Over a year ago, I posted about the irony of Ken Ham’s Ark Park. Turns out, the ark is not the huge draw that was expected.
America’s Research Group had estimated the park would attract between 1.4 million and 2.2 million visitors its first year.
They claim it is drawing in 1.4 million visitors in the first year. I was wondering, how busy does a ‘museum’ have to be draw in these numbers of visitors? Turns out, I live in Chicago, with some of the world’s most renowned museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, and The Field Museum of Natural History. As a comparison, the 2016 visitor numbers:
- Lincoln Park Zoo, 3.6 Million
- Brookfield Zoo, 2.3 Million
- Shedd Aquarium, 1.9 Million
- Art Institute of Chicago, 1.8 Million
- Field Museum, 1.7 Million
- Museum of Science and Industry, 1.5 Million
- Morton Arboretum, 1.1 Million
- Chicago Botanic Garden, 1.1 Million
- Adler Planetarium, 577,749
- Chicago Children’s Museum 409,979.
Yes, Chicago has a shit ton of museums and zoos, and has an entire campus downtown for museums. However, Chicago has a population of 2.7 million, with the surrounding suburbs having 6 million more. As a member of Brookfield Zoo, I can tell you, it can get insanely busy on the weekends. Somehow, the Ark Park expected 2.2 million visitors, which is just a touch more than ONE OF THE BEST ZOOS IN THE WORLD!!! Mind you, Williamstown, KY has a population of 3,925 people. How they expected 1 to 2 million people to drive to northern Kentucky to see a boat shaped barn with animatronic figures is beyond me. The closest real museum in Chicago to the Ark is the Field Museum, with 1.7 million last year.
The entry fee is the Ark Encounter is a staggering $40 for adults and $28 for children 5-12!
Brookfield Zoo is $19.85 for Adults, $14.50 for children 3-12. And Brookfield has to feed and care for real animals, not animatronic toys. Lincoln Park Zoo is Free!
Getting back to the Field Museum of Actual Fucking Natural History, $22 adults, $15 children, 3-11, with free days scattered throughout the year.
I don’t get what they were thinking. I guess if the people who are coming are used to giving up 10% of their income, no questions asked, what is another couple hundred bucks?
Finally, Ken Ham is blaming Atheists and Secularists for the lower than expected numbers. Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you had the Almighty Creator of the Universe is on your side? Turns out human can defeat your god. All we needed was the power of the pen.