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Ark Encounter, Williamstown, KY

Photo: Kaleeb18, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsFamily FavoriteQuirky Fun

Ark Encounter

1 Ark Encounter Drive · Williamstown, KY

Why you should go…

Ark Encounter is a full-size Noah's Ark, 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet high, built to the dimensions given in the Bible. Inside, three decks hold 132 bays with animal models, scenes of Noah's family and exhibits on the biblical flood. The grounds also include the Ararat Ridge Zoo, zip lines, a virtual reality attraction and Emzara's Kitchen, a buffet that seats 1,500. The park opened in 2016 and is run by Answers in Genesis, which also operates the Creation Museum.

  • #noah's ark
  • #theme park
  • #bible attraction
  • #zoo
  • #zip lines

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Ark Encounter, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Foodie Favorite

    Buffalo Trace Distillery

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    Tour a working bourbon distillery on the Kentucky River and finish each guided tour with a tasting.

    32 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Kentucky Horse Park

    $25–$50

    Meet champion racehorses, see the Breeds Barn and tour the International Museum of the Horse on a working 1,224-acre horse farm.

    33 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Mary Todd Lincoln House

    Under $25

    The girlhood home of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, filled with period furniture, family portraits and Todd and Lincoln artifacts.

    40 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Keeneland

    Free

    Walk the landscaped grounds of a 1936 Thoroughbred track, watch morning workouts from the rail and eat at the Track Kitchen.

    40 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

    Under $25

    Tour restored 19th-century Shaker buildings, walk farm and nature trails, and stay or dine inside a preserved Shaker community.

    56 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing