Ark Encounter and Creation Museum
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Visiting the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter
The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum are both one-of-a-kind stops located in northern Kentucky. The two attractions are approximately 45 minutes away from each other and each location provides something different. The Creation Museum and Ark Encounter are owned by the same Christian organization, Answers in Genesis (AIG).
Regardless of your religious beliefs, I believe everyone should visit a place like this at least once so you can educate yourself about a different religion, culture, and belief system. If you are a Christian, then these stops will provide a unique opportunity to see some of the Bible stories that you are familiar with in a new way. If you don’t believe in Christianity, then a stop like this can help you understand those who believe in it a little better.
The Ark Encounter is home to a life-size ark where you can learn more about the famous story where Noah built a gigantic boat and saved his family and all of the animals from a 40-day flood that re-shaped the world.
The Creation Museum is full of exhibits to compare the Creation vs. Evolution theories and provides reasons why they believe that the Creation theory is correct. I recommend setting aside at least 4-6 hours at each site to be able to fully take in the exhibits. Both sites are frequently busy.
Is the Ark Encounter or Creation Museum Dog-friendly?
Unfortunately, neither of these stops is dog-friendly. If you are looking for outings to bring your pup to, check out our dog-friendly places in Kentucky post.
Tickets and Parking
Adult tickets for the Creation Museum are about $39.95 per adult and $49.95 for the Ark Encounter. If you plan on going to both, the combo ticket is $79.95 and all tickets are good for up to 1 year from the purchase date. Each location will have a separate $10 parking fee.
*Keep in mind that there are additional fees for some of the extra activities like zip-lining that are available at each location*
Ark Encounter
After you park your car and walk to the ticket area, you will see two different lines. One is to buy tickets, and the other is to get in line for the shuttle that will take you to the actual site. If you have already purchased your tickets, you can immediately get in line for the shuttle instead of waiting in line to get your ticket first. I highly recommend buying your tickets beforehand for this reason.
The shuttle will drop you off next to Guest Services which is home to a gift shop, coffee shop, ATM, and a place to rent wheelchairs and strollers. This is also where you can watch different movies in their theatre depending on their schedule for the day.
After a very short walk on the outdoor main path, you will reach the Zip-line Ticket counter on your right side where you can buy tickets to do the zipline and aerial course if you have not previously done so.
If you continue straight ahead on the path you will pass several photo opportunities and several small animal exhibits on your way to the Ark. You will enter the Ark on the ground floor and have the opportunity to explore the 3 deck levels inside. Each level will have a bathroom and snack area where you can purchase food. There will also be benches available to rest and eat on throughout the ship.
The first deck will show how Noah stored items on the ship and a brief introduction to the different kinds of animals that were gathered. You will also learn about the Bible story that the Ark Encounter was created from.
The second deck showcases how different animals were housed on the ship, how the animals were taken care of, and different educational displays. These displays showed what the world would have been like before the flood and give more information about who Noah was.
There is also a short film, “Noah Interview”, that was entertaining to watch. The clip consists of a reporter (along with her crew) that interviewed Noah for the local paper. It was funny and educational at the same time to hear them go back and forth as Noah explained different aspects of the planning and building of the Ark and his absolute faith in his God. This floor also has a gift shop and the large double-door photo op that is very popular.
The third deck leads you through different visual displays so you can see what life would have been like on the Ark, a brief history of the Bible, and an overview of the belief differences between Christianity and science when looking at history. There is another movie available on this floor called “As in the Days of Noah”.
When you are ready to leave, you will take the ramp back down to the ground level from the top deck where you will pass through another gift shop before exiting the Ark.
Outside of the ship, there are multiple places to eat such as Emazara’s, Zofar’s, and the Village Ice Cream and Sweets. There is also a family playground and the Ararat Ridge Zoo. You can see animals on exhibits at the zoo, watch live animal presentations, or come across a fun animal encounter. You can even go on a camel ride or buy a bag for gem mining for an extra fee.
Back towards the entrance/exit is the Truth Traveler Virtual Reality Experience where you can buy tickets to watch Noah build the ark and the different types of animals gathering to board.
When you are ready to leave, you will head back to where you were dropped off (near guest services) to catch the shuttle back to the parking lot.
We spent about 2 hours inside the Ark and felt like we were flying through. I would recommend setting aside at least 4 hours if you want to take your time through the Ark exhibits and an additional 1-2 hours if you want to take your time through the rest of the park.
Creation Museum
The ticket entrance is right off of the parking lot and from there you can choose which direction you want to start in. Once inside, there are several activities to pick from. Multiple trails lead you through beautiful gardens throughout the grounds. You will find more child-friendly activities such as the Eden Animal Experience (barnyard animals), a playground, and a gem mining experience to the right of the entrance.
To the left of the entrance (about a 4-minute walk) is the Creation Museum and the booth where you can purchase tickets for the Zip Line and Adventure Tour.
On the way to the Creation Museum, you may be confused as you pass by several dinosaurs. Don’t worry, this will soon be explained once you enter the museum itself. Inside the museum, you will encounter a series of signs that talk about dragons vs dinosaurs.
Several of these signs quote different bible verses about dragons and discuss that the writers could have been referring to dinosaurs instead of the mythical dragons. This was one of my favorite things in the Museum; it was fascinating to imagine that dinosaurs could be the root of history’s different dragon stories.
Once you are past this hallway, you will pass by a small gift shop and several places where you can buy food. There is also a 4D special effects theater where you can watch 2 free movies that play intermittently. “In Six Days” is about how God created the Earth and “The Last Adam” is about the life of Jesus Christ.
They are 4D movies so be prepared for your seats to feel like they are moving (at first we thought someone was kicking our seats-LOL). There is also a planetarium where you can buy tickets to see the universe and stars while hearing more about God’s Word.
Past the theatre is where the main exhibits in the Creation Museum begin. These exhibits are spread out over the ground floor and the lower level. The first couple of rooms that you walk through describe the differences between Creation and Evolution Theories. It explains potential issues with relying on carbon dating and it does bring up some valid points about the drawings of the famous “Lucy”.
Evolutionists believe Lucy to be one of the oldest potential ancestors for every known hominin species. The Creation Museum points out how easily artists could take liberties and affect how we viewed “Lucy”. They were able to show how “Lucy” could be viewed if the artist wanted to make her more like a gorilla, orangutan, or the ape-man ancestor that she is typically represented as.
The next set of rooms went over the history of the Bible and showcased facts uncovered to support the Bible stories displayed.
After that, the exhibits focused on the book of Genesis, further discussing Creation Theory and how the world was before the first sin.
The following exhibits were then separated into 6 different sections: Corruption (first sin), Catastrophe (the flood), Confusion, Christ, Cross, and Consummation.
The last exhibits on the lower level before you left the area showcased the history of the Museum, an insectarium, and several fossils. Once you exit from the exhibit areas, you will pass another gift shop and several more places where you can buy food.
We spent around 2 hours on the grounds of the Creation Museum. I would suggest planning on at least 4 hours if you want to take your time throughout the museum and walk some of the grounds. There is a lot of information (and a lot to read) so children may get bored quickly in the museum itself.
The Difference Between the Two
If you only want to visit one of these locations, there are a few things to consider when you are making your decision. Noah’s Ark would be a better option if you are not a huge reader or if you have small children. I found these exhibits to be more entertaining (fake animals in cages) and the signage is spread out. There are also bathrooms, benches, and snack stands throughout the building and grounds so you can easily take a break when needed.
Creation Museum is better suited for those that are more interested in understanding the difference between Creation and Evolution Theory. For Non- Christians, this is a great place to gain a better understanding of what Christians believe and how it may influence their life choices. The signage at this location has a lot more writing on it, so it may not be as entertaining to kids (in truth my brain felt ‘full’ about halfway in and I LOVE reading signs!).
Both locations have animals to admire, playgrounds for the kids, as well as a Zipline Course for an extra fee. No matter where you go, there are other ‘kid-friendly’ options so you can leave the ‘main attraction’ for a light and fun-hearted break if needed.
Why You Should Visit:
The Creation Museum and Ark Encounter are unique attractions that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. The Ark is the largest timber-frame structure globally, and no matter your beliefs, it is an amazing sight to see. If you grew up learning about Noah and the flood it is impressive to see the life-sized Ark in person. The Creation Museum provides a crystal-clear look into the core beliefs of Christianity and clearly lays out their argument for Creation Theory instead of Evolution. No matter your personal religious beliefs, I highly suggest you visit at least one of these locations depending on your interests.
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