The Ark Encounter

On a visit to see family in June, we were so close to The Ark Encounter that we just had to go check it out. What an experience it was! It truly lives up to the hype.

A fleet of shuttle buses (not little vans; these are full size buses) takes people from the parking lot to the entrance of the Ark plaza. You can't see the ark from the highway, or even the parking lot, and you're already on the bus when it comes into breathtaking view. You're seeing it for the first time a mile away and it's still massive! I wish I had gotten that shot, but couldn't because of being on the bus.

Once the bus drops you off, there is still quite a walk to the ark itself. On the way, you'll pass topiaries trimmed to resemble the animals walking two by two. The entire grounds is a park-like beauty.

When you finally get inside, you'll zig-zag up a wooden ramp to the first deck.

There is SO much to see inside. These are just a few artsy shots depicting how the Noah Family might have stored water, grain, food, and supplies.

Below, the distance from that point to the stern of the ark is 242' 9". The structure is built according to the dimensions given in the Bible. It's 510' long, 85' wide, 51' high.  Like I said, the thing is massive.

You'll see things you might never have considered, such as, where did they put the animals? How did they fit large animals inside? How did they feed them? What about animal waste? Where did the people sleep and what did they do with their time?

They showed how they might have created living quarters and work-rooms for themselves.

There are tons of exhibits on 3 decks explaining the whys, wherefores, and how-tos of Noah's story. I think the website explains it better than I can:

 
Deck 1 immerses guests in the size and scope of the biblical ark as visitors walk through a storage area and learn about animal kinds.

Deck 2 focuses on the pre-flood world, animal concerns, and an exploration of Noah and how God could have prepared him for his monumental task.

Deck 3 covers plausible living quarters for Noah and his family, flood geology, post-flood events, and a special Museum of the Bible exhibit.

One little room was a kind of pause in the exhibits of flood-life . It had a Disney-esque display over the door and I thought it might be a child's version of what the adults were experiencing.

Inside was a huge collection of children's books about Noah's Ark, cute little ceramic arks with adorable little animals smiling as they gather on the deck. All those things we've all seen in every Christian gift shop and book store. So cute, right?

Wrong. This display was to cause us to think about how the world subtly skews our belief in the Genesis accounting by depicting it like something out of a fairy tale. And if we think the first book of the Bible is a fantasy, why would we believe the rest of it?

I'll wrap up this post with just a couple parting artsy shots. I'm always looking for an interesting architectural composition. But the first one below, I have to credit my son. I saw him composing this shot and had to copy it. While being a proud mom of his creativity, I was still the photographer who thought, "darn! why didn't I see that?!" (btw, his was better)

I talk about the size and scope of the ark, with so much to see both inside and outdoors. People have asked if anyone can endure the walking. It's user friendly for people of all ages and capabilities. There are ramps to the decks or you can opt for an elevator. There's room for wheelchairs or strollers. There are lots of benches to rest a bit. There are fun things the kids will enjoy. You can take your time. The only thing I'm not sure about is getting from the bus to the ark itself. That was a bit of a walk and I didn't see any other way to get there.

I want to show a few other things from this trip in the next post. But, it's getting late and I still have to go to work in the morning! If you want to read more, check out the ark website here.