Kentucky Will Build an Ark, Sail Away From America's Problems

There is a magical place in America where the economy doesn't exist, and dreams and illiteracy run wild as God smiles down from the Heavens. This place is called "Ark Encounters," and it is in the state of Kentucky, which apparently is where Jesus or Noah would live, if they came back to save America. The Ark Encounters web site is sort of bizarre and suggests that the people of Kentucky are all going to help build the Ark, maybe? We are not totally sure.

The city of Williamstown in Grant County has agreed to give a biblically themed amusement park a property tax discount of 75 percent over the next 30 years.

The tax deal is in addition to almost $200,000 given to the company by Grant County's economic development arm as an enticement to keep the project located there, along with 100 acres of reduced-price land.

Officials say the theme park, which will feature a full-size replica of Noah's Ark, is generally supported in Grant County, but the array of state and local incentives worry some people, who aren't sure they will pay off in the end.

City Council member and former mayor Glenn Caldwell said he's still evaluating the numbers.

"I'm trying to be cautious in representing our city," he said, "making sure people will not be burdened with additional costs because of this project."

Officials ranging from Skinner to Gov. Steve Beshear have embraced the project, adopting the developer's projection that 900 full-time and part-time jobs will be created.

So 900 people will build the ark (which is cheating, because didn't Noah build the real ark all by himself?) and then sail away to nowhere, because Kentucky is landlocked, but oh well, there are no maps at the Creation Museum. [ Lexington Herald-Leader ]