"Ark Encounter" Officially Open!

[Crossless2.0]

It was, until he challenged it in court, and in KY the court says this for-profit, self styled religious ministry that severely discriminates in its hiring practices (have to swear allegiance to a YEC model, have to swear off premarital sex and homosexuality, have to sign a statement of faith in the infallibility of the Bible) is worthy of tax incentives and special treatment. AiG bought the land from the county for $1, there is a TIF district being set up, where all employees in a certain district have 1-2% of their paychecks garnished for the next 30 years to pay for the tax rebates that the park will get. Also, the county/state are paying for a renovation of the I-75 off ramp which is not set up for the amount of traffic. That's $11mil right there.

All this based on models paid for by AiG that vastly overestimate the amount of visitors that will come to the park.

Independent firms suggest much much less attraction over the TIF years. So if/when the park fails, the taxpayers will still be on the line for repaying the millions of tax revenue promised---even if there is no park.



Also---here is the entrance to the park on opening day:


Video---> https://www.facebook.com/friendlyatheist...818580080/

The solution won't be pretty, but I think Kentucky can recoup its loss. Once Ham has bilked every rube ever likely to set foot in the park, the state, perhaps in partnership with the federal government, can buy it back with rights to the name (there might even be an eminent domain angle to work, here). Ham gets to ride off into the sunset with his gains, such as they may be, and into his much-deserved obscurity. Then the new owners announce a new theme and a one-time only event: Sodom and Gomorrah. Arrange for pay-per-view (with an eventual DVD release) and then rain Air Force weapons-grade fire and brimstone on the fucking place. Level it. The revenue will be more than enough to cover their expenses and lost tax revenue.

I'd pay to watch that.