Though there are areas around the U.S. experiencing drought and water cuts, a town in Kentucky seems to be expecting heavy rains and major floods.
A 510-foot ark is being built in the pastures of Williamstown, Kentucky. The massive project is biblically based on none other than Noah's Ark of the Old Testament. The ark is set to be the center of a future tourist attraction called Ark Encounter by a Christian ministry called Answers in Genesis.
The ark is expected to bring in a flood of a different kind. Cash is expected to come pouring in from a projected 2 million visitors per year.
Answers in Genesis President Ken Ham estimates that because of their project the town of Williamstown should prepare for the influx of attraction tourists by next year.
"I believe it will be one of the biggest attractions outside of Disney, Universal, people like that - it's going to be one of the biggest attractions in this country," he said.
The Ark is being built strictly according to the dimensions of Noah's Ark in the Bible but instead of housing pairs of every kind of living creature, the ark will feature exhibits on the first three floors and a restaurant on the fourth floor, making it a modern tourist attraction.
In the future, the attraction will also include a historical tour from the time of Abraham to the parting of the Red Sea, the Tower of Babel, a Walled City, a walk-through aviary, and a large petting zoo, to name a few.
It's a monumental project that could mean major revenues for the city and allow additional jobs for the people, but Answers in Genesis have their own strict rules regarding hiring workers and will only hire Christians.
In February, Answers in Genesis filed a lawsuit against Kentucky tourism officials for their decision to deny tax breaks and claimed that it was against the group's First Amendment rights. Though the group is still waiting on the final verdict, that is not stopping them from moving forward with construction and plans to open next summer.
Be sure to follow T-Lounge on Twitter and visit our Facebook page.
