Kentucky Group Protest $11 Million Road Project For Christian Theme Park
Americans United for Separation of Church and State are protesting the plan to provide $11M in Kentucky state road improvements to support the Christian theme park where the centerpiece attraction is an alleged replica of Noah’s Ark.
“The Highway-36 appropriation is intended to promote and support a religious, evangelical enterprise, violating the separation of church and state and the Kentucky Constitution’s prohibitions on government support of religion,” said Luchenitser. “The KY-36 road project has only one purpose: to support the construction of the Ark Encounter Theme Park – a proposed biblical theme park that would be in the shape of a full-size replica of Noah’s Ark, using the dimensions set forth in the Bible.” Chuck Wolfe of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet told CP that the project was necessary given the expected traffic increase courtesy of the Ark Park. “The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is designing a project to accommodate a significant increase in traffic projected for KY 36 in Grant County, northern Kentucky,” said Wolfe.
RELATED: Last year the state of Kentucky granted over $40M in sales tax rebates to the theme park’s developers. The town where the park is located also gave them a 75% discount on property taxes for the next 30 years.
I am all for the separation of church and state, but I honestly don’t see what the big deal is. The State is responsible for road projects and we all know some of those get funneled down to local governments, but here’s the thing….the state makes turn lanes, traffic lights, intersections, widens road, add additional lanes, etc etc all the time for business including churches. If the traffic for the new business requires new roads etc the state or local governments put those in. Sometimes the cost is shared with the developers of a project but this stuff happens all the time. I don’t see what the big deal is. I mean just because it’s a Christian Theme Park shouldn’t make a difference…it needs road just like anyone or anything else. Help me out here folks, did I miss something?
No, I think your point about the road improvements is right on. I’m just amazed at the size of the ark. Is this supposed to be the Christian-version of Disney World? That’s the really odd-ball part of this to me. The whole idea of interpreting the Bible into a theme park / carnival atmosphere is foreign to me. Are there going to be rides? Noah’s Log Flume? That’s kind of silly to me. But I guess if it’s successful, the town will see plenty of revenue benefits, even with the tax discounts.
@alterego1980 I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought it was a crazy idea.
Read about Roger Williams in the 1600′s, and the Baptist Church in the Colonies. He was kicked out of the Massa chusetts Bay Colony in Boston because he protested the Church of England too much. He also championed the separation of church and state. That’s what true Baptists believe today, not what the Southern Baptists proclaim.
@dennis.den7cut it’s funny how everyone is always changing what they believe.
@Sozo The need for control takes over!
@dennis.den7cut so true
I DO have a Problem with it . This STATE funding is going to go for providing more Roads to this area , WHICH IS GOING TO BENEFIT ONLY ONE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION , Christians ! STATE FUNDS are supposed to be used for providing NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALL Citizens , not just one Group because it happens to have more people in it ! This is like asking the State Legislature to provide new Roads and Structures for a Jewish Themepark , or a Somalian Themepark , or a Gay Turkish Bath !! There is NO FREAKIN” WAY any of those ideas would pass , but yet because the ” Christians “ ask for Special Consideration , it goes through with Flying Colors ! The Separation of Church and State MUST BE UPHELD to Prevent Unfair and UNDO Consideration for Groups because of Religious Affiliation .
@WilliamMeemken The state provides roads for all people and by upgrading or improving the roads to this park makes it possible for other businesses to move into that area as well. The possibility for hotels, gas stations, stores, ect will not all be christian owned