The Ark Encounter: A Complete Review

In north-central Kentucky, you’ll find something quite unusual among the typical bluegrass pastures and rolling hills dotted with horses: a life-size replica of Noah’s Ark.

Standing more than almost five stories high and 510 feet long, the ark is built to the exact measurements stated in the Bible, but with some ingenious ideas of what life was like inside the enormous structure. A visit to the Ark Encounter brings the story to life; it’s an especially helpful experience for kids.

Combine that with a small zoo, animal encounters, cutting-edge VR ride and several other opportunities for fun, and you have a fantastic outing that your family is sure to remember.

Location

The Ark Encounter, located in Williamstown, KY, is about halfway between Lexington, KY and Cincinnati, OH. It’s easy to access from Interstate 75. The area is relatively rural, but there are a few options if you choose to eat off property either before or after your visit.

When to Go

For most of the year, the encounter is open from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. During the colder winter months of January-March, they are closed Sunday-Tuesday. There are other special hours for holidays and their ChristmasTime celebration from Thanksgiving through New Year’s. You can see more details on opening hours on their website.

The encounter can be crowded first thing in the morning. We went on a weekday, arriving around 10 a.m., and it was not that bad. If you’re going on a Saturday, I would try going after lunch to avoid the crush of visitors inside the ark at the same time.

Parking & Bus Ride

Your first stop will be the parking lot; there is currently a $10 per vehicle parking fee. You will buy or show your pre-purchased tickets on your phone and board a large tour bus that takes you about a mile away to the main part of the attraction. If you are interested in attending the nearby Creation Museum, get the combo ticket to save some money.

It is cumbersome to have to go back to your car during the day, so be sure to bring your stroller, umbrella or whatever you need from the car before boarding the bus.

Arrival at the Answers Center

The bus drops you off at the Answers Center, a large building with amenities to help get you ready for your ark tour. Use the restroom, grab a cup of coffee or preview a gift shop. There will be quite a bit of walking from here on out, so rent a stroller (if you forgot yours) or electronic scooter for those who have trouble walking or standing for long periods.

The Answers Center also hosts Special Events like speakers and musical performances. We weren’t interested in checking that out, but you can see what’s happening on the schedule of events.

Head to the Ark

Now the moment you’ve been waiting for, head on out towards the ark! From the parking lot, it may seem smaller than you’d imagined, but as you walk up towards it, the incredible size begins to shock you. There’s a great photo opportunity right in the center of the ark that captures the entire boat and a nicely landscaped area in front. Then head to the right to enter. You will start to see informational signs and displays about what was happening in the world just before the time of the ark.

The Ark

As you walk up the ramp (you don’t have to worry about stairs anywhere), ominous sounds of thunder, lightning and heavy rains fill your ears. Some small children may be a little fearful as it is also dark inside, but that part passes quickly.

The encounter starts by pointing out that many parts of the ark are a supposed creation of how the animals and human occupants may have lived. Don’t take it as gospel, although there has clearly been much research and thought resulting in some ingenious solutions.

First Floor

The self-guided tour starts with God’s creation of the earth and a brief recap of history until Noah’s time. You’ll learn about the pre-flood world and how humanity had rejected God. The lower floor is filled with enclosures of different sizes for various creatures.

All along the walls of the ark are storage containers for water, food or other necessities. There are also displays about how the animals were kept, including feeding and waste removal. I loved the exhibit about tall chutes that could act as a time-released feeder for the bigger animals. Noah’s family could simply fill up the tube and let gravity deliver a continuous amount of hay or grain as needed.

There are excellent exhibits on how water was delivered to the animals (possibly collection from the roof and tubes inside the ark) and waste removal (slatted floors or a vertical conveyor system to dump into the ocean). Lighting is represented by oil lamps, although there are other plausible options.

Second Floor

The second floor continues more animal cages and exhibits on life inside the ark. Another eye-opening yet simple fact I learned was that animals were taken as babies rather than fully grown to save space. Duh! Baby elephants are MUCH less work than adults, not to mention lighter.

Remember that animals were included only by “kind,” not exact species. For example, not all dogs (or other canines) were on the ark. The Canid kind would have represented our modern-day wolves, dogs, foxes and jackals. An ancestor was on the ark, and each current species developed to what we know it over time.

Is this evolution? No, genetic mutations and natural selection are observable processes that happen in nature. In our vast world, different habitats, available food and weather can encourage other characteristics to develop as time goes on-although they don’t change completely.

The second floor has a movie playing at one end of the ark, and a small café at the other end, if you need to sit for a minute. Live animal encounters also happen here, although we didn’t see any when we went.

Also, don’t miss a fun sight! The huge ark door is here, and it’s a great photo op.

Third Floor

The main draw of the third floor is Noah and his family’s living quarters. Remember that Noah was accompanied by his wife and their three sons, along with their wives. Other exhibits tell about the existence of flood legends in ancient cultures world-wide, the Rainbow Covenant, and more.

When you are finished, you walk the large ramp all the way down to the ground floor.

Exiting the Ark

You exit through (of course!) a gift shop. Considering how much information is presented, I bought a book about the ark so I could remember all that I had read during our visit.

If you need a snack, fresh fudge and a small bakery have lots of yummy options.

Food

And speaking of yummy food, those in search of lunch can eat at a variety of places. The top restaurant on property is Emzara’s Kitchen, a buffet restaurant with home-cooked favorites like fried chicken. We loved sitting out on the deck to have lunch-what a view!

The Village Smokehouse and Grill smelled terrific, and Zofar’s has lots of favorites like pizza and burgers. If you want something sweet, there’s an ice cream shop and a funnel cake place. Believe me; you will not starve.

Please note you’re not supposed to bring food on the premises, although I can’t imagine that applies to snacks for young children. You are allowed to bring sealed plastic water bottles.

Ararat Zoo

Another fun option at the Ark Encounter is the Ararat Zoo, although it is tiny. You can walk through the area to see kangaroos and several other animals. There’s a petting zoo, camel rides and additional attractions. Little ones will also love the large playground.

Truth Traveler: A Virtual Reality Experience

Lastly, our family tried the VR experience. It was really cool. The VR headset was quite clear and immersive. You feel like you’re actually there when the ark is built and launched as the rain and floods erupt! It’s fun and an excellent way for young children to get a better visual to help them understand the ark story.

There’s also a zip line/ropes course that sounds interesting, although we didn’t have time to try that.

Conclusion

The Ark Encounter is, without a doubt, a valuable, enjoyable view into the flood period and how Noah’s family and the animals survived the event. Standing in front of the ark, you’ll never again think of that cutesy little picture we see in children’s stories of a boat with animal heads sticking out of the top. The ark was an incredible endeavor, and the Ark Encounter helps you understand how it all happened.

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