Visit to the Ark Encounter

On Tuesday, May 27, Johnny and I, along with some good friends, visited the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky. If you want to be blown away by the magnitude of this feat of engineering, you need to visit in person. Even the pictures you take will not be able to do justice to the real thing.

 

The entry fee is a little pricey, but when I compared it to local theme parks (in Virginia and Maryland) the price was competitive. Money can be saved by purchasing a combo ticket to the Ark and Creation Museum, or by purchasing a 3-day Bouncer pass. The 3-day Bouncer lets you go in and out of both attractions for three days depending on where you would like to spend the most time.

 

We did not visit the Creation Museum on this visit. While we hear it is beautiful, there is a lot of reading. There is also a lot of reading in the Ark Encounter, and if it is crowded you want to be very short or very tall or you may lack the patience to read everything.

 

There are a number of interesting videos, including the building of the Ark, some animal films, and dramatic interpretations of the story of Noah and his family. All of these give you a chance to rest, as there is a LOT of walking, including from the parking to the shuttles, and from the shuttle drop off to the Ark proper.  There are numerous benches in the halls of each story as well. Each story is accessible by ramps and elevators, so those with mobility issues can take advantage of either. Scooters are available to rent, and we saw a few. Our friend, Rachel, was in a wheelchair, and there was plenty of room for pushing it along on the ramps.

 

It was drizzling rain the day we went, so some of the outdoor features were not as fun. We got to visit the zoo, but those in our group wanting to zip-line were disappointed. The gift shops are fully loaded and of course expensive, but we didn’t leave empty handed. We ate lunch on site at Ezmara’s buffet, and the food was good.

 

We absolutely think the Ark can be enjoyed in one full day, but most people will be tired. If you have a very active family you may want more than one day in order to enjoy some of the outdoor activities.

 

Consider going with us as we take a group by motorcoach in May of 2026. More details to come!

 

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