Colossal Noah's Ark Comes to Life in Kentucky

A new full scale replica of Noah’s Ark is set to open in Williamstown, Kentucky, Thursday. The biblically accurate tourist attraction named The Ark Encounter, built by the group Answers in Genesis, cost more than $100 million to build and is believed to be the largest timber-framed structure in the world.

Answers in Genesis President and CEO, Ken Ham,  told the FOX Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo, he expects the structure, built by 100 Amish craftsmen with 3.3 million board feet of timber over six years, to be an economic boost to the Kentucky economy.

“We actually had outside consultants, Gerry Henry and Associates, who actually did an economic study--and they said based on minimum attendance of just 1.4 million [people] a year, and we think there will be a lot more than that, in fact, our researchers indicate at least 2 million a year, but the research indicates over ten years an economic impact on the state of Kentucky of $4 billion, creating up to 20,000 jobs,” he said.

Ham also said the privately funded project which drew 8,000 supporters and donors to preview the ark, will provide a boom to the tourism industry in Northern Kentucky.

“The whole area was slammed in regard to restaurants and hotels. Hotels are saying they are booked out around the area,” he said.