FRANKFORT, Ky. Gov. Steve Beshear said Wednesday that a creationism theme park, expected to open in Northern Kentucky in 2014, would have a $250 million annual impact on the states economy.
Ark Encounter, which will feature a 500-foot-long wooden replica of Noahs Ark containing live animals such as juvenile giraffes, is projected to cost $150 million and create 900 jobs, Beshear announced at a Capitol press conference.
Make no mistake about it, this is a huge deal, he said.
The park, to be located on 800 acres in Grant County off Interstate 75, also will include a Walled City, live animal shows, a replica of the Tower of Babel, a 500-seat special-effects theater, an aviary and a first-century Middle Eastern village.
Its expected to draw 1.6 million visitors a year.
Park developers are seeking state tourism development incentives and could receive up to $37.5 million over a 10-year period.
The project is a collaboration between Ark Encounters LLC, a for-profit company in Springfield, Mo., and Answers in Genesis, a non-profit organization that runs the Creation Museum in Boone County.
Ark Encounters plans to build the park and Answers and Genesis plans to operate it.
The tax incentives have sparked debate among experts on church-state issues as to whether they would violate the constitutional ban on the establishment of religion by government.
Evangelism is not just another business, and if the business is evangelism then constitutional rules are quite different than if you are subsidizing the opening of a new beauty salon, said Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.
Lynn said that once the incentives are official, his organization would decide whether to sue.
Edwin Kagin, a Northern Kentucky lawyer who is the national legal director for the group American Atheists, said he doesnt think there are grounds for a suit because the tax incentives law doesnt discriminate.
Beshear also said he does not believe the incentives would violate the principle of church-state separation because the 14-year-old tax incentives law wasnt approved for the purpose of benefiting the Ark Encounter.
We have reviewed this from a legal standpoint and if the application complies with our laws there is nothing remotely unconstitutional about a for-profit organization coming in and investing $150 million to create jobs in Kentucky and bring tourism to Kentucky, he said.
When asked if he would hold a similar press conference if a Muslim- or atheist-themed park were planned, Beshear said, Whatever groups want to come in here and talk about investing and creating tourist attractions, we are certainly open to talking with them.
Under the tourism law, developers can recover up to 25 percent of the cost of a project. The state returns to developers the sales tax paid by visitors on admission tickets, food, gift sales and lodging costs. Developers have 10 years to reach the 25 percent threshold.
Another legal question about the project is whether park operators could discriminate on the basis of religion when hiring workers, a practice already in place at the Creation Museum.
Cary Summers, the lead consultant for the project, said developers are still pondering whether they could discriminate on the basis of religion.
We are wrestling with that right now, he said.
Eric Hall, a Colorado-based attorney who represents religious institutions in First Amendment cases, said religious groups are allowed to discriminate on the basis of religion, although courts are often more skeptical when for-profit companies are involved.
If its the non-profit thats running the (park), then it seems they are doing the hiring and firing, he said. Maybe its going to be a little bit easier for them.
In addition to questions about church-state issues, Beshear also faced with questions Wednesday about whether he believes in creationism and whether it should be taught in schools.
Jane and I are Christian, but the people of Kentucky didnt elect me to debate religion, he said. They elected me governor to create jobs and thats what we are doing here.
He said local school districts should decide if creationism is taught in schools and Wednesdays press conference wasnt an appropriate place for that discussion.
Creationists hold that, contrary to mainstream scientific thought, science supports the biblical account of the Earths creation in six days.
Creationism has been criticized by many scientists and science organizations. The National Center for Science Education asserts that students who accept this material as scientifically valid are unlikely to succeed in science courses at the college level.
Grant County Judge-Executive Darrell Link told reporters that residents of his county are proud to have the park locate there.
I think this project accentuates the faith of the people and the values of the people in Grant County tremendously, he said.
