Ark Encounter Reviews

This was a trip I had long wanted. While we had our granddaughter with us for several days, we took her to the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum. To show her that the Noah's ark story in the bible is true. We were not disappointed to see how God made this dream of Ken Ham's become a reality. The replica of the Ark is breathtaking, not just because of what 'men' accomplished but because God gave Noah everything he needed to build that 'saving' boat to preserve humanity and repopulate the earth. Inside, all the beautiful wood, the 'imagined' interior, and how with God-given ideas, they could have managed housing and feeding the animals, and themselves, how did they eliminate all the waste!! I learned a lot from the numerous displays and dioramas. And my incorrect understanding that God called 2 of every animal, etc., but rather, He called 2 of every KIND. Big 'light-bulb' moment. There is a LOT of information and comparisons of biblical vs secular worldviews. So well done. The only drawback is that it really is an information overload for children. My granddaughter is 12, and all the reading became boring to her. They had a fabulous choice of zipline experiences and that balanced it all out for her. The Virtual Reality Experience (additional charge) is very good, but could have been a longer experience. We are so glad we made the trip and saw both the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum in one trip. Each park needs probably 2 days to see everything.

It is something so different than anything you will ever see, it was so amazing to see the ark from the inside to the outside the structure and how the animals were kept on the ark and how Noah and his family lived, but know this it is very big so there is a lot of walking which I enjoy but for some you might want to rent a amigo scooter when you get there, also there is a lot of reading because of all the information they give you. I feel tickets are a little high and parking is $15 but it is a once in a lifetime experience.

Our initial reason for traveling to Ohio was to go to the Ark Encounter which is located in Kentucky south of Cincinnati. We traveled with 2 campers from York/Lancaster PA areas. Stopped 1st night in WV Coopers Rock McCollum Campground. Hosts Jay and Valerie very friendly. Moved on to East Fork Lake Campground east of Cincinnati. In the evening after arriving we went to Jungle Jim’s which was amazing. Went to Ark Encounter, Big Bone Lick State Park and Rabbit Hash 1st day. Ark Encounter was great. Ate late lunch at their on site buffet which was delicious and reasonably priced. Didn’t see any Bison at Big Bone but hiked to Salt Springs. Pouring rain at Rabbit Hash but got pictures of General Store. Day 2 we went to Creation Museum which we also enjoyed. Ate at Skyline Chili on way back which we really didn’t care for the taste. Day 3 we explored Cincinnati. Went to Eden Park-Art Museum free and nice to see, Mirror Lake and the overlook. Drove around the city to sight see because of rain. Ate in Newport at Hofbrauhaus which was excellent. Rained entire time but enjoyed the trip. Everyone friendly and helpful. Stopped overnight on way back to Pa at Ryerson Station State Park.

Everything was very well done. Expect to spend a full enjoyable day.

The Ark was very well done & full of interesting information but crowded. All the power scooters don't help being over crowded.

The zoo & presentations were enjoyable on a nice fall day.

The auditorium had some interesting programs.

We ate at the buffet & received a senior discount as well as a military discount making for a reasonable price. Drinks are included. The ribs, fries, & roast beef were good, the rest not so much.

The wait lines going to & from the parking & the sight were longer than should be. We were there on a Wednesday & heard the crowd was larger than expected for a midweek day.

Here's the long and short. Short first. Awesome construction inside and out. It is great to be able to see what the Ark may have looked and to realize the sheer size of it. Well done; however, speaking "globally', that is just about it. Very commercialized, expensive, (you'll be) dropped off at the gift area (one of several) and so have a loooong walk just to get inside. Why not just deliver us to the Ark? A-ha! Because of the opportunity to sell to you, my dear Watson!

Now the long. Unlike other reviewers, I don't have any problem w/including dinosaurs on the Ark. It is speculation (this Ark depiction) and so a reasonable presentation re: the age of dinosaur fossils is O.K. by me. Someone has to address the issue and the ideas presented here are perhaps a good guess.

I do have a problem with the number of food/drink/gift shops INSIDE the Ark and the themepark-esque photo taking at the beginning of the walking tour. C'mon, will the photo offered to me at the end of the tour show that I was screaming/laughing, etc., as with a rollercoaster ride?

The reading placards are many, the animals are few (many of them dinosaurs). The large depiction of storage vessels, etc., was understandable. The feeding and watering ideas are quite good, as are the methods for disposing of liquid and solid wastes.

Overall the Ark is impressive, the commercialization is cheapening, the very long walk to the Ark is very unfair to those who will struggle to last until the end of the tour. Oh, yes, forgot one thing: it's expensive, though the developers are allowed to recoup what must have been a massive expenditure to create the Ark itself. Wish it cost less, but I wish more that it wasn't such a long walk...

The good….Structurally, it is impressive. The staff was nice.


Hmmm. The bad. The designers took some wide liberties with their Biblical interpretations. It gets weirder and weirder as you go up the ramps. A whole floor of the ark is dedicated to the beautifully decorated quarters of. Noah’s family. It was a palatial apartment. Scripture didn’t even mentions that.

I stopped several times to look at the architecture and discuss what we were seeing and reading with my brother. One staffer became concerned that I was struggling physically. I was struggling with the largely speculative descriptions presented. If you were unfamiliar with the Bible story and this was your first exposure to the story, you would have been misinformed by this experience.

The “ science “ in the displays is extremely speculative. It was laughable.

We drive 6 hours, and paid for 2 hotel rooms for and 4 admissions. We spent easily $700. That’s a lot for bad science and inaccurate scripture interpretations, even if the structure is impressive.

My mom and I visited the Ark Encounter on September 20, 2024. It was an absolutely great experience. The grounds were immaculate, beautiful flowers, and the staff were kind and friendly. The Ark is breathtaking it is so large and that was just the outside. The inside is beautiful and very well put together. Very informative and true to the Bible. Great place to experience for those into their faith and for those that are curious and have questions. Everyone including the visitors were kind and friendly. It was a breath of fresh air to be around a group of people and have everyone be so polite.

Umm, what can I say other than spectacular! The size of the ark is overwhelming! I’m very keen on the whole Genesis/Creation/Ark history. This adventure just helps reinforce my faith!
Lots of walking.
Pay for the Planetarium. Experience the Truth Traveler VR.
Buy fudge!
Walk the zoo! Pet the goats, smell the camels…lol!
The names of all the animals…
Names of some goats…Rack, Shak and Benny! And a camel named Ramses!
We really enjoyed this!
The food in the buffet was okay.
Buy the “commuter cup” can refill it anywhere and at the Creation Museum.

It was so amazing, there Is 3 floors, so very informative, very kid friendly, n handicapped accessible, so many things to do

We decided to stop here on our way home from Kentucky. Given we had a rushed visit, we only stayed about 2.5 hrs. As we walked through the Ark, reading all the info, we kept saying we wished we had the day to spend here! The ark structure itself is huge and massive, giving you plenty of pause for thought. We only had time for going through the Ark, and thoroughly enjoyed what we saw and read. It is a very well put-together interpretation of biblical references leading up to the time frame before the Great Flood, with a focus on how experts believe Noah built the Ark, how the thousands of animals were drawn to the place of the Ark, and what took place during the flood and after. There are 2 short movies to watch with plenty of seating. There are gift shops inside the ark along with some small snack bars. We could not explore the rest of the park grounds due to time. This place is great for Christians, and people of the Jewish and Muslim faith, since we all share the same 1st Testament. We highly reccomend the Ark Encounter! Get there early too.

Tuesday afternoon. Hot. Even with most kids back in school, the parking lot was crowded. That's after paying $15 to park. Be aware you'll do a lot of walking here.

You walk 5-10 minutes from your car to the bus station and then take the five-minute ride to the Answers Center. There, you buy your tickets, snacks, and souvenirs. You can then pay $65 per adult 60+ for the Ark or pay $114 for the Ark + Creation Museum ticket for older adults. As I recall, kids under 10 are free. (You can even get a "bouncer" rate around $200 for both sites for three days in the same week.) From the Answer Center, you have another 10 minute walk to the Ark. The Ark has three decks. To get to each, you either take the elevator or walk up/down the long interior ramps.

Each deck has various displays related to the time of Noah. Lots of speculation went into these displays. For example, how do they know how Noah and family distributed drinking water or disposed of animal waste? There's nothing about it in the Bible.

Outside the Ark, there's a small zoo, a carousel, and a zip line/ropes course (not sure how the latter three relate to Noah). We only visited the Ark as it was too hot to go to the zoo etc.

The Ark is a magnificent structure, and congratulations to the architects and builders. But as an evangelical Christian (Southern Baptist), I have to say the owners are charging hard working families, seniors, and various church groups way too much for what you get. By comparison, the Museum of the Bible in D.C. is only $30. Six Flags is only $59. How can someone on Social Security afford to visit the Ark?

We stayed maybe 90 minutes at the Ark. We feel like we gave adequate time to the material presented. The Creation Museum is a 45-minute drive to the north. Cincinnati is maybe an hour north. Louisville is 1.5 hours to the southwest.

We don't see a need to ever return to the Ark.

We had always heard about it, but it was AMAZING! We spent 6 hours there with a tour group but wished we had another day to come back. We also did the Virtual Reality and at was good. We wish everyone could visit the Ark!

All the staff were so friendly and helpful; ALL OF THEM. Exhibits were well organized and easy to follow. I suggest early teens and up to read and understand the information, younger than that might be better to have an adult relative explain.
We also took in the TrueSong concert and Tim Chaffy Encountering The Ark in the Answer Center- both were excellent.

This will not disappoint! Beautiful facilities and awe inspiring ark…this is one of those attractions you have to see to believe,no pictures can do it justice… lots of reading along with the individual exhibits so I wouldn’t suggest younger children… We had the all you can eat lunch buffet which was excellent,I’m a food snob but can honestly say that it was the best food I ever had on a buffet and the price point was great at $16.99 for adults,including drinks and dessert!

Physically this is an amazing structure. The design, planning and engineering to build something this big is amazing. The construction then made it real. The timber frame look is outstanding and the scale and scope are supposed to be accurate. The indoor pens and possible feeding as well as pen cleaning techniques very interesting.
I did have a hard time with dinosaurs being on the ark. I’m not necessarily a six 24 hour day creationist. The dinosaurs were pushing it.

We enjoyed the Ark. seeing the life size replica of the Ark and how it could have looked inside was interesting to see and think about. They did a good job on the top floor with answering questions that most people have regarding why this or that. However I felt the admission cost was way overpriced for what you see. In my opinion it should be $40 per adult and not $65. In addition to that steep price, they charge you $15 to park. So a family of 4 is pretty steep. I’m glad I went but it is one and done for me.

Definitely an interesting encounter, who knew someone would actually build a replica of Noah’s Ark! We explored the massive ship, ate an awesome hotdog at the many food stands and even did a little zip lining. All in all, we had a great day.

It’s what you expect! The shear scale is amazing! The architecture is phenomenal! Is it a tourist attraction? Yes! Is it expensive? Yes! But you’d spend just as much on a Reds game up the street! Is it crowded at times? Yes! But so is the Cincinnati Zoo! Does it push The Bible over science? Of course it does but does this shock you!

So we just took our time as we understood these things! The displays are informative! They had a lot about the build up to the flood and what caused the fall of man. A lot presented both views on creation side by side! They also were very clear to tell you they took some artistic liberties as well. But only based on their best research.

So you know what it is going in! It’s worth a trip to check it out and decide for yourself! I’m glad we did!

What a fantastic place. The Ark helped me to see how, everything about the flood , could have happened. It absolutely supercharged my faith in the Bible. We’ve been here multiple times, and would recommend to everyone. If you don’t like what Answers in Genesis stands for, you better NOT die.

Plan to go when the Ark is less crowded so you can read all the exhibits. There’s a LOT to read! For our next trip, we would pick mid-week and not during the summer. But if you do travel during peak months, plan to arrive early so you can plan your day. There’s more to see and do there than you expect! I actually loved the little zoo. The coffee shop in the basement level gift shop was also a good find. Obviously, the Ark is spectacular from the outside! Enjoy!

The ark is beautiful inside and out. This is very educational and inspiring at the same time. You can really sense what it would have been like to be in the ark. It is a great faith based activity for the whole family. I recommend everyone take their family to this at some point, and we need more faith based entertainment spots like this!

First let me say STICKER SHOCK! The cost to get in is $65 per adult. True, its a great park but Wow. Might be good for big families, but not good for us with a 3 year old and an infant. Second, UNWELCOMING. We arrived late in the day and from the time we bought tickets to the time we got to the arc - it was closed! We missed it by 2 min and the lady had no ability to accommodating. She was like a brick wall. We took the kids to the other areas but everything was closed So we just walked around outside. Every staff person we encountered was unwelcoming. No one smiled or said anything kind. The biggest disappointment is this a BIBLE park. We were really looking forward to this trip, and we expected the place to be wonderful, and the people to be honest, kind, and respectful. Why does a park like the Arc Experience exist if only to treat guest like that? We were there, in part, to see if it was a good location for a big family reunion that we are planning but after that experience, we'll pass.

Very impressive! This Ark is huge! Did you know the Statue of Liberty could fit inside? You'll learn this and much more with the many signs that answer just about every question you might have about the Ark. If they didn't know something about the Ark (as in it isn't in the Bible), then they made notation of that in a sign next to the display. That way you could see where they got their information. Even if you don't believe in the Bible, just go! You will be impressed with the world's largest wooden structure. There are places to eat inside and outside of the Ark (and very reasonably priced) as well as bathrooms everywhere. The movie about the Ark's construction is worth seeing. I do have one suggestion for this place: some (not all) of the signs inside the Ark were difficult to read because they weren't well lit. I think they were trying to keep the lighting inside as to how it may have been for Noah and his family, but there needed to be more lighting. We had to use our cell phones' flashlight to see some of them.

I found the ark exhibits extremely interesting and thought-provoking. My kids (6, 11) liked the zoo, playground (especially the mini zip line and swing ride — soooo cool — and misters were much appreciated on a hit day) VR (buy in advance when you get your admission tix online to save $2), but they found the ark exhibits pretty boring. There was way too much reading and not enough interaction (except for the few actually designed with kids in mind: the scary one on 2nd floor and kids scroll and comics on the 3rd. And the exposition of the short film on the 1st floor featuring Adah could have been much shorter; we skipped all the other films.

Furthermore, the theme-park prices for entrance, parking and food (burgers, pizza and taco bowl was quite decent; French fries were delish!) aren’t justified when I consider that there was exactly one animatronic exhibit (where Noah responded to specific computer questions that guests chose) and two exhibits that showed videos of guests’ choice, though at first I thought that they were broken because there was no sound.

The zoo was a highlight. Ben was amazing and did a fantastic job sharing the gospel at the animal encounter in such a natural, unobtrusive way! We also very much enjoyed the reptile talk. The Eagle keeper talk was much less engaging.

I think we’ve decided to skip the creation museum to not put the kids through a similar day. All of the standing on hard wood floors killed our backs, feet and hips, also.

Just finished going through the Ark Encounter in 2024 Wow. I never realized how big the ark was. It took us about 4.5 hours to go through, no kids. It was great to have plenty of parking. I'm glad they had the foresight to buy enough land. (I'm sure Disney was a little empty it's first year of operation) I'm always amazed at how people, including myself, can continue to hold to an opinion even as new science disproves it (remember when the earth was flat?)
Throughout the ark they show how things were possible. They even show a fossil tree that is growing through different layers of time.
This is a great attraction. Well worth the time and money.
It's been almost 10 years since they opened and it's still going strong.
Fun VR experience too.
Loved it!

It's just depressing. America is better than nonsense like this. Its clear that the designers of this exhibit are trying to fight facts and reality by shoehorning "some" science into the fairytale, then acting like their conclusions are on the same level as actual scientific evidence and, well, reality. Its just sad.

The Ark Encounter is a full-scale replica of Noah's Ark built to the specifications given by God in the Bible. Teams of scholars and scientists collaborated to create an interpretation of what the inside of the Ark might have been like, had 7,000 animals been inside. It is artistic and thought provoking. This three-story museum explores the topics of animal cages, feeding them, waste collection, etc. There are prototypes of living quarters, and exhibits explaining how Noah and his family may have survived for a year on the ark. For as many questions as it tries to answer, I left with many more unanswered. This attraction stays with you because of the things you see, the ideas you are presented with, and the speculation of which animals may or may not have been included. There is a buffet-style restaurant on site which is excellent (get there when they open to avoid extensive wait times), a small zoo, carousel and VR theater (this costs extra). This is a popular attraction and worth the stop.

Exceeded our expectations! We were blown away by the attention to detail, the Zoo, the Virtual Reality experience and so much more! Food was very good with many options. Parking was easy to get to and shuttle service was appreciated due to the heat. The Ark itself is truly a wonder and there is so much history and is very thought provoking. I would recommend this to anyone young or old.

Loved there were so many things to do. There were just too many people allowed in at the same time. You were not able to see the displays, read the narrative at each one or take in the presentations.
The creation museum is 45 minutes away. Consider that if buying a combo ticket.
Would have liked to be able to go out to the car and return in the same day.
All said, it was definitely worth it. I just feel like I missed so much!

Beautiful family experience when visiting this great creation of our Lord Jesus waiting for the next adventure in this beautiful place

Can't say enough good things about this place. Lots to read and u just leisurely walk through but highly suggest you visit on a week day during a slow time. We went last Mon of Oct and crowds were light...can't imagine going during summer..there would be no way you could read all the facts they have posted or walk thru if crowds were heavy. It's expensive but I'd definitely go back

We visited the Ark the Saturday after Christmas because they were still doing their Christmas display, which was stunning. The Ark itself is incredible, so much bigger than I realized. We had a toddler with us, who wasn't too interested and the Ark was very crowded so there was a lot we didn't get to see. I'd love to go back again and catch what I missed. If you go without children plan on spending several hours, possibly all day, to see it all. It was such a learning experience and very well done. Be aware that it was quite hot in the Ark so I recommend dressing in layers. The buffet was absolutely delicious. Not over-priced at $18.99 per person (includes a fountain drink) considering it's all you can eat and to eat in a restaurant off-site, which by the way there is nothing close by, would cost practically the same for a meal. I didn't check snack bars so I don't know how they run as far as price or what they offer. Be sure to take what you'll need during your day because you have to take a bus-ride from the parking lot to the Ark so to run out to your car and get what you need isn't possible.

I loved everything about this!! Some of the dinosaur stuff is weird. I loved all the different things to read and how it was built to size. Gives you a true Noah’s ark perspective.

Definitely worth seeing. Lots of places to stop and sit if you need a rest. Neat displays. Zoo was good too. Highly recommend the bbq food hut outside for meals. Good pulled pork and reasonably priced. Plenty of places to sit outside in the shade and away from the crowded indoor restaurant.

It was pouring rain when we got there so that was an interesting and fun addition to this experience :) ............................

My family and I really enjoyed our visit to the ARK encounter. The prices are pretty steep if you have children over 10, it adds up very quickly but because it’s going to such a great cause to share the Bible the sting is lessened and worth it. We are at the buffet as well, I would suggest eating before you go if you’re able as the food was only okay.

Inside the Ark it was very clean and the exhibits are beautifully done. I loved the artwork you could buy from different artists and think incorporating more of that would be amazing. Overall. I would highly suggest taking your family to experience this awesome place.

A very educational place to learn about Noah's ark to escape the floods in Biblical times. Excellent exhibits and requires a lot of reading so the day can drag on. inclimate weather was approaching, so we had to cut short our stay. So didn't get to visit the zoo or the virtual reality show. Too old to go on the zip lines. Emzara's Buffet had a senior rate of $16.99 offered a wide variety of entrees, salads and desserts so it wasn't like eating at Disney World or other theme parks. Inthe end, we spent about 7 hours there.

Wow! What an phenomenal experience! Yes, it can be costly but only if you want to blow money. The guides were helpful and the Ark was out of this world as a building structure.

Interesting place to visit. Self paced. It’s bigger than I expected and quite a bit of walking. Lots of things to read while inside the Ark. Started the tour on the first floor however wish we had started on the top floor because it had more information to read and our 11 and 12 year olds were getting tired of walking by then.

I really enjoyed it and you can tell how much work they put into it. Here are the Pro's and Con's:
Pro's:
Educational
Gigantic
Customer Service is awesome.
Detailed and we'll taken care of/clean.
Attractions are Awesome.
A worthy vacation spot.
Can't say enough good about it.

Con's:
They penny, nickle and dime you to death so bring lots of money if you want to experience everything because NOTHING is cheap.
It's not all-inclusive and you have to pay separately to do anything else but the Ark.
The food does not have a wide variety for the money you pay.
If your disabled, be prepared to pay a lot more, as their electronic scooters are almost $40.00 per person, which is sad for a Christian organization.
You have to pay for parking and the gift shop prices are through the roof.
Some of the information about the days of Noah are subjective and needs to be compared to what the Bible states, but overall, it's accurate except for a few things that I think they just assume because the Bible doesn't mention it. Like all things, do your own research!

Exciting and Interactive Experience for All Ages

We had a fabulous experience at Ark Encounter! This was the first day of our trip to the Cincinnati area. Children ages five to eleven repeatedly declared it the best day of their lives. It was doubtless the highlight of our trip. It’s very clean. Everyone on staff is kind, helpful, informative, and efficient. We enjoyed the shows and the playground. However, my personal favorite was simply marveling at the size and beauty of the ark. The children’s favorite was the buffet though. They treated it like the next marvel of the modern world. 🤦‍♀️ The only negative I can think of is if you feel completed intolerant of a Biblical worldview.

This place is huge. The Ark is as long as 2 jumbo jets and has 3 decks. There is so much information and exhibits. We went on a Monday, supposedly a slow day, about 1,000 people there. It still seemed crowded. I loved reading all of the information, but staying just 3 hours was not nearly enough time. We're seniors and we needed 2 days. It's so tiring, lots of walking. There's lots of other family things to do, too.

Loved the ark encounter, made me really think how it would have felt to be Noah’s family on the ark. My kids age 9 and 6 got a little bored reading things on the ark so thankfully they got to have their fun at the zoo after. Me and my husband could have spend hours reading through everything on the ark. It was an amazing experience
All the staff was very helpful and friendly

The biggest gripe people have in these reviews is paying for parking. It is so valid. $15 to enter the property is silly, the most blatant cash grab ever. But I paid it for the opportunity be underwhelmed and largely disappointed.

The Ark itself is like a museum piece, not a museum. There was a lot of the same thing over and over in this massive facility. I did not enjoy it. I wish I hadn’t gone.

As a argument for creationism, I found an interesting.

As a religious or spiritual place, I found it in adequate.

The ark is 520 feet long and has three stories inside. Huge! We were in it for four hours and that was with skipping some displays. Lots of walking. Then we went to the zoo outside and got to see kangaroos right up close. The way they showed the Ark animal cages, watering and feeding methods, and waste disposal methods all made sense. Their theories on the earth's age and dinosaurs is a head scratcher and makes you think, but it's all very interesting. In August they hold a free concert at 4pm in the auditorium. If you like worship music, it was fabulous and so uplifting! Three groups performed and a pastor gave an excellent sermon. It was a 2.5 hour event.

An unbelievable engineering feat and a truly enjoyable experience. A lot of walking and viewing with plenty of educational attractions and things for the whole family.

The ark contains so many great details about Noah’s Ark and even the biblical past. It rewired my brain in the best way possible and I’ve learned so much about the Lord just by visiting! Seeing and learning about scripture in a new way helps to have a new perspective on life back then and life today

Absolutely loved it! Definitely worth the drive from Florida. It deepens your faith, and it was an uplifting spiritual journey.

There were lots of parking spaces available. You will ride a free tram from the parking lot to the gates.

A physical map was handed out on entry.

We started with virtual reality. I like it!

The foliage is beautiful everywhere!

Restrooms are also available everywhere

We went to the ark after. There was no line. The ark was unimaginably huge! The ark was built per the dimensions listed in the Bible. There was 3 ADA accessible floors. Everything inside was explained- from the wood, trusses, engineering, ecology, lighting, etc. It also included biblical information. There is a small theater, a snacks area, and souvenirs. Very informative.

The buffet was not inside the ark and the price was decent, $25 per person.

There was a small zoo and a ride-a-camel. Make sure you look at the times where you can do stuff to plan accordingly.

I have provided media below.

We had an amazing time. So much to see and do. Traveling with our two kids the enjoyed the playground, zoo animals and bible characters

It's a lot of walking, not good in subfreezing weather. They should offer to have the shuttle drop off at the Ark instead of the gift shop. Also the price should be reduced when it's too cold to take in the outdoor activities. We wanted to go to the restaurant the night before our tour. We would have had to pay for parking twice, which is already over priced.

The Ark to look at outside was amazing. To see how big it was based on the Bible was awesome to see. Inside not so much. The cost of entry tickets was to expensive. Add the cost of parking & anything else you might want to purchase, it's just another tourist trap. Considering there is a whole wall dedicated to those who donated $ to build it, how in good conscience can you fleece people to see it. I bet the majority of your visitors are Christian families, who overall have limited income & probably come from miles away as we did. I would not recommend seeing the Ark to anyone, as it's a big disappointment. Watch the video on YouTube instead of wasting your $.

I knew from others who'd visited it would be a great experience but my wife and I were both pleasantly surprised. It was biblically inspirational, historically informative, and just overall awesome! Everything was so clean and neat. The grounds were immaculate with beautiful flowers and trees all so well taken care of. There are also several good food options there on the grounds.

The Ark and Creation Museum was an excellent experience! 4 adults and 3 children ages 5,7,9. Everyone agreed it was a fantastic experience! So many visuals so the kids loved it and were able to learn a lot. Adults could read but not much time to do that with fast moving kids. The staff and cleanliness of both facilities was so good! Bathrooms always clean, staff always friendly and helpful! Easy access to all events. Minimal waiting in line and if we did wait it wasn’t for long. Combo day passes and parking pass purchased easily online. We went to the Ark the fist day and then Creation Museum the next and we all agreed that was good sequence. Overall excellent experience and can’t wait to do it again someday!

Glad we went, learned some interesting historical & scientific facts. But wouldn't suggest you visit on weekend, extremely large crowds. The Ark itself is very impressive but felt more commercial, touristy, than we were expecting. We felt it was expensive for the 2 of us, $180 senior discount for Ark & Creation museum, plus $15 parking.

Excellent experience with children and grandchildren and cost effective Enjoyed the BBQ and animal farm on the location.

This was hands down one of the most amazing attractions I've ever been to. Even as a confirmed Christian I learned many things I did not know and the displays and the Ark itself were just fantastic! The park was clean, the food was good and affordable. This is a top notch attraction that I would recommend to anyone whether you are a religious Christian or not!

I’ve been to the Ark twice now and have loved it both times. I’ve learned new things and had my faith strengthened while enjoying the petting zoo, carousel, watching my kids play on the awesome playground while sipping a great iced latte. Definitely need to arrive early, an entire day from open to close can easily be spent here. This last visit I got to hear an informative talk by Ken Ham himself on the evidence that we are all ONE human race in different shades of brown (due to melanin) rather than different races due to skin color such as black & white. Also go to enjoy the later hours and Christmas lights and laser light shows this time. I found it all very impressive. Highly recommend a visit!

The facility is amazing. Unfortunately, it is so very crowded that it is not enjoyable. It would probably be fine if only a certain amount of people were admitted during a time period (maybe at 15 minute intervals). Dodging the crowds just trying to walk forward was unpleasant. You park your car then board a bus to the Ark. Full bus loads run continuously. Dining options are limited with long wait times. We chose our date to visit based on a specific concert. People were waiting in the hot sun for hours to get in. The staff is great but it seems management is more interested in making money than providing a spiritual experience.

Amazing place to see. The size is breathtaking. Learning how the animals were stored and taken care of opened my eyes. The grounds around the actual Ark are absolutely beautiful. The grounds were very clean. After we walked through the ark we went and ate a Emzara’s which is a buffet. The food was good and had a good selection. We then went and walked through the zoo area. Some the animal enclosures were closed due to maintenance, but it is a nice little zoo for the kids to see.

Everything was very well planned and presented. The workmanship of the building, the helpfulness of the staff, and the beautiful gardens made for a wonderful day.

It’s a lot to see, along with the videos and the presentations not to mention the conversations we had afterwards. I would definitely plan for a day for the Ark and a day for the Creation Museum.

There is plenty of seating for resting and reflection during tour visit.

Finally made it to The Ark Experience and it exceeded my expectations! The grounds, the staff, the food is all top notch. There are buses to take you from ticketing to the Ark experience and to see the life size replica is just amazing! As you walk to the entry there are faux animal topiaries, photo op spots, and informational tablets on biblical people. The interior is fascinating to explore- from the architecture to the animals to storage and living quarters. The property shares a lot of biblical information and is careful to note when they have used artistic license. You won’t see traditional animals of today- you will see genus kinds and many will be fun for kids as they resemble dinosaurs. There are movies to view, a kids area, and so much to see and read! Restrooms are easy to find as well as a drink or snack. Outside the Ark is a great little Zoo and there are onsite activities available everyday- they provide you with a list along with the map. The predator and prey talk was great! We had a meal at the buffet and it was surprisingly excellent! The fried chicken is notable and your drink is included. They offer other paid activities such as a zip line and a gem sluice. There is also a children’s playground area. The park was clean and all the staff we met were friendly, helpful and happy to assist. Plan on spending at least 6 hours here- there is so much going on and it is all done very well!!

This adventure takes 2-3 days, especially if you want to thoroughly see and experience everything! There is sooooo much to see & read!!! Don’t rat at Emzara’s Buffet if you have soy allergies bc there’s barely an alternative other than salad. The Creation Museum has so much better food!!! And they have better gift shops. This place is hard on the feet & legs bc theres a lot to see, a lot of walking and it is crowded! Please wear compression stockings and tennis shoes. They do have benches on the 3rd level to relax on.

If you are traveling on I75 a want to take a 1-2 hour side trip to see The Ark don’t bother. You pay $15-$20 just to park and then add $120 for admission for a couple. There are crowds and lines everywhere. No “disney like” crowd or line management process. Might be with it if you want to spend a whole day there and like crowds.

We’ve been wanting to visit the Ark for several years. We were fortunate to be able to visit in 2025 with our extended family. We had teenagers and youths for a total of 14. Very impressive experience and breathtaking to see a replica of what God instructed Noah to build many centuries ago. Words cannot express the feeling but knowing God is still working miracles is awesome! The Rainbow is truly Gods promise to us. We did get a chance to hear Ken Ham speak and I agree we need to understand the past to have a strong foundation which starts with Genesis! Can’t wait until they are finished with the expansion of Jerusalem.

I recently had the chance to visit Ark Encounter during a business trip and really enjoyed my time there. Not only did I see beautiful architecture, but I also encountered interesting information.

Very one was so nice and helpful very clean ,food was so good,
We did the zip line it was so much fun the guides was very helpful

Seeing a life-size replica of Noah's Ark was amazing. My husband and I really loved the exhibits and the biblical facts provided. The Ark has 3 decks of information, replicas of living quarters, animals, utensils and vessels. There's a lot of walking, but in my opinion, it's worth it.

A fun and interesting experience. Spent 6.5 hours exploring the Ark, the zoo, the carousel and the buffet restaurant. It was nearly 7k steps based on my firbit but worth the time. Get the opportunity to consider Biblical events in a real setting and learn facts as well as some different opinions. The Ark itself is not as fun for an 8 year old but the outside activities make up for it. It was a bit hot in August but the Ark is air conditioned as are other indoor areas. All the staff we encountered were pleasant and helpful. Veteran discount is available. It was an amazing visit.

We took a bus trip to the Ark. We arrived when it was opening for the day. We were transported from the bus to the ticket center by a shuttle. There is a lot of walking.
There were scooters and wheelchairs available for rent.

The Ark is three stories of exhibits and explanations. There is a lot of reading with comparisons between the Bible and science. When you're done inside the Ark, there is a small zoo out back. There is a buffet restaurant right outside of the Ark. There are also small kiosks scattered around where you can buy a light lunch.

Many people on our bus liked the Flood virtual reality experience for an additional price. I wish I could have had time to do it.

This is a well-planned, efficiently run, entertaining, and fascinating place. Whether you are a Christian or a skeptical, there is much to challenge your assumptions and beliefs. The exhibits explain the whys and hows of the challenges Noah faced and the technology he had to work with. You leave in awe of what Noah and his family accomplished and what God can do through obedient men. Highly recommended for ages 7 and up. There are exhibits and a zoo for the younger ones but better for older elementary IMHO.

The Ark is very impressive and it was interesting to see their ideas about how things might have been done.

Lots of places to sit and rest (it's huge so kids and elderly will want to take a few breaks). If you want to buy clothes or jewelry gift items, do that while you are in the Ark (2nd and 3rd floor) because they aren't in the regular gift shop.

Food was ok - typical amusement park prices and quality (we just ate at one of the food stands, not the buffet).

Well laid out for accessibility- we had 2 people with walkers and they were comfortable.

Workers were very friendly and helpful. We were there before Memorial Day so it wasn't too crowded.

Just a heads up - the owner, Ken Ham, has lots of opinions about the flood, its impact and aftermath, the age of the earth, etc. That's fine except they are stated as facts when they are hypotheses.

Overall it was great and pretty amazing!!

Spent all day here today. Excellent venue, and a real feat of Engineering to build such a huge facility almost 100% out of wood. Several great short videos included in the tour. It was quite cold and raining, so did not get a chance to check out the outdoor areas. That being said, there was so much to see and read about inside of the Ark.
highly recommend this venue for All age groups.

You have to go at least once in your life time, they did a wonderful job with the setting. The employees were trained well, they went above and beyond my expectation. I commend their recruiter and trainers for job well done. Went through the whole displays in the Ark, the zoo, garden and lectures, concert are unbelievable. I enjoyed myself and will recommend this place to families , even if you are not a Believer. Visit the Creation Encounter too.

The ark itself is impressive and provides a depiction of what the inside *might* have looked like. They have disclaimers prominently posted letting you know how they have arrived at some of their conclusions.

The animal area is interesting, but heavy on the dinosaurs. The exhibits are average to good, and are inset around the edges, which creates some people-logjams.

Lots of evolutions vs. Christianity discussion presented in a black and white manner.

The virtual reality add-on was probably the highlight of the experience - it's an add-on. They did have a music group performing that was very good, and a couple of speakers we sat in on as some in our group were interested in their topics.

Food and beverage is what you'd expect - a bit pricey, and ok, but you can't expect too much at a public venue like this. We were there on a rainy day, so there were some outdoor options for dining that may have been a little better, but no one was stopping due to the weather.

Nice visit though I was somewhat disappointed with and not overly impressed with exhibits. Very informative though. Different floors. Size of Ark impressive. Take bus to the Ark.

Well managed with electric scooter available for rent. Very informative with easy access parking. Bring you credit card because it ain't cheap.

It was a rainy Friday but we only had the one day available to visit the Ark Encounter. Since it was a rainy Friday in May there were no lines which was super convenient! We were in KY to attend an Asbury Theological Seminary graduation and the Ark Encounter is only 1 hour & 10 minutes from Wilmore where we were staying so we decided to have our grandson join us so we could take him to see the Ark. This was our 2nd visit and his first, we all loved it! We had a great & educational experience! The sound effects really add to the overall atmosphere with the sounds of the thunder, rain & animals! We didn’t let the rain put a damper on our visit, it was all very interesting & the truth traveler virtual reality experience was cool too!

Wow. Worth the trip and the price. Super friendly staff. Lots of security. We got a senior discount AND a Veterans discount which I found rare, usually you get one or the other. What a great experience. I highly recommend coming here but be prepared, lots of walking. Great visit!

Go back in time and learn about the history and the Bible and the different types of animals that was on the ark and what it was like.

Also Please Note play close attention to the people using rental motorized wheelchairs or personal motorized wheelchairs they don’t pay attention to what or who around them cutting people off or hitting them which is assault

We had a very wonderful day. So amazing.We enjoyed it so much.just beautiful.everyone was so helpful.great for the whole Family.

The Ark Encounter was very educational. It was air conditioned and surprisingly was not hot with all the people inside of it. Only drawback was having to pay $15.00 to park the car. This was on top of the entry fee.

Fabulous experience. Renews your soul. I learned so much. Clean, well priced park. lots of things for all ages to do. You will not regret going.

There is a tremendous amount to see and do. First of all, you do have to pay for parking. You have to take a shuttle bus to the actual Ark, but they are running pretty much constantly. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as there is a great deal of walking. At certain times there are concerts on site. There is also zip lining. As far as the Ark itself, it is huge. There are pretty much ramps everywhere, so you don’t have to worry about steps. There are plenty of benches throughout the three levels. There are several opportunities for refreshments. Each level had restrooms. All the areas were very well maintained and clean. As others have said there is a great deal of reading as you go . The only complaint I had with the setup was there were several areas that the foot traffic funneled into smaller areas and you had to wait to get through those areas. It also made you feel somewhat rushed. There is a really nice gift shop. There are several options for food but we did not eat on site. The small zoo was also very enjoyable. Overall, it was a good experience. It is a little pricey, but I feel it was worth it.

The Ark itself is very impressive!! I enjoyed seeing the details and innovation on how Noah and his family may have managed the many animals. As a teacher, the self-feeders, water system, and waste system were exciting to see as examples of creative problem-solving, the use of simple machines for efficiency, and crossover connections for modern day students familiar with these items for pets etc.

As a Christian, the focus on the Word of God as being true and in Jesus being God's solution for rescuing humanity from sin and death as the ark was the solution to saving Noah's family and humanity from the flood was appreciated and well delivered.

The site is highly focused on a young-earth creationist perspective and opposes evolutionist theory throughout. It is very black and white and doesn't address any in between perspectives. I went with my senior citizen parents and my 2 teen children. The experience brought up valid questions and talking points for the family. Without getting into personal opinions, taking time to review the story of Noah and his place in Biblical history as well as comparing and contrasting various beliefs and theories prior to going it could prove beneficial for youth. It can be overwhelming and create anxiety going in just expecting to see Noah and animals.

For parents of exceptional children - I suggest bringing your noise canceling headphones and ideas for helping your child stay calm if they get overwhelmed in crowds.

This was an amazing experience that must be seen in person to really appreciate. You can't imagine just how big this place is. It also answers a lot of logistical questions about how they survived on the Ark with all of the animals for a whole year. :) Put on your walking shoes though, it is a lot of walking.

What a wonderful experience the arc is massive and makes you appreciate what Noah did and how faithful he was to God. I would highly recommend.

Visiting the Ark Encounter was an amazing experience. The thought that the real ark was the actual size of the model ark is breathtaking upon seeing it. Not only is the so much educational material, there are animatronics that explain occurrences on the ark. I highly recommend visiting Emzara’s Buffett located within the park. They have a fresh salad bar, a variety of home cooked meats and vegetables and a dessert bar. There is a carousel, zip line, and virtual reality experience of the ark. My daughter loved the zoo and the zoo keeper talk where you have the opportunity to ask questions about the animals. The staff are very friendly and very helpful with guiding guests to find their way around. You will not be disappointed with your visit.

Excellent, incredible structure. A place for christian families. Take all day to visit and enjoy every place. The food in Emzara restaurant is so good and fresh.

Wonderful and fascinating depiction of Noah’s Ark and so interesting to see how they accomplished what God told Noah to do.

First visited in 2017. It was amazing then. Even more amazing now, as is the creation museum.
I get a laugh and a little sad reading the criticisms from atheists, agnostics, and wackos.

Do visit, this is amazing & chock-full of artifacts, & beautifully built. Clean restrooms (w/ water fountains), lush landscaping, and very helpful drivers, guides-a-plenty & employees eager to help.
We went on a Thursday, not crowded at all. however, the best way to navigate this, especially in the morning is to not dawdle @ the ‘Welcome Center’ (which mostly has a coffee/gift shop, & a HUGE auditorium, where speakers give presentations).
Walk outside & when you see the rainbow arch outside, take a hard LEFT (ignore the blue signs that say “arc entrance “ signs pointing right where the rest of the crowd will go).
Enter the BOW side of the ark. Go inside past the gift shop, then take the elevator -straight up to the 3rd floor. Everyone else will be pressing in on the 1st floor on the opposite side of the ship and you will be able to enjoy your way down to the first floor crowd-free!
There r special speakers/events listed on your daily plan. We were very impressed with ‘Corey East’ (A masters degree archaeologist just returned from Israel.
It’s faithful to the biblical worldview But we felt they got carried away with their artistic license… go with an open mind and learn a lot.

My husband and I thought this place was amazing. There is a lot of walking and even though we visited on a weekday it was almost too crowded for the electric scooter that one of us required. Hard to take photos or get close enough to read a lot of the displays on a scooter. We arrived when they opened, I would recommend arriving an hour or two later to avoid the mad dash for the tickets and or shuttle bus( even though we had pre-purchase tickets) and possibly some of the crowd. Some places were a little too dimly lit but the atmosphere and presentation were spot on! We truly enjoyed learning about Noah's ark.

Very informative and fun. The family had a wonderful day. Lots of walking and plenty to see. We had lunch there. The kids could zip line. We met many nice friendly people.

Pleasantly surprised and not what I was expecting when I imagined visiting the ark. The Ark Encounter is only available as a packaged ticket deal with the Creation Station. Tickets available online and at door, read ticket bundle deals carefully and do the math for your best deal and savings. Parking fee is separate, at both locations, than most ticket price bundles and is paid at gate before parking. Port-a-potty’s are available at ticket gate. Once purchased ticket confirmed, shuttle bus transports visitors from parking lot/ ticket gate to the Ark. Area contains multiple water running/ flushable restroom locations in and outside of Ark. Area maps available and posted. Ark is made up of three floors with a combination of one way traffic and free roaming areas. Food, drink, gift shops, and restrooms conveniently located throughout the Ark and in area. Every aspect of Ark building and living is theorized and represented. Replica of animals are not your average “zoo animals “, instead they are based off of research and writings of the area and era. Although the Ark encounter is made to bear witness to religious perspectives, it is very interesting in general to read the interpretation of the Ark story and how amazing and realistic it is portrayed. A very interesting learning experience for both religious and non-religious individuals. If reading and experiencing everything is your goal, plan to spend the day at the park. If your goal is to hit both the Ark Encounter and Creation Station, two adults had to move at a good pace but still feel like I enjoyed and experienced both to their extent. Doing both is highly dependent on crowd and traffic flow, since they are at locations 45 minutes apart. Wasn’t crowded when I went but you can tell the park is prepared and does have a larger crowd at times. Children under 10 years old get in free. Read park official and current rules before visit, but did allow unopened or empty water bottles to be carried in. Lots of walking involved but minimal stairs/ more ramps between levels, also elevators available. Well thought out and designed park for all types of visitors. Clean and super friendly staff. Great experience. Check website, other activities and events are available at the Ark Encounter area but I only explored the Ark itself.

We have wanted to visit the Ark for several years and were finally able to do so after moving to TN. The drive is 4-5 hours for us but pretty, and well worth the time. The hotel we stayed at was filled with nothing but "Arkers." Families who had already been or were on their way like us, so we met many wonderful like-minded people during our stay. The folks in Dry Ridge are delightful and full of all kinds of personal stories because the Ark employs so many of the residents. The Ark itself was a quick drive from our hotel and we arrived around 9:30am. I would not suggest getting there too much later because it got crowded quickly! Once you park and get inline for the shuttle you can't really go back to your car so take what you need. It was storming the morning we arrived but four hours later it was a beautiful spring day! The shuttle drops you off at a gift shop/events theatre. There were no shows the day we were there but one is scheduled to begin and run through the summer/fall on the life of Georgi Vins that looks good. To get to the Ark, head through the rainbow arch outside and follow the signs. On a recommendation we took the elevator to the 3rd floor of the Ark and worked our way down rather than starting at the bottom and going up, and so glad we did! The 3rd floor has most of the exhibits and there are some short videos to sit and watch as well. We were there on a Friday but there was a home-schoolers conference visiting so it was crowded and noisy. Not in an uncomfortable way, but you had to be patient. We enjoyed all the exhibits, and the consistency of the Biblical message. Depending on your child, the Ark could be tough as it's a lot of walking and reading. Thankfully, most of the kids we saw were behaving because this is no place for unruly children. There are plenty of options for snacks and drinks while you're inside the Ark, which was a nice convenience. The buffet was good and priced fair, and there was a BBQ place as well. The outdoor grounds were very nice, and we loved the outdoor animal exhibits, too. The Ark staff were all very friendly, and do a great job of answering questions and keeping things in order. I don't understand a lot of the negative comments, because we really enjoyed our visit to the Ark and look forward to returning. As Christians, we appreciate a clean, wholesome destination where we can bring family and friends. However, the Ark is not a Christian theme park. It's an educational exhibit intended to teach people the Creation Story. If you don't believe the Bible and don't have an open mind/heart, this is probably not the place for you. We hope the Ark will continue to honor God's word and share our Biblical world view with others.

This was by far thee MOST informative, awe inspiring and faith building "encounter" I've ever experienced! I visited with a church group recently and the details, explanations and immaculate condition of the Ark exudes excellence on EVERY SINGLE LEVEL, in every way possible. It answers so many questions not only Biblically but scientifically, historically and with so many facts from an archaeology standpoint. There was so much science and really more explanation than I truly expected! I didn't realize the campus surrounding the Ark Encounter would have so much to offer. I also went Ziplining and was there ALL day and still didn't get to take it all in. It was so beautiful and touching to look around and see people from ALL nationalities, social classes and walks of life, TOGETHER. Gathered. Learning and you could just see the seeds of faith being planted and watered. Some people were emotional, some enlightened by the intricate details that God provides and others just excited and ready to "run and shout!" I heard different accents, saw people conversing in their native tongue and the peace of God was SO STRONG!!!! Additionally, there's a zoo, a kiddie zoo, a virtual reality building, a movie theatre that's set up like a church, concerts, activities, Ziplining and the food at "Emzara's" was TOP TIER! I've never experienced a buffet so vast , with no lines and food so soulful and tasty. The Ark Encounter was exceptionally done with excellence unto the Lord in mind. As a teacher and servant in ministry, I walked away stronger in my faith, impressed by the work that went into apologetics and completely ignited spiritually. I will definitely be back with others very soon! May God bless every visionary, purpose partner, planner, staff member, janitor, expert, pastor, stake holder, clergymen and watchmen that had a hand in this. And may the seeds of faith continue to be planted for God's sake! Shalom.

Amazed at the lengths they went to try to get everything as close as possible. Wish we could have spent more time reading all of the material shown. It is astonishing just to see that and wonder what it would have been like then. Love the story of how it all came about and how they keep it in front of this country.

This was an incredible experience for family members of all ages! We only planned for one day but could have spent at least two days in order to experience everything.

The structure is impressive. The documented information is more than most people can absorb. Took pictures of all the explanations so that I could read later. I hope at some future date, they will have more interactive information. Dont miss "The Ben' show at the Zoo. They need more entertainers like Ben on the inside.

WOW, just WOW! This place is truly amazing! There is a lot of walking to do, so if you can't do it, they do rent electric scooter chairs by the day. I would avoid summers and weekends because the crowd size increases. Buy the 3 day pass for the Ark and the Creation Museum, it's too difficult to see all of this in just a day or two. Buy the 3 day parking pass to save money. Buy all online prior to avoid the ticket line. Note: the Ark Encounter & the Creation Museum are 45 minutes apart. We had the best time in the Ark, the zoo area, listening to the presentations in the auditorium. This is one place you won't regret seeing!

Best attraction ever. Ken Ham's vision for this was equal to Noah's original Ark. This explains so much about how and why of Noah's Ark. It truly is an encounter as the title suggests.

Parked and took a bus to the Ark. It was raining. Got there in about 5 min. Another 15 min walk to ark in the rain. We were not prepared for this. No idea. They Hurd people like cattle. Always felt pushed and rushed. Everything cost extra. Certainly not what we expected. The exhibits were few and not for a massive crowd. Very disappointed in the commercialization of this biblical themed event. Will not recommend or attend again. Way to expensive and certainly don't feel we got out money's worth.

The ark structure was phenomenal. The fact that their agenda was creation, one was left to believe in evolution or even worse confused. They have dinosaurs instead of today’s animals. It’s sad and disappointing.

Wow! What an amazing place to experience God's Presence! The Ark itself is incredible but we found the worship, lectures and other presentations including the movie on the Ark to be the most impactful to us. As believers it was SO refreshing to be with other believers and to question what the secular world has taught.
Go, go, go!!!

Neat stop and worth the trip. Price is comparable to area attractions like zoos or aquariums. We spent about 2.5 hours walking through just the ark & we definitely didn’t see everything inside. Only watched part of one video.
There are lots of other activities located there and all of them seemed busy.
Honestly wasn’t sure how much we would enjoy this and was hesitant given the price of admission but I am very glad we went. We were impressed with the details and insights as well as the science that went into the building and displays. Even if you are not an overly religious person ( or if you are a skeptic) this experience will give you plenty to think about and appreciate when you leave.

Ark Encounter is an attraction owned and operated by the organization Answers in Genesis. It’s quite an attraction and worth a visit. Without getting too caught up in details, it promotes the idea of young earth creationism. Christians may encounter philosophical differences with other Christians, but the detail and effort put forth in constructing this massive build is evident. In my opinion, if you are trying to choose between here and their sister attraction, Creation Museum, choose here. The ark itself is massive and is reported to be built to biblical specifications.
There is also a small zoo onsite.

The Ark Encounter is a full scale rendition of Noah's ark. It is educational and a spiritual experience. It follows for the most part, the book of Genesis and the Bible through the crucifixion of Jesus, focusing on the story of Noah through exibits and video. Once through the ark, there is a small zoo and a variety of places to eat. I highly recommend this destination.

Went to the Ark several years ago and just went back. It was great then and even better now. They keep adding things! From a visual perspective you just can't get a feel for how awe inspiring this structure is. The craftsmanship is amazing and stories, history and education are top notch. Finding the quality you get at the Ark Encounter is rare. It is a awe inspiring and hopefully eye opening for those who visit. Awesome experience and worth the time and money to visit.

This experience was AMAZING. We ALL loved it. My grandkids even, 17 years 15 years and 10 years, all of them had a wonderful time.

This was a really cool experience. I liked the fact that all throughout the exhibit, they didn't portray everything as factual. What they knew they presented well. The other things were brought out to say "may have". It's laid out well, not difficult to walk. Definitely worth the visit!

The exhibits highlight God's word. From the beginning of time. through the time of Noah, into present day. Exhibits are educational and backed with Bible references.
Great explanation of biblical prophecies.

I would definitely go again as one visit isn't enough time to see and experience everything. I would get there early in the day as it can get crowded. And warm.

Incredible experience of actual dimension of ark as stated in Bible. Gives more information about Creation and how the Earth was formed and all the animals as it relates to evolution compared to the creation by a designer and signage showing all the comparisons of evolution and the creation worldview. There is extensive research given about how the logics of feeding, watering, and maintaining the animals in the Ark during the flood went down. If you want to take the time to read all this and absorb it you can buy books that have the signage or take your time which would require a second visit IMO. There is a great Buffet Cafeteria, and it is huge to accommodate everyone. There are some snacks on all the floors. Don't neglect the little zoo near the cafeteria. IT was a nice surprise. I highly recommend this visit. We stayed in Lexington and it was about a less than hour drive to the Ark encounter. There are ramps and elevators for those with walking issues.

What a great experience. Definitely worth the money to see. The work put into it was amazing. The wood interior was just beautiful. I have seen it on tv but to see it in person was exciting. It brings all the Bible stories you’ve learned all these years to life

The Ark and the entire property blew my mind. I didn't do any research prior to my visit, so my expectations were low. You could spend hours within the Ark itself. There was so much to look at and read. Plus, a snack and drink area and gift shops. The rainbow gardens/zoo were a nice interactive touch, and so beautiful. Emzara's buffet wasn't anything fancy, but it was nice to have a variety of options to eat on the property. My family spent several hours there and still didn't do/see/eat everything there was to offer. Highly recommend for people of all ages!

Stopped by in Earlier May weather was great . My Wife and I enjoyed the experience which takes about three to four hours depending on how much time you have . If you have Children it could take longer. It was very informative and made me think more about Creation of the World.

We loved everything about The Ark Encounter. We spent all day there and never got bored. It's very informative and beautiful. Lots of things for everyone to do and enjoy.

This was AMAZING! It’s unbelievable how massive this ark was, and that it was built by hand.
Exhibits were awesome, and extremely informative.
It provides so many details that you would never even think about.
The entire place was extremely clean. There were girls in the ladies restroom that would continually clean the stalls and sink area.
Enzara’s Place has a HUGE all-you-eat buffet, with so many choices, and the food was EXCELLENT! Best all-you-can- eat buffet I’ve ever had. You definitely want to eat here, and come hungry.
They have a zoo for the kids, and my grandsons loved riding a camel.

Was easy to find , had to pay for parking and get reimbursed because Wi-Fi wouldn’t pick up at the parking booth and printed papers weren’t dark enough.
Ark is impressive from the outside, dark inside, has way too much emphasis on dinosaurs, and a lot of stuff that is conjecture at best.
Layout not very well thought out, and only about half of the Ark is about the flood and related events.
A lot of reading and not much interactive content inside , way too commercialized as there are places to buy trinkets and food everywhere.
And if you need assistance walking around that is an extra charge also.
Play area and zoo area are nice, people who work there are excellent, but again camel rides and other things are extra.

The Ark Encounter is an absolute joy! There was so much information regarding the Ark, Noah and his family and the animals and geography before or after the flood. The displays were easy to follow and understand, there were staff in all areas ready to answers questions and direct guests, the Ark was constructed with such care and no detail was spared. It’s a must see!! The zoo, restaurant options, band area and playground are kept in top notch condition. The carousel was fun and the ice cream was delicious too!!

Very overrated and overpriced. 15 dollars to park . As a Disabled Veteran never had to pay anywhere that I had to park . Overpriced entrance fee and the kicker was when we got inside. With all the technology we have to today. Nothing is animated . Beautiful woodwork and structure. There is all kinds of possibilities for this to be much better and interesting. Could have handed out headphones to talk and tell more about it . The animals could have been animated. Maybe you could get some ideas from Disney. I have been to several art shows that have the headphones, and it was great . I noticed that the young children wasn't even interested. Sad very Sad need lot's of improvements.

You read about the ark in the Bible but you really don't understand how massive it was until you stand next to it.
The museum did a great job through displays, murals, and models of describing the period from the Garden of Eden to the Flood. I especially enjoyed the short film that described the time of Noah with a modern twist to it.
We visited during the summer and were grateful for the air conditioning, plus if you are handicapped this museum is very handicap accessible.

The Ark Encounter was my engineer husband's birthday trip request, and it did not disappoint! It was so amazing to see the ark come to life straight out of the bible! The wall exhibits as well as the visual representations of animals and items in the ark was so interesting. I loved learning about the animals represented then and their modern-day ancestors, as well as the everyday workings of living in the ark and caring for all the animals. Being able to purchase a book with all the information on the wall displays was so nice and helpful for future study. I hope to return again with other family members. This is a must see for everyone.

The experience was absolutely amazing! Well done! It was well presented in words & displays throughout! Nice time of year to go!

We drove to Williamstown, KY to visit the Ark Experience and spent the whole day there and could easily spend two. It was bigger than you can imagine and so informative, so may examples and pictures to show you how it was all done. Very interesting to see how they were able to build and keep all the animals alive.

This is the second time visiting the Ark Experience and it will probably be my last. It was enjoyable, but nothing really new, except the high price ($107.00 for two adult tickets. This did include the zoo, which was fantastic!) I would recommend anyone who hasn't taken a tour of the Ark to go.

This was absolutely fantastic. I had wanted to go mostly just to show my kids the vastness of the ark - to give them something to picture other than a tiny boat with a few cute animals on board.

The Ark Encounter is SO MUCH MORE than that. It sets out not only to show how animals of every kind could legitimately have fit on the boat, but also how the boat may have functioned to feed and water those animals for a year or more. How do you get rid of the animal waste, for example? How would they have stored the food and what would they have eaten? Why would some animals have been included and others not (what makes something part of a "kind"?)? Would animals that swim have been there? What about animals that fly? What about insects? Obviously these are questions no one can answer with certainty, but they provided well thought out theories that were just fascinating to read about.

The Ark does not shy away from sin, and presents the world before the flood in very dark, realistic ways using models and artwork.

One of our favorite parts was the True History of the World timeline at the end. You could stand there for an hour just looking at what world events happened concurrently. I'd love one of those for my house!

My kids thoroughly enjoyed it, but being kids, there is a limit to how much "museum" they can handle in a day. We spent a little over 2 hours on the boat and 1 hour walking through the rest of the park. Had it just been my husband and I, or if our kids were older, we could have easily spent 5 hours on the boat reading through each exhibit.

Now, y'all. This is no cheap date. Clearly it was expensive to conceptualize and build a museum this detailed, but WOWZA! The ticket prices take your breath away. And then there's a $15 parking fee, which is weird because you're out in the middle of nowhere and the Ark Encounter owns the lot. Thankfully, there is a military discount and kids 10 and under are free this year, which saved us from having to put a second mortgage on our house in order to go.

Ticket prices aside, this was an INCREDIBLE experience and I'd encourage anyone, everyone to go.

Pros: Lots of parking, abundant CLEAN bathrooms, good signage from interstate, friendly employees, stunning craftsmanship
The zoo is cute.
Cons: $15 to park. On a cold day, there’s only one restaurant where you can eat indoors (not counting snack bars), and it was $20 for a mediocre buffet with mixed greens that didn’t look fresh

We spent about three hours in the actual ark, and another hour meandering the zoo and eating lunch. If you chose to read every word on every sign in the exhibit halls, had kids who wanted to use the playground, wanted to do the virtual reality or ride the carousel, you would obviously need more time. They are building a new theater.

I would not try to do this the same day as you visit the Creation Museum, as they’re not near each other, but at the same time, I don’t think the Ark needs a full day, so maybe plan a smaller activity to fill any remaining hours.

Other than seeing the outside structure of the ark, the whole experience was miserable. Way too many people. They need to implement a cap on the number of people per day. There is also tons of walking and long lines absolutely everywhere. The text of the exhibits takes a very literal interpretation of the Bible. Admission is costly. In addition, there is a $15 parking fee. The animals in the cages don’t move or anything so it’s quite boring, especially for children. I wasn’t impressed at all.

One of the best sights to see. So much history and a safe place to go as a family. The customer service is beyond excellent. The whole place is clean.
Seeing the size of the Ark is incredible. The whole experience was such a blessing. I was moved at the historical records gathered to show Biblical history.
The grounds are so beautiful! You can purchase the 3 day bouncer pass and you can also go on the ark’s website and look under lodging to get a discount.
The 3 day pass is to go to the creation museum.
You will not be sorry.

We went with a church group from Deshler Ohio. This was my 4th trip there! Always something new to see and experience. The zoo is fun. Great speakers give presentations daily at the visitor's center. The music group TrueSong performs there also. The buffet at Emzara's was good. Be sure to give yourself enough time. We were there six hours and couldn't see it all. Thank you Ken Ham for your vision and perseverance in building this great monument to the Truth of God's Word!

This was my second time to the Ark Encounter—the first time was by myself, this time I took my family. Yes, it was worth a second time, because I was able to revisit the Biblical themes and educational aspects a bit more focused than previously.
And, I would go again.
I thoroughly enjoyed the variety events in the Answer Center auditorium, the background of the Ark encounter, training the zoo animals, the BJU drama presentation “HoldFast” was so good and inspiring. I wanted to learn more—before we left I ordered 2 books about Gorgi Vins life (Gospel in Bonds and Children of the Storm). Incredible!
Walking through takes time because there’s lots to read on the displays (and there were lots of people there day we went. It’s not something to try to rush through—plan on a full day!
Food prices are as you would expect for a “theme park” venue, but you can bring in snacks, fruit, sandwiches, and beverages with no issue.
I needed a scooter and was grateful for the opportunity to rent one for the day at reasonable cost. As in life, some people don’t see folks on scooters—or see us too late.

They have a good layout from the entrance to the Ark using buses for transport. It’s a 10 minute ride (maybe 1/2 mile) to the main area.
The staff were all helpful and friendly, the bathrooms were clean ( a monumental task with so many folks there)!
All in all it was an enjoyable day full of fun, learning, and relaxing.
Highly recommend.

We have been looking forward to visiting the Ark Encounter for many years and finally made it. The sheer size of the Ark is breathtaking. The visuals and displays are very good and informative. The staff was so friendly and helpful. The offered a veteran discount, which was helpful. It still cost over $100 for both of us. The tram service was timely and friendly. We had a good time, we were driving from Texas, so it was 11-12 hours. I would not drive that far again just to visit the Ark though, we combined it with hiking at some of the state parks so it was worth it in the end.

I had set my bar fairly low for this attraction, and they really proved me wrong. It is high quality all the way, not just the ark itself, which is totally impressive outside and absolutely beautiful workmanship inside, but all the exhibits about Noah's family; flood geology; dinosaurs; flood legends from around the world; and an excellent exhibit about Bible translation throughout history. So much to learn! The film that tells the story of how the Ark Encounter came to be is fascinating. We even managed to cram in a dramatic performance in their theater by a group of students from Bob Jones University that was incredibly well done. The landscaping is beautiful, the music throughout the encounter really adds to the experience, and even our lunch ( a taco bowl from one of the cafes) was good. Be prepared to do a lot of walking! We arrived right as the place opened and were one of the last couples to leave at closing, and barely fit in everything we wanted to see.
Because this place is not cheap, you may want to wait until your kids are good readers to visit the Ark Encounter, because there's a lot of reading involved in these exhibits. You may also want to come on a weekday and avoid crowds. And the best crowd avoidance tip we were given was to start your trip through the Ark from the top floor and work your way down. When everyone else turns right to go toward the entrance at the front of the ark (following the sign), turn left instead and go in the door at the back of the ark. It takes you into a gift shop, and if you turn left again you can take the elevator up to the third floor and have it almost to yourself. A VERY memorable experience!

Made an impromptu stop at the Ark. Would be a five star review if not for the unreasonably high cost. Pay to park, in rural Kentucky, then pay for the entrance. Not a religious person, but I grew up and heard and read about the ark and story of the Bible. Exhibits and story are great. Everyone friendly and helpful. We walked through the zoo and ate at the buffet. Both were mediocre. Grounds are well maintained. A little wait to get on the bus to get back to the car. Ticket cost is too high for what it is.

Absolutely fantastic!! We have 3 kids 10 and under and it was really great!! I think everyone should visit. From the magnificent Ark itself to the information. It was layed out in a very easy to read and understand way for kids. The exhibits were in line with Universal Studio. We came here for Fall Break and we’ll do it again soon!!

This is fabulous! We went Saturday of Mother's Day Sunday. Being a mom, my entrance was free! No proof needed, just told them I was with my adult kids.
They do not spare the horses on staff or maintenance. Every where you went, staff was there to greet and guide. We spent about 4 hours which included going to the zoo and other outdoor activities. The animals were well cared for in their clean, well kept environments.
The ark displays are wonderful. Clear, well thought out, and very informative.

I am 76 and had no problem with walking. GO! You will love it!

Had heard wonderful things about visiting The Ark Encounter in KY. Flew into Cincinnati, only 40 miles to Williamstown KY. Awesome experience - one day doesn’t to it justice - almost overwhelming. Do the Virtual Reality experience - worth the extra - we did it ahead of entering the Ark.

We came all the way from wales, uk. And it was worth it. An Amazing place to visit. So much to see, the quality of display is fantastic. I highly recommend everyone on earth should visit. I would love to come back again. My children enjoyed very much too.

This is an incredible experience that I think anyone would enjoy unless you are too stubborn to consider evidence that the Flood really happened. The size of the ark is amazing, the construction is impressive, and the displays exhibit compelling arguments from many perspectives supporting the historical reality of the Flood. We planned to go on a slow day (Monday) and were glad we did because the smaller crowd allowed us to move around freely and take time at each display.

I had visited the Ark Encounter in 2017. Thought is was great. I came back in May 2024. It was very disappointing. The Ark has become a commercialized place. Which takes away the meaning of Noah and the building of the ark. I don’t think the Ark that Noah build sold merchandise or snacks and drinks inside the Ark.

Very surprised how big the Ark is in real life. This ‘Encounter’ is well worth the time and money to have a truly memorable experience. Well run, with pleasant and friendly staff. Well worth the two days. Very easy access and accommodating for People with Physical Disabilities. As I am one. Not disappointed.

This has been on my bucket list for years. We went February 28th and felt like we had the place to ourselves. From what I can tell looks like this place can get quite crowded, fortunately on our visit it was very empty feeling. I tried to imagine what it would be like and this passed all my expectations. Every staff member we encountered was very friendly and helpful. Make sure to purchase of of the history maps in the gift shop downstairs. It was one of the most unique items we own now. I look forward to visiting again maybe in a year or two after their new section has been completed.

The Ark is a magnificent experience! So many things to see there! There is a restaurant, zoo, virtual reality experience, movies to watch to learn about Noah's Ark if you want to, a great family or church outing experience.

Good experience that shows what Noah and his family endure for a year. Not sure how just 8 people could have done it. Wish there had seen some live animals in there .

Amazing awe inspiring & inspirational! Everyone needs to see this place. The shows were fantastic & moving. All the displays & artwork were gorgeous. Especially liked the VR show although it costs extra. The grounds & landscaping are fantastic.

This was a spectacular exhibit with amazing activities. It’s so interactive and informative. It was fun to learn in depth about the Flood and the Ark. The staff was friendly and helpful. It’s a great place to visit.

The ark is a true marvel experience. This vessel is gigantic. Lots to see and read. Plan on spending an entire day because there's a lot to see and do. The zoo had some cool species of anime. We liked the kangaroos. Several choices of restaurants on the property to choose from. Wear comfortable shoes. There's alot of walking. Ooga booga 😎

The Ark Encounter exceeded our expectations! We had been talking about visiting for years and are so very glad that we did! Built to scale, this attraction takes your breath away by its sheer size. Moreover the fact that the Ark is nestled in Kentucky and far away from any major body of water is symbolically perfect for the amount of faith it must have taken Noah to create the actual Ark, especially in the face of ridicule from neighbors who must’ve seen the effort as bizarre. Walking the interior of the Ark really helps put in perspective how the care and feeding of so many animals would have worked which was fascinating. The only off-putting element was how the Ark and the Creation Museum partners doubled down on the theory that man and dinosaurs co-existed (a polarizing theory that doesn’t have many strong adherents within the Christian community). The fact that this theory was emphasized so strongly was a bit strange.

Outside the Ark itself, we really enjoyed the grounds which featured a lot of great attractions for the kids including a zoo, a playground and lots of activities. In short this was a fantastic experience and we are so glad that we visited!

…like a few others have said, it’s a bit redundant once you enter the ark itself. LOTS of empty cages and water jugs! By the time you get to the upper levels, you may be burnt out like we were. We really wanted to love it, and had really looked forward to our visit, but underwhelmed is our description. The staff was very nice, and the facility was very clean as well, but we just were underwhelmed…. I also didn’t quite understand the necessity of charging quite so much for parking in this rural-ish location

Visiting the life-size replica of the Ark is breathtaking! I love seeing how they have brought the Bible to life in a beautiful, artistic, understandable manner. The entire park is exceptionally clean and well done. All the staff is professional, and you can tell they genuinely care about helping people. We spent an entire day at the Ark and could have spent more time. I have visited the Ark about 7 times, and each time there is more to see.

If you like waiting in lines and being herded thru displays like cattle, you will love it! Disappointing experience overall. Tip is to take elevator in gift shop to 3rd deck and start there and work down rather than waiting in line at the main entrance and going up.

An awesome experience. Definitely worth going to. Faith based and biblically sound information shared. A breath of fresh air to visit a place like this.

This place is too expensive for the poor biblical content they provide, The facilities are very nice but this place is too fictional, there are many books by Mr. Ham it looks very "exclusive", no space for other opinions, it sounds to me a communist place. Definitely never back either recommended.

The ark was incredible itself. I think that whoever is in charge of transportation from parking lot to the ark really need to thing about people with disabilities that can't walk for long ways. all though we did rent an EVC for the Ark we weren't able to enjoy the ark due to employees rushing us thru the lines. We were told to stay along the walls to stay out of way for pedestrians could get closer to information on the displays. causing my wife and myself not being to see and enjoying all the exhibits. I believe you need to rethink your accessibility that are in place for the disabled. I believe this is a great thing for people to see the amount of work Noah had to go through in building the Ark.
But I believe that this encounter has become to MONEY Hungry. I had bought tickets for my family and daughters' family. While we were waiting for the Vacation to come my son-in-law had lost his job so he couldn't make the trip do to starting a new job which he couldn't take off. I called and asked if we could get a refund for the ticket I had bought for my son-in-law and was told they don't give refunds and that we have a full year to use the ticket. After the way we were treated as disabled individuals we will not return.

WOW!! This is a total spiritual experience. Amazing craftsmanship, learned so much about the Ark & Gods plan. Staff is so friendly, knowledgeable & helpful. Christmas concert & laser show is terrific! We felt so welcomed. 🙏❤️

Third time we have seen the ark. As always it's awesomeness was still the same was not as crowded as when were there in March.Food is reasonably priced compared to other places like this. I'm just afraid it's becoming to commercialized that is the reason for the 4 rating.

After visiting the Ark Encounter over the weekend, I spent the five hour drive home contemplating whether I truly liked this experience or not.

What I liked:
It was something to cross off the bucket list that a few Christian friends have insisted I need to visit, living relatively close to the attraction, so there is that. As an attempt to be the alternate to secular science and history museums (which are also more fiction and speculation than fact) it makes a valiant effort to the point of info overload and not enough interactive experiences to engage younger children and the child at heart. But the sheer size of the ark and the gorgeous layout and landscaping are quite impressive and obviously cost a lot to build and maintain. The staff are all friendly and super helpful and the option to purchase a combo pass to use over the course of a week between Ark Encounter and Creation Museum made it a bit more cost effective.

What left me wanting more:
The entry fee is cost prohibitive, considering the decided lack of interactive exhibits and large empty spaces that merely depict the immense size, construction and storage capacity of the ark. If I compare it to the Titanic exhibit where we actually get to touch an iceberg or are given a ticket with an actual person to follow and see if we "survived" or not by the end, the Ark gives us nothing like this. At Williamsburg, we get to interact with a live interpreter in the blacksmith shop or watch a glass blower at Silver Dollar City practice an age old craft. While we know very little about life in the Antedeluvian world, we do have much archeological evidence of sunken cities across the globe, many which mirror ancient Aztec, Mayan and Babylonian cultures. As it says in Ecclesiates, "There is nothing new under the sun." So, if speculation is how this exhibit runs, then run with it and let us see, hear, touch, taste and interact on a visceral level rather than merely read placards and view films and artwork plastered on the walls which we may or may not even get near let alone have time to read thoroughly before being pushed along by crowds or info overload takes its toll. (Is there a test at the end? Will I need to know this stuff?)

I admit to being spoiled by our local zoo, botanical garden and science and history museums that are far more affordable and interactive, while not necessarily teaching Biblical truths, which gives the Ark a decided advantage here. I'm guessing these other attractions keep the cost low with memberships, corporate sponsorships and benefactors. No mention of any of this that I saw at the Ark, nor was there an offer to "upgrade" and apply today's entry fee to a membership or annual pass for a future visit, which also helps defray future costs for all. The Ark does, however have all the same trappings as any tourist site, including a forced photo op upon entry, high priced concession stands with mediocre food and portions, and strategically placed gift shops to entice more spending.

What would've been really cool, and justified the price, was if it felt like we were stepping back in time when we entered the bus from the parking lot. I'd love it if the bus driver acted like an "Indiana Jones" tour guide and mentioned how "Noah has been waiting for you after building the ark for a hundred years". Then on the ark there could be live interpreters roaming the levels, much like at Williamsburg or Plimouth where we get to talk to first person interpreters and participate in daily chores, or at Harry Potter World where we can interact with casting spells and ride a train to Hogwarts. How cool would that be to ask a real life Noah about his time on the ark, or help Shem nail a board together and measure what a cubit is according to different arm lengths, rather than merely view it in a film or via an animatronic or motionless model in a diorama. There were plenty of guides and guards roaming the site anyway in blue shirts and black trousers. A few costumed ones would've added so much more depth, realism and fun to the whole day. And as I said, most "historical" sites are rife with fiction over fact anyway, so those detractors dismissing this site as that do not realize how much fiction and proselytizing goes on at any science, history or art museum. They all come with an agenda. So why not turn all this "speculation" into real life drama for us to engage in and walk away truly blessed and enlightened and eager to return for more another day?

The one interactive exhibit that offered a taste and enthralled our youngster most was the "spooky" ark at night with places to crawl through, cages depicting scurrying nocturnal animals and dark winding corridors to explore. There it actually felt like we were immersed in Noah's world as a participant and not a casual observer or Bible student cramming for a test. More of this kind of hands on experience would justify the price and garner a return visit rather than feeling like I just fell into a super sized Bible Story Book on an elaborate library story walk. Not worth the price. I couldn't wait to get home and dig out my old children's Bible Story Book and curl up in a corner to live the adventure on my terms.

Totally amazing… lots to do and a great family experience. If you are a Christian, this is a must do! Tons of history and biblical knowledge. The architecture alone is incredible. The zoo is also awesome!

Worth the trip. Buy parking and admission on line before you go to save time. Park your car, wait in line to board a bus to the park area. Plenty of kids activities as they’ll be bored with the actual ark. Lots of clean restrooms. Tons of souvenirs except no plush Noah or ark for little kids. Be ready to walk a lot or rent a scooter. Plenty of benches to rest. So much to read. Good short movies. Plenty of available snacks and drinks plus restaurant on site. The Ark is a museum, not a ride after all. A lot of the reading displays were conjecture not absolute truths even for me being a Christian believer. It could be argued the entire ark existence is conjecture but their extra add-in editorials push things too far. Best of sample is the constant materials comparing evolution to creationism. Even one poster referencing Aliens. The boat itself was magnificent and provoked my thinking which is the real goal of its builders.

MUST SEE. Stop reading reviews. Just book it. So beautiful and breathtaking. Whether you are a Christian or not, the story is amazing. For Christians, it explains EVERYTHING you wanted to know about Noah and his family.

This was an amazing experience. There are plenty of photo ops throughout. Beautiful scenery. Very educational. There is also a buffet style restaurant that is really good and budget friendly. There is a carousel. Truly something for everyone. We were there literally all day (at least 5 hours). We will definitely visit again.

I am a scientist who is also Christian. The science behind the ark encounter exhibits is good with interpretation of a Christian worldview. The Ark is awe inspiring. Anything negative will be coming from haters.

A must see! IT'S AN AMAZING ARK
3 decks, I recommend coming when it opens and just taking your time and enjoy.
SNEAKERS recommended
And the on-site restaurant is a good place to eat.
There is also a zoo on the grounds as well. The entire family will enjoy.

it was the most moving and learning experience ..everyone was very nice and explained a lot of info...inside is unbelievable....huge and outside was so very nice..
saw the petting zoo and we did the virtual reality experience too...Noah sure had his work laid out ,,,,,Still can't believe it!!!

Pros: It's ginormous! I learned a lot about their specific creationist theories. It is a great evangelistic tool, comparing the door of the ark to the invitation of Christ.

Cons: I'm a 71 year old life long Christ follower so much of it was redundant. I was a little put off that the creationist behind the venture were to self certain for me. You need to be a little humble and admit that you don't know everything.
That's where the faith comes in.

I brought my granddaughter. Both of us were amazed by it. The Ark Encounterand the Creation Museum truly brings the Bible alive. They both honor God and inspire a greater desire to know God and understand the Bible.

Loved the ark. On concert “nights” afternoons in the summer, it would be best to line up inside or have covering while waiting until 45 minutes before the concert. I saw A LOT of older folks. I was just hoping that no one had a heat stroke. Pretty sure with humidity it was in the upper 90s and even 100s. Possible fix- tents to keep the sun off and maybe fans in the corners.

We went on a bus trip with Front Line Tour company, 4 days 3 nights, stayed at Belterra Resort Casino in Indiana, Liz and Jerry our hosts did an excellent job and our driver Ken was great. on the second day went to the Ark in Kentucky fascinating and lots to see and do, then on the 3rd went on a tour of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky and then on a lunch cruise on the riverboat travelling on Ohio River. Had excellent meals at Nosh restaurant as we had 3 $12 coupons for breakfast and 3 $20 coupons for supper. Great comfortable clean room, excellent beds.

Rip OFF
$ 15.00 to park
$60.00 a ticket, non refundable
Get inside, over 1000 people inside, trying to read and view it.
Poor lighting, cannot get away from the packed "cattle drive" of people.
To leave, you must go through the entire exhibit in reverse.
Sorry I went.

Maybe I had too high of expectations, but.was disappointed that we didn't have a better experience.

The ark construction itself was amazing. We were there when it wasn't overly busy, but really couldn't fully experience it. The flow or lack of flow of the crowd prevented even seeing or reading much of the displays. The side paths were laid out in a way that it was impossible to see all the content with the people coming and going both directions with a total lack of organization.

There was not an easy way to watch the video content along the way, as seating was limited and since the videos were 26 minutes long they were too time constricted to wait and watch with more people filing in.

I understand that they are pushing a very specific branch of Christian theology, but the content was frequently over the top and written in such an argumentative way that it has more of a turn off of Christianity than evangelization.

The biggest insult was the cost. This was amazingly over priced, and once you were there they just wanted you to pay more for extras and food. It definitely reeks of consumerism and money making venture

The final insult was how poorly the logistics are. They bus you back and forth from the ark, and you wait in lines to get back for 45 minutes. Multiple people asked staff if they could just walk back and the staff members just laughed at them.

So I stopped here omw down to Texas I gave myself 2 hr max to run through it . I showed up at 845 they open gates 30 min early. Was able to park in the front and about 7th in line. We all got transported by bus to the ark. It was a breeze with e-tickets for the attraction and parking. Arriving at the front there were no clear instructions so followed the crowd I had done research so I knew that the rainbow arch would lead me to the ark . TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE! Everyone when into the shop I asked the attendant if I could go straight to the ark he said yes. So I was the first one !got the beautiful pics w no crowds in site . First one on the ark ! Was able to take my time. This requires lots of reading . Levels have 30 min showings about a certain subject . I didn’t watch those . You maneuver through the levels there are plenty of elevators and bathrooms. Saw the zoo outside there are some attractions that only come with upgrading tickets so beware. Being early I was able to get so many great pics. I even ride the carousel had it all to myself . I went in fall so less crowded I assume than summer . Totally worth it I had base ticket I was driving out by 1130 !

Don't go. That would be what to do before you go! Expensive and not worth your time. As a Senior you have to read everything and the exhibit are lame. And how they try to mix science and religion turned me off and I'm a christian.

This was fantastic and I think everyone should visit! We spent a whole day here and then the next day at Creation Museum. Both were great, but the ark was our favorite! We all loved it!!!!

Expect amusement park prices/quality on food. Water was like $4 so definitely bring your own bottle to refill!

We went on a Friday in fall and the weather was perfect and it wasn’t busy at all!! There was no line at the entrance so we skipped past all that and got right in.

Do not skip the creation museum might be even better than the ark. The animals were not really willing to come out and you can't approach them they have to come to the path. The virtual reality was ok but honestly the best part was the incredible animatronic at the creation museum. The gift shops have beautiful choices. There is lots of walking so just be prepared. You take a tram from your car so make sure you have your belongings for the day. There are elevators in the arm which helped my parents a lot.

Wonderful place. Lots to do and see, reasonably priced. Workers very helpful and nice. A zoo with live animals and lots of food places there to eat,very reasonable prices on food.

I was in awe seeing this massive structure. It is not a ship, it doesn't have sails or rutters. The informative and educational displays inside the Ark gave me much to contemplate. The scientific evidence and new things I learned make this a valuable experience spiritually and intellectually.

Ark Encounter was amazing, delightful, insightful, thought-provoking and definitely worth the trip. It was interesting and amazing to learn so much more about history and life! We loved every second of this journey. Emzara's Buffet was another surprise - I do not care for buffets, but the food was DELICIOUS. The cake for dessert tasted like Grandma's - perfect!

This was worth going to if you never been there. Lots of things for children. The zoo as great. Be prepared to walk a lot and we’re good shoes.

We took 3 kids (9,9 and 6), they were bored after 5 minutes. Walking through the Ark was a cattle call of lines and crowds. Very few live animals. They did have a great playground area. Not for young kids.

I’ve wanted to see the Ark since it was advertised at the Creation museum before building began. It poses much to consider as a Christian. It’s thoughtfully done and very informative. My only criticism is that it gets quite congested with the content of many exhibits to be read. Also, it’s pricey.

Way more than we even anticipated. A break for teenagers to go zip lining, couldn’t have been better!
The third floor was so engaging and full of excellent information well presented for any age.
The food offered at the different places was excellent, reasonable and fresh. We split up, some of us went to the Buffett, great southern options, and some went for the walking taco and taco salad. We were all happy with our choices.
The staff no matter where you go engaging and welcoming, it’s like they love being there and you should too.
The book store had a lovely lady from Florida who moved ther, it was excellent to talk with someone who actually read most of the books and was interested in discussing them and others. She was working in an area that interested her and was not just someone putting in time in that section, that was so refreshing.

Loved the Ark Encounter . Went early in the morning and it was easy to catch the bus and see the exhibits without crowds . As we are elderly , we tire easily and 4 hours was all we could handle. Because of our age , I would like to see a lower price for those over 75. It was a great learning experience and very clean. Definitely would recommend visiting the Ark !

It is worth going to see in person. Until you see it in person, you cannot grasp the magnitude of its size, length, height, and volume. Also, they do a great job of laying out the history of everything, and it is worth taking the time to read if you have it. In addition to the ark, there is a zoo, camel rides (kids only), a really nice playground, and a carousel. It is very clean. The grounds are beautiful, and the staff is very nice. If you have very young children, consider waiting until they are 6-7 to ensure they can understand it better. We had four children who were 3 and under, and we weren't really able to take it all in. I highly recommend going.

The structure was amazing due to its size. Inside, the depiction of the type of animals onboard and how they were housed was cool to see. There was so much to read that by the time we reached the top level we were ready for a break. It is definitely a full day adventure, especially if you want to see other things in the park. Lastly, we did the VR show. It was only about 15 minutes and didn't really show much of the ark or the flood. Its goal seemed to be to have people experience VR in general. I am still trying to decide if it was worth the price of the ticket.

My husband and I, 62 and 61, brought his dad who is 86 to see the Ark. He has been hinting for some time now. We were able to work it in and took off! We’re from Southwest Arkansas so about a 13 hrs trip.

Just after viewing our first film upon entrance to the Ark, we were looking at what to do next. We were approached by a young man whose name is Braden and he was security. He used our schedule and gave us some tips on how to see everything. He was a super nice young man! Very knowledgeable and respectful also! My husband was concerned about security so Braden took the time and explained that as well.

We found that all employees were nice, helpful, knowledgeable and respectful also!

We had a great day and wanted to give Braden a good review.

David and Risa from Umpire, AR

We took our two young children to this and it was their favorite part of our Labor Day Weekend trip. Its a Must see. Plan on doing the VR experience (Our kids loved it). Something you just have to see. We did EVERYTHING in about 3 hours.

Family of 6 with children under 9. We spent about 4 hours at the park. Overall, very pleased with the experience. Highlights for the kids were the bus ride, playground, zoo, and carousel. Highlights for parents included beautifully landscaped grounds, clean bathrooms, hospitality of 99% of workers, and the ark itself. We loved all of the sound effects and descriptions of how food, waste, and water worked. We loved seeing those recreated with life size replicas of clay pots, the family “working” and feeders going down into animal pens. Since only one of our children is a great reader, moving through the ark with young children was somewhat difficult. The exhibits within the ark were beautifully presented, but required so much reading we found it difficult to stop and enjoy everything while encouraging bored children to be engaged and not be so restless. Our children loved asking Noah questions through the touch screen, even though some of them couldn’t read the questions. It would have been nice for more touch screen or interactive exhibits for children. Even a station with a headset would have been neat. The only bad staff experience we had was with the “photo op” upon entering the ark. We shared we would not like our picture taken and the staff member directing us kept saying this is policy and refused to say anything else. My husband finally just walked our children into the ark, ignoring the same message repeated 4x by the staff member. This was unkind and embarrassing for our family as we did not desire to participate in this standard ark practice. It held up the line and caused a scene that was unnecessary. We did use the playground around 11am and it was HOT. We could feel the heat rising off the playground and wished we would have gone earlier in the day. The kids said it was the best playground they have ever played on. They loved the zip lines. The playground is accessible with a smaller sized high back bucket swing. Carousel was a huge hit and the staff who was operating was incredibly kind to our family. The kids loved talking to him and he was kind and attentive to their questions and comments. The landscaping staff who was placing moss on the animal figures were also kind and attentive to our children’s questions and curiosities. We did purchase ice cream which was excellent and not badly priced for the portion- $8 for double scoop. We would definitely do that again as a fun treat that felt affordable. Recommendation: Go early in the morning. Skip the main Answers building and go right to the ark before that gets busy. Let the kids play on the playground before late morning because the heat radiates off the playground. Pack a water bottle and wear comfortable shoes because it is a lot of walking, though there are many benches and seating throughout the park.

The Ark Encounter is a wonderful place for families to visit. This is a biblical walk-through O.T Bible come to life experience! There is so much to see. Take your time. The grounds are beautiful. There are many places to sit outside and enjoy a meal, take pictures and just soak it all in. There is a carousel for children and many other things to occupy adults and kids alike! There is always an event or show going on. Attend one.

We visited the Creation Museum many years ago, now again in August 2024. I spend most of my time studying the Bible along with extra Biblical books the authors of the Bible reference. The Creation Museum presents itself as absolute authority on the Biblical creation account, yet fails to deliver Biblical truth concerning the Pre-Adamic world, God’s Divine Council, the Nephilim, the coming Kingdom of God, etc. The Ark Encounter also fails in presenting an accurate account of why the Flood was necessary. They start in the Garden of Eden and boom you’re on the Ark with Dinosaurs! I can’t help but wonder the number of people who are turned away because of the false narrative. They fail to consider the supernatural world that existed BEFORE Adam and Eve. A world that was destroyed that resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs. Genesis 1:3 is when the re-creation process begins. My recommendation to everyone is to find a Bible believing church that is focused on Biblical truth and not tradition.

The Ark Encounter is a wonderful experience. The park is more than just the Ark so plan on being there for a full day. Good buffet for a reasonable price.

The Ark Evcounter was amazing! Built to the specifications of the original Noahs Ark as shown in the Bible. The displays are amazing and so much interesting and informative information on the workings of the Ark. There is also a zoo outside the Ark and many other interesting things to see and do around the Ark. Beautiful grounds. We spent about 5 hours there and could have stayed a little longer. There is also an amazing Resturant buffet on the grounds as well. Delicious all you can eat food very reasonably priced. Also there is the Creation Museum 45 minutes away from the Ark that is very interesting as well. I would highly recommend getting the 3 day Bouncer pass with parking. Which covers both attractions as well as one parking fee. You can travel back and forth as many times as you want between the 2.

We toured the exhibit in May. There’s a lot to see and it’s obvious that a lot of work went into this exhibit. There’s a ton of stuff to read and it could take you hours to peruse everything. When we went it was a Saturday and it was quite crowded. There is quite a bit of walking. Everything appeared to be scripturally accurate and we really enjoyed it. There is quite a bit of walking but we saw many seniors with powered chairs navigating the displays well.

We went several years ago to the Ark Encounter. It was an awesome inspiring experience. A full-scale representation of the scope of the ark, albeit a tad open to interpretation, but thoroughly thought out, and engaging. We went again, expecting a similar experience, and were shocked to find multiple armed.private security guards, anti-gun signs, and metal detectors mandating against our God given rights. We had to disarm.our LEGALLY carried defenses, and rely on the rent-a- cops (who we never saw once inside) to provide whatever security there may or may not have been. Other than that hugely offensive inconvenience, the attraction was virtually unchanged from our first visit. Sadly we will not be returning there, as anyone with that level of contempt for our constitution claiming to be a Christian establishment is in our opinion, just plain hypocrites.

I don’t like it. Expensive for what they offer. Waste of Mony and time. If someone ask me about it I will say go somewhere else.

Amazing, true to Biblical account. Words can't fully describe it,it had to be seen. Motorized scooter available for rent if needed. Lots of elevated walking.

Amazing experience!!! Learned so much more about the Ark; how the dsign was so functional. I had never heard about the living quarters, how they grew food for the family and the animals. How did they get clean water and discharge the waste. How much work was required.Faith like Noah!!! I have friends that have been 3 times and learn more each time and I can see why. Can't wait to go back. DO NOT miss this venture.

This is something the entire family could enjoy. they have learning exhibits and a movie exhibits as well as interactive exhibits and more. the gift shops are nice and have hand made items they offer a shuttle from the parking area with air conditioning for the summer time

I know the story of Noah and his faithfulness to God but this visit really made a great impression that really put the Ark and Noah into another dimension. Visually seeing the size of the Ark and the details of the event were just stunning. I was really amazed and to think that Noah worked on the Ark for more years than I have been alive. The Ark Encounter location was beautiful. The buffet was good.

Was very informative was interested in the design of the boat and how things were ran to keep everyone and things functional and alive for so long in the boat just memorized how it all worked. A lot of walking got our steps on very clean easy to stay with your group or family. It’s for us a one and done kind of place

I am not a religious person but this was a great day my friend and I went to we this and it was huge. A life sized replica of the Ark. you walk through it deck by deck. Everything is handicap accessible There was a lot of walking but there are scooters for rent if necessary. The place is huge lots of eateries a playground for kids zip lines a zoo indoor activities a lot to see and do. We could have done two days there easily It was quite the experience even for someone not religious like me

Loved it .. amazing displays and biblical accuracy is amazing . I’m surprised to those that visit the ark and don’t like it .. I think most of them are atheists wanting to discredit the bible in any way . Well done Ken and the team keep preaching the gospel .

This was a great experience. We went on a Saturday in July, and it was busy. Probably another day not during vacation season would have been better.

The staff were all very warm and friendly. The exhibit is amazing. I really didn't understand what was involved to build the original Ark, nor the magnitude of the project to construct this replica.

We went to the buffet, which was excellent. For under $20 you get all you can eat, and it is excellent food, Beverages are included in the price. The line was long and slow to get seated, and it turned out that they only had one person collecting the money to get seated. But once inside everything was running smoothly.

We saw Ken Ham give a talk, and it was really nice to see him in person.

I would recommend the Ark Encounter to anyone/everyone.

Food service is excruciatingly long. We attempted to order a quick bite at Zofar’s food and drink after the Ark experience. Waiting nearly an hour for very basic refreshment stand food. Room for much much improvement.

For those looking for an alternative tour is a very interesting option.

A bit away from the city, but definitely worth a visit.

Just cannot say enough good things about this place. Design, layout, execution...all stellar.
We visited on a holiday--a tactical error on our part--but got there early, so we were ahead of the major crush of business. Generally, the flow of traffic is good, with a few snag points where they have staff to redirect folks.
I would suggest that they do some redesign of lighting on some of the exhibits and signage. It's tough to read sometimes.

It was an awesome experience I would definitely do it go back again. It was very educational as to how the whole process took place very very interesting. If you have a chance I would recommend you go and take in the experience.

I learned so much and was amazed at the sight of the Ark! It was huge! I got so many questions answered that I had wondered about since I was a child! Great restaurant on site too!

The Ark was beyond amazing. I loved the whole experience. It brought the story of Noah to life and answered so many questions I had about how they managed day to day activities. Words can't express how truly phenomenal the Ark is.

The exterior of the ark is jaw dropping. Amazing. The interior likewise amazing BUT note that the builders used their artistic interpretation and liberties as the interior design of the ark isn’t detailed in genesis. Unfortunately, many of the texts explaining the exhibits are not cross referenced with scripture and so cannot be taken as being the truth. The exhibits themselves are interpretations of the designers and to their credit they do acknowledge that.
There are too many anti science sentiments expressed imho forgetting that science is not anti God. In fact science comes from God.
The slanted view feeds into the false narratives that are out there, fueling further disdain from those who may be looking for the Truth.
As an exhibit it’s top notch if one can ignore the liberties and interpretations as well as the ignorant and biased anti science views.
Food is so so.

Pros: Well organized. Lots of people around to answer any questions. Clean. Lots of information if you are a strong believer in creationism

Cons: Overly commercial. Food service is terrible. Too much reading - I agree with other reviews that some headphones for self-guided tour would. Too pushy on creationism to make it enjoyable for someone who really isn't a committed believer in that theory

First view of this massive place is stunning. The buses run constantly on picking up from both ends. Very well organized there. When we got there it wasn’t overly busy, yet at some point we got over run with rude kids. I assume field trip. The I side is impressive, but just fell short as far as the way it’s presented. Very childish at times and a lot of space wasted with what feels like they were just trying to use space. The food location there that’s buffet was good. I had wanted to come see it for a while, glad it was not our main sight to see on our trip. I will not return.

We were here for 2 days and still could of went back for more. Zoo was fun. Food was good. Music concerts were very very good. The ark is amazing. Words can't explain it
I would like to come back in December. There are sonny things to do there including zip line.

This is a fun experience for families with kids of all ages! There is plenty to do whether it is in the day or at night! During the day the Ark itself is a fascinating tour to see and the attention to detail is incredible. During the winter my family loves to go see the Christmas lights as well!

It was quite the process to get here and get in. You drive through the parking kiosk, and pay ($15), then park and walk up to the ticket booth. I paid for my ticket, went through the security metal detector, and loaded onto a bus. Then drove apx. a mile to the location where the Ark is.

When I told friends I was going to Lexington Kentucky for work, many encouraged me to visit the Ark. I had not done any research prior to my visit so I hope this info will help someone planning. Williamstown is about 40 minutes north of Lexington, and a pretty straight shot in the road. Traffic was light and it was easy to find with use of GPS.

I checked online and there were no discounted tickets offered through Groupon, for teachers, students, or any other category I could identify as. In fact, I couldn’t find any way to enter without paying both the large entry cost and the parking fee. Not even a discount for buying no line. Ouch. This is definitely a tourist attraction and not a religious/ spiritual visit.

Stepping off the bus is the Answers of Genesis building. I went in thinking that's where the beginning is.

I was looking for entry and wandering for a bit before I connected that walking through the rainbow arch was the official beginning of the journey. There is live music stages, a café, (lots of eating options, souvenir gift shops, a zoo, zip lining and playground for additional enjoyment. Lots of areas for making the most of an entire day and spending time here as a family is being promoted in every turn. I was there for a late afternoon alone and just wanting to check it out.

I walked the trail of the monuments on the walk toward the ark which was getting larger in the distance. This pathway tells of some of the Genesis stories, memorialized on stone monuments, making the feeling of ancient Egypt.
Rounding the corner I finally arrived at the Ark.

Then I understood the distance. Walking up on it (as opposed to seeing it from the road or in passing) is quite impressive. It's huge. To enter, I walked through the Garden of Eden. This scenic little garden was less impressive but a nice precursor. Then I entered a turnstile area. I’m not sure what that was, at this point I was just ready to get into the ark. I walked up the ramp and into the first level of Noah’s Ark!
Entering is a massive feeling.

Fortunately I was there on a day with very few others so I felt the size. Imagining that there were 8 people on board with all of the animals and stuff swept over me. It felt possible. The point of the Ark is to give you a picture of possibility. Made to scale and accurate in building design (as much as given in scripture), this gives a very strong impression of the entire world being repopulated by one family. It’s a realistic walk through long huge corridors, with animal cases, cages, and storage compartments. This part of the Ark is unquestionably, worth the ticket and a few hours to absorb. There are many great points made, and the young earth was an interesting topic.

However, I quickly turned from happily impressed to skeptical and frustrated.
Noah’s predicament begins in Genesis 6:1 where it reads: When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with[a] humans forever, for they are mortal[b]; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

The word Nephilim has been a huge topic for many years. It is agreed upon by scholars that this is a race created by Angel and Human genetics being mixed. This leads to violent giants being born on earth. Yes, there was corruption, but sin was already established by Adam and Eve. The corruption of the time of Noah refers to the seed of man. The flood is to cleanse our DNA, not to wipe out sin.

Later in Gensis 6:9 where Noah is described as “blameless in his generations” it alludes more to his bloodline being pure, as opposed to the rest of humanity which had become corrupted. God tells Noah to build an Ark for him and his 3 sons, and they take wives to restart humanity.

No where in the exhibits is the word “Nephilim” used. Instead, the creators changed that verse to mean “giants” so it reads, “the giants were on earth in those days”. This is not biblically accurate and hurts the understanding of the experience. As this is such a big point to the story I couldn’t get passed it. The art work is intricate. It shows how dinosaurs and man cohabitated, and man misusing them as part of the wicked going on. Very curious, definitely thought provoking.

Once I got to the second floor, I began to shake off some of the first-floor frustration. Seeing how the rooms are set up and Noah's sons are depicted as having skills in wood working, iron, and blacksmiths, and viewing this journey as taken by intelligent skilled humans who prepared for this trip intentionally storing what they would need shifted my mood. Even the kitchen set up with plants and herbs was cool to see. While there is some creative license, and the signs absolutely state that, it was great to imagine the ark from a new perspective than picturing the people and animals all curled up together in the dark. There's a "spooky walk" for children only, and I walked through as there was no one else around. It would be fun for some kids to explore that area. Also a movie showing an interview with Noah was playing. They try to make this friendly for all ages.

The third floor is more scientific. More scripture. More of the meaning and ties in how Jesus is the doorway to salvation. As an entire encounter, I feel they did an ok job. I do think the price is high, however obviously what they are doing here is quite large scale and probably justifies the price. There is some rooms that pull on the Museum of the Bible, which I also visited in DC. That was a very interesting place.

I enjoyed my visit to the area, and have a blog of my travels along with details for checking out the places I visit. The link to my blog is in my profile and if you want more ideas for Kentucky or other areas definitely check that out.

First the price….umm all of this ridiculous money spent on this fake replica of the arc and the price to enter cost my family more than 400$. Upon entering my family was stopped because their clothes were inappropriate. Now my daughter had a tube top on but nothing was showing.literally all the woman in all the pictures had a tube dress and men had their nipples showing. so now the ark made my impressionable teens about their clothes and not an experience with God. Jesus said come as you are not as ark employees want you to dress…I should’ve asked for my money back then. Next it explains that we know nothing about Noah’s wife and family:..the woman who replenished the world with people, we know nothing about or his family…but then they have an elaborate display of their living quarters with stories of each child and how they take after their mom and dad… but outside that display again it says we know nothing about them and unless you read it you would have no idea that it was all made up. Four things they said that was an ignorant was the decent into darkness after Adam and Eve sinned was metal work? Ok? Polygamy? Ok God never mentioned it was a sin til moses wrote Genisis thousands of years later. How would they have known…if it wasn’t even written til moses wrote it…he was born anytime between 1540- 1600…so ok and he was around 40 when he went on the mount…
Next was Giants…so tall people they claimed were dependents of angels was a decline in darkness? And music? Ok..,none of this was even written thousands of years after they happened supposedly and God didn’t think to tell anyone else this story where we would get our Ten Commandments thousands of years after God killed all of us many times…makes sense. All in all this is all fake news and they are making a lot of money out of it…don’t waste your money..give it to the poor like the makers of this fake ark should’ve done,

Went to the ark for the Christmas lights. Only cost was the parking After 4 it’s only 10.00. Plenty of parking and Pleanty of shuttles to take you back to the ark. They gave a really nice Christmas light exhibit. Would recommend thus to families to take the children. Well worth the trip

Must see! It is a must in the region. Plan more than a day if you want to see everything. There is a three-day pass paired with the Creation museum which is about 45 minutes from the Ark Encounter.
There are so many things to see both inside and outside. Vegetation and animals outside (with entertainment) and exhibits inside the impressive structure of the arch.

I think it was a wonderful experience good for family good for couples. I think you would need a minimum of three hours. There is a good deal of walking up and down ramps reasonable snacks. Surpassed my expectations.

Great experience! Loved the thrill of zip lining! Staff super friendly and helpful. Definitely know how to boost confidence during the experience. Will definitely do it again!

We went through the exhibits really fast and didn’t watch the videos or do interactive tour. We still saw a lot and it was interesting. Saw the dinosaurs in exhibits and that was thought provoking. Bought souvenirs at the exits

Only did the Ark with my hubby and it was amazing! We loved how realistic the sounds of animals were. We are glad we purchased the tickets and parking ahead of time. Loved how quick the shuttles got everyone to and from where they needed to go. Plenty of fun things in the gift shop. LOVED the cappuccino!!

outstanding it had so much reface about the Bible's the staff was grate we enjoyed the hole in tear thing the food was good

I wasn't sure if this would be an unbiased look at the ark. Be aware that the message communicated in this experience is "unique" to say the least. I recommend looking at Answersingenesis.org before visiting if you have questions on whether you will find the messaging palatable. Having said that, the experience is clean with great landscaping and food choices. The employees are amazing. And lets face it, just being able to see an ark built to scale with the only solid measurements provided in the bible was pretty amazing. Although I disagree with dinosaurs and humans coexisting, I kept an open mind and ended up finding the experience pretty enjoyable.

If you have service dogs Don’t go. We were denied entry even though we had all our documentation and we drove from Texas. We filed a claim with the department of justice. The police at the gate determined they were emotional support dogs even though they are certified and have documentation .

So worth the 4 hour drive. It was amazing to know we were in the ark that was built to the same dimensions as God had Noah & his sons build. We went on Easter weekend so it was a little hard to get to some of the exhibits. We missed a lot on the third floor due to my husband not enjoying the crowds that made him stressed, but he was even glad he went.

What a fabulous place to visit! So much to see and do. Staff are friendly and helpful. Exhibits are very informative and well done. Definitely recommend a visit if you are in the area.

I am glad I went. There were lots to see and had some fun things. I think children would like it more. I did enjoy seeing the size of the ark. I don’t think I would go again

We enjoyed the Ark Encounter very much.We spent nearly 9 hours there.There was an added bonus of 40 days and nights of Christian music.I would highly recommend the trip.

It was the most amazing site to behold! We went around 12:30 pm. There weren’t any lines so we walked right in.

There is so much information to read. We had purchased the books and decided to walk through and just look at all the amazing details.

While the ark itself is impressive, we really didn't love the park. Staff were friendly, welcoming us and giving directions. We got right in and a quick bus ride up to the ark. The inside was very noisy though- constant roaring/animal noises from the fake animals in cages and overhead music. I really expected something better in the inside of the ark- more interactive than reading and still exhibits. It felt very commercialized and everything was so expensive. To be fair, after going through the ark, we didn't bother to explore the rest. We just weren't that impressed to stay.

So incredible and amazingly put together. All staff is so welcoming and sweet. The Ark is so much bigger and more than we realize u til being there.

An awe-inspiring, educational visit. I learned a lot about Noah and his family and about how much work was done to obey God. The ark is beautifully presented and is very impressive in just its size and scope. I recommend everyone to visit this beautiful attraction.

Loved this when we went spring of 21. Decided to bring some extended family back to see it, too. It was awful. So crowded that you couldn't look at exhibits. We waited almost 2 hours just to get into the ark.

An excellent place to bring family. My beloved. The ark is immense and refers to the past . The structure and support is well done.
The zoo behind the ark is an unexpected plus that allows interaction with the animals. Kindergarten is a surplus .
I traveled 12 hours and it was worth it.
I recommend.

We finally got to visit in October, and we had so much fun! I've told everyone how awesome this place is. We got there early enough to get on one of the first buses and we were able to watch the presentation before heading out to the Ark. We couldn't believe how amazing it looked when we got out there. The tour was awesome and once we got through the initial part the crowd thinned out as people kept their own pace. The information and attention to detail was so amazing and we learned a ton. I wouldn't mind staying overnight so we could have a second day to see more and take in the zoo. We made it there right before closing and my kids got to walk around for a few minutes with the kangaroos, but they would have loved to spend more time with them and the other animals.

I'll start by saying we went during Labor Day weekend. I knew it was going to be very busy, and it was even busier than I thought it would be. We got there right at open and it was absolutely slammed already. The line to take the busses over was huge. It did not seem like the ark was well staffed and their employees could use some training in crowd control. Every exhibit was way too crowded to even walk through which leads me to believe they oversold tickets or did not do a good job of pacing people through. Also, the bus drivers were quite rude. A lady fell on our bus and the driver seemed un-phased and said "well good thing you aren't hurt." Very strange thing to say to someone who just fell down and you did nothing to help.

People were constantly blocking the ramps and shoving past. The gift shops were just impossible to walk in. We only stayed for about an hour because we truly just couldn't see anything. The ark itself is neat and all but they desperately need some additional exhibits and crowd control. It looked like they were busy building more near the ark. I will not return and would advise skipping this attraction unless it is a weekday or other non-busy day.

If you ever read the Good Book and wondered the stories of Noah, then this is a must-to-do. The story comes to life …seeing the replicated full size ark from the outside and then entering the interior of the ark is so amazing ! This self -paced tour is more than we expected. There is a lot of walking involved, lots of reading, lots of audio to listen too, lots of your imagination to go wild as how Noah and his family lived and conducted daily chores. Think starting from the 3rd floor and working your way down is the best advice I can give you., because it had more information to read and comprehend …plus is easier to walk down on the easy gradual ramps. Take the elevator to the top first. This was even special since when we went today it had been raining for three days straight so it felt more authentic! 😊 ENJOY!!!

Planned as a one day trip, I wish I had allotted more time! There is so much to take in I recommend an early start to your day to do it justice.
Planned as a one day trip for the Ark alone was insufficient. The details of the exhibits are fascinating and painstakingly thorough, I was quite impressed with the entire experience . It is easy to lose track of time at the various exhibits and in admiring the craftsmanship of construction and planning.
I had to rush at the end to conclude my tour, but it was well worth it. The only disappointment was the virtual reality experience was extremely short; for the price I had imagine it would’ve been at least 20 to 30 minutes long. I also wish I had planned to extend my visit to include the creation museum as I think that would have made the experience more complete. So I recommend anyone visiting the site to include that as well and perhaps make it at least a two day experience. Dining at Emraza’s was also a good choice and conveniently located next to the Ark. Overall, I highly recommend the Ark Encounter as a great destination for a solo, family or group trip.

It has to be seen in person- it is something to behold. Very impressive and well designed. We took our time and read as much as we could. Enjoyed walking the grounds too. Thanks for making this as realistic and true to the Bible.

The Ark Encounter will be an enjoyable and informative experience IF you keep the following in mind: Be ready to spend a lot of money, leave the young children at home, and pack your critical thinking skills along with your socks.
If you enjoy walking, the Ark is a great place to visit. Think of it as a park interspersed with historical sections, eating places, a zoo and, of course, the Ark. The boat is over 500 feet long and is divided into 3 decks. That's a lot of walking, but wheelchairs and electric carts are available for rent.
The Ark is a fascinating piece of engineering with copious signs explaining not only the construction but also how eight people might have been able to care for several thousand animals for a year. In fact, there are so many signs that it would take two days to read them all. The gift shops--there are several--offer a book containing all those signs for 18 dollars. I whipped out my phone and photographed the signs that interested me.
I walked past several life-sized dioramas portraying Noah and his family. Through the admitted use of artistic license, I met some engaging characters. There was also a section of dioramas portraying the evil world before the Flood. I had heard that made small children cry, and it wouldn't surprise me. That's one reason I suggest leaving the little ones at home.
Another reason this attraction is unsuitable for young children is that there's a lot of reading but very little interactivity. Furthermore, the kid-friendly activities such as zip lines and camel rides cost extra. I paid 17 dollars for a virtual show that only lasted a few minutes,
When you lock your car, be sure you have everything you'll need. The park is a half mile shuttle ride away.
Although the Creation Museum is billed as the sister attraction to the Ark, they are 40 miles apart. It isn't practical to visit both in one day. There is a Hampton onsite with rates starting at $195. Or you can go to Cincinnati, an hour drive away, and stay for $130.
This is a good place for church groups to visit. It includes plenty of information about the Bible as well as the Ark. However, you will encounter some very controversial assertions along the way. The arguments are beyond the scope of a travel review, so I'll steps that we should always take: Do your homework and ask the right questions.

We visited on the first Saturday after Memorial Day and therein lies my dissatisfaction with our visit. So many people hung up in some of the exhibits that we just skipped them. Which for the price of entry is NOT great. What we did see was excellent! Just wish we’d have visited during the week AND during the offseason. Also, wish they charged less for JUST the ark.

The ark is beautifully done. So much information is shared throughout the entire experience. We were overwhelmed at the friendliness of every single person working there from the parking ticket booth girl to the people located in every spot throughout the ark. Customer service 100%
So excited to be among such nice people. Very organized!

This was a beautiful location. From their gorgeous landscaping to the amazing amazing Ark and everything that it entailed.
You need at least 2 days here. I would say one day for the whole Ark took us 6 hours to thoroughly read everything. The second day you could spend the whole entire day just watching One film after another. If you have questions so many are answered here. It was really wonderful in the sense of how big it was. To just think somebody really built this 4000 years ago. It's just awe-some. Although there were many children there were some children who just wanted to leave and other children who actually read or tried to read. I truly believe this is meant more for adults as it's so much reading and cross referencing in your mind. The Hampton inn next door was wonderful. And a third day is needed to go to the Creation museum which is 45 minutes away from the hotel. What an amazing place. Thank you for the experience and the beauty of it all and the garden and the zoo

Lovely experience of physically seeing a great truth. I felt like living history in a real way. Entering the Ark was exciting.

I took my 3 non-christian teenage grandchildren to the Ark Encounter (AE) in order to show them some insight into what I believe as a Christian. One of their parents identifies as "spiritual" and the other as agnostic. To them the Ark itself was big and required a lot of walking but provided NOTHING to stimulate their intellect or to engage them or interact with them. Nothing but static displays. I had been praying for opportunities to continue to share my faith with them but the AE really disappointed. Even more so was the cost of everything. EVERYTHING had price tags comparable to the largest theme parks from $15 parking to $43 electric cart rental to the price of bottled water on top of the $58 entrance fee for me and $35 each for the teens. If this is a ministry you could do so much better!

What a cool experience. I love that someone created this. It gave us something to share with our kids and give them a biblically sound representation of the ark.
It was crowded but the ark is air conditioned so that helped.
Inside the ark was meat to see but just a quick walk through as far as keeping the children entertained. Fake animals with cools sound effects were nice but, meh. I loved the biblical teachings along the way, however I do wish they would stay a bit truer to the Bible and less focused on political religion. There were signage that was anti recycling and anti science which just felt like a divisive platform rather than an open experience to anyone of any denomination or non believer. But I also don’t know who owns it and can certainly appreciate each being true to their belief set.
I’m glad we went and look forward to the building of the Tower of Babel.

The zoo! Really neat! The small size made it manageable and allowed for us to take our time. They had a great variety of animals. The kangaroo walkabout was well done and we LOVED the sloths. First time I’ve seen one moving in the wild or a zoo. Usually they are hiding way up in a tree and can barely be seen. Great job on the zoo.

VR - do it! It was really fun but don’t want to spoil it.

Outstanding place to visit! It was such a wonderful place to visit, get in and see such a marvelous creation. I will definitely come back again. So much to explore inside and the animals to see in their zoo.

The Ark is a great family experience! It is fun for everyone (toddlers, probably not so much), but there is lots to see and do. The Ark itself is such a cool experience and then they have the zoo, the carousel, camel rides, zip lines, plenty of places to eat and restrooms. Spotless and all the staff are super friendly and helpful. Great experience!

We had a great time at the Ark yesterday. Spent the day looking through the Ark. Enjoyed the zoo portion as well. The Screaming Eagle Aerial Adventure was awesome! Mandy and Mark were so great at guiding us.

If you plan on visiting be prepared for not only how large it is but how much reading there is to do. The ark is 3 decks with restrooms and snack bars on every deck. The ramps going up aren’t bad and I had no trouble pushing a wheelchair up them. There is a lot of walking and they do rent scooters and wheelchairs in the Answers center where the shuttle drops you off. It’s easier to buy your tickets online and you will have a separate line that moves a little quicker. The shuttle is a 3-4 min ride from the parking area and we really never had to wait as they were running pretty regularly. There is a separate area to load if you’re in a wheelchair or scooter and the staff was great about getting us in the area for that. There is a lot of information to read throughout the ark and 3.5 hours we barely made a dent in all that info. They do a really good job of trying to explain all questions Ark related. There are several good options and we chose the buffet but the food was not good at all. Other than the food everything else was really nice and an enjoyable trip was had.

Outstanding presentation of the Bible story of Noah's flood. The sheer size of the boat is impressive. The entire facility is easy to navigate. We particularly appreciated how courteous and informative the security people were when they saw my daughter's service dog and they made sure we knew where the designated dog relief areas were located. My only frustration was the prices for the ziplines were so high and the estimated time so long that I had to skip them.

Gorgeous and so much to do. We came here with family to enjoy time away and it did not disappoint. We stayed at Best Western and went to the Creation Museum as well. This is a must see for all.

Wonderful visit! The ark is beautiful and very interesting. We visited on a Tuesday afternoon. The crowd was moderate but didn’t feel too crowded. The buffet was really good food with a wide variety to choose. There were live concerts in the answer center with great music and a lot for little ones too. It’s a great time for young in strollers as well as old in scooters and all in between. Gorgeous landscaping and a beautiful park.

This was my second visit here. My family spent over 7 hours here. This is an experience everyone should have. There are no other places that can compare to this. Well worth the cost of admission. We ate at the buffet and it is amazing also.

Saw The Ark Encounter on TV a few months ago. We were traveling to South Carolina into Tennessee and decided to travel and see the Ark. We purchased the tickets online and you pay extra for parking. The Ark was amazing when you see it from a distance and you cant wait to go inside. Once inside the Ark there is 3 levels complete with fudge store, cookie store, dress shop and other shops. The shop complete made it a downer for me. Of course their is a zip line and rope course too to make the Ark Encounter complete. Amazing to see but its about $100 per person.

Excellent day at the ark.. All staff helpful and pleasant. The ark and all the exhibits were interesting . Park your car and take bus to main entrance. If you have mobility issues you can rent a scooters or wheelchair. There is a lot of walking. Prices at various gift shops are high. Food at buffet was excellent. Lots of security sadly. Christ centered message biblical and provides a sense of love to our God even more during this beautiful ark experience.

An interesting experience - one needs almost a whole day to just READ everything they have to say about Noah, the Ark, the flood and all things associated with it. Start the day with a video of who built the Ark Encounter and how, then head outside to the ARK itself. Plan to pace yourself as it is a BIG experience, lots to learn, lots to ponder, lots to explore. I would NOT take kids under about 10 as it is a lot of walking, reading and a big place, unless you spend the time outside at the animal area or the conservatory and gardens.

This is amazing. What a wonderful endeavor to undertake. There is a lot of walking to get to the ark itself and then throughout the museum. You change “decks” by going up or down ramps and that makes it a lot easier. It was quite crowded by mid day and that made it harder to see and read ok if the displays.

The food is expensive and just average so I wouldn’t bother if you are able. The virtual theater is a bit pricey but we really liked it.

Every thing is done with impressive quality, but with a price. There is a $15 charge for parking, which I did not notice being mentioned on their website.
The website does explain very well the different prices and packages. But, be aware that it is not an all inclusive package. If you want to go to the zoo, there’s an additional charge. If the kids want to ride on a camel, there is an additional charge. If the teens want a virtual experience, there is an extra charge. If you wish to visit the Creation Museum (further north and closer to Cincinnati) in the following day or two, you can purchase a combo ticket which offers about a $5 discount.
After purchasing your tickets, you will board a bus(included in the price) that will take you to a welcome center. Very nice restrooms are available.
Allow a minimum of two hours, but 3-4 is more reasonable, especially if it is crowded. There can be traffic jams inside the Ark. If you arrive mid morning, consider initially skipping the first floor and go up to the 3rd floor and work down. It will be less crowded and you really won’t miss any continuity of the exhibit. Each floor has a different emphasis. By mid afternoon the first floor crowd will have thinned out.
It is a safe family environment, especially for faith based families. There is adequate staff to direct and answer questions. There are restrooms on each floor of the Ark.
There is a hotel next to the Ark property, but it is also pricey. I suggest staying at a lower priced hotel north of Lexington, KY. There are multiple choices along I 75 or I 64. It’s only a 20-30 minute drive from there to the Ark.
The whole property is walkable but there is some distance to walk. Almost everything is flat or a smooth incline, so there are few obstacles for mobility devices.

Ever since I was a child in Sunday School I wanted to see The Ark. Reading about it in the Bible just didn't help me visualize it, even knowing what a cubit was didn't help much.
So when we learned that there was a place that had a full sized replica I had to go.
We are readers and love informational videos so we read and did everything available. It took us a full day 9-6.
The ark was amazing! The exhibits were well done and informative. I must admit that my husband and I do not believe that dinosaurs were on the ark; but with that exception, we resonated with the narrative.
The staff was delightful and friendly. Very family oriented, clean, and a mindful experience.
We ate a taco bowl and it was priced as expected and was good but could have had more lettuce etc. Meat was plentiful as were the rice and beans.

My whole family loved experiencing the size and scale of the biblical ark. We had an enjoyable day, beginning with the Ararat Zoo, petting zoo, and feeding a camel (costs extra). The ark itself is amazing to see, inside and out. It was fun to see the interpretations of the dimensions straight out of the Bible plus walking through a scenario of how Noah and his family fit the animals in the ark, fed them, and survived. They are clear on what part of the design was liberal conjecture and what comes from Scripture.

My absolute favorite part was the top deck, which had an exceptional exhibit about the Scriptures and gospel. We also really enjoyed the two videos that play on a loop. I highly recommend taking the time to watch them. You’ll be on your feet all day, and the last deck takes longer than you might think. In fact, we took a lunch break after deck 2 at Emzara’s Buffet. It was decent food, and I liked that 4 and under are free and drinks are included.

My one negative: the Ark Encounter insists that you take their view on the global flood and simply dismisses other takes without really interacting with other arguments do believe in the flood and biblical inerrancy. Like the review I left on the Creation Museum, I was saddened that they really push dogmatic acceptance without really helping the audience to understand their view. Some of the science they use is sloppy as well. Ex: they use a plain crash that was buried deep in snow to “disprove” the dating of snow/ice deposits by scientists. It looks convincing until you stop and consider the variables they fail to share with you such as heat and the force of impact. You just get a, “look at how the scientists all get it wrong!” To this organization, secular = bad. To this reviewer, secular just means outside of religion, and we should expect the secular/scientific findings to be reconcilable to the Bible and be honest when we can’t yet reconcile data points. This is process does not put faith or biblical inerrancy at risk.

I also would say the ark takes some biblical understanding a little too far. For example, they project our modern understanding of biology on what types of animals and how many Noah would have to fit. Additionally, they are a bit dinosaur-obsessed. You’ll spend a good part of the day wondering where the normal animals are?!

Overall, I’d still recommend anyone to go. Just be aware they are really pushing one particular viewpoint on you, and others do exist within the Christian community.

A bit over-priced, but still quite impressive. A lot of effort was obviously placed on the details (along with a little creativity) to make it a good experience

We enjoyed ourselves so much. From us adults to the kids, we had a wonderful time. It's a must see for sure. Another of walking but well worth jt.

I had a group of 53 that arrived at the Ark at 2:30 PM on December 1, 2025. When we arrived we were told the park closes early at 5:00 PM! I had purchased dinner vouchers so the group had 1 hour and 45 minutes to view the Ark. not enough time. The tickets were $44.00 each. Had to be on the shuttle before 5:00 to get back to the bus. NOT HAPPY! I called group sales to see about a refund. The answer was NO we do not do refunds. Please do not visit the Ark unless you have a whole day. Maybe they will not close early on other people. It would sure help if they hired Americans!

We have been there twice. We first went after it opened and now again in 2024. A lot more has been added and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. There was so much to learn and experience. We toured the ark, had a snack and enjoyed the gift shop with all of the great books. The grounds are beautiful!!!

After one day, you will think you have seen everything but trust me you haven’t. We only went one day and I wish we could’ve stayed for a second. There is so much more to see and do there than you realize. It’s an education museum the people that get caught up with thelack of live animals in the museum or the animals not looking to life like their props. They’re not there as the primary feature you’re there to learn. It’s amazing.

This place is amazing. There is so much to do and the people are great. We never felt like we were inconveniencing anyone...they made us feel so welcomed.

Our family enjoyed the visit to the Ark Encounter. Learned a few things and saw some things from a new perspective. Not sure I would return, but I do not regret this visit.

Wow! What a WEALTH of information and SO well designed! We visited the Ark Encounter mid week in April so it was NOT busy. Took our time meandering through all the animal enclosures etc.
TrueSong did a GREAT job singing and sharing the gospel.
Lunch at Emzara's Kitchen was well worth the money. We were pleasantly surprised at the amount of vegetable & salad dishes that were available. (Don't panic, if you like to eat fast food type food, they had those options also.) There were also a good selection of meats. We did not eat dessert as they did not look very healthy/appetizing.
After lunch, we toured the ark. That is truly incredible. Throughout the entire exhibit they show both viewpoints - creation & evolution, along with the proof/reason why they believe the Bible is accurate both historically & scientifically. This allows you to make your own educated decision on what you want to believe. The research that has been done is truly mind blowing at times. The amount of detail that has been put into all the exhibits inside the ark is VAST! Everywhere was clean and the staff were friendly. If you have never been, don't wait. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

This was an anniversary adventure. What we thought would be a 3 hour excursion turned in to 6 hours! Take the time to read everything and watch the videos. It is worth the trip!

The Ark encounter was amazing to actually see the size of the massive Ark. My husband and I enjoyed everything from the Ark, the zoo, the food and the information shows. We did a lot of walking but there were benches and tables to take breaks. The Ark has an informative concept.

Very beautiful artwork. Impressive structure. My husband is handicapped and they were helpful. DO NOT GO WHEN IT IS BUSY! You will be stuck in never ending lines.

The Ark can be a very enjoyable, relaxing, self-guided tour...IF there are no crowds! This visit was chaos with the high volume of people and no traffic flow. With strollers, wagons, wheelchairs, and hoverounds, it is a challenge to maneuver through the crowd and it is not for the claustrophobic! It honestly felt like a busy shopping mall at Christmas! The animals that we were able to get close enough to see, had no animation, and non-readers are quickly bored with the many placards. Children cannot see any exhibits when the crowd is three-deep at every stop. On a rainy day, the kids can't experience the zoo or supposedly a camel, or anything outside. It is a costly admission and additional parking charge, and for an optimal visit and memorable experience, my suggestions are: #1. Put a cap on number of admissions per day/per hour for crowd control for the Ark to be enjoyable for ALL ages #2. Start ticketed times #3. Traffic control #4. Trained guides throughout to answer questions.

Strange and overpriced. Many the the displays are obviously not true and made-up. Will never be going back. Was disappointing from the very beginning.

Fantastic adventure so very much to do and see
Great trip for all ages. Singles, families, seniors
A must see. Loved the zoo also

Wonderful experience. A must see. I highly recommend. It really puts in perspective of what the build time and stay must have been like.

The experience at Ark encounter was really nice. The exhibits are great. In addition you have other activities like zoo, ziplining. The ziplining (screaming eagles ariel encounter) was thrilling and icing on the cake. It was managed professionally bu the people I belive collage students and a shout out to them for making our 1st experience truly a memorable one.

I went with a group and didn't know what to expect. This is a creationist attraction that goes out of their way to try to disprove science. They emphasize that the Bible must be interpreted literally (as in Earth was created in 7 days), that dinosaurs lived with humans and that they were inside the ark, that there was only one ice age thanks to the flood as opposed to 4, etc. I'm Christian and I found it unbearable. I love the story of Noah's Ark as one of faith, hard work, community and hope, not this anti science stuff. I did enjoy the nice workmanship, but deeply regret supporting this anti science institution.

There is so much to see, learn and do…even our 8 & 10 year old loved exploring. This was comparable to a visit in Disneyland!

The ARK was fantastic!! However, the stay at the Holiday Inn Express was NOT what I expected for that type of hotel. We had a large tour group.

They do not want people with disabilities to visit. They are happy to charge you $45.00 to rent a scooter and take your money for tickets, however the staff will then tell you to stay in back and don't read the plaques you will bother everyone else and get in the way of those trying to take pictures. Let me make this clear my 67 YO disabled mother was told multiple time to stay in the back, at one point they bent down and aggressively said it into her ear. They paid for tickets but are told they are not wanted there.

It was the best of visits… We arrived about 11:00 on a Friday and went straight to the Ark. Big mistake. And the lines weren’t even that long. The Ark itself was packed. There were so many people on motorized scooters (“ECVs”), and they were an absolute menace. The Ark itself is relatively tight and you kind of have to move through as a huge group like a pig through a python. We couldn’t get close enough to many of the exhibits to read things, etc. We couldn’t wait to get out. We went to a couple of shows, had a late lunch, and went back in about 5:00 pm. It was a completely different experience. It was great without so many people. It is well done. The zoo is pretty cool. TrueSong, the musical artists in residence, were great. The buffet restaurant was very good and very efficient. The staff were friendly. We definitely recommend doing “everything else” and hitting the ark itself late in the day. Very educational with truth and not just theories about creation and “evolution”. It makes sense when you stop and think about things.

I was invited to join an old friend and visit with him and his wife at the Ark Encounter. I was thankful to get both a senior discount, as well as one for being a veteran. All the staff were courteous. I was impressed with the size of the structure, as it gave me confidence that what I read in Genesis 6 with regards to the size of the Ark, and its ability to have sufficient space for the 8 humans and multiples of animals, could actually be done. It is a huge structure. Of course, one must understand that beyond the size, all else is a representation of what it could have looked like. It was a very crowded day, and it was difficult, in one day, to be able to see all that is presented on the three floors of the Ark. We ended skipping many things, and eventually just walked through, taking time for the exhibits we were most interested in. Getting to the Ark itself requires a shuttle bus. However, on such a very hot and sunny day (90's), it was brutal to be standing outside without any shade. The same can be said with regards to having to walk back to the main gate after you have finished moving through the Ark. There are only two places within the park to get lunch or dinner, and we opted for the "Emzara's Buffet". It was quite a wait to get inside (20 minutes), however, once we finally did, there was plenty of food and it was cool enough. We did enjoy the presentation by Dr. Mortenson at 3:00 that afternoon, dealing with the geological evidence. However, we were saddened when he determined to present his own version of what one needs to do to receive remission of sins. I was actually shocked when he said that Baptism does not save. I had to wonder if he has ever read the First epistle of Peter. In 1 Peter 3:20, 21. Here is are 2 verses, which link the Ark and Baptism. This would have been the perfect Scripture to reference in dealing with being saved, as the passage tells us that the Ark was a Figure of Baptism! Here you are surrounded by this incredible structure which is spoken of in Scripture, and yet there is a determination to ignore the passage. Instead, he simply suggests that people "trust" Jesus? I was very disappointed. Beyond that, the constant reference to purchasing this book or that one caused a really good lecture to devolve into a commercial. I would suggest that with 2 massive screens on either side of the stage, that such advertising could be accomplished that way, both before and after the lecture. I believe anyone going to visit this can be impressed with its size. However, unless one is going possibly when school is back in session, it is difficult to see everything in the Ark itself, in one day. I am glad that I went, but do not know, because of the distance, if I would go again. You need to be prepared for price shock, as everything is as expensive as you would find at any "theme" park. I would suggest that for parents taking their children, they be sure to remind their children that this is simply a representation of how one believes it could have happened. It makes for a good starting point in teaching children about what God has said in His word and our ability to rely upon His promises.

Easy hassle free shuttle service to the ark encounter. The ark encounter was worth the admission free. We could have step hours looking through the encounter. The buffet food was good.

The park is beautiful and well kept-up. The ark is breathtaking -- so amazing to see the size both outside and in! The information is excellent and very interesting and believable. I believe TrueSong gave a performance there -- we saw them at the Creation Museum, they are high quality, professional praise singers. We ate at the buffet -- for the money (realizing you are inside a park, and such normally charge high prices), you get what I consider a decent value -- fairly high quality food with great variety -- we were pleased! Our only complaint was that some of the information in the displays that must be read to understand it and learn were pretty dark -- we had to use our phone flashlight to read them. We did not spend a full day there, but could have, I think. Not cheap, but unique and well-done -- recommended.

This thing is huge!

The first floor shows primarily storage compartments. There are storm & animal noises that can be a bit frightening for young children.

Second floor depicted various animals; I was surprised to see how many dinosaurs were in there. There were some graphic depictions from the Old Testament.

Petting zoo was pretty neat, they had a kangaroo walk-through. I definitely recommend the camel feeding!

We visited the Ark Encounter with some road-trip friends. I had read about, and seen photos of the Ark Encounter. I was awestruck with the Biblical scale Ark and all the immersive experiences within the Ark. it surpassed my expectations; there’s so much to see and encounter. It tackles a lot of questions of the flood, Noah, how it all came about, and what went on before and after the flood regarding the physical earth, animals, ice age, etc. We watched a video upon arrival detailing the road from dream-to-concept-to-construction-to-reality of the whole Ark theme. Just mind blowing. The companion, and first of the two parks, is the Creation Museum. We’re visiting it tomorrow and looking forward to it. Christian or not, you should visit the Ark Encounter. It all points to Jesus Christ.

I was not prepared for just how big this thing is! It took us about 2-3 hours to go through the whole thing and we did not read everything. There is a book you can purchase that has all the signs in it so.. This place was outstanding! The knowledge, the set up..all of it...we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The Virtual Reality 3D thing was not worth the 16.50 so I would skip that. The buffet offered a good variety of food but it was busy so be prepared. Definitely a must do, IMO!

An absolute enjoyable visit. The bus transportation from the parking lot to the Encounter was very helpful, especially for disabled. The entire Staff was polite and very helpful in all aspects. Exhibits are well done and very interesting. Highly recommend the buffet at the on-site restaurant... outstanding food and price, especially for an attraction. We recommend the Ark Encounter!

This is a monumental museum. Very organized for crowds with adequate parking, buses, information via various media methods, remarkable structure of the ark, landscaping, animal care/enclosures, and staffing.
This a remarkable place and although the price seems hefty, it is reasonable considering all the attention to details.
It is family friendly and extreme in information available about the Biblical account of creation and catastrophic flood as well as scientific and factual evidence verified by secular physics and intellectual sources.
The engineering of the ark structure is a modern wonder of architecture and design with video presentations of the process to build it.
Remarkable.

Impressive view, especially when standing near. Inside the ark was also very well put together with lots to see. Granted, a lot of the sights are similar (animals in cages) but it nails down what an achievement it truly was. They add other informational displays to add info and interest. Got there when it opened and had no trouble manuvering around. There were lots of people, but the shear size of the exhibit spread them out so that you did not feel crowded, like the Creation Museum.

Even tho It was a rainy morning, the staff were fast and got us thru the checkin lines and on the buses quickly and efficiently. Once inside, there is an abundance of information to view and read. We could have easily stayed a couple extra hours reading. By the time we made it outside it had stopped raining, so we were able to see the animals, eat lunch, spend time walking the grounds and even watched a handbell show. Highly recommend !

Only one word to describe it: AWESOME! It is a must see for anyone! All of the staff are very helpful and nice. The restaurant on the grounds has a buffet…very reasonable and delicious. We highly recommend!

Amazing experience to make The Bible come to life for my daughter. She is 5 -the perfect age to take kids is probably a tad older -if they can read that will be super helpful as well. I was able to explain some of the things to her.
I think that my daughter will always remember this and have a great memory of our time here. We both liked the Creation Musuem a little better -probably because of the 4d movie (free with tickets) and the dinosaur visuals. Great playground at both places. Go to both places and help yourself understand the bible better and see how advanced they were in so many ways.

What a sight. It’s no wonder it took Noah years to build the Ark. it was huge. 3 floors of information. We had an amazing time. It was a bit packed inside the ark but nothing crazy that we couldn’t get to the exhibits. We loved the little zoo outside. The kangaroo walkthrough was awesome as the kids could pet the kangaroo. The camel ride was also a huge hit, especially if you come from a zoo that doesn’t offer camel rides. We also watched an animal encounter that happened to be a bird.
Oh, last thing we thought was cool was how the animals all have biblical names. Three of the goats were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego another was Ruth…a sheep was Jacob and the bird was Elisha.
I liked that the exhibits spoke truth and the things that weren’t 100% in the Bible were stated as “may have been” or “presumed extinct.”

Among the many flat out bonkers things in this Ark are: depictions of how a snake lord corrupted man, many dinosaurs on the Ark, timelines that suggest the Earth is 6000 years old, a display about how kid's books based on the Ark are evil, and many attempts to explain the "technology" and "science" behind the Ark.

The Ark is truly amazing. It was bigger, more impressive and interesting than I expected. The kids enjoyed it too. There was so much to learn. The short movie was well done too. It was well worth it.

Friendly folks work here! Very educational, with different ideas of what happened at the flood event presented side by side. The food at the buffet was exceptional. Going in December during the week meant we were not surrounded by 1000s of people.