# Ken Ham blames "Ark Encounter" failure on atheists **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 21, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575 "2017-06-21T23:28:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/241 "2017-07-22T16:10:45Z")
Because of the tax dodge, state authorities [are calling off the tax exemption.](http://www.wdrb.com/story/35944895/ark-encounter-loses-major-tax-break-for-breach-of-contract) These people are simply not too good at their jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/242 "2017-07-22T23:54:18Z")
Hammy [has a sad](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/07/21/creationist-ken-ham-the-williamstown-safety-fee-is-so-unfair-to-me/). ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/243 "2017-07-23T01:40:05Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Hammy [has a sad](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/07/21/creationist-ken-ham-the-williamstown-safety-fee-is-so-unfair-to-me/). The weirdest part of that is that he is upset that the new safety services will help the entire community, not just the Ark. Uh, isn’t that good for your local community? ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/244 "2017-07-23T01:49:28Z")
Why would they need fire trucks? God will protect their 3,300,000 board feet of wood. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/245 "2017-07-23T02:40:14Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Why would they need fire trucks? God will protect their 3,300,000 board feet of wood. 😃 Just out of curiosity - that thing must have a sprinkler system, no? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/246 "2017-07-23T02:43:11Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > The weirdest part of that is that he is upset that the new safety services will help the entire community, not just the Ark. Uh, isn’t that good for your local community? Like he cares about the community. All that asshole cares about is himself and money. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/247 "2017-07-23T06:01:39Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > 😃 > > Just out of curiosity - that thing must have a sprinkler system, no? That’s a good question. As a “historical replica,” what kind of modern day fire and safety codes were they required to have? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/248 "2017-07-23T17:20:13Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > 😃 > > Just out of curiosity - that thing must have a sprinkler system, no? I’m sure it is up to code. > [@silenus](#): > > Like he cares about the community. All that asshole cares about is himself and money. I don’t know about that. I think he’s a true believer. A really stupid and desperate true believer, but a true believer. I think a project this big should clearly be paying all the taxes and fees anyone else would. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/249 "2017-07-23T17:26:13Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > The weirdest part of that is that he is upset that the new safety services will help the entire community, not just the Ark. Uh, isn’t that good for your local community? Religious conservatives follow Jesus greatest teaching of all. “I got mine, Jack!” ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/250 "2017-07-23T19:07:57Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I’m sure it is up to code. But which one? Urukagina, Cuneiform, Ur-Nammu, Eshnunna, Lipit-Ishtar. Hammurabi, Hittites, Nesilim, Assura, Moses? ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/251 "2017-07-23T20:38:19Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > But which one? Urukagina, Cuneiform, Ur-Nammu, Eshnunna, Lipit-Ishtar. Hammurabi, Hittites, Nesilim, Assura, Moses? duh - Bible Code. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/252 "2017-07-23T20:49:51Z")
> [@simster](#): > > duh - Bible Code. Oh, the Da Vinci code! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/253 "2017-07-23T21:23:11Z")
“Well, we had 2 million attendees, but we ejected 1.5 million of them for coming in and ridiculing the place. We could have counted them too. :smack:” ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/254 "2017-07-23T21:42:26Z")
It would appear there are far more atheists laughing at Ken Ham than there are Christians who’ve ever heard of him (much less visited his museum). ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/255 "2017-07-23T22:33:01Z")
Ham probably lost the Old Testament Jews because of lis last name. And Barbie’s fans because of his first name. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/256 "2017-07-23T23:03:19Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > That’s a good question. As a “historical replica,” what kind of modern day fire and safety codes were they required to have? It’s lined with Tyvek; I’ve seen construction photos. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/257 "2017-07-25T06:29:02Z")
Well, they just [sold the ark back](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/07/24/creationists-have-sold-ark-encounter-again-to-get-a-tax-rebate-again/) from themselves to themselves. ---
**Author:** ![pythonzzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@pythonzzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pythonzzz)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/258 "2017-07-26T00:35:33Z")
Today’s smoke-blowin’… > [@](#): > > Statement Regarding the Safety Tax and the Ark Encounter > by Ken Ham on July 25, 2017 > > The following statement from Mark Looy, CCO of Answers in Genesis/Ark Encounter, was distributed to the media today about the Ark Encounter and the safety tax imposed on it by Williamstown, the city in Northern Kentucky where the Ark is located. > > - Williamstown, Kentucky, July 25, 2017 > > ``` > Unfortunately, much misinformation and many falsehoods have been disseminated by reporters and bloggers about the Ark Encounter and its relationship with the Williamstown city council and a safety tax the council imposed on the Ark. > > The Ark has never stated it would not pay into the fund. > > In frequent discussions with the city over the last three months, Ark Encounter leadership had proposed that the fee be capped, and recently suggested a maximum of a half million dollars per year. Ark representatives made it clear that it had concerns about the fairness of the city ordinance, for it makes the Ark Encounter bear almost the entire load for the increased funding to cover Williamstown’s budget for police, fire, and EMS. This is a city of 4,000 residents. > > Ark Encounter leadership has agreed to meet the requirement of the ordinance. Since July 1, the Ark has been adding 50 cents to each ticket purchase, to meet the requirement of the ordinance. Ark officials have tried to negotiate what they believed was a fair approach, rather than an open-ended one, to the safety tax, and still meet the city’s needs. > > The filing for an exemption as a religious non-profit (as permitted in the ordinance), was done in an attempt to get the county to change the wording as it currently stands, which would exempt the Ark Encounter. It was not to avoid paying its fair share, as some articles have suggested. > > The Ark was offering to pay up to $500,000 a year into the safety fund. The city rejected the offer. > > To date, more than one million guests have visited the Ark, yet thankfully, calls for emergency services—to both Williamstown and Dry Ridge—have been few in number, averaging about 2 per week. It should also be noted that a user fee is often charged to an individual’s personal insurance for the cost of local medical emergency services’ response to the Ark. > > There has been much false speculation about the matter over a deed. The Ark Encounter, LLC, operates as a non-profit because it is wholly owned by a non-profit (the LLC is a pass-through entity for tax purposes), which is in turn owned by non-profit Answers in Genesis. To resolve any issues over the recent change in title for the Ark Encounter property, the property has been conveyed back to the Ark Encounter, LLC, and that deed has been recorded. > > Grant County has benefitted enormously from Ark tourism. In Dry Ridge, many hotels, restaurants, and other tourist-related businesses are flourishing. In a spirit of cooperation, we encourage the city of Williamstown to work with more hotel developers and restaurant brands to build in the area. For its part, when Ark staff attend various civic functions, they frequently encourage entrepreneurs to build in Williamstown. > > Summary: The safety-tax matter has been highly misrepresented. The Ark has always been willing to pay into the safety fund, suggesting a yearly cap of a half million dollars per year. > > –Mark Looy, CCO, Answers in Genesis/Ark Encounter* > > ``` > > Please join us in continuing to pray for the Ark Encounter. Despite all the misrepresentation by the media and secular bloggers, thousands of people daily visit and hear the truth of God’s Word and the gospel. Please pray that people will have an encounter with God’s Word and the Lord Jesus at this attraction. ---
**Author:** ![pythonzzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@pythonzzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pythonzzz)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/259 "2017-07-26T00:42:02Z")
For more information: [Nonreligious Questions](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/07/25/ark-encounter-the-media-is-lying-in-all-those-stories-they-accurately-reported/) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575/260 "2017-07-26T10:40:09Z")
“Look, we offered to pay a fraction of what we owed and the city rejected that proposal. Really, _they’re_ the ones being unreasonable.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ken-ham-blames-ark-encounter-failure-on-atheists/789575.md?page=14)