This man built a life sized Ark in Kentucky. See what's next! (PHOTOS)

Ark Encounter will host 6,000 visitors per day.

A prominent Christian is ready to unveil his $102 million theme park to the public, centered around a life-size replica of Noah's ark. The attraction, known as "Ark Encounter," will open in Williamstown, Kentucky on July 7.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Ken Ham, the enterprising Christian from Australia, is about to triumphantly open the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky on July 7. The centerpiece of the park is a fill scale, 510 foot ark, built to the same dimensions as listed in the Bible.

Inside the Ark Encounter, visitors will be treated to exhibits which include anamatronic animals, and costumed actors. Thirty 30 animals will be depicted as pairs, including two young tyrannosaurus rex dinosaurs.

The park has been built by Ken Ham, an Australian Christian fundamentalist who believes the Bible should be interpreted literally. He is also a creationist who believes the world is only about 6,000 years old and that humans coexisted alongside dinosaurs.

Ham is also the chief executive of "Answers in Genesis" an apologetic organization that attempts to explain modern phenomena and answer questions based on a literal interpretation of the book of Genesis and the Bible.  The group often attempts to discredit the Theory of Evolution, as well as the scientific fact that the universe is more than 13.7 billion years old. Its scientists and professed experts are poorly regarded in mainstream, scientific circles.

His project has overcome many hurdles including funding woes, and legal challenges. He has been accused of discrimination by requiring employees to sign a statement of faith and morality clauses.  These are normally legal, except the project has been partially financed with public funds from the state of Kentucky. The U.S.  Constitution prohibits government assistance for projects of a religious nature because it can be construed as an endorsement of religion.

However, Ham and his allies have pointed out the park will bring tourism revenues to the state, which is enough persuasion to get authorities to sign off the grants.

Detractors have challenged him in court, but he has won all cases brought against his project so far, and now the park will open on January 7.

The Ark Encounter is said to be the largest wood framed building in the world. Amish volunteers helped to build the ark. The structure is one-and-a-half football fields in length, and about seven stories tall.

Ham hopes the Ark Encounter will inspire people to turn away from secular trends, which he feels are pulling people away from God.

The park is capable of hosting 6,000 people per day and should do good business for at least several years. The park is strategically located between Louisville, Lexington, and Cincinnati which should provide plenty of regional traffic. International visitors are expected to make pilgrimages to the park as well.

According to most historians and biblical scholars, the story of Noah's Ark in the Bible is intended to be understood as myth. The story of Noah's Ark appears to be plagiarized from the Sumerians who told a similar story, recounted in the Epic of Gilgamesh at least 3,000 years before the writing of the Old Testament.

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian gods commission an ark of the same, identical dimensions as those given to Noah. Both stories have similar connotations.

All credible evidence suggests the universe and the Earth are both billions of years old, with the Earth having formed around 5 billion years ago. Humans have evolved from pre-human ancestors called hominids in the past 4 million years. There is no evidence of a global flood at any time in world history, and certainly none within the past 6,000. Humans began to settle in cities as far back as 14,000 years ago with the development of farming. The city of Jericho has ruins that date back at least 9,000 years.

None of these scientific and historical facts usurp the role of God as the creator of the universe and as the God and creator of all. However, some argue that little is to be gained by promoting biblical myths as literal truths. Others insist the faith makes no sense unless these stories, such as the story of Noah's Ark, are taken literally. Fortunately, these are chiefly academic differences of opinion.

Regardless of the historical credibility of the Ark Encounter, the park is expected to inspire people to become more devout and steadfast in their faith. If this in turn makes people better, more faithful, and happier, then it can hardly be criticized.

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