"But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee." --Genesis 6:18
Welcome to Williamstown, Kentucky, home of the Ark Encounter. The Ark Encounter is an historical tribute to the first eleven chapters of Genesis, in which a life-size replica of Noah's Ark has been built with much of the inside showing how life may have been for the nearly one year our ancestors spent being saved from the judgement against the Earth by flood. In addition, this museum also discusses life before and after the flood, as well as different kinds of animals that went along for the ride from extinct to least concerned. In addition to the ark itself, the Ararat Ridge Zoo may also be explored while on the property, along with other activities including ziplining, a virtual reality tour of life in the days of Noah, and an auditorium that regularly features lectures and Christian Rock concerts during the season.
Upon entering and parking, hop on a shuttle bus to take you down to the ark itself. Don't bother trying to walk from the lot, as they do not permit this. There may be a little wait depending on when you go as this is quite the popular attraction. There is an "entrance" to the ark itself, however you're also able to get in from the gift shop if you don't mind a little backtracking to the start of the exhibits, or if you want to pick up where you left off in the middle, as we did on both occasions. Just be mindful of when you go, because you may find yourself getting pushed through the designed serpentine of exhibits and missing something you may have wanted to see, especially if you're two or more people trying to stay together in the midst of a large crowd.
The price point for the Ark Encounter, along with parking, may seem a little steep. However, at the end of the day, when you consider what is offered, it is very much worth the visit to this place. Our excursion included a free concert as part of their "40 Days & 40 Nights" series, with some of the top vocal groups in the genre. If you find yourself to be in the area for an extended period of time when this series happens, the concerts alone may just make a one-year pass worth the price. Whether or not you consider yourself to be a believer in Christ, even if you once were a follower but seemed to "lose the path" somewhere along the way as many of us have done, this is most certainly worth the visit. Everyone is welcome to attend, and you may end up learning a thing or two.
So the next time your Internal Compass takes you to the Cincinnati area, make a stop down in Kentucky at the Ark Encounter for an awe-inspiring sight.
Copyright 2021-24 Freedom Rolling.
Logo Image Courtesy Clipartmax.com
United States Image Courtesy Simple Maps