Kentucky official: Ark Encounter is not living up to economic promises

[GMDino]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2017/02/kentucky-official-ark-encounter-not-living-economic-promises/

Quote:Kentucky’s Grant County Judge-Executive Steve Wood said during a recent budget meeting that Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter is great but that it hasn’t “brought us any money.”


Last year, the mayor of Williamstown made this same complaint.

Only 600 people showed up to the ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday for the attraction’s new exhibit, “Why the Bible is True.”

Ham still believes the park is going to hit the 1.4 to 2.2 million visitor goal by the end of the year saying they are “getting so many calls a day that they can’t keep up with it.”

However, even if the park does hit its goal, Grant Co. is still suffering.

The county is on the brink of bankruptcy and many had hoped that the Ark Encounter would help boost the local economy.

The truth is, it hasn’t. Ham had promised hotels would come to the region, major chain restaurants, and more.

None of this has happened.

The county is now looking at passing a 2% payroll tax on all county workers to help balance the budget.

Wood said he believed the park could help them.

“I was one of those believers that once the Ark was here everything was going to come in. But it’s not done it. It’s not done it. I think the Ark’s done well and I’m glad for them on that. But it’s not done us good at all.”

The county gave Ham a $74 million land grant for the park and it appears they won’t get anything in return.

Ham sold them a great lie like he does his followers. Unfortunately, it will be the citizens of Grant Co. who suffer while Ham counts his cash.

"Give them a chance." ™

[HarleyDog]

Sounds to me like an advertising problem. Didn't know Kentucky had an Ark? I would like to see it if I had a place to stay. Do they have a hotel? Not kidding! My wife and I would enjoy this attraction. Also, is there something else to do in the region after we see the Ark?

[SunsetBengal]

(02-26-2017, 08:57 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: Sounds to me like an advertising problem. Didn't know Kentucky had an Ark? I would like to see it if I had a place to stay. Do they have a hotel? Not kidding! My wife and I would enjoy this attraction. Also, is there something else to do in the region after we see the Ark?

If you're into outdoor stuff, Kentucky is a wonderland of activities.  Caves, mountains, awesome fishing in streams and lakes, Lexington horse farms, bourbon distilleries, too much to list.

[6andcounting]

If they put that piece of Jesus toast in the Ark they will probably get more visitors.

[Benton]

I live in western ky. Over the last 30 years we've slowly moved from an industrial area to a tourism one around our two manmade lakes. The state provides some tourism funding to help promote them, but not anything close to what its spending to benefit a private business.

[*bfine32*]

(02-26-2017, 08:57 PM)HarleyDog Wrote: Sounds to me like an advertising problem. Didn't know Kentucky had an Ark? I would like to see it if I had a place to stay. Do they have a hotel? Not kidding! My wife and I would enjoy this attraction. Also, is there something else to do in the region after we see the Ark?

Actually the Ark is doing well as far as attendance.

http://www.wave3.com/story/34557731/ark-encounter-opens-new-exhibit

Quote:The Ark Encounter has continued to see strong attendance since its grand opening in July of 2016. The 510-foot-long Ark, located off I-75 at exit 154 in Williamstown, will expand hours for Spring and Summer seasons, remaining open until 7 p.m. through May 31, and until 9 p.m. through Aug. 31. 

Quote:Additional park expansions will be announced later this Spring.

Kudos to the owners for bringing in visitors and looking to expand. The place has only been open a few months, so perhaps the community's complaints of no payoff may be a little premature. 


As to your desire to visit  there are a good number of things to do in the area, most cenetered around the Ark. Just google Williamstown, KY

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

If you build it, they will come.

[*bfine32*]

(02-26-2017, 10:30 PM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: If you build it, they will come.

You said it:
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/10/25/flood-of-visitors-lifts-ark-encounter-to.html

The Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Ky., is handily beating visitor projections in its first four months.

The life-sized replica based on the biblical description of Noah’s Ark has greeted more than 400,000 people in its first four months. About 95 percent of those visitors are coming from outside the region immediately surrounding the attraction.
[color=rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.74902)]Enlarge
The Ark Encounter in Williamstown has greeted more than 400,000 people in its first four… more
DAVID KALONICK | COURIER[/color]
A state consultant had predicted the attraction would lure 500,000 visitors, while Answers in Genesis, which created the park, said it expects 1.2 million people to visit in the ark’s first year.
Outside consultants have estimated the park will attract 1.4 million to 2.2 million visitors a year and have a $4 billion economic impact in the next 10 years. In addition, 20,000 jobs are expected to be created as a result of the Ark Encounter’s opening over the next 10 years.
If attendance rates continue, the ark could have 600,000 visitors by the end of 2016. The park had 6,900 visitors on Saturday alone.

[Beaker]

Attendance is always up on new attractions due to initial curiosity. That will wear off soon enough.

[samhain]

When it closes in 10 years, it will make a cool casino/bourbon-centered attraction. Maybe the Flynts could buy it and stamp the Hustler name on it for some high-profile branding.

[Rotobeast]

To increase attendance, maybe they could consider hosting The Special Olympics ?

Sent from my SM-S820L using Tapatalk

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

(02-27-2017, 12:44 AM)Beaker Wrote: Attendance is always up on new attractions due to initial curiosity. That will wear off soon enough.

I'm not so sure for two reasons:

1) Candle dipping is a popular tourist attraction in Gatlinburg. And not the good kind of candle dipping you see in porn. I'm talking about an actual candle wick dipped in wax over and over. 

2) Have you see what passes for entertainment in Kentucky?  Sure, Kentucky is one of the few states were you can take a person snipe hunting more than once, but they eventually catch on and then what are you going to do? Learn to clog?

[oncemoreuntothejimbreech]

(02-27-2017, 01:54 AM)Rotobeast Wrote: To increase attendance, maybe they could consider hosting The Special Olympics ?

Sent from my SM-S820L using Tapatalk

They are. 

[Griever]

(02-27-2017, 01:54 AM)Rotobeast Wrote: To increase attendance, maybe they could consider hosting The Special Olympics ?

Sent from my SM-S820L using Tapatalk

that dinosaur looks like he has down syndrome
they have an exhibit of dinosaurs fighting in gladiator battles at the ark encounter...

[Sociopathicsteelerfan]

I stopped going to church the minute I was allowed to but I know the faith and the Bible fairly well. Where did this "the Earth is 6,000 years old" bullshit come from? I don't recall that at all.

[Griever]

(02-27-2017, 12:10 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: I stopped going to church the minute I was allowed to but I know the faith and the Bible fairly well.  Where did this "the Earth is 6,000 years old" bullshit come from?  I don't recall that at all.

they are tracing the "family tree" so to speak from adam and eve, which comes out to about 6-7k years ago

you know, all those useless bible verses showing who begat who, and at what age and whatnot

[*michaelsean*]

(02-27-2017, 12:10 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: I stopped going to church the minute I was allowed to but I know the faith and the Bible fairly well.  Where did this "the Earth is 6,000 years old" bullshit come from?  I don't recall that at all.

I'm not positive, I think they did a count back based on people's ages in the Bible.  Not sure what church you were a member of, but Catholics don't look at it that way.

[GMDino]

(02-27-2017, 12:10 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: I stopped going to church the minute I was allowed to but I know the faith and the Bible fairly well.  Where did this "the Earth is 6,000 years old" bullshit come from?  I don't recall that at all.

(02-27-2017, 12:13 PM)Griever Wrote: they are tracing the "family tree" so to speak from adam and eve, which comes out to about 6-7k years ago

you know, all those useless bible verses showing who begat who, and at what age and whatnot

Yep that's it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Earth_creationism

And it's a fairly new thing (relatively speaking).

[Sociopathicsteelerfan]

(02-27-2017, 12:13 PM)Griever Wrote: they are tracing the "family tree" so to speak from adam and eve, which comes out to about 6-7k years ago

you know, all those useless bible verses showing who begat who, and at what age and whatnot

(02-27-2017, 12:14 PM)michaelsean Wrote: I'm not positive, I think they did a count back based on people's ages in the Bible.  Not sure what church you were a member of, but Catholics don't look at it that way.

Ahh, that makes a certain type of sense.  Did they use the Gregorian calendar back then?   My parents are Episcopalian, or as I call it, Catholicism without the guilt.

[Griever]

(02-27-2017, 12:20 PM)Sociopathicsteelerfan Wrote: Ahh, that makes a certain type of sense.  Did they use the Gregorian calendar back then?   My parents are Episcopalian, or as I call it, Catholicism without the guilt.

yeah its quite stupid

i got out as soon as i could, and never really looked back