post-Flood earth. One exhibit states that "these changes within kinds demonstrate the mercy, creativity, and foresight of the Creator."
A major highlight of Deck Two is the door of the Ark. It's an area that fills up quickly with visitors taking pictures in front of the massive double doors. Just imagine God shutting them!
Exploring Deck Three of the Ark Encounter-The Living Quarters
It's projected that the living quarters for Noah and his family were quite nice and that they were able to grow food on the Ark to supplement the grains, root vegetables, legumes, nuts, and dried foods they would have gathered and stored.
The third deck would have received enough natural light from a large window that it would have been possible for the family to grow a variety of vegetables and herbs.
Genesis 8:11-12 shares that after the Ark landed on a mountain in the Ararat region, Noah sent out the dove to learn if the ground had dried. Seven days after the dove had returned with an olive leaf, he sent the dove again, and it didn't return. The waters had receded!
Deck Three features signage that shares two worldviews--Evolutionary and Biblical. It's amazing that creationists and evolutionists study the same evidence--rocks, fossils, and the world--yet draw vastly different conclusions. Evolutionists interpret the evidence as a process that has taken millions of years while creationists see overwhelming evidence that rock layers were laid down rapidly during a yearlong global Flood as described in Genesis.
Walk-through exhibits share Flood geology that is fascinating, even for those who aren't science enthusiasts.
Deck Three explores the extent of the Ice Age. A secular view holds that there were at least four ice ages, but the biblical model maintains that there was only one that resulted from the global Flood.
Another exhibit features Babel. God had commanded man to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The animals spread out to every corner of the globe, but Noah's descendants stuck together, and though the population grew, they refused to scatter. When God's judgment fell on Babel, they finally scattered.
Ancient Man has its own exhibit on Deck Three to demonstrate that man was made in God's image, and therefore, not descended from an ape or any less intelligent than modern man. This is evidenced by ancient monumental achievements like the Great Pyramid, Stonehenge, and astronomical feats for timekeeping and navigation.
On Deck Three, you will also find several versions of the Bible behind glass along with the stories of the men who helped make it available around the globe. Walk through an exhibit that addresses common questions as people search for the truth. See mini ark replicas from around the world that acknowledge the global Flood and take some time to watch the theater presentation of As in the Days of Noah.
Review: Kentucky's Ark Encounter Is an Epic Place to Visit
Wherever you might live, the sojourn to visit Kentucky's Ark Encounter is worth the trip. There are activities and exhibits that will fascinate and engage all ages, gift shops, eateries, shuttles, restrooms and snack vendors on every deck, kind and welcoming staff, and easy-to-understand educational materials that will not only support your biblical worldview but inspire your faith. The foot traffic flow is well-managed, visitors are courteous of others, the grounds are meticulously maintained, and the entire park's operations are extremely efficient.
Kentucky's Ark Encounter will leave you in awe!
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