2 Days at the Ark Encounter & Creation Museum

Kentucky Road Trip Series

At 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high the Ark is the largest timber-frame structure in the world. Wow, that is big! It is even more awe-inspiring in person. When we heard that Answers in Genesis was building a replica we immediately put the Ark Encounter on our bucket list. I’m happy to say that after our Kentucky road trip we were able to check that off of our list.

Ark Encounter

The Ark Encounter is a life-sized attraction filled with 3 decks of exhibits that help you learn about all aspects of the biblical account of Noah’s Ark. Guests park their vehicles and show admission tickets then are bused to the Answers Center. Most people went into the Answers Center to watch the film, but we bypassed this and walked straight to the Ark. Best decision ever! We were one of the first families onto the Ark and had the first deck practically to ourselves. During peak times there can be a long queue to enter the Ark.

Deck 1

Upon entering the Ark on deck 1 you experience The Flood Begins. Visitors see a variety of animal exhibits and learn what type of creatures and how many were brought onto the Ark. Our kids loved peering into all the cages to discover all the different creatures. Small kids will need help reading or explanations.

Deck 2

Deck 2 takes you through the Technology on the Ark. Guests are able to tour through the pre-flood world and see how Noah and his family might have maintained the Ark and cared for all the animals. Most noteworthy on this deck is the Ark Door. It is huge and a favorite photo-op spot. There is also a theater on this deck playing The Noah Interview. This show is ongoing all day.

Deck 3

Moving up to deck 3 you are taken through After the Flood. Our kids loved exploring the living quarters. There was so much to see! After that, guests go on to discover how the Flood impacted our world. The deck finishes up with The Voyage of the Book and Why the Bible is True. After the living quarters, there is a lot of reading. Our kids quickly lost interest. They did enjoy the graphic novel type exhibit in Why the Bible is True. It was very well done. Deck 3 also houses a theater playing As in the Days of Noah.

Ark Encounter Outside

Outside of the Ark, you can visit the Answers Center, the Ararat Ridge Zoo, Emzara’s Kitchen, the Village Market, a playground, and the Screaming Eagle Zip Lines and Aerial Adventure. The zoo houses animals like yaks, kangaroos, emus, camels, donkeys, and ostriches. There is also a small petting zoo and camel or donkey rides.

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The Village Market has various food offerings and shopping. We enjoyed burgers and pizza from Zofar’s. There are numerous tables with umbrellas spread throughout the Village Market. Picnics are not allowed inside the Ark Encounter. You can bring in water and snacks in a backpack. Behind the Market, there is a large playground for kids of all abilities to work off some energy. This space is uncovered so use caution in the summertime.

Ark Specifics

The Ark Encounter is located in Williamstown, Kentucky. It is open Monday to Saturday at 9:00 am. Sundays they open at 1:00 pm. Closing hours vary with the season, the earliest they close is 6:00 pm. There is a $10 parking fee. During our visit in 2020 and throughout 2021 children get free admission to the Ark with the purchase of at least 1 adult ticket. Tickets are required for admission so you still have to reserve a free child ticket for those in your group.

I highly recommend purchasing the Ark & Creation Museum Combo ticket. There are substantial savings if you are going to visit both. Adult combo tickets are $79.95, seniors are $69.95, and youth ages 11-17 are $44.95. Kids are free but double-check before arriving. Just the Ark tickets are $49.95 for adults, $39.95 for seniors, and $24.95 for youth ages 11-17. We purchased our tickets online and were able to get right on the bus. No waiting or lines! Online tickets are sent as a PDF to your email and can be printed or scanned from your smartphone.

Creation Museum

45 minutes north is the Ark Encounter’s sister attraction, the Creation Museum. This attraction helps families explore creation science with exhibits, gardens, a planetarium, a zoo, and a zip line and canopy adventure.

Museum

The Creation Museum has 2 levels walking you through history. Guests begin with Biblical Authority and the Relevance of Genesis. There is a lot of reading in these 2 sections. Our kids had little interest. Then you move through Creation, Corruption, and Catastrophe. The kids’ interest picked up in these rooms. The dioramas were very well done.

Moving into the second level guests continue through Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, and Consummation. After going through a small gift shop the exhibits continue with the Dino Den and Insectarium. These sections had a mixture of dioramas and reading. Again our kids were more interested in the diorama sections than the reading sections. They also enjoyed the dinosaurs. The main museum ends in the large Dragon Hall Bookstore.

Also inside you can find 2 different cafes serving hot and cold items along with coffee, ice cream, and fudge. On each level, there is also a theater playing In Six Days in 4D and The Last Adam. The Stargazer Planetarium is on the upper level and requires an additional admission fee.

Outside the Museum

Outside of the Museum, the grounds are filled with a lovely Botanical Garden. There is a mile of paved trail meandering throughout the property. Along the trail, you will encounter 5 bridges and a variety of waterfalls. All the blooming flowers were quite beautiful.

Next to the garden, there are 3 picnic pavilions. You are allowed to bring picnics inside the park. The pavilions are a very short walk from the parking lot. So it is super easy to send one member of your party out to retrieve your picnic or snacks.

Also next to the garden is the Eden Animal Experience. This is a small zoo featuring alpacas, goats, sheep, chickens, and other animals. You can pet some of the animals. A favorite spot for our kids was the Children’s Adventure Area. This playground is close to the zoo and picnic pavilions. It is designed for children of all abilities.

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Creation Museum Specifics

The Creation Museum is located in Petersburg, Kentucky. It is open Monday to Saturday at 9:00 am. Sundays they open at 1:00 pm. Closing hours vary with the season, the earliest they close is 6:00 pm. There is a $10 parking fee. Like I said before, during our visit in 2020 and throughout 2021 children get free admission to the Creation Museum (and the Ark) with the purchase of at least 1 adult ticket. Tickets are required for admission so you still have to reserve a free child ticket for those in your group.

As I previously mentioned I highly recommend purchasing the Ark & Creation Museum Combo ticket (mentioned above). If you can not do that option, the Creation Museum is $39.95 for adults, $34.95 for seniors, $24.95 for youth ages 11-17, and free for children 10 and under. Be sure to check their website to double-check that kids are still free. Again, save your group some time and purchase your tickets online.

Where we stayed

We stayed at the Springhill Suites Cincinnati Airport South in Florence, Kentucky after our day at the Ark Encounter. We only stayed here one night and it met our needs. There were some things we didn’t care for like a frosted glass barn door to the bathroom. It was also the smallest suite on our Kentucky road trip.

Further Reading

• Alum Hollow & Green Mountain Nature Trails
• Bowling Green: Caves and Corvettes
• 7 Family Hikes in Kentucky’s Big South Fork
• 4 Family Hikes in Hocking Hills State Park
• 7 Days in Central Kentucky

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. I was not compensated for this post. Our Kentucky travels occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our experiences may not be the same as yours. Double-check hours and openings before traveling.