Bill Nye debate spurs Noah's Ark park funding

[brooklynite]

Cincinnati Enquirer:

The apologetics ministry behind the Creation Museum announced Thursday that it has raised enough money to begin construction of its long-delayed and controversial Noah’s Ark-themed amusement park in Northern Kentucky.

“I am absolutely thrilled to announce that the funding is in place for Phase One to begin,” said Ken Ham, founder and president of the Answers in Genesis ministry, in a speech broadcast over the Internet.

Phase One will consist of the construction of what is envisioned as the centerpiece of the park – Noah’s Ark.

The groundbreaking at the 800-acre site is set for May. The goal is to have the 510-foot-long, three-deck replica filled with animatronic animals open to the public by the summer of 2016 – two years behind schedule.

For those who think the debate was a bad idea for precisely this reason, let me say that the people who will visit the Ark were never going to be convinced otherwise, and if the Government of Kentucky is foolish enough to provide tax subsidies, they can live with the results.

[rrneck]

1. It'l go broke when the ruckus dies down

and everyone that is interested has seen it once.

[mr blur]

2. "three-deck replica"? Replica of what?

You can't have a replica of something for which there is no viewable original.

[LostOne4Ever]

3. I thought his museum was in financial trouble

Why bother with a theme park when you can barely even keep your museum afloat?

Hamm truly is divorced from logic.

[WillParkinson]

4. Ark...afloat...

I see what you did there.

[Curmudgeoness]

7. You won't be laughing when the great flood comes.

Again.

[onager]

5. Their junk bond issue seems to be...sinking.

Slate article below from Nov. 2013, noting that the park is being financed with very risky junk bonds When the article was written, just 3 months ago, Ham had only raised about 10% of the total money he needs.

The Democratic governor of Kentucky threw in over $30 million in state tax credits, but those expire this year. (And the governor was properly hammered by the Kentucky press for granting those credits.)

The whole financial picture is...interesting. With any luck, a couple of years from now we'll be seeing Ham on American Greed for his creative financing. And hopefully on a "Wanted" poster as well.

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/11/ark_encounter_finances_obamacare_sank_ken_ham_s_creationist_theme_park.html

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. Good.

A whole lot better to waste money on that garbage, than doing something far more damaging, like using it to miseducate students, or underwrite some lowlife christian politician.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. I can't wait.

I have been waiting for the Noah's Ark Amusement Park before taking my vacation to see the Creation Museum....I wanted a two-fer. Now it looks like I will get it. We will have to plan a DU A&A meet-up for the grand opening.

And yes, you are right, the people who will visit this and who are helping to finance it will never be convinced that they are wrong.

[defacto7]

9. Not only will they never be convinced that they are wrong,

they fund these things as an exercise to convince themselves that they are right. They have to work very hard to keep up the belief or to make sure their god doesn't blame them for it's failure. It works just like the 700 Club or the PTL Club... guilt people into believing and giving.

[Heather MC]

14. The Constant indoctrination is further proof that it is all bullshit.

No one needs to be indoctrinated every week into believing a Sun exist. If a sky daddy existed, you would be able to teach a kid. There is Sun, and at night we see the moon and the stars. Oh and that other thing is our skydaddy say hi.

But no you have to constantly be trained everyday from birth to believe in something that is not there, in order to make it "real"

[Lordquinton]

10. I've seen much talk about the boost Ham has gotten

I'd like to hear about the boost Bill has gotten from this. Maybe I should look at non religious based news sources for it?

[defacto7]

11. Cincinnati Enquirer

Hmm... seem a bit close to home. That's fundi country.

[Gore1FL]

12. This will become a financial drain sooner rather than later. n/t

[Heather MC]

13. I hope they build it.

Nothing debunks a myth better than evidence. Let's see how they survive one year in an Ark with Carnivorous animals, all the shit that they generate, and housing enough food to feed them all. Maybe they will make it a reality show!