Difference between revisions of "Ark Encounter news"
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+ | * Syndicated stories ([http://www.ap.org/ Associated Press-AP], [http://www.upi.com/ United Press International-UPI], [http://www.afp.com/afpcom/en/taglibrary/know-how/text AFP], [http://www.reuters.com/ Reuters], etc.) are noted when available. Not all instances of story syndication are listed. | ||
==2010== | ==2010== |
Revision as of 15:48, 12 December 2010
National and international news and views about the Answers in Genesis Ark Encounter project.
Notes
- Article titles in italic indicate the story appeared in the print edition.
- Syndicated stories (Associated Press-AP, United Press International-UPI, AFP, Reuters, etc.) are noted when available. Not all instances of story syndication are listed.
2010
December
- December 13. Newsweek. New York City, New York. USA. Scopes Index -- Politics, p. 13. Short paragraph comparing news of Ark Encounter to other events.
- December 11. Taranaki Daily News. New Plymouth, New Zealand. Ark builder about to recreate Noah's vision. New York Times article, p. 11.
- December 11. The Dominion Post. Wellington, New Zealand. Ark builder about to recreate Noah's vision. New York Times article, p. A24.
- December 11. The Press. Christchurch, New Zealand. Ark builder about to re-create Noah's vision on a Kentucky ridge. New York Times article, p. B7.
- December 11. Santa Monica Daily Press. Santa Monica, California. USA. Noah way this should happen by Lloyd Garver.
- December 10. The Jewish Chronicle. London, England. New Noah's Ark--in Kentucky by Leon Symons, p. 19.
- December 10. Science. Washington, D.C. USA. American Association for the Advancement of Science-AAAS. ScienceInsider. Subscription required for access to article.
"The president of the Kentucky Paleontological Society has criticized the state's involvement with plans by a company to build Ark Encounter, a $150 million biblical amusement park related to Noah's Ark that will include models of dinosaurs. Daniel Phelps says the project, which may be eligible for up to $37.5 million in tax breaks if built, amounts to “government entanglement with religion” and could make the state unattractive to scientists and technically minded individuals."
- December 10. Daily Mail. London, England. The tourists went in two by two...Kentucky announces plans to build Noah's Ark theme park.
- December 10. GetReligion.org blog. USA. Noah built an ark … in Kentucky posted by Bobby.
- December 10. The New American. Grand Chute, Wisconsin. USA. Magazine website. Planned Noah’s Ark Theme Park in Kentucky Draws Praise, Criticism by Dave Bohon.
"A planned $150 million theme park in northern Kentucky, to be called the “Ark Encounter,” is prompting cheers from Bible-believing Christians and gasps of alarm from secularists who fear the attraction may cross the supposed line of “separation between church and state."
- December 10. The Standard. Hong Kong, China. If Noah built the ark today, he'd be left high and dry by red tape. Humor.
- December 9. The Detroit News. Detroit, Michigan. USA. Ky. gov floats noah's ark park as job vehicle by Laurie Goodstein, p. 22A. New York Times article.
- December 9. Irish Independent. Dublin, Ireland. Sideline by Will Pavia, p. 37.
"When Noah built his Ark there were, according to Jewish tradition, many nay-sayers. Now that Mike Zovath has announced his intention to rebuild it upon a ridge in Kentucky, to the exact proportions described in the Bible, he faces similar dissent."
- December 9. The National Interest blog. Washington, D.C. USA. Religion, the Stimulant of the People by Paul R. Pillar.
"The state of Kentucky is providing major tax incentives for the development of a Bible-based theme park called Ark Encounter. The featured attraction at the park will be a rendition of Noah's ark, complete with an on-board menagerie. The park also will include a Tower of Babel and special effects depicting the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea. The park was conceived by, and has an ownership relationship with, the same Christian ministry that built the Creation Museum, also in Kentucky. That museum has evolution-denying exhibits that depict humans and dinosaurs living together on an earth that God created in six days. The tax incentives, which will enable the developers of Ark Encounter to recoup as much as a quarter of their investment, have raised the issue of separation of church and state, given that it constitutes major public support for a facility that promotes a specific religious message. The governor of Kentucky downplays the issue and says the public support is all about creating jobs."
- December 9. BigPond News. Australia. Internet service provider portal. Biblical theme park planned for US.
"In the world of theme parks there is a brand new attraction being planned for Kentucky in the United States."
- December 9. NKY.com. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Beshear: Contract will ban discrimination at ark park by Amanda Van Benschoten.
"Gov. Steve Beshear said Thursday that he will require the state’s contract with developers of a Noah’s Ark-based theme park in Northern Kentucky to prohibit the project from receiving state tax incentives if there is discrimination in hiring based on religion or other attributes."
- December 9. Barefoot and Progressive blog. Kentucky. USA. Beshear speaks with WFPL about Kentucky's Flintstone Truther Park by Media Czech.
"Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear sat down with WFPL today and took questions about Ark Encounter, the new park that will teach children that a 600 year old man herded T-Rexes onto a boat 4000 years ago and we're giving $37.5 million in tax breaks to."
- December 9. Examiner.com. USA. Christian Worldview Examiner. Plans to build Ark theme park in Kentucky flooded with criticism by Bill Belew.
- December 9. WFPL-FM, 89.3, NPR. Audio of interview with Governor Beshear. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. Ask the Governor by Laura Ellis. Comments on Ark Encounter project begins at 21:29 minutes, ends at 29:07.
"STATE OF AFFAIRS 12/09/10: He’s been in the news lately for trying to prevent layoffs, responding to the Passport audit, and announcing a theme park which has gotten some national attention too – maybe you heard about it? Thursday, Governor Steve Beshear joins us to talk about these and other goings-on in the Commonwealth, and to take your questions. Join us with your thoughts."
- December 9. WFPL-FM, 89.3, NPR. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. Beshear Says Ark Encounter Operators Must Follow Hiring Laws by Gabe Bullard.
"Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear says a proposed Biblically-themed amusement park will have to follow state hiring laws in order to receive tax incentives."
"The park is expected to receive about 37.5 million dollars in tax incentives. On WFPL’s State of Affairs Thursday, Beshear said the park will generate jobs, but the developers cannot discriminate based on religion or any other criteria when hiring."
- December 9. Louisville Courier-Journal. Video interview of Governor Beshear by Courier-Journal editorial staff. Gov. Beshear talks about Ark park funding. 10:24 minutes.
- December 9. Louisville Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. Commentary. Beshear says Ark park contract will prohibit religious discrimination by Joseph Gerth.
- December 9. NKY.com. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Beshear says Ark park contract will prohibit religious discrimination by Joseph Gerth, Louisville, Courier-Journal.
"Gov. Steve Beshear said Thursday that he will require the state’s contract with developers of a Noah’s Ark-based theme park in Northern Kentucky to prohibit the project from receiving state tax incentives if there is discrimination in hiring based on religion or other attributes."
- December 9. Watching the Denier blog. Australia. Decline and fall: in the US they’re building Noah’s Ark, in China they’re building the future
- December 9. Al Jazeera. Qatar. Opinion piece. Beware of gift bearing Libertarians by Cliff Schecter.
"Imagine, if you will, an amusement park set to open in the not-too-distant future. But instead of roller coasters and cotton candy, this one will have"juvenile giraffes" and odes to the good ole days. Which to the founders of this wonderland occurred about 6,000 years ago, when man and T-Rex blithely roamed the Earth together."
- December 9. The Way. Redhill Surrey, England. Full-scale Noah's Ark park planned for Kentucky posted by Amanda Hopkins. Excerpted from the Christian Telegraph article.
- December 9. Sky News. Sydney, Australia. Noah's Ark theme park planned for US.
- December 9. Die Welt. Berlin, Germany. US-Staat droht Klageflut wegen Arche-Noah-Park by Uwe Schmitt.
"Unter den US-Bundesstaaten, die in Verschuldung und Arbeitslosigkeit ertrinken, findet Kentucky den schöpferischsten Ausweg: Man will eine gewaltige Replik der Arche Noah bauen lassen, sie mit Schauspielern und manierlichen, (aus Platzgründen) halbwüchsigen Tierpaaren beleben, 900 Arbeitsplätze schaffen und 1,6 Millionen Besucher im ersten Jahr vor Sintflut und Langeweile retten. Kentucky ist bereit, den 150 Millionen Dollar teuren Themenpark „Ark Encounter“ mit 37,5 Millionen Dollar Steuernachlaß zu fördern. Wer könnte, in Gottes Namen, etwas dagegen einwenden?"
- December 9. NewsComAu. Sydney, Australia. Australian news website. Outrage over plans for Noah's Ark theme park by Kate Midena.
"CRITICS are up in arms over a US company's plan to build a 7481 square-metre full-scale replica of Noah's Ark." - December 8. Exploring Our Matrix blog. USA. Science Theme Park by Dr. James F. McGrath.
"Sandra Dutton suggests that a science-focused theme park would be a good response to the Noah's Ark Theme Park that Answers in Genesis is planning to build. I know that Indianapolis' wonderful Children's Museum includes a number of great science-related components and activities, including a mock fossil dig. But I can't think of a full-fledged science theme park."
- December 8. Newser. Chicago, Illinois. USA. News gathering website. Sink the $40M Tax Break for Noah's Ark Park by Mary Papenfuss.
"Much more exciting: A Scientology galactic park at taxpayer expense"
"Kentucky's plan to grant a $40 million tax break to a Noah's Ark theme park is roiling waters as far away as Los Angeles. The $150 million "Ark Encounter" park, featuring a three-story-high ship, is being conceived by a Christian ministry that believes humans co-existed with dinosaurs and that the earth was created in six days by God a mere 6,000 years ago. Legal experts say Kentucky's tax break would contravene the constitutionally required separation of church and state—so how much better it would be to spend those tax funds "improving science education to mitigate the simple-mindedness this inflicts on Kentucky children," zings Los Angeles Times columnist Paul Thornton."
- December 8. The News Chronicle. USA. Online news magazine. Noah’s Ark theme park to be built in Kentucky by Labelle Bitalac.
"Developers are looking to create a full-scale replica of Noah’s Ark for a theme park planned in Kentucky."
- December 8. The Oklahoma Daily. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. USA. Creationist amusement park should evoke moral outrage by Steven Zoeller.
- December 8. Louisville Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. Letters to the editor
- December 8. National Religious Broadcasters. Walk Through Noah’s Ark.
"Answers in Genesis (AiG) announced last week that in the Spring of 2014, an all-wood, full-scale replica of Noah’s Ark will rise from the Kentucky landscape and be open for tours. As part of the LLC that owns Ark Encounter, AiG will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Ark, which is expected to be the “largest timber-frame structure in the USA.” But there’s more! The Ark will be part of a historically-themed park, close to AiG’s Creation Museum. The Ark Encounter theme park will include replicas of an ancient walled city, the Tower of Babel, a first-Century Middle Eastern village, a petting zoo, and much more. In addition to providing an expected 900 jobs, this project will also embody the Genesis stewardship mandate as “one of the largest ‘green’ construction projects in the country.” "
- December 8. Baptist Bulletin. Schaumburg, Illinois. USA. Answers in Genesis Announces Noah’s Ark Project.
- December 8. Jonathan Turley blog. Washington, D.C. USA. Liberal legal scholar. Answers in The Flintstones.
- December 8. USA Museum. USA. Now that KY has a Creation Museum & Noah’s Ark mockup, could they split Kentucky Lake for The Moses Experience?.
"The Creation Museum and Noah’s Ark themepark (which hasn’t happened yet) are located in two adjoining counties (Grant and Boone). Grant County wants it because even though they sit on the Interstate 75 corridor about 30 miles south of Cincinnati, they are looking for a source of income for the county. Over 20 years ago they had an outlet mall built which did okay for awhile, but has about folded. The Creation Museum sits an area that is politically and religiuously conservative from a demographic point of view (It could have just as easily been located in Gatlinburg or Branson, Missouri–what’s the difference?). The Creation Museum also sits down the road from Big Bone Lick State Park–a place where mastadon bones were first discovered and dug up over 250 years ago. It is the southern-most point where the glaciers extended to during the last ice age. The museum exists to refute natural history and deny that any sort of evolutionary process ever occurred."
- December 8. Whatisthetrend.net. Bataan, Philiphines. Social news aggregate website. Noah’s Ark to accept more than $35 M in incentives posted by Ivory.
- December 8. iafrica.com. Cape Town, South Africa. Africa. South African web portal. Noah floats into Kentucky by staff reporter.
"The southern (sic) US state of Kentucky is set to entrench its Old Testament tourism offering with a new religious theme park called ‘Ark Encounter’."
- December 8. The Guardian. London, England. Divine dispatches: a religion roundup by by Riazat Butt.
"News that Kentucky will have a second, biblical-themed, er, theme park has caused much excitement across the pond. The state already boasts the Creation Museum and now the governor is poised to give the green light to an Ark park. Ark Encounters. Encounters of the Ark kind. Anyway, it's not just the green light that the planners are set to get. They will get tax incentives, too, leading Melissa Bell at the Washington Post and Laurie Goodstein at the New York Times to query whether this arrangement is a violation of the first amendment. Ed Brayton and the National Centre for Science Education also discuss the issue."
- December 8. The Journal Gazette. Fort Wayne, USA. Country. Editorial. Creation of a poor precedent.
"Owners of the Creation Museum in Kentucky (pictured at right) want to build a creationism theme park, and they want taxpayers to help pay for it. Shockingly, some Kentucky politicians, including Gov. Steve Beshear, are in favor of giving the science-bashing theme park public dollars."
- December 8. WCPO-TV, Channel 9, ABC. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Live chat. Ark Encounter live chat with Mike Zovath.
- December 8. Weekly World News. USA. Satire website. Kentucky to Build Noah's Ark by Frank Lake.
"KENTUCKY - Anticipating another “biblical” flood, Kentucky is building an ark for some of its elite citizens."
"Under the guise of building a “tourist attraction”, the state of Kentucky is preparing for a biblical flood, which state lawmakers anticipate happening by June of 2011."
- December 8. Thirdage.com. USA. Baby boomer social website. Noah's Ark Replica Causing Controversy.
"Noah's Ark is under construction in Kentucky, or at least a life-sized model of it is, and opponents of the Biblical theme park, in which it will be an attraction, are angry over tax incentives promised by Gov. Steve Beshear. Besehar, however, assures the public everything is on the level."
- December 8. The Enterprise. Brockton, Massachusetts. USA. Noah way this should happen by Lloyd Garver.
"Kentucky Gov. Steven L. Beshear recently proposed that the state build a Noah's ark theme park to boost its economy and provide jobs for Kentuckians who are out of work. Under his plan, a Christian ministry called Answers in Genesis will build the park. Naturally, because of the Constitution's prohibition of establishing just one religion, I assumed that the governor also has plans to build a Jewish theme park, a Muslim park, an atheist park and, well, I'm not sure about an agnostic park."
- December 8. National Center for Science Education - NCSE. Oakland, California. USA. Anti-creationist/ID website. Creationism theme park controversy continues.
"Ark Encounter, the proposed creationist theme park in northern Kentucky, continues to attract comment."
- December 7. Il Messaggero. Rome, Italy. Un’arca di Noè spacca il Kentucky by Anna Guaita, p. 15.
"NEW YORK - Sarà lunga 150 metri, costruita a mano e fatta interamente di legno, e porterà a bordo coppie di animali, proprio come il modello biblico a cui si ispira. La novella ”arca di Noè” che viene costruita nel Kentucky vuole essere un’iniziativa turistica, ma sta causando un gran discutere al livello politico. Il costo dell’arca, circa 150 milioni di dollari, sarà in parte sostenuto dalle casse dello Stato del Kentucky, e questo fa gridare allo scandalo i laici e gli scienziati, perché di fatto in tal modo si viola il primo Emendamento della Costituzione americana che richiede la separazione di Stato e Chiesa."
- December 7. El Mundo. Madrid, Spain. Un arca de Noé en el corazón de Estados Unidos by Ricard González, p. 27.
"El gobernador de Kentucky, el demócrata Steven Beshear, está decidido a promover con generosos incentivos fiscales la construcción en su estado de una reproducción del Arca de Noé que sea lo más fiel posible a la original, dadas las limitaciones existentes. Su motivación no es salvar a las distintas especies animales de su extinción por un inminente diluvio universal, sino reflotar la economía de uno de los estados que la crisis ha inundado de desempleados"
- December 7. International Herald Tribune. Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. International edition of the New York Times. Setting Noah's ark afloat, with state's blessing by Laurie Goodstein, p. 4.
- December 7. South China Morning Post. Hong Kong, China. Noah's ark replica said to violate constitution by Laurie Goodstein, p. A12. New York Times article.
- December 7. The Age. Melbourne, Australia. Holy row creates headache for modern day Noah's ark by Laurie Goodstein, p. 8. New York Times article.
- December 7. Mladá Fronta DNES. Prague, Czech Republic. Investoři postaví Noemovu archu, p. A8.
"Americký stát Kentucky se brzy rozroste o atrakci v biblickém duchu. Podnikatelé spjati s křesťanskou organizací Answers in Genesis zde chystají výstavbu tematického zábavního parku. Dominantou areálu Setkání s Archou bude plavidlo, na kterém se Noe společně se svou rodinou a zvířaty zachránil před potopou. Součástí parku bude i Babylónská věž, procházka Starým Zákonem nebo Deset egyptských ran. Daňové úlevy projektu, který má zaměstnat až 900 lidí, už slíbil guvernér státu Steven L. Beshear. To se ale nelíbí některým ústavním expertům. Ti upozorňují na možný rozpor s americkou ústavou. Ta zaručuje odluku církví od státu. Takové námitky však guvernér odmítá. „Lidé z Kentucky mne nezvolili guvernérem, abych diskutoval o náboženství, ale abych vytvářel pracovní místa,“ ohradil se. (tov) "
- December 7. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. USA. Planned Noah's Ark theme park draws ire in Ky. by Laurie Goodstein, New York Times.
- December 7. David Parkman Show. USA. Leftwing political video program. Kentucky to Build Noah's Ark Replica...This Makes Sense? by David Parkman. YouTube video.
- December 7. The Epoch Times. New York City, New York. USA. Noah's Ark Theme Park Planned in Kentucky by Jack Phillips.
"Kentucky developers are planning on developing a theme park revolving around a full-scale replica of Noah's Ark, according to ABC News."
- December 7. Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Washington, D.C. USA. Separation of church and state advocacy website. Proposed Noah's Ark Park Draws Church-State Questions by Don Byrd.
"In this economy, it's understandable why states are doing whatever they can to invite job-creating opportunities. But using tax dollars for the purpose of promoting the religious content of the park - or with any manner of preferential treatment - would be a mistake."
- December 7. Ballina Shire Advocate. Ballina, New South Wales. Australia. Ark the ultimate tourist trap by David Usborne.
"AND it will come to pass that on the third day of the fifth month of 2014, a mighty ark will appear on a hill not far from Interstate 75 so that the people of north-east Kentucky will not perish in a great storm and will reap great rewards of money and prosperity as the tourists there will multiply and buy many dolls in the likeness of Noah."
"This is not Kentucky bourbon talking. The state is already home to the Creationist Museum - which for three years has been a point of pilgrimage for those Americans who are willing to believe that the world was created in six days and Darwin lost his marbles on the bridge of the Beagle."
- December 7. The Age. Melbourne, Australia. Holy row creates headache for modern day Noah's ark by Laurie Goodstein. New York Times article.
- December 7. Albert Mohlerblog. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. Who’s Afraid of Noah’s Ark? by Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
- December 7. Religion Is Man Made blog. USA. Noah's Ark in Diorama Format! Creation Museum
- December 7. Cincinnati.com . Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Opinion column. A theme park based on science could be a real inspiration by Sandra Dutton.
- December 7. Mary Mae and the Gospel Truth blog. USA. A Theme Park Based on Science Could Be a Real Inspiration by Sandra Dutton.
- December 7. Thirdage.com. USA. Baby boomer social website. Noah's Ark the Highlight of Tax Supported Biblical Theme Park.
"Noah's Ark, the biggest attraction in a new biblical theme park in Kentucky, is going to receive more than $35 million dollars in incentives thanks to the help of a Democratic politician. Governor Steve Beshear defended state tax incentives that could surpass $37 million for a religious theme park in Northern Kentucky, saying Wednesday he's happy to lend state support to a business that will bring hundreds of jobs. State involvement in the $150 million project brought outrage from groups focused on the separation of church and state, but Beshear said there was nothing "remotely unconstitutional" about the proposal."
- December 7. WHAS-TV, Channel 11, ABC. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. Noah's Ark amusement park sparks controversy for Kentucky by Claudia Coffey.
"Construction has yet to begin on the northern Kentucky faith-based amusement park and already the initiative has thrust Kentucky into the national spotlight. The project is called “Ark Encounter” and the governor's decision to give the group developing the park millions of dollars in tax breaks is taking a lot of criticism; specifically whether Governor Steve Beshear can legally offer tax incentives to the faith-based park. I caught up with Governor Beshear Tuesday and he says the decision is legally sound." Includes video footage.
- December 7. New York Times blog. New York City, New York. USA. The Genesis of a Theme Park by Holly Epstein Ojalvo.
- December 7. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. USA. Opinion column. Opinion L.A. by Paul Thornton.
"Search no longer for Noah's ark on the slopes of Mount Ararat; a bunch of Kentucky businessmen are building their own model closer to home, and with taxpayers' help..."
- December 7. ABC News - Travel. New York City, New York. USA. Noah's Park: Kentucky 'Ark Encounter' Plans Full Scale Replica of Noah's Ark by Lindsey Davis and Bradley Blackburn.
"Disneyland has its castle and Epcot has its ball, but the centerpiece of a planned theme park in Kentucky will be something altogether different -- a full-scale replica of Noah's Ark." Includes video from ABC World News with Diane Sawyer. Additional link location for this ABC story: Noah's Ark Tourist Attraction Sparks Debate.
- December 6. Houston Chronicle. Houston, Texas. USA. A New Noah's Ark for Kentuckians by Laurie Goodstein, p. A9. New York Times article.
- December 6. The Times of India. Mumbai, India. Noah's Ark theme park sparks religious debate by Laurie Goodstein, p. 18. New York Times article.
- December 6. The New York Times. New York City, New York. USA. Noah's Ark, the Theme Park by by Laurie Goodstein, p. A15.
- December 6. Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, Florida. USA. Questions surround dreams for an arkTOURISM: For starters, can a state offer cash for a religious attraction? by Laurie Goodstein, New York Times.
- December 6. Pharyngula blog. Morris, Minnesota. USA. I'm sure Ken Ham is grateful by PZ Myers.
- December 6. Cleveland Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio. USA. Kentucky governor's support of ark project raises concerns over state ties to religion by Laurie Goodstein, New York Times.
- December 6. Barre-Montpelier Times Argus. Barre, Vermont. USA. In Kentucky, Noah’s Ark theme park is planned by Laurie Goodstein, New York Times.
- December 6. Death and Taxes. "...an indie music and culture website." New York City, New York. USA. Bible Thumping Drowns Out Climate Change by Matthew Uhlmann.
"This week is a climate change party in Cancun, with 193 nations participating at the UN conference in Mexico. And in Kentucky, the finance and structure plans for the Noah’s Ark Theme Park are being solidified with the support of the Governor and a massive tax break from the state."
- December 6. ENVIROGY blog. Canada. Environmental awareness blog. Noah (Of Old Testement Fame) Gets on the Eco-bandwagon, Purchases $160 million Environmentally Friendly Ark posted by Admin.
"In much of the developed world, businesses “going Green” has certainly become a universal trend. Having said that, I still did not see this one coming."
- December 6. The Sensuous Curmudgeon blog. USA. Answers in Genesis and One “Outrageous” Blogger
- December 6. New York Times. Op-Ed column. The Changing Culture War by Ross Douthat.
- December 6. The Internet Monk blog. The Disney-ization of Faith by Chaplain Mike.
- December 6. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Los Angeles, California. USA. NBC late night talk show. Jay Leno opening monologue on Ark Encounter project Approximately 8 minutes 37 seconds into monologue.
- December 6. Conan. Atlanta, Georgia. USA. TBS late night show. Monologue comments about Ark Encounter project. Comment begin 5 minutes and 43 seconds into monlogue.
"Developers in Kentucky plan on opening a creationist theme park. Yeah. When asked what the creationist theme park would look like, developers said it's still evolving. - Conan O'Brien in his monologue, Conan, December 6, 2010"
- December 6. Dispatches from the Culture Wars blog. USA. Kentucky Gives Tax Breaks for Noah's Ark Theme Park by Ed Brayton.
- December 6. Ballotnews. USA. Politcal news website. Kentucky governor’s pledge of tax incentives for Creationist theme park doesn’t sit well with advocates of Church and State separation by Eileen McGuire-Mahony.
"FRANKFORT, Kentucky: Developers of “Ark Encounter” say they considered Ohio and Indiana as sites for their Biblically themed amusement park before ultimately finding Kentucky to be the “most receptive”, but now the winning state is getting plenty of headaches in return for that receptivity."
- December 6. Green Packs. USA. Social environmental responsibility website. Eco-Friendly Noah’s Ark at the Ark Encounter Christian-Theme Park.
"A novel eco-friendly amusement park is scheduled to be opened in 2014. Named the Ark Encounter, the Christian-theme Park will have as one of its highlights a giant model of Noah’s Ark. The amusement park is being built by the organization called Answers in Genesis, which is also well known for the Creation Museum that it has built in Petersburg."
- December 6. Washington Times. Washington, D.C. USA. Is a Noah's ark theme park unconstitutional? by Amanda Read.
"On Dec. 1, Kentucky Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear held a press conference to unveil plans for a theme park inspired by one of history’s most mysterious epic structures: Noah’s ark. "
"Titled “Ark Encounter,” the proposed privately funded $150 million for-profit project is expected to be an exciting addition to Kentucky’s economy. Ark Encounter may employ 900 workers and attract 1.6 million visitors in its first year, according to an America’s Research Group feasibility study."
- December 6. National Center for Science Education - NCSE. Oakland, California. USA. Anti-creationist/ID website. Controversy over proposed creationist theme park.
"The announcement of a proposed creationist theme park in northern Kentucky is sparking controversy."
- December 6. Washington Post blog. Washington, D.C. USA. Noah's ark lands in midst of state and church separation debate by Melissa Bell.
"The ship that saved "two of each" species from a worldwide flood, according to the Bible, has been discovered a number of times over the years. The last discovery placed Noah's ark on the top of Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey."
"Then there are the replications of the ark. A contractor in Netherlands built a version by hand, opening it to the public in 2007. Hong Kong has a Noah's ark hotel, with fiberglass animals."
"Now, if the governor of Kentucky has his way, American tourists will be able to find the ark much closer to home. Gov. Steven L. Beshear announced on Wednesday that the Kentucky government would provide tax incentives to a group planning on constructing a Noah's ark theme park called "Ark Encounter." "
- December 5. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. USA. Noah's Ark, the Theme Park by Laurie Goodstein, New York Times.
- December 5. Tufts Museum Studies. Medford, Massachusetts. USA. Tufts University. Museums in the News – The Censored Roundup. Link to Creation Museum website.
- December 5. Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. USA. Letters to the editor. Kentucky can't reject jobs from creationism park.
- December 5. South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana. USA. Investors look to build Noah's Ark by Roger Alford, Associated Press story.
- December 5. Louisville Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. Commentary. Beshear sails risky waters for ark park by Joseph Gerth.
"The announced plan for the state to help fund a $150 million monument to fundamentalist religious belief in Grant County has unified liberals, moderates and even some conservatives on one theological question: What in God's name is Gov. Steve Beshear thinking? "
- December 5. Baptists Today blog. Macon, Georgia. USA. Makin' bacon by Tony Cartledge.
"I thought of that in comparison to a news note that Answers in Genesis, the fundamentalist young-earth organization that built the mega-million dollar Creation Museum near Cincinnati, is planning a $24.5 million expansion that will include a full-scale replica of Noah's Ark. No one knows exactly what Noah's Ark would have looked like, of course. A few specifications are given in Genesis 6:14-16, beyond the basic dimensions it's mostly guesswork."
- December 5. New York Times. New York City, New York. USA In Kentucky, Noah’s Ark Theme Park Is Planned by Laurie Goodstein.
"Facing a rising tide of joblessness, the governor of Kentucky has found one solution: build an ark."
"The state has promised generous tax incentives to a group of entrepreneurs who plan to construct a full-size replica of Noah’s ark, load it with animals and actors, and make it the centerpiece of a Bible-based tourist attraction called Ark Encounter."
- December 5. USA Today - Travel. McLean, Virginia. USA. Full-scale replica of Noah's Ark planned in Kentucky by Roger Alford, Associated Press.
"FRANKFORT, Ky. — Modern-day investors want to do in three years what took Noah and his sons more than 100 years to do: Build an ark to the dimensions specified in the Bible."
- December 4. Hudson Valley Geologist blog. Hudson Valley, New York. USA. Kentucky's monument to ignorance by Steven Schimmrich.
- December 4. OneNewsNow.com. USA. Christian news website. Private investors look to build Noah's Ark in KY Associated Press story.
- December 3. The Independent. London, England. Kentucky creates a theme park of biblical proportions by David Usborne, p. 41.
"AND IT will come to pass that on the third day of the fifth month of 2014, a mighty ark will appear on a hill not far from Interstate 75 so that the people of north-east Kentucky will not perish in a great storm and will reap great rewards of money and prosperity as the tourists there will multiply and buy many dolls in the likeness of Noah. "
- December 3. Columbus Dispatch. Columbus, Ohio. USA. Ark may bring flood of lawsuits by Roger Alford, Associated Press, p. B4.
- December 3. Examiner.com. USA. Creationist Examiner. New Ark replica to be built in Kentucky by Terry Hurlbut.
- December 3. The Christian Telegraph. England. Full-scale Noah's Ark park planned for Kentucky.
"The same group behind the Creation Museum is partnering with another group to build a full-scale version of Noah's Ark that will anchor a family oriented Bible-theme attraction costing an estimated $150 million, reports, Baptist Press."
- December 3. whatsthematterwithks blog. USA. Salon.com social content site. Kentucky looks to add another Creation Theme Park.
"We visited the Creation Museum shortly after its opening in 2007, and it’s seen in “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” from the vantage point of its supporters. We can attest to the excellent quality and showmanship of its exhibits, and expect nothing less from Ark Encounter."
- December 3. AOL Hot Searches blog. USA. Ark Encounter Theme Park Announced by Erin.
"The Ark Encounter, a Bible-based theme park from the group behind the Creation Museum, was announced this week, sparking outrage among organizations that see the park as infringing upon the separation of church and state."
- December 3. Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. USA. Commentary: Tax incentives for Ark Encounter hurt Kentucky. Editorial from Lexington Herald-Leader.
- December 3. Time - NewsFeed. New York City, New York. USA. Kentucky Creates 900 New Jobs -- By Building Noah's Ark by Alexandra Silver.
"Problem: high unemployment. Solution: build the ark."
"In case you missed it, the governor of Kentucky recently announced the state would, in a few years, be home to a “full-scale replica of Noah's ark.” It's going to be the centerpiece of a biblical theme park — or, if you're a sponsor of the Ark Encounter project, a “historically themed attraction” — that would also feature a Tower of Babel and a first-century Middle Eastern city. Answers in Genesis (the ministry that brought us The Creation Museum) is heavily involved in the $150 million project, which according to the official website “is not an amusement park.”
- December 3. Pharyngula blog. Morris, Minnesota. USA. Unbridled Laughingstock by PZ Myers.
"Ive been poking fun at Kentucky this week, which is easy to do — investing in a theme park that has Biblical literalism as its centerpiece is embarrassingly ridiculous. But let's be fair. Ken Ham could have landed in Minnesota, if instead of aiming for a location within a day's travel of 40% of the nation's population, he'd wanted a place within a day's travel of North and South Dakota, and then we'd all be laughing at this rural assembly of yokels. And also, of course, Kentucky has plenty of smart, aware, rational people, as we can see from this editorial in the Louisville Courier-Journal."
- December 3. The Spectrum. Buffalo, New York. USA. University of Buffalo student paper. Noah’s Ark-Themed Attraction is Problematic.
"Three years ago, the fine state of Kentucky blessed us with the Creation Museum, and now they're at it again."
- December 3. Daily News & Analysis (DNA). Lower Parel, Mumbai. India. Noah's Ark and Tower of Babel to be built in Kentucky. From Asian News International.
"A full-scale Noah's Ark is to be constructed in Kentucky, as part of a proposed $100 million creationism-themed amusement park."
"The planned complex will also feature a walled city, a replica of the Tower of Babel, a recreation of a first-century Middle Eastern village, a 500-seat theatre, an aviary, and a ‘journey through biblical history’ section, reports The Telegraph."
- December 3. Mother Nature Network. USA. Environmental and social responsibility news site. World's largest religious amusement park will be green by Katherine Butler. Includes Ark Encounter YouTube video.
"Northern Kentucky was recently announced as the site of the The Ark Encounter, the latest Christian-themed amusement venture from Answers in Genesis. The organization, also known for its Creation Museum in nearby Petersburg, describes itself as a Christian-defending ministry dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith effectively. The group's new $150 million park will feature a gigantic wooden ark inspired by the Bible. And as Msnbc.com reports, the builders plan to use LEED building techniques on the ark and throughout the park."
- December 3. Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. USA. Editorial. Commentary: Tax incentives for Ark Encounter hurt Kentucky Chicken processing plants?
"Despite some progress in economic development, Kentucky continues to use tax incentives in pursuit of mostly low-paying, part-time seasonal jobs that would further lower the state's average wage and do little to increase the demand of higher education. This is similar to past shortsighted subsidies of chicken processing plants and customer call centers."
- December 3. Columbus Dispatch. Columbus, Ohio. USA. Also appears in the print edition. Ark may bring flood of lawsuits by Roger Alford, Associated Press story.
- December 3. The Independent. London, England. Also appears in the print edition. Kentucky creates a theme park of biblical proportions by David Usborne, US Editor.
"And it will come to pass that on the third day of the fifth month of 2014, a mighty ark will appear on a hill not far from Interstate 75 so that the people of north-east Kentucky will not perish in a great storm and will reap great rewards of money and prosperity as the tourists there will multiply and buy many dolls in the likeness of Noah."
"This is not Kentucky bourbon talking. The state is already home to the Creationist Museum – which for three years has been a point of pilgrimage for those Americans who are willing to believe that the world was created in six days and Darwin lost his marbles on the bridge of the Beagle. But Kentucky is now embracing a creationist theme park with an ark built precisely to biblical specifications as its main attraction."
- December 3. The Telegraph. Chatham, Kent. England. Noah's Ark and Tower of Babel to be built at Kentucky amusement park
"The planned complex is also expected to feature a walled city, a replica of the Tower of Babel and a recreation of a first-century Middle Eastern village."
- December 2. Religion News Service blog. Washington, D.C. USA. Thursday’s Religion News Roundup by Kevin Eckstrom.
"Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear is defending $37 million in tax incentives to help build a $150 million theme park (top left) outside the Creation Museum, saying he was not elected to debate religion but rather create jobs."
- December 2. Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. USA. Founders of Creation Museum propose $150 million religious theme park featuring Noah's Ark Associated Press story.
- December 2. CBS News - Travel. New York City, New York. USA. Private Investors Look To Build Noah's Ark In Ky. Associated Press story.
- December 2. Bloomberg Businessweek. New York City, New York. USA. Business website. Private investors look to build Noah's Ark in Ky. by Roger Alford, Associated Press.
- December 2. Los Angeles Times Travel. Los Angeles, California. USA. Founders of Creation Museum propose $150 million religious theme park featuring Noah's Ark. by Roger Alford, Associated Press.
- December 2. ProLifeBlogs.com. USA. Article from Values Voter News website. $150 million Noah's Ark theme park to be located near Creation Museum in Kentucky in 2014.
- December 2. Values Voter News blog. USA. $150 million Noah's Ark theme park to be located near Creation Museum in Kentucky in 2014. Includes Ark Encounter YouTube videos.
"A group that has partnered with Answers in Genesis who created the Creation Museum are making a biblical sized Noah's Ark theme park in Kentucky. From the same theme park maker of Dollywood. What a combo!!! Check out their web site at ArkEncounter.com after you watch the below videos. Also see another Ark already built in Hong Kong to Biblical proportions at See pictures of the first Noah's Ark built to Biblical proportions located in Hong Kong as christianity in China grows..."
- December 2. WRAL-TV, Channel 5, CBS. Raleigh, North Carolina. USA. Private investors look to build Noah's Ark in Ky. by Roger Alford, Associated Press.
- December 2. The New Yorker - To-Do List blog. New York City, New York. U.S.A. To-Do List: LeBron in Cleveland, WikiLeaks vs. Amazon by Samantha Henig.
"To visit: Ark Encounter, the hundred-fifty-million-dollar creationist-themed theme park set to open in Kentucky in 2014. Governor Steve Beshear announced the plans for the park, which is privately funded but is expected to receive up to 37.5 million dollars in tax incentives over the next ten years."
- December 2. APCOM. Rome, Italy. Italian press agency. Il primo Luna Park creazionista? Nell'America profonda, Kentucky
"New York, 2 dic. (Apcom) - Entro il 2014 dovrebbe essere inaugurato nel Kentucky Ark Encounter, il primo parco divertimenti creazionista. Fra le attrazioni del parco ci sarà anche un modello gigante dell'Arca di Noè con animali veri, una replica della Torre di Babele e la riproduzione di un villaggio mediorientale del primo secolo. Nonostante le critiche ricevute per l'ideologia del parco, il governatore del Kentucky Steve Beshear è favorevole alla costruzione di Ark Encounter, "non abbiate timori, sarà importantissimo (per lo Stato)". Il progetto del parco di divertimento è frutto della collaborazione tra un azienda privata e l'organizzazione non-profit che già gestisce il Museo creazionista del Kentucky. Dopo che i promotori del progetto, sulla base degli incentivi per favorire lo sviluppo del turismo nel Kentuky, hanno richiesto sgravi fiscali pari a 37,5 milioni di dollari si è infiammata la polemica. I detrattori di Ark Encounter sostengono che concedere gli incentivi rappresenterebbe una violazione della separazione tra Stato e chiesa sancita dalla costituzione. Un altro punto controverso riguarda la futura politica d'assunzione del parco: gli sarà concesso di discriminare su basi religiose come fa il Museo creazionista?"
- December 2. Amerikos Lietuvis. Hickory Hills, Illinois. U.S.A. Lithuanian American newspaper. Kentukio valstijoje planuojama atidaryti religinio pobūdžio pramogų parką.
"Ar norėtumėte apsilankyti Nojaus Arkoje, Babelio bokšte ar daugiau nei dviejų tūkstančių metų amžiaus senumo Viduriniųjų Rytų miestelyje? Visa tai realybe taps jau po beveik ketverių metų - Kentukio valstijoje duris planuoja atverti religinio pobūdžio pramogų parkas."
- December 2. Cyberpresse.ca blog. Canada. Un parc d’attraction créationniste au Kentucky by Richard Hétu.
"Le gouverneur démocrate du Kentucky Steve Beshear a donné sa bénédiction hier à la construction d’un parc thématique axé sur le créationnisme qui pourrait recevoir de l’État plus de 37 millions de dollars sur dix ans en mesures incitatives. Selon lui, ce parc d’attraction appelé Ark Encounter dont l’ouverture est prévue pour 2014 attirera 1,6 million de personnes par an, générera des retombées économiques de 250 millions de dollars par an et créera 900 emplois. On y trouvera notamment des répliques de la Tour de Babel et de l’Arche de Noé, ainsi que plusieurs animaux."
- December 2. Slate.fr. France. French version of Slate.com. L'arche de Noé devient une attraction.
"Si la fin du monde en 2012 prenait la forme du Déluge Universel, l'humanité aurait peut-être une chance de survie. Un parc d'attraction créationniste est en effet en cours de construction aux Etats-Unis, dans le Kentucky, révèle Gawker. Et parmi les différentes attractions, il y aura une arche de Noé."
- December 2. Gizmod.fr. France. French version of Gizmodo.com. Bientôt un parc géant (religieux) dans le Kentucky
"Après le Holy Land Experience à Orlando (le parc thématique sur Jesus Christ) prochainement aux USA toujours, dans le Kentucky, les amateurs pourront découvrir un nouveau parc du même acabit. Les géniteurs du projet comptent y mettre en valeur le thème du créationnisme. Alléluia."
- December 2. Atlantic Wire. Washington, D.C. . USA. Noah and the Ark Gets a $150 Million Theme Park by Erik Hayden.
"In 2014, curious tourists will be able to flock to Kentucky to immerse themselves in Bible stories--courtesy of a $150 million dollar theme park. Named the Ark Encounter, the project includes a full-scale mock of up Noah's giant vessel and petting zoo (two of each type of animal?) along with Old Testament icons the Walled City, the Tower of Babel and the Red Sea."
- December 2. Christian Post. Washington, D.C. USA. Full-Scale Replica of Noah's Ark Coming to Ky. Theme Park by Katherine T. Phan.
"Noah may have taken 400 years [sic] to build the ark but investors of a new biblical theme park in northern Kentucky plan to replicate a full-scale model in under 36 months."
- December 2. Science - Science Insider. Washington, D.C. USA. American Association for the Advancement of Science-AAAS. Plan for Creationist 'Ark' Park Draws Paleontologists' Ire by Eli Kintisch.
"The governor says the for-profit developers behind the planned park will apply for tax breaks, which could provide up to $37.5 million in savings from the state. Governor Beshear says the park will create 900 jobs for the state. But Daniel Phelps, president of the Kentucky Paleontological Society in Lexington, says the park is "government entanglement with religion" and doesn't make the state attractive to scientists and technically minded individuals. "I don't envision people, especially those with science backgrounds, wanting to move to a state where the 'ark park' has government support," says Phelps, who works as an environmental geologist for the state."
- December 2. New York Daily News. New York City, New York. USA. Creationism-themed amusement park heading to Northern Kentucky, will have full-size Noah's Ark by Nina Mandell.
"Disney World, meet Sunday School."
"A creationism-themed amusement park is coming to Kentucky in 2014, the state's governor Steve Beshear announced on Wednesday."
"The park, which Kentucky expects to draw more than a million visitors each year, is projected to cost $150 million, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported."
"Make no mistake about it," Beshear said, according to the paper. "This is a huge deal."
- December 2. CNN Belief blog. Atlanta, Georgia. USA. My take: Where's the outrage over Noah's Ark park? by Stephen Prothero. CNN Belief Blog. Prothero compares the Smithsonian exhibit, which featured a video of a crucifix with ants crawling on Jesus' body, to Kentucky's support of AiG's Ark Encounter project. He's upset that not enough people are upset about the Ark Encounter project, to kill the deal with Kentucky.
- December 2. American United for Separation of Church and State blog. Washington, D.C. USA. Ark Park Earmark: Kentucky Governor Floats Religion-Funding Scheme by Sandhya Bathija.
"Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear thinks it’s a good idea for his state to be the home of Noah’s Ark – one that will include dinosaurs!"
"Beshear announced yesterday his plan to provide tax incentives to the developers of a creationism theme park that will feature a replica of the well-known biblical boat."
"The $150 million facility will be a collaboration between Ark Encounters, a private company in Springfield, Mo., and Answers in Genesis, a fundamentalist Christian organization that runs the Creation Museum that opened in Kentucky in 2007."
- December 2. EvolutionBlog. USA. A New Tourist Attraction for Kentucky by Jason Rosenhouse.
"It used to be that Kentucky was known primarily for bourbon and horse racing. But now they seem determined to add creationism to that list."
- December 2. Louisville Courier Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. Editorial. Editorial | Creationist tourism
- December 2. Louisville Courier Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. Letters to the Editor. State support of Bible theme park unconscionable by James E. Campbell.
" That Gov. Steve Beshear is lending support to the building of a Bible theme park, possibly including state incentives, seems to be a case of government endorsement of the religious point of view of Christian fundamentalism (“Beshear to announce creationist theme park for Kentucky,” Nov. 30). Fundamentalism (any kind) is driven by the fear that new information or discoveries will make one’s world view irrelevant. This is why creationism fights so hard to defend itself in the face of scientific discovery. The Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter are based on this kind of thinking, claiming “the absolute truth and authority of the Bible.” We would do well to remember that the Bible was written by people who thought the earth was flat."
"That organizations like Answers in Genesis should make money by promoting the idea of biblical accuracy and literalism is one thing, but that the state of Kentucky should in any way provide endorsing support is unconscionable and very likely unconstitutional."
- December 2. Gawker. New York City, New York. USA. News and gossip website. Yes, There Will Be Dinosaurs on This Full-Scale Noah's Ark
- December 2 The Stir by Cafe Mom blog. USA. Kentucky's Creationist Theme Park: God's Happy, Taxpayers Aren't by Kim Conte.
"Plans for a new Creationist Theme Park in Kentucky -- including a massive three-story replica of Noah's Ark complete with dinosaurs -- have critics wondering why the governor would ever support such a thing."
"Gov. Steve Beshear and Answers in Genesis, the builders of Kentucky's famous Creation Museum, announced plans for a Biblical amusement park called Ark Encounter. Subsequently, reports surfaced that the builders are seeking state tax incentives that would allow them to recover 25 percent of the cost."
- December 2. AOL Travel. USA. Noah's Ark Park to Open in Kentucky by Libby Zay.
- December 2. Newser. USA. User generated news website. Coming to Kentucky: Creationism Theme Park by Evann Gastaldo.
" (Newser) – Disneyland, pshaw. Soon the new hot amusement park will be located in Kentucky, and called ... Ark Encounter. The Christian theme park will include, among other attractions, a 500-foot-long Noah's Ark complete with live animals, a Tower of Babel replica, and a re-created first-century Middle Eastern village. "Make no mistake about it, this is a huge deal," says the governor, who is backing the park despite criticisms about its ideology."
"The park, a collaboration between a for-profit company and the non-profit that runs Kentucky's Creation Museum, is stirring up controversy because developers are asking for tourism development tax incentives of up to $37.5 million, the Courier-Journal reports. Opponents say such incentives would violate the constitutional separation of church and state. Another point of controversy: whether the park will be allowed to discriminate on the basis of religion when hiring, as the Creation Museum does. Assuming those concerns fall on deaf ears, the park is expected to open in 2014."
- December 2. Raw Story. USA. News and politics website. Kentucky may subsidize creation theme park by Eric W. Dolan.
- December 2. Think Progress. USA. Politically left website. Kentucky Creationism Theme Park Set To Open In 2014 Will ‘Include Dinosaurs’ by Ben Armbruster.
"Kentucky’s Democratic governor Steve Beshear announced yesterday that a creationism theme park — dubbed “Ark Encounter” — is expected to open in the state in 2014. The governor boasted that the park would have a $250 million impact on the local economy annually. The park “will feature a 500-foot-long wooden replica of Noah’s Ark containing live animals such as juvenile giraffes."
"The project is a collaboration with a non-profit organization Answers in Genesis, which runs the Creation Museum in Boone County, KY. The Nation’s Chris Hayes noted on MSNBC last night that Answers in Genesis “is dedicated to portraying the Bible’s view of history. Among their claims, the Earth was created in six days, just 6,000 years ago, and that at one time, man and velociraptor co-existed peacefully.”
"(Of course, dinosaurs went extinct nearly 65 million years ago.) Yesterday during Beshear’s press conference announcing the plan, Barefoot and Progressive‘s Joe Sonka asked if there will be dinosaurs at “Ark Encounter”
- December 2. WKRC-TV, Channel 12, CBS. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Transcript of broadcast. Noah's Ark Park May Be Built in Tri-State
"It's official. A 160-acre theme park based on the biblical story of Noah's ark is planned for some farmland outside Williamstown, Kentucky. If all goes as planned, ark encounter will open in the spring of 2014. For Grant County, this is a major development project and the promise of hundreds of jobs. But it also means a sleepy little town may change forever."
- December 2. CrossWalk.com. USA. Christian community website. Full-Scale Noah's Ark Attraction Announced
- December 2. Examiner.com. USA. Rationalism Examiner. Creation Museum plans full-scale replica of Noah's Ark by Dianna Narciso.
- December 2. MSNBC, Countdown with Keith Olbermann. USA. Noah's Ark comes to Kentucky. A rather long video segment from an extremely popular show.
- December 2. WBKO-TV, Channel 13, ABC. Bowling Green, Kentucky. USA. Proposal for Religious Theme Park Unveiled. Associated Press story.
- December 2. Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. USA. Kentucky governor says jobs are behind incentives for religious theme park by Shawntaye Hopkins, Lexington Herald-Leader.
- December 2. Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. USA. Kentucky governor says jobs are behind incentives for religious theme park by Shawntaye Hopkins.
- December 2. Louisville Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. Editorial | Creationist tourism. Editorial. Opposes Ark Encounter Project.
"Gov. Steve Beshear needs a vacation. Indeed, he should have taken it this week."
"Other than extreme fatigue, how else can one explain his embrace of a project to build a creationism theme park in Northern Kentucky (near the Creation Museum) and the apparent willingness of his administration to offer tourism-development tax incentives to developers of the park?"
"Even if technically legal (in that the law allowing the tax breaks doesn't discriminate against other religious or anti-religious views), a state role in a private facility that would be built by a group called Answers in Genesis and espouses a fundamentalist view resting on biblical inerrancy indirectly promotes a religious dogma. That should never be the role of government."
- December 2. Forbes.com. Private investors look to build Noah's Ark in Ky. by Roger Alford, Associated Press.
- December 2. KTVZ-TV, Channel 21, NBC. Bend, Oregon. USA. Private Investors Look To Build Noah's Ark In Ky. by Roger Alford, Associated Press.
"FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Modern-day investors want to do in three years what took Noah and his sons more than 100 years to do: Build an ark to the dimensions specified in the Bible.
"Mike Zovath, co-founder of the Answers in Genesis ministry that opened the Creation Museum in Kentucky three years ago, said Wednesday he believes the full-scale replica of Noah's Ark will draw some 1.6 million visitors a year to the Bible belt city of Williamstown."
- December 2. MSNBC.COM. USA. Private investors look to build Noah's Ark in Ky. Associated Press story.
- December 2. MSNBC.COM. USA. Full-Scale Noah's Ark Planned In Northern Ky. - Ark Encounter To Add Up To 900 Jobs. WLKY.com story.
- December 2. WNCT-TV, Channel 9, CBS. Greenville, North Carolina. USA. Private investors look to build Noah's Ark in Ky. Associated Press story.
- December 2. Daily Mail Online. London, England. $150m plan unveiled for biggest-ever religious theme park with full-scale Noah’s Ark by Daily Mail reporter.
"A full-scale Noah's Ark is to be built as part of a proposed $150million creationism-themed amusement park in Kentucky."
"A theme park version of the Biblical ark will mark the focal point of the tourist attraction, which will also feature a walled city, a replica of the Tower of Babel, a recreation of a first-century Middle Eastern village and a 500-seat special effects theatre."
- December 1. Logical Negativism blog. Kentucky. USA. Our governor is an idiot!
- December 1. Blag Hag blog. USA. Creation Museum seeks Kentucky tax support by Jen McCreight.
"It's bad enough the Governor was speaking at a press conference with them today. But it's terrifying now that we know why:"
- December 1. WFPL-FM, 89.3, NPR. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. In Depth: Beshear Defends Tax Breaks For Theme Park by Tony McVeigh. See also WUKY-FM, 91.3, for same audio: State To Help Creation Museum Group Build Noah's Ark Theme Park.
"State tax breaks are being offered as an incentive to lure a religious theme park to northern Kentucky and questions are being raised about such use of public dollars."
"The same people who developed the $30 million Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, are now envisioning an 800-acre religious theme park featuring a full-scale replica of Noah’s Ark. The park, to be called Ark Encounter, is proposed for farmland along I-75 in Grant County. Mike Zovath of Answers in Genesis says the $150 million project will be privately funded."
- December 1. Baptist Press. Nashville, Tennesse. USA. Full-scale Noah's Ark park planned for Ky. compiled by Michael Foust.
"FRANKFORT, Ky. (BP)--The same group behind the Creation Museum is partnering with another group to build a full-scale version of Noah's Ark that will anchor a family oriented Bible-theme attraction costing an estimated $150 million."
- December 1. Mother Jones. San Francisco, California. USA. Kentucky Offers Tax Breaks for Noah's Ark Theme Park by Tim Murphy.
"At a press conference in Frankfort today, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear announced his unlikely plan to save the state's economy—by offering a massive tax incentive to the planners of Ark Encounter, an eco-friendly Noah's Ark theme park to be built outside Cincinnati. Building a Genesis-based theme park, during a recession? Shouldn't he be focusing on Job?"
- December 1. Gawker. USA. Kentucky to Build Greatest Religious Amusement Park Ever posted by Jim Newell.
- December 1. Slate. New York, New York. USA. Kentucky Announces Creationist Theme Park. Taken from Gawker website.
- December 1. Log Cabin Democrat. Conway, Arkansas. USA. Investors look to build Noah’s Ark in Ky. Associated Press story...but much longer and more detailed than previous stories.
- December 1. Todd's Blog. Dayton, Tennessee. USA. Ark Encounter by Todd Wood.
- December 1. Alexander Cornswalled blog. USA. Defending the Faith. A nice blog posting encouraging Kentucky governor Steve Beshear's support of the Ark Encounter theme park.
- December 1. Pharyngula blog. Morris, Minnesota. USA. Gov. Beshear has been twittered by PZ Myers. Twitter comments courtesy of Joe Sonka.
- December 1. Barefoot and Progressive blog. Kentucky. USA. Steve Beshear humiliates the state of Kentucky (VIDEO UPDATE) by Media Czech, a.k.a. Joe Sonka, a left-wing political activitist blogger.
- December 1. Ark Encounter YouTube channel. USA. Much information about the Ark Encounter project. Interviews with Ken Ham, Mark Looy, Mike Zovath, Pat Marsh, and Cary Summers. Includes overview of the project.
- December 1. WFIE-TV, Channel 14, NBC. Evansville, Indiana. USA. Noah's Ark theme park coming to Kentucky by Chris McGill. Same news item as WAVE-TV.
- December 1. WAVE-TV, Channel 3, NBC. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. Replica of Noah's Ark coming to Northern Kentucky by Chris McGill.
- December 1. People for the American Way (PAW) blog. Washington, D.C. USA. GOP Leaders Get Back to Basics: Art Censorship! by Drew. A rather bizarre rant that attempts to tie the Smithsonian's exhibit of a video featuring a statue of Jesus crawling with ants, to the announcement by Kentucky governor Steve Beshear of the Ark Encounter theme park.
- December 1. WEKU-FM, 88.9, NPR. Richmond, Kentucky. USA. State Incentives for Religious Theme Park by Tony McVeigh, Kentucky Public Radio, Capitol Bureau. Includes audio and transcript.
- December 1. KFVS-TV, Channel 12, CBS. Cape Girardeau, Missouri. USA. Proposal for religious theme park unveiled. Associated Press story.
- December 1. WLWT-TV, Channel 5, NBC. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Proposal For Religious Theme Park Officially Unveiled. The video clip is a MUST see!
- December 1. Business First. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. New Ky. theme park might create 900 jobs.
- December 1. Cincinnati Business Courier blog. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Details revealed for Kentucky's Ark park by Lucy May.
"Faithful readers of the Courier will not be surprised by Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear’s announcement today about Ark Encounter, a new Noah’s Ark tourist attraction being planned for Northern Kentucky."
"The Courier broke the news of this $150 million development Nov. 19. And at a news conference this morning, Beshear confirmed many of the details that we reported then."
- December 1. WTVQ-TV, Channel 36, ABC. Lexington, Kentucky. USA. Ark Encounter Planned In Kentucky by Gary Lacy.
“We are excited to join with the Ark Encounter group as it seeks to provide this unique, family friendly tourist attraction to the Commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear. “Bringing new jobs to Kentucky is my top priority, and with the estimated 900 jobs this project will create, I am happy about the economic impact this project will have on the Northern Kentucky region.”
- December 1. Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. USA. Creation museum to get wooden ark, theme park by Shawntaye Hopkins.
- December 1. CNN News. USA. Full-Scale Replica Of Noah's Ark Planned for outside Cincinnati. Featured on CNN's religion blog pages. WLWT-TV story.
- December 1. Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. USA. Kentucky creationism theme park developers seek tax support by Stephenie Steitzer. Louisville Courier-Journal article.
- December 1. ABC News. USA. Proposal for Religious Theme Park to Be Unveiled. Associated Press story.
- December 1. Huffington Post. USA. Creationist Theme Park Supported By Democratic Kentucky Governor posted by Nick Wing.
"A massive replica of Noah's Ark stretching three stories high and the distance of two football fields may soon be on its way to Northern Kentucky, where it will make its home as the staple of a creationist theme park, Ark Encounter. In an interesting twist, the creationist park is supported by the state's Democratic governor, Steve Beshear."
- December 1. KyPost.com. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. New N.Ky. theme park plans unveiled by Jeannine Gallenstein.
"FRANKFORT, Ky. - Plans for a new Northern Kentucky theme park were unveiled Wednesday morning in Frankfort, Ky."
"Governor Steve Beshear joined Ark Encounter LLC and Answers in Genesis, the developers of the Creation Museum, with details of "Ark Encounter" that will be built in Grant County. The theme park is expected to be built near Veteran's Cemetery in Williamstown, but multiple sites are being considered."
- December 1. WDRB-TV, Channel 41, Fox. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. Noah's Ark attraction set for northern Kentucky
- December 1. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. USA. Founders of Creation Museum propose religious theme park in Williamstown in northern Kentucky. Associated Press story.
- December 1. USA Today. USA. Developers plan a creationism theme park in Kentucky posted by Doug Stanglin.
- December 1. Louisville Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. announces creationism theme park to open in 2014, with $250 million impact by Stephenie Steitzer.
- December 1. CNBC.com. USA. Proposal for religious theme park to be unveiled. Associated Press story.
- December 1. The Creation vs Evolution Controversy blog. USA. Ark Encounter Press Release.
- December 1. Lexington Herald-Leader. Lexington. Kentucky. USA. Proposal for religious theme park to be unveiled. Associated Press story.
- December 1. Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Creation theme park planned by Mark Hansel. Front page pdf of Cincinnati Enquirer. See also same front page story in Kentucky Enquirer.
- December 1. The Creation vs Evolution Controversy blog. USA. Atheist Bloggers Attack Kentucky Governor by Crevo Press.
- December 1. Friendly Atheist blog. USA. Kentucky’s Governor Announces Expansion of Creation Museum by Hemant Mehta.
"I don’t like that the Creation Museum in Kentucky is expanding, but it’s their money and they can do what they want with it."
"I do have a problem, however, with the official announcement being made alongside Governor Steve Beshear."
- December 1. Pharyngula blog. Morris, Minnesota. USA. Short notice and bad creationist politics. P.Z. Myers calling for Internet campaign against governor.
"Answers in Genesis is planning to build an idiotic creationist theme park in Kentucky — we've known that for a little while now. The latest news, though, is that they've brought Steve Beshears, governor of Kentucky, on board to participate in a press conference announcing the latest accomplishment of creationism. That's right, the Democratic governor of Kentucky is going to endorse this latest monument to ignorance and miseducation."
- December 1. The Republic. Columbus, Indiana. USA. Founders of Creation Museum propose religious theme park in Williamstown in northern Kentucky. Associated Press story.
- December 1. Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. USA. Proposal for religious theme park to be unveiled. Associated Press story. Second oldest newspaper in Texas.
- December 1. WKRN-TV, Channel 2, ABC. Nashville, Tennessee. USA. Proposal for religious theme park to be unveiled. Associated Press story.
- December 1. West Kentucky Star. Paducah, Kentucky. USA. Creation Museum to Unveil 'Ark Encounter' Plans. Associated Press story.
- December 1. MSNBC.COM. USA. Giant Noah's Ark likely landing in Kentucky.
"FRANKFORT, Ky. — A huge replica of Noah's Ark and an 800-acre creationist theme park reportedly are coming to Grant County, Ky., according to NBC station WLEX."
"Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and Answers in Genesis, builders of the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky., are expected to unveil plans Wednesday for the $150 million northern Kentucky attraction, WLEX and other area news outlets reported."
November
- November 30. The Creation vs Evolution Controversy blog. USA. Creation Museum to Open Theme Park.
- November 30. KyPost.COM. Cincinnati, Ohio., USA. Gov. Beshear expected to make big announcement tomorrow
- November 30. The Sensuous Curmudgeon blog. USA. Kentucky’s Governor Is a Flaming Idiot.
"There are many ways to be stupid, but today we have an account of a truly spectacular public display of world-class stupidity. And more. Much more. Stick around."
- November 30. Cincinnati/Kentucky Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Beshear to announce creationist theme park for Kentucky by Mark Hansel.
- November 30. Examiner.com. USA. Portland Humanist Examiner. Creation Museum plans Noah's Ark religious themed amusement park by Michael Stone.
- November 30. MSNBC.COM. USA. Full-Scale Replica Of Noah's Ark Planned For Grant Co. WLWT-TV article. NOTE: original story has been corrected.
- November 30. WXIX-TV, Channel 19, Fox. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Religious-themed amusement planned for Grant County
- November 30. Barefoot and Progressive blog. Kentucky. USA. Steve Beshear to flaunt new Creation Museum theme park tomorrow by Media Czech.
- November 30. WLEX-TV, Channel 18, NBC. Lexington, Kentucky. USA. Beshear Expected To Announce "Noah's Ark" Theme Park Project For Grant County.
- November 30. WLWT-TV, Channel 5, NBC. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Full-Scale Replica Of Noah's Ark Planned For Boone Co. WLWT-TV article incorrectly identifies the site as in Boone County, rather than Grant County.
- November 30. Louisville Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. USA. Proposed creationism theme park to seek tax incentives from Kentucky by Stephenie Steitzer . NOTE: the first story on the Courier-Journal website was a reposting of the Cincinnati Enquirer blog posting. The Enquirer article has been replaced with this new article.
- November 30. Cincinnati.com blog. Cincinnati, Ohio. Announcement Wednesday on creationist theme park by Amanda Van Benschoten. Kentucky/Cincinnati Enquirer website.
"Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and Answers in Genesis, builders of the Creation Museum in Petersburg, will unveil plans for a new Northern Kentucky attraction tomorrow morning in Frankfort."
"The themed park, to be called Ark Encounter, will be located in Grant County near the Veteran’s Cemetery."
- November 30. Grant County News. Dry Ridge, Kentucky. USA. Noah's Ark in Williamstown? by Jamie Baker-Nantz, editor.
"Talk of a “big” development has captured the imaginations of Grant County residents for the last several months."
"Is it a Cabela’s? Is it a water park? Is it a giant shopping complex?"
"Local officials aren’t talking, but a story printed in last week’s Cincinnati’s Business Courier, which cited unnamed Williamstown city officials, said the big development is a $150 million religious theme park complete with a replica of Noah’s Ark."
- November 27. Pharyngula blog. Morris, Minnesota. USA. P.T. Barnum was right by P.Z. Myers.
"The Creation "Museum" is expanding and building a theme park. It's simply a fact that Ken Ham's Institution of Ignorance is doing business like gangbusters — it is well-attended and successful, has low-brow appeal, has negligible operating expenses (unlike a real museum), and is drawing in crowds of rubes and doing a great job of separating them from their money."
- November 24. Todd's Blog. Dayton, Tennessee. USA. AIG to open amusement park?.
- November 22. WSCH-FM, 99.3. Lawrenceburg, Indiana. USA. Creation Museum May Become Creation Amusement Park.
"(Petersburg, Ky.) - Roller coasters and bumper cars may be in the works for western Boone County. The Creation Museum in Petersburg is reportedly planning a Noah’s Ark-themed amusement park. An official announcement is expected by museum owner Answers in Genesis Nov. 29."
- November 22. Death and Taxes. "...an indie music and culture website." New York City, New York. USA. In Praise of The Creation Museum’s Noah’s Ark Amusement Park by Andrew Belonsky.
"Creationism remains remarkably popular among Americans, with about 44% of the population affirming their belief that God made everything, in 7 days, and that dinosaurs were along for the ride. Now those people can take the vacation of their dreams, because Kentucky’s Creation Museum will reportedly open a Noah’s Ark amusement park. Amen."
- November 22. Secular Cafediscussion forum. USA. Creation museum plans theme park.
- November 22. Barefoot and Progressive blog. Kentucky. USA. New Creation Museum theme park coming further down I-75? You betcha! by Media Czech.
- November 22. Friendly Atheist blog. USA. A Creation Museum Theme Park Contest by Hemant Mehta.
- November 21. Skepchick blog. USA. Creation Museum Theme Park by Evelyn.
- November 20. MSNBC.COM. USA. Creation Museum Plans Theme Park Expansion. WLWT-TV article. WLWT-TV video link has been removed.
- November 20. The Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Religious theme park discussed. Noah's Ark project might be on its way by Dan Horn. Business section, page B3.
- November 20. Topix. Palo Alto, California. USA. Theme park planned for N.Ky.? posted by roboblogger. One sentence summary and link to KyPost.com article.
- November 19. Center for Inquiry discussion forum. USA. Creation Museum Plans Theme Park Expansion.
- November 19. Yahoo News. USA. Will Creation Museum Build Noah's Ark Theme Park? WLWT-TV video.
- November 19. WLWT-TV, Channel 5, NBC. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Creation Museum Plans Theme Park Expansion Announcement Expected Soon, But Officials Mum On Details. Includes video photo shown on Friday evening's 5 pm news broadcast.
- November 19. KyPost.com. Cincinnati, Ohio., USA. Theme park planned for N.Ky.?by Carole Rawlins.
- November 19. WCPO-TV, Channel 9, ABC. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Theme park planned for N.Ky.? by Carole Rawlins. Reposting of KyPost.com article.
- November 17. Cincinnati Business Courier. Cincinnati, Ohio. USA. Noah’s park: $150M project eyed in Kentucky by Business Courier staff. "Last Modified: Friday, November 19, 2010, 12:21 pm EST"