ChristmasTime at the Ark Encounter is in full swing! This year’s event runs through January 4, 2025, Tuesday–Saturday on select days.

Bring the family for an unforgettable evening of festive lights, a laser-light show on the side of our Noah’s Ark, live music/shows, holiday dining, gift shopping, and so much more during this annual Christmas experience.

Check out this video to see how our grounds transform from day to a dazzling night under the lights of ChristmasTime to catch a glimpse of what you will experience.

Creation Choir & Orchestra Presents: True Christmas

Make your plans to join us in celebrating our Savior as we fill the air with the music of Christmas this Saturday, December 14, 2024. A wonderful, full symphony orchestra and a joyous Christmas choir will lead us in carols and songs of Christmas, along with special songs by gifted vocalists. Come prepared to lend your heart and voice to celebrate a “True Christmas,” sponsored by BJU Press and The Master’s University.

Laser-Light Show, Hearty Meals, Cute Animals, and More!

Not only can your family enjoy “True Christmas,” but you’ll also love seeing the grounds lit up in multicolored lights; enjoy a hearty, family-affordable holiday buffet meal inside Emzara’s Buffet (open until 7:30 p.m.); shop for unique gifts; take a ride on our indoor carousel; learn about our animals in the Ararat Ridge Zoo; and so much more!

And be sure to enjoy our free scavenger hunt with your children as you explore our beautifully lit grounds! Track down all of our topiaries and receive a prize upon completion. Your family will also be able to take a free family devotional home.

Start planning your Christmas visit to the Ark Encounter today!

Once again, we are excited to announce that a family foundation has stepped forward to offer a matching gift opportunity towards our end-of-year campaign—up to $8 million—this year. What a blessing!

So what key ministry opportunities are we looking to fund with this dollar-for-dollar match?

Ark Encounter Expansion

With the success and popularity of the Truth Traveler virtual reality experience, we plan to relocate, update, and expand the experience to the currently unused and unfinished fourth deck of the life-size Ark. This plan will provide Truth Traveler access to the Ark’s fourth deck to achieve the following:

• Impact more guests with the biblical history and gospel message presented through this exciting VR experience.
• Free up the current VR building to be used for new children’s activities and exhibits.
• Allow Truth Traveler guests to access the Ark’s outdoor overlook with spectacular views of the park and the surrounding countryside.
• Increase overall guest capacity in the Ark.

A Message from Ken Ham

In this short video, our Founder CEO Ken Ham gives you an overview of this exciting project, along with information about the upgrades/additions planned for the Creation Museum and details about our “AI Genesis” platform.

We are so grateful for this opportunity to fully fund these projects. Each gift is matched dollar-for-dollar up to $8 million through the end of the year. If you’d like to join us in these projects, visit our donate page and help us reach even more people with the truth of God’s Word and the gospel message.

We are a couple weeks away from kicking off this year’s ChristmasTime at the Ark Encounter! Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, this special event will run from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., November 29, 2024–January 4, 2025, Tuesday through Saturday on select days.

In addition to the beautiful light displays guests have come to love, we also have a few new features for this year’s event.

Laser Light Show on the Life-Size Noah’s Ark

Enjoy a laser show on the side of our life-size Noah’s Ark all night long. Then, watch Light in the Darkness at select times during the evening. This five-minute laser light show features a stunning look at the life of Jesus. From the angel appearing to Mary to a brief look at big moments in Jesus’ life and ministry, this moving presentation takes us through the true Christmas story and reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world. To him be the glory.

Special Concerts and Programs

This year we have several concerts and programs lined up for your enjoyment!

Keith & Kristyn Getty: An Irish Christmas

On Thursday, December 5, 2024, the gifted hymn-writing duo Keith and Kristyn Getty return to the Ark for An Irish Christmas.* This event features new Christmas music from the Gettys, along with classic carols you know and love, all performed with their signature Irish style. You and your family will love it! This event is ticketed, and a limited number of seats are available, so be sure to get your tickets soon to celebrate the birth of the Savior with the Gettys.

Bethlehem’s Cry

Join us Friday, December 6, 2024, as our Answers Academy students present to you Bethlehem’s Cry. This heart-wrenching drama connects the babe in the manger to the hope of the cross by following the story of a young girl through her grief and suffering that began in Bethlehem.

A Jazzy Little Christmas Tour: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound with TrueSong and Ken Ham

Abraham Productions presents Ernie Haase & Signature Sound performing selections from their A Jazzy Little Christmas Tour on Saturday, December 7, 2024. This program includes a performance by the Ark Encounter's Dove Award-nominated resident artists—TrueSong—and an encouraging message by Answers in Genesis Founder and CEO, Ken Ham.

Living History Christmas Event

Our Christmas Living History weekend (December 13–14, 2024) is an exciting event that will focus on the historical and cultural background of Christ’s birth and the Christmas season. Topics range from Hanukkah and the Maccabean revolt to the everyday lives of women like Mary and Elizabeth. Come engage with reenactors and learn about life in first century Israel!

True Christmas

Then, on December 14, 2024, join us again at the Ark Encounter’s Answers Center for the Creation Choir and Orchestra’s debut performance of True Christmas—a beautiful musical tribute to Christ’s birth—featuring a full symphony orchestra, a choir, and gifted vocalists. This one-night-only event is free—you only pay for parking.

A Jazzy Little Christmas Tour: Karen Peck & New River with TrueSong and Ray Flynn

Join us after Christmas as Abraham Productions presents Karen Peck & New River bringing both Christmas classics and new music to the stage, making this an exciting Christmas concert you don't want to miss on Saturday, December 28, 2024! This program includes a performance by the Ark Encounter's Dove Award-nominated resident artists—TrueSong—and an encouraging message by Ray Flynn.

Experience All ChristmasTime Has to Offer

Not only will your family enjoy these new additions to ChristmasTime at the Ark Encounter, you’ll also love seeing the grounds lit up in multicolored lights; enjoy a hearty, family-affordable, holiday buffet meal inside Emzara’s Buffet (open until 7:30 p.m.); shop for unique gifts; take a ride on our indoor carousel; learn about our animals in the Ararat Ridge Zoo; and so much more!

And be sure to grab your children a free scavenger hunt before you head into the gardens! Track down all of our topiaries and receive a prize upon completion. Your family will also be able to take a free family devotional home as well.

Continue Celebrating at the Creation Museum

Celebrate this special time of the year with a trip to ChristmasTown at the Creation Museum as well! Tour the dazzling garden of lights, reflect on the true meaning of the season at our live nativity, check out the brand-new conservatory, enjoy a special holiday dinner, do some unique gift shopping, and more during this annual Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Christmas experience!

Start planning your Christmas visit to the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum today!

*Additional ticket purchase required.

Imagine the earth as it was before the flood. The forests are lush and fertile. The air is thick, warm, and fragrant. The completed ark sits quietly on a hilltop like a great wooden fortress.

Guided in pairs, thousands of creatures flood into the ark. There are perhaps millions of species worldwide, but only select representatives of every land-dependent, air-breathing kind are sent. Approximately 6,744 animals assemble inside—most are small, young, and easily kept. These chosen animals will reestablish their kinds in the new world.

Which Animals Were Brought into the Ark?

The Bible says that Noah brought representatives of every land-dependent, air-breathing animal kind. Kind is a broader category than species and usually includes many species.

Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. (Genesis 6:20)

What Is an Animal Kind?

An animal kind, or baramin (from the Hebrew word for “created” and “kind”), is a group of animals related to each other but not to any other animals. The study of created kinds is called baraminology.

How Many Kinds Were on the Ark?

Studies beginning in 2012 estimate that among land-dependent vertebrates, there are fewer than 1,400 living and extinct kinds. In a worst-case scenario, it is projected that Noah was responsible for fewer than 6,744 individual animals—most of them small and easily maintained.

To learn more about animal kinds and how Noah and his family might have cared for the animals on board the ark, start planning your visit to the Ark Encounter today!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at the Ark Encounter! In August, our grounds teams at the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum began to prepare for our ninth annual ChristmasTime and seventeenth annual ChristmasTown events.

These colossal projects take three to four months of hard work to turn the attractions into two of the most spectacular Christmas light displays in Northern Kentucky. Enjoy some photos of the teams hard at work.

These photos from last year give you an idea of what it will look like when it’s all done—although it gets more spectacular each year!

Not only will you see stunning lights, but there are various concerts, dramas, a laser-light show on the side of the Ark, a live nativity at the Creation Museum, and much more. ChristmasTime at the Ark Encounter and ChristmasTown at the Creation Museum are free except for the cost of parking.

Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, ChristmasTime and ChristmasTown run from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., November 29, 2024–January 4, 2025, Tuesday through Saturday on select days.

Special Christmas Events

This year’s ChristmasTime at the Ark Encounter will include two special concerts inside the Answers Center. On Thursday, December 5, 2024, the gifted hymn-writing duo Keith and Kristyn Getty return to the Ark for An Irish Christmas.

An Irish Christmas features new Christmas music from the Gettys, along with classic carols you know and love, all performed with their signature Irish style. You and your family will love it! This event is ticketed, and a limited number of seats are available, so be sure to get your tickets soon to celebrate the birth of the Savior with the Gettys.

Then, on December 14, 2024, join us again at the Ark Encounter’s Answers Center for the Creation Choir and Orchestra’s debut performance of True Christmas—a beautiful musical tribute to Christ’s birth—featuring a full symphony orchestra, a choir, and gifted vocalists. This one-night-only event is free—you only pay for parking.

Start planning your visit to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum for our special Christmas events today!

Noah’s ark may have included ingenious air circulation methods while Noah and his family were onboard.

Wave-Powered Purifier

One of those methods may have been the use of moon pools. Moon pools are generally used for drilling and research vessels, but the same concept could be applied to exploit the waves to pump air throughout the ark.

It may seem strange to include a shaft or well inside of the ark that opens to the water below, but a moon pool would be an extremely effective mechanism to provide a continual supply of fresh air.

Convection

Many modern buildings that house large numbers of animals do not require special mechanical systems for ventilation. Instead, they rely on the natural convection currents to circulate air.

In addition to the possible opening along the roof, the temperature difference between cool surfaces in the ark and the body heat generated by warm-blooded animals could have produced sufficient airflow.

Other Potential Methods

The ark may have included a variety of ingenious methods to circulate air. A furnace fueled by animal waste could have been used to heat air and create a draft in a specially constructed flue and chimney system. Another possibility is that people or animals powered mechanical bellows or fans that could have been built to blow air through the ark.

Start planning your visit today to see the account of Noah’s ark come to life!

We are so excited to share that the Logos Theatre from the Academy of Arts is returning to the Ark Encounter to share their production of The Horse and His Boy. This powerful story brings the world of Narnia to life and takes viewers on a journey to save the beloved land created by C.S. Lewis.

In November, our Answers Center will once again temporarily turn into the beloved world of Narnia as Shasta, Bree, Aravis, and Hwin race against an enemy army to save Narnia and the North. It’s a wonderful, exciting story for all ages and absolutely amazing as a live stage production.

We hosted this incredible show back in January, and our guests loved it! Hear what they thought in this video.

The Horse and His Boy features a cast of 45 actors, stunning sets and costumes, and lifelike puppetry. This fall, the show will run November 12–16 and November 19–23.Tickets are now available for purchase—and this time, we’re also offering a show-only ticket option to enable locals and others to attend the program without having to purchase Ark Encounter admission.

Get your tickets today!

Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy one of the compelling stories from The Chronicles of Narnia. Kids 10 and under enjoy free admission to the Ark Encounter (and discounted or free tickets to the live The Horse and His Boy production, depending on the ticketing option chosen). For more information, visit ArkEncounter.com/narnia.

Impact Lives for Eternity

As we prepare for exciting events such as The Horse and His Boy and our annual ChristmasTime at the Ark Encounter, we are also looking for individuals who would like to help us impact lives for eternity. We are currently hiring seasonal help, and we will be hosting two open interviews at Mt. Olivet Christian Church for our open interviews on the following days:

• Thursday, October 10, 2024: 3–6 p.m.
• Saturday, November 9, 2024: 12–4 p.m.

Stop by Mt. Olivet Christian Church on the above dates to apply for a seasonal job, be interviewed, and potentially get offered a position—all on the same day! You can also apply online today.

The Babel event in Genesis 11 gives us the proper foundation for understanding much of what we observe in our world today.

The biblical account explains the origin of our language families, but it also helps us understand the variations in people groups and that there is no biblical justification for racism.

After the flood, God instructed man to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Yet, within a few generations, humans rebelled against their Creator again. They gathered together in the plain of Shinar and decided to make a name for themselves by building a city and a tower whose top reached the heavens.

“Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. (Genesis 11:7–8)

God judged these people for their rebellion by confusing their languages. No longer able to effectively communicate, the people dispersed and filled the world.

¿Cuál es tu Identidad? Giving Answers About Identity at Día Latino

At Answers in Genesis, the Ark Encounter, and the Creation Museum, we want to reach all people with the truth of God’s Word and the gospel regardless of the language they speak. That’s why we host our annual Día Latino for Spanish speakers each year. Check out these pictures from last year’s event.

This year’s theme is “¿Cuál es tu Identidad?” What is a man? What is a woman? And why does it matter?

Many people today—especially young people—are very confused about their identity. The world tells them they are what they feel, but feelings are confusing and ever-changing and certainly don’t provide ultimate purpose or meaning. And because we are sinners, we can’t trust our feelings. But God’s Word provides the ultimate purpose, meaning, and answers we need.

We’re giving those answers to adults, teens, and families at our upcoming Día Latino at the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum, October 18–19, 2024. This two-day event is specifically for Spanish speakers, featuring teaching sessions either in or translated into Spanish, worship with the Aliento de Vida church worship group, and time to tour both attractions with translators and Spanish signage and subtitles scattered throughout the grounds.

Each of our teaching sessions is designed to provide answers about identity—what it means to be a man or a woman and to have an identity grounded in Christ. Hear from

• AiG’s Joe Owen, Abby Owen, Arturo Valdebenito, Dr. Georgia Purdom, and Ken Ham
• Dr. Victor Tiburcio, pastor of Aliento de Vida church
• Laura Perry Smalts, author of Transgender to Transformed
• And Laura Gonzáles, director of the Spanish ministry Aviva Nuestros Corazones.

You won’t want to miss this encouraging two-day event. Not only will you be equipped with teaching, but you and your family will love the life-size Noah’s Ark, world-class exhibits, zoo animals, playgrounds, carousel, special effects theater, planetarium, animal shows, daily programming, and so much more. It’s sure to be a packed two days!

All children 10 and under visit for free! Make plans today on our special event page.

Our Saturdays have been very busy at the Ark Encounter (and at the Creation Museum too) as thousands of guests pour in and pack the house for the 40 Days and Nights of Christian Music concerts.

Recent Saturdays have included our resident artists TrueSong, CAIN, Riley Clemmons, Mac Powell, and Cochren & Company. Jeff Kapusta and Marc Pritchett gave the Bible teaching and gospel presentations.

We encourage you to join us and bring an unsaved loved one or friend with you. Check out the schedule for the upcoming concerts—including names like Casting Crowns, Karen Peck & New River, Selah, and more still to come—at the Ark Encounter and select days at the Creation Museum. The world’s largest Christian music festival ends September 7, 2024.

New Music from TrueSong

We’re excited to announce that True Song is releasing three new singles over the next few weeks.

The first single, available now, is “He Is Jesus.” Here’s what TrueSong says about their newest song,

The goal for this song was to create an opener. We really wanted the audience to be comforted from the beginning of a concert with the message that they are welcome. Even more importantly, we desired for them to hear that having questions is ok and that Jesus is the answer to those questions.

The first lines of the song even say that if you’ve been asking questions and trying to find your place, we have the answer. The scripture the chorus leans on is John 14:6.

This song is special because it is designed to connect with each member of the audience regardless of where they are on their spiritual walk. It is welcoming while still proclaiming truth.

“Nothing Like the Blood” and “All Things” will be released over the next 4–6 weeks. “Nothing Like the Blood” was written by the TrueSong members along with three other writers.

The morning before the song was written, Zach Loyd mentioned that Don Pfeifer, a close family friend/pastor/evangelist, used to say, “When you are trying to figure out what to preach or sing about, always preach or sing about the blood.” This idea sparked the goal of emphasizing the significance of the blood and Jesus’ sacrifice.

It was also a goal to incorporate the foundational ideas of some of the older hymns but package them in a fresh, modern sound. This was a special song to finish because it was the first song we wrote entirely as a group.

“All Things” is based on the truths found in Romans 8:28.

One verse that has spoken to me for my entire life is Romans 8:28. The idea that all things work together for the Christian is comforting and encouraging. I suggested that we consider a song based on this truth. We took this idea to a writing session with several writers, and they were able to help complete the song. It begins with a redemptive theme but quickly arrives at the song's message, Romans 8:28.

Catch these songs and more as they are released wherever you enjoy listening to music. And check out the 40 Days and 40 Nights of Christian Music schedule to see when TrueSong performs during this event or our daily calendar for their regularly scheduled performances.

The kangaroo walkabout at the Ararat Ridge Zoo is one of our most popular attractions. During select times, guests can enter the habitat with our red kangaroos and Bennett’s wallabies to see them up close. People must remain on the paths and can only touch the animals if they choose to approach.

However, for those guests who want guaranteed interaction with these marvelous marsupials, there’s a new option available now—a paid behind-the-scenes macropod experience!

Macropod is the collective term for the kangaroo created kind, which also includes wallabies. “Macropod” means “big feet,” and guests will be able to see their big feet up close during this encounter. (Please note that this experience requires a separate paid ticket in addition to admission to the Ark Encounter.)

During the macropod experience, guests will:

• Learn about the macropod kind
• Interact with interesting biofacts like a wallaby skull and kangaroo teeth
• Head to the kangaroo walkabout to meet the red kangaroos and Bennett’s wallabies before it opens to the public
• Touch the macropods on their backs
• Feed the macropods
• Take pictures with the macropods
• Ask zookeepers any questions they may have
• Take home a special souvenir

This program is ADA-accessible and is available to guests ages six years and older (ages 6–17 must be accompanied by a paying adult). It is offered Wednesdays–Saturdays from May 1–October 31 each year.

The program takes place from 10–10:30 a.m. ET and occurs before the kangaroo walkabout opens to other guests, ensuring that participants get a private experience.

There are only 10 spots available per day, so interested guests should sign up quickly to avoid missing out! A portion of the proceeds from the macropod experience will be donated to Samaritan’s Purse, which works to meet the needs of people in Oceania, the native range of macropods.

Meet our kangaroos and wallabies up close by reserving your spot for our brand-new behind-the-scenes experience today. And during your visit, be sure to check out all the other zoo animals since admission to the Ararat Ridge Zoo is included free with your Ark admission.

God told Noah to make his ark 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits tall. However, we cannot be certain which cubit Noah used.

Which Cubit Did We Use?

The Ark Encounter decided to use a royal cubit since major construction projects in the ancient world were often based on them. Beginning with one of the shortest common cubits of 17.5 inches, we added a handbreadth of 2.9 inches, yielding a royal cubit length of 20.4 inches. Most royal cubits in ancient times measured between 20.4 and 21.6 inches, placing our cubit on the short end of the spectrum.

Adding Up

Based on a 20.4-inch cubit, our Ark measures 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet tall. The Ark’s volume is approximately 1.88 million cubic feet, large enough to contain nearly 450 semi-truck trailers.

Start planning your trip to the Ark Encounter today, and see our life-size Noah’s Ark for yourself!

What did Noah and his family do about fresh water and waste disposal while aboard the ark? There are some surprisingly simple solutions!

Clean Water

Rainwater collected from the roof could be funneled to large, strategically placed storage tanks to provide fresh water on the ark. A system of spigots and bamboo, or even copper pipes, could have delivered water throughout the ark.

Liquid Waste Removal

The large animal cages could have been connected to a valved drainage system, which would prevent backflow and channel urine into a central liquid waste container spanning all three decks. There are at least two ways the liquid waste could have been lifted and dumped into the sea through the vertical shaft.

First, a bucket system powered by the animal treadmill could scoop and dump the waste. The second option would be to use high pressure created by waves in the moon pool to force the liquid waste through a pipe and dump it into the sea.

Solid Waste Removal

After mucking large animal stalls and scraping droppings from the small animal collection troughs, solid waste could have been placed into wheelbarrows and moved to a vertical conveyor system. Powered by an animal on a treadmill, this device would dump the waste into a vertical shaft that opened to the sea.

Start planning your trip to the Ark Encounter, and see for yourself how Noah and his family could have cared for each of the animals aboard the ark.

Over the past few months, we have introduced several new animals to the Ararat Ridge Zoo. Meet and learn more about them below!

Northern Caiman Lizard

Who’s new at the zoo? Say hello to Chewlius Caesar! He’s a northern caiman lizard, a species within the whiptail lizard kind from South America.

Similar to caimans, these lizards have a semiaquatic lifestyle, powerful jaws for hunting, and strong tails for swimming and defense. They are also excellent climbers. He’s a baby now, but he may grow up to four feet long!

Look for Chewlius basking on a branch or submerged underwater during your visit. He is joined in his habitat by anole lizards.

Green Anaconda

Wrangler the green anaconda is officially in habitat!

These snakes are slow on land but fast in the water, and they spend much of their time submerged with only their nostrils and eyes exposed. Our herptile staff worked diligently to mimic his South American habitat. He may grow to over 10 feet long.

Several species of colorful poison dart frogs join Wrangler in his habitat.

Marabou Storks

The Ararat Ridge Zoo is now home to the largest living members of the stork kind.

Meet Nzuri (ZUR-ee) and Mrembo (REM-boh), our new female marabou (MARE-ah-boo) storks! Their names both mean “pretty” or “beautiful” in Swahili.

Native to sub-Saharan Africa, these storks weigh up to 20 pounds, grow 4–5 feet tall, and have wingspans approaching 10 feet. They are often called “undertaker birds” because their coloration resembles that of funeral directors and because they act as important scavengers in our fallen world. Their bald heads help them keep clean while eating carcasses, just like vultures.

They will also opportunistically hunt anything they can catch, often waiting at the edge of grass fires to grab fleeing animals. The pink sacs on their necks are called gular (GOO-lar) sacs and help them vocalize, but they usually communicate through bill clattering. Did you know that stork bills can snap shut in 25 milliseconds, one of the fastest reactions of any vertebrate?

Nzuri and Mrembo live in a habitat with Munch, our 150-pound African spurred tortoise.

American Barn Owl

Do you give a hoot about animals? Do you want to learn about animals that live in your backyard? Then come to our zoo programs at the Ark Encounter, where you can meet unique animals like Sunny, our new American barn owl!

His primary trainer, Brittany, has been teaching him how to step up onto her gloved arm, put on his equipment, and sit still on the glove. He’s doing great but is still learning the concept of facing forward! You may see him out and about on adventures in the zoo and performing in our daily animal programs.

Sugar Glider

Peekaboo! Meet Michael the sugar glider, who joined the zoo in April.

Native to Australia and the surrounding islands, these adorable marsupials spend most of their lives gliding from tree to tree. Michael will join Gabriel, our other sugar glider, as an animal ambassador appearing in our daily animal programs.

Anteaters

We are thrilled to welcome these two exciting new arrivals: both giant anteaters! The male is named Douglas, and the female is named Quinn—after Cosequin, the #1 veterinarian recommended joint supplement for animals. Cosequin is produced by Nutramax Laboratories, who has donated a generous amount of funding to improve the Ark Encounter’s Ararat Ridge Zoo and to help build the new Eden Zoo at the Creation Museum.

Giant anteaters are the largest members of the anteater kind, growing up to seven feet long and 140 pounds. Native to Central and South America, they use their two-foot-long spiny tongues to consume over 30,000 insects per day! Their sense of smell is 40 times stronger than a human’s, and they can identify each other by the scent of their saliva.

The male will remain at Ark Encounter’s Ararat Ridge Zoo, but the female will eventually transfer to the renovated Eden Zoo at the Creation Museum. They are solitary animals, so they appreciate their own space. Be sure to stop by and see these amazing new additions soon!

Great Horned Owl

Say hello to Eclipse! Eclipse is a great horned owl who was rescued in Ohio after being found with a broken wing. Because of this injury, Eclipse cannot fly and could not be released into the wild after rehabilitation.

Zoo staff are happy to provide this owl with a permanent home in Junior’s Zoo Adventure! Be aware that as Eclipse acclimates to its new home, it may not always be visible to guests.

Zookeepers are not yet sure whether Eclipse is a boy or a girl; it will need genetic testing. Since we already have owls named Luna and Sunny, the zoo staff kept with the celestial theme and highlighted this year’s solar eclipse with its name.

If you’d like to stay up to date with what is happening in the zoo and learn even more about our animals, follow the Ark Encounter’s Ararat Ridge Zoo page on Facebook!

Start planning your trip to the Ark Encounter today, and make sure you visit the Ararat Ridge Zoo, located behind our life-size Noah’s Ark, during your visit.

We’re already sailing through summer at the Ark Encounter and have a lot of fun events scheduled throughout these warm months and beyond! Check out what we have planned for the rest of the year!

A Summer of Music at the Ark

Our Gospel Music Weekends are off to a great start and continue through July 27. These outdoor concerts occur every Friday and Saturday and will bring over 20 gospel and faith country music artists to Noah’s Village Stage.

Our Faith Country and Bluegrass Music Festival is happening Wednesday through Saturday this week, so there’s still time to make it! Each day of this festival features an outdoor concert at noon and a headline band that performs inside at the Answers Center at 4 p.m.

Our final music event of the summer is huge—it’s the world’s largest Christian music festival and it kicks off July 30. Our 40 Days and 40 Nights of Christian Music features 120+ concerts from contemporary, praise & worship, faith country, and other music genres. Sought-after speakers will also take to the stage to deliver inspirational, biblical messages. This festival runs July 30–September 7, 2024, and features big names like Casting Crowns, Crowder, Mac Powell, Gold City, Legacy Five, and more!

Best of all, these music events are included with the price of admission.

Día Latino

This annual event to connect with our Hispanic community will take place October 18–19, 2024, at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter. As we dive into the controversial topic of identity, we’ll discover what God has to say about who we are—because while the world is confused about identity, the Bible is clear about who each of us is as one of God’s image bearers.

A great lineup of speakers will share the clarity offered in the Bible and the hope we have in Christ, including Answers in Genesis Executive CEO, Martyn Iles, and Director of Latin America, Joe Owen. Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour both attractions and explore all there is to see and do!

For more information on Día Latino, visit ArkEncounter.com/latino.

A Beloved Production Returns

The Horse and His Boy will return to the Ark Encounter this fall. This Broadway-level production will transform the Answers Center into the world of Narnia with stunning sets, lifelike puppetry, and mesmerizing costumes. All this, along with the incredible cast, will transport the audience into this captivating story and the creative mind of C. S. Lewis.

The show will run November 12–16 and November 19–23. Tickets are now available for purchase and include a show-only ticket to allow guests to enjoy the program without also having to purchase Ark Encounter admission. Get your tickets today!

We’re Expanding!

This past April, we broke ground on a new location for our popular Truth Traveler attraction. We are expanding into the Pigeon Forge area, and we’re so excited to bring the truth of God’s Word to an even larger audience.

Truth Traveler transports guests back in time, immersing them in pivotal moments in biblical history with a custom animated 5D Virtual Reality ride, complete with motion benches and haptics for a full sensory experience.

The Truth Traveler venue in Pigeon Forge will be located at 2860 Parkway, conveniently situated across from the Pirates Voyage Dinner Show and The Island. In addition to the Truth Traveler virtual reality attraction, the Pigeon Forge location will also feature a state-of-art planetarium with laser projectors and a 30-meter-diameter tilted dome.

Guests will travel deep into the far reaches of the universe with spectacular digital imagery of the solar system and the galaxies beyond it. It is projected to open in early 2025.

We’re Hiring!

With so much going on at the Ark Encounter, we’re hiring for both seasonal and regular positions!

Open interviews for seasonal positions will be held at Mt. Olivet Christian Church on the dates listed below. Stop by to apply, be interviewed, and possibly be offered a position all on the same day! For regular ongoing needs, be sure to check our employment page.

• Thursday, June 13, 2024: 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
• Saturday, July 27, 2024: 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 10, 2024: 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 9, 2024: 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.

If you are interested in applying for a position at the Ark Encounter but cannot join us for our open interviews, please apply online! A complete list of open positions is available on our jobs page.

The Babel event in Genesis 11 gives us the proper foundation for understanding so much of what we observe in our world today.

The biblical account explains the origin of our language families, but it also helps us understand the variations in people groups and that there is no biblical justification for racism.

God’s Command

After the flood, Noah’s descendants spoke one language. The Lord told them to multiply and fill the earth. They filled the first part of this command as the world’s population quickly grew. Unlike the animals that spread out to every corner of the globe, the people stayed together, refusing to fill the earth.

Man’s Rebellion

In direct rebellion of God’s command to spread throughout the earth, the people gathered in the plain of Shinar. They desired to make a name for themselves and decided to build a city with a tower whose top reached into the heavens.

God’s Judgment

Since the people refused to scatter, God put an end to their rebellion and accomplished his purpose by confusing their language. No longer able to communicate with each other, the people abandoned their efforts and departed from Babel.

Learn more about this significant event on the third deck of our life-size Noah’s Ark. Start planning your visit to the Ark Encounter today!

We’re all part of the human race, so how can we sometimes appear so different? A look back to the days of Noah can help us understand what is really a simple explanation to this question.

Because all of mankind was destroyed in the global flood except Noah and his family, everyone born after the flood descended from Noah’s three sons. During these early post-flood days, God commanded that the people multiply and fill the earth. While the people did multiply, in their rebellion toward God, they did not spread out to fill the earth. So God confused their language at a place that became known as Babel and scattered them to fulfill his command.

People Groups Develop

Within just a few generations of that time, distinct people groups (based on superficial differences such as skin tone and eye shape) could have developed due to the varying combinations of existing genetic information present in each group.

Genetic Variation

Skin tone, for example, is controlled by more than one gene. If Noah and his wife had middle-brown skin, their children could have exhibited the whole range of skin tones from light to dark. The genetic variability possible can easily explain the diversity in skin tones we see today.

Everyone Is Made in God’s Image

Every single person alive today is descended from Adam. We all belong to one human race, and from a biblical perspective there’s absolutely no basis for racism. God created all of mankind in his image, and all of us belong to one race—the human race.

Want to learn more about the history of Babel? Visit our Babel exhibit during your trip to the Ark Encounter. For more in-depth discovery on humans as God’s image bearers and the biblical answer to racism, a great resource is One Race, One Blood by Ken Ham and A. Charles Ware.

We’ve got a busy summer of music planned at the Ark Encounter with three exciting events scheduled. Ranging from a few days to several weeks long, these music festivals will bring talented artists to the stage to share their hearts and God-given talents with us.

These events are all included with your Ark Encounter admission, so plan your trip now to be encouraged and to take advantage of all the summertime fun!

Gospel Music Weekends

We’re kicking off summer with our Gospel Music Weekends at the Ark, cohosted with our partner Singing News. This event begins May 31 and runs through July 27, 2024. Every Friday and Saturday of these uplifting weekends, over 20 gospel and faith country artists—including Tate Emmons, The Joyaires, Avenue, and more—will join us outdoors at Noah’s Village Stage.

Faith Country and Bluegrass Music Festival

Faith-based country and bluegrass singers will join us June 12–15, 2024, for our second music event of the summer, hosted again in partnership with Singing News. Each day will begin at 11:00 a.m. with an outdoor concert held at Noah’s Village Stage and will conclude with a headlining artist performing inside our Answers Center auditorium at 4:00 p.m.

40 Days and 40 Nights of Christian Music Festival

Finally, the much-anticipated world’s largest Christian music festival will take place July 30–September 7, 2024. Over 150 music artists, bands, and inspirational speakers will take to the stage during this event, which is spread out over an incredible 120+ concerts. Each day will begin with a 12:00 p.m. concert held at the outdoor Noah’s Village Stage. At 4:00 p.m., the fun and encouragement will move inside the Answers Center auditorium for the main concert event.

Start planning your trip to the Ark Encounter today, and be sure to enjoy one or more of these upcoming events while you are here!

A question many people ask about the ark is, “How could Noah build something so large and sophisticated?”

Many people believe that ancient man was not intelligent enough to design and build something as large and complex as the ark. But they failed to consider some important details.

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When Noah built the ark, more than 1,600 years after creation, his culture had made significant technological advances. The Bible does not tell us how advanced that civilization was, but we know it was fully capable of metalworking. There is no reason to think it was not also highly proficient in using stone and wood for construction purposes.

Technology Does Not Equal Intelligence

Many people assume that since ancient cultures lacked technological achievements, they must have been intellectually inferior. However, the ability to build a computer or smartphone does not make a person more intelligent than Albert Einstein (1879–1955) or Sir Isaac Newton (1643–1727).

A culture’s level of technology is not an accurate indicator of its intelligence. Technologies are often built upon the work of preceding generations. Early man did not possess our advanced technology, but we should not view our predecessors as less intelligent than we are. In fact, we can see evidence in the world around us that ancient people were highly intelligent.

Developing Technology

Genesis states that people in the pre-flood world played musical instruments and worked with bronze and iron. We also know that Noah was capable of building the ark. What other technologies might they have developed?

As people filled the earth, certain innovations surely grew. Tools for farming and construction, along with roads and various means of transportation by land and water, were surely invented. The longer lifespans could have enabled innovators and inventors to collaborate for decades, or even centuries, to produce sophisticated technologies.

To learn more about the intelligence of man, be sure to visit our Ancient Man exhibit, located on the third deck of our life-size Noah’s Ark. Start planning your trip to the Ark Encounter today!

Over 200 legends of an ancient global flood have been discovered around the world. These legends vary in their level of consistency with the biblical account, yet certain details are widely distributed. For example, many of these tales speak of a favored family who built a huge boat and, along with some animals, survived a worldwide catastrophe sent by an angry deity.

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What is the best explanation for the existence of these flood legends? Are they merely unrelated tales of local catastrophes endured by each culture’s ancestors? Are they simply recountings of a myth spread in ancient history? The best explanation fits the Bible perfectly: the people who split from Babel passed on their knowledge of the biblical flood, but their stories became distorted during many centuries of retellings.

Did the Bible Copy from Ancient Myths?

Critics of the Bible often claim that the biblical flood account was copied from ancient Babylonian or Sumerian flood legends since these writings predate the time of Moses.

However, it makes much more sense to believe the biblical account reveals the true history of the flood, while the legends tell a distorted version of the same event.

1. Since the Bible is God’s Word, it is accurate in all that it records. This accuracy is not limited to matters of faith but includes every subject the Bible addresses, including history.
2. Only the dimensions of the biblical ark provide the ideal size, strength, stability, and comfort for a ship built to protect the people and animals during the flood.
3. Many flood legends highlight a mountain, animals, and boat structures common to the people of the region. However, the Bible does not localize the event.

Did Missionaries Give Rise to the Various Flood Legends?

Some critics who are skeptical about the flood being a global event will state that the reason so many flood legends exist is due to the influence of Christian missionaries over the centuries.

While this rationale may explain a handful of the accounts, it fails in the vast majority of cases.

1. Many flood legends were written long before any interaction with Christian missionaries.
2. The main differences between the legends and Genesis show that these cultures were not simply repeating what Christian missionaries had taught. Instead, they were embellishing history.
3. Other biblical events that occurred prior to the dispersion at Babel are often found among these legends, but they make no mention of later biblical events. Principally, there is no mention of Jesus Christ.

   Why would missionaries spend their lives with unreached people groups to share distorted versions of the flood without ever teaching people about the forgiveness of sins available in Jesus?

When you visit the Flood Legends exhibit on Deck Three, you’ll learn more about ancient flood legends (such as the ones in the Epic of Gilgamesh and in the tales of Vanuatu), why the skeptics’ objections fail, and why the biblical account stands out from the rest.

Start planning your trip to the Ark Encounter today!

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.” (Genesis 8:20–22)

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The Covenant

Following Noah's sacrifice, God established a covenant with both man and animals. He promised to never again bring a global flood to wipe out all life from the earth.

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth.” (Genesis 9:8–10)

Rainbow Sign

The Lord used the rainbow as a sign of his promise that he would never again flood the entire earth. Each rainbow is a reminder of God’s promise to all living things.

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” (Genesis 9:12–13)

God’s Character

God has established his reputation on his ability to fulfill his promises. If the flood in the days of Noah were merely a regional event rather than global, then with every local flood, the Lord has broken his promise to never again flood the earth.

“When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” (Genesis 9:14–15)

Start planning your trip to the Ark Encounter today, and learn more about God’s promise to Noah and to us!

We’re excited to announce that our creative and dedicated zoo team has crafted a new experience for our guests.

It involves going behind the scenes at Ararat Ridge Zoo to meet one of our most popular animals. See if you can guess what it is—hint: it’s one of the slowest animals in our zoo!

We’re sure you guessed it—coming soon to our zoo is a 30-minute behind-the-scenes sloth experience with Felix, our Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth. Please note that this experience will require a separate paid ticket.

During our sloth experience, guests will:

• Learn about the sloth kind
• Interact with fascinating biofacts like a sloth skull and a claw from an extinct giant ground sloth
• Head to the sloth habitat to meet a sloth trainer and Felix
• Enjoy watching Felix receive training or enrichment
• Feed Felix and take pictures with him
• Take home a special souvenir

This program will be available for adults and all guests over the age of six (17 and under must be accompanied by an adult). It requires a separate ticket, and there are only six spots available per day (Monday–Saturday at 11 a.m.), so it will likely sell out quickly due to how popular Felix is and how much guests of all ages enjoy Ararat Ridge Zoo. A portion of the proceeds from the sloth experience will be donated to Samaritan’s Purse as they work to meet the needs of people in Latin America, the native range of sloths!

Come and meet Felix up close by reserving your spot at our brand-new behind-the-scenes experience today. And, while you visit, be sure to also check out all our other zoo animals since admission to Ararat Ridge Zoo is included free with your Ark Encounter admission.

As you walk into our life-size Noah’s Ark at the Ark Encounter, one of the first things you may notice is the thickness of the hull. So, what was the purpose of each layer?

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Waterproofing & Engineering

The problem with long wooden ships is that they tend to flex in the waves, causing the planks to slide against each other and break the waterproofing seal. To solve this problem, the hull must be constructed in a way that prevents the planks from sliding.

Multiple Layers

The Ark Encounter design features three layers of structural planking to improve shear resistance in the hull. It also includes two outer sacrificial layers below the waterline to protect against damage from scraping and collision.

Edge-Jointed Planking

Ancient Greek ships featured planking with mortise and tenon joints. These interlocking pieces would prevent the planks from sliding and loosening up.

Trunnels

Large wooden dowels driven through pre-drilled holes would further protect against sliding planks. Also, the wooden trunnels would expand in water, making a watertight and permanent connection.

Pitch

God told Noah to coat the ark inside and out with pitch. Since petroleum-based pitch formed as a result of the flood, the pitch Noah used was likely made from tree resin, providing further waterproofing for the ark.

Start planning your trip to the Ark Encounter today, and take a close look at the hull as you enter the life-size Noah’s Ark.

The Ark Encounter features our life-size Noah’s Ark, which was built according to the dimensions given in the Bible. Spanning 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, this modern engineering marvel amazes visitors, young and old.

In the video below, check out how some guests recently reacted to seeing the Ark for the first time!

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What will your first reaction be? Start planning your visit to the Ark Encounter today to see it for yourself! But, in the meantime, learn more about the biblical account of Noah’s ark below.

History of Noah’s Ark

Noah’s ark was a massive ship, built at God’s command, that saved Noah, his family, and representatives of every kind of land-dependent, air-breathing animal from the global flood that took place over 4,300 years ago.

The ark was 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, and it housed the several thousand animals God brought to Noah. The global flood lasted about one year. The ark came to rest on the “mountains of Ararat” (Genesis 8:4), and Noah’s family, with all the animals that were saved from the flood, eventually spread throughout the world.

Size of Noah’s Ark

Genesis describes the construction of the ark in three verses:

Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. (Genesis 6:14–16)

To understand the actual size of the ark, it’s important to know what a “cubit” is. A cubit is an ancient measurement of length based on the distance from the elbow to the tip of the longest finger. The actual length of a cubit varied between different ancient groups of people. Though the ark’s cubit length is uncertain, it may well have been one of the long or royal cubits (about 20.4–20.6 in.) since many ancient structures were built according to long cubits.

If so, the ark was bigger than the size described in most books today, which frequently mention a shorter cubit (if they even bother trying to be accurate). Based on a royal cubit on the short end of the spectrum (20.4 inches), the ark would have been 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high.

For more information on the size of Noah’s ark, check out the article “How Long Is a Cubit?”

Help Us Make Lasting Impressions

Not only does the size of our life-size Noah’s Ark impress people, but so do our staff members! And right now, we are hiring seasonal help as we begin preparing for our busy season. Join us at Mt. Olivet Christian Church for our open interviews on the following days:

• Saturday, March 16, 2024: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Thursday, June 13, 2024: 3 p.m.–6 p.m.
• Saturday, July 27, 2024: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Thursday, October 10, 2024: 3–6 p.m.
• Saturday, November 9, 2024: 12–4 p.m.

Stop by Mt. Olivet Christian Church on the above dates to apply for a seasonal job, be interviewed, and potentially get offered a position—all on the same day! You can also apply online today.

On the third deck of our life-size Noah’s Ark, you’ll find one of our newer exhibits featuring a Torah scroll, with teaching on how we received the Bible and what an incredible gift it is to mankind.

It consists of a decommissioned Torah scroll (donated by those at God’s Ancient Library), which was written in Hebrew, and a lot of teaching signage and artifacts (or replicas of artifacts) relating to the translation and transmission of God’s written Word down through the ages.

The Hebrew language has a long history. Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, but due to the Babylonian exile and the later adaption of Greek ideas and culture, Hebrew fell out of spoken use. Aramaic and Greek took over as the primary written and spoken language.

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After the Jews were scattered outside of Israel, Hebrew was preserved by rabbis and scholars who understood the value of God’s Word in its original language.

The Hebrew text on the Torah scroll in this exhibit is one of those preserved texts. It spans roughly 40 feet from the beginning of Genesis to Exodus 18. If it were stretched out all the way, it would be 110 feet long and end in Deuteronomy!

God’s Promises to Abraham

One of the accounts included in this scroll is Abraham’s story.

Genesis 11 describes the Babel event and then traces Noah’s descendants through his son, Shem, to a Hebrew man named Abram. Genesis 12–17 introduces the promises of God to Abram, from whom God’s chosen people, the Israelites, would come. The Lord promised Abram that his offspring would be innumerable as the stars (Genesis 15:5) and that, through his line, God would bless all the nations of the earth (Genesis 12:3).

The Lord changed Abram’s name to Abraham, calling him “the father of a multitude of nations” (Genesis 17:5), and made an everlasting covenant with him and his descendants (Genesis 17:7). He reiterated this covenant to Abraham’s son Isaac and to Isaac’s son Jacob, whose 12 sons became the forefathers of the 12 tribes of Israel.

The Lord rescued Jacob’s descendants from slavery in Egypt, gave them his law, and delivered them to the land he promised to Abraham. He sent prophets who spoke God’s Word and eventually sent the promised Savior, Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham, into the world.

Jesus lived a sinless life (2 Corinthians 5:21) and died as a sacrifice for our sins (1 Timothy 2:5). Three days later, he defeated death by rising from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:4) so that all who believe in him can have eternal life (John 3:16–18), fulfilling the promise that the world be blessed through Abraham.

Another way the Lord blessed the world through Abraham was by entrusting his descendants with the oracles of God (Romans 3:2). This exhibit shows how the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were given the privilege and responsibility of recording and preserving God’s Word, the holy Scripture.

To see this exhibit and more, start planning your visit to the Ark Encounter today!