Ark
Last Thursday, Ken Ham, the founder and CEO of the Kentucky-based Creation Museum and Answers in Genesis (AiG), announced that the organization was able to raise funds for a project which involves building a park featuring a life-size Noah's Ark. The park will be built in Williamstown.
AiG officially announced that so fat they had managed to raise around seven million dollars through donations and selling ark memberships (or "boarding passes"). The city of Williamstown also provided 62 million dollars in municipal bonds. AiG insiders stated that they will be repaying this debt through park revenues. Though many buyers have expressed concerns about how much profit the park will make, some experts believe the project will not only make revenue, but will also create positive influences for the local community.
Kentucky Courier-Journal story reported that research predicted that the Ark park will make up to 119 million dollars in over ten years. They also reported that the state of Kentucky even has incentives for projects that draw in tourists.
However, there are those who expressed great negativity concerning the project. For instance, Bill Nye the "Science Guy" who participated in a debate with Ken Ham concerning Creation, which was broadcast all over America, stated that he hoped that the Ark project will fail. The Associated Press article reported on Nye's opinion on the project:
"If he builds that ark, it's my strong opinion, it's bad for the commonwealth of Kentucky and bad for scientists based in Kentucky and bad for the U.S. And I'm not joking, bad for the world." Ken Ham responded by writing, "You can't stop something God is doing!" Ken interpreted the oppositions and difficulty in fundraising as a spiritual battle.
