With Kids 
The enormity of the Ark Encounter has impressed many visitors, but what most amazed me was the easy accessibility throughout. The Ark Encounter was designed with inclusion in mind, and it’s evident throughout the barrier-free experience. When I asked where the passion came from for such an inclusion focused experience, this was the response:
“Our attractions are renowned for being family friendly and accessible by all. This is partly an outgrowth of the fact that we have a number of staff who have a burden to reach people of varying abilities, such as those in the deaf and blind communities–and that’s why we hold special Deaf Days each year and are introducing tactile exhibits and braille signs into our attractions.
This kind of mindset among our staff also meant we wanted to make our playgrounds inclusive of all children, including those with various disabilities. Families with children experiencing physical challenges have one more reason to travel here and access our fun and educational attractions. Our guests’ children rave about our exceptional state-of-the-art playgrounds.”
Ken Ham, founder/CEO, Ark Encounter and Creation Museum
If you’re not familiar with the Ark Encounter, it’s a life size replica of Noah’s ark, and a themed attraction that includes a zoo, carousel, zipline adventure, all abilities playground, and multiple shops, restaurants, activities, and events that combine faith, history, and fun to create a unique experience for families of all abilities. Nestled in the heart of Kentucky, this attraction is a testament to the vision of a barrier-free world where everyone is welcome and able to partake in the adventure.
Entering Ark Encounter:
The accessible adventure begins from the moment you pull in, with plenty of handicap spaces making up most of the first two rows of parking.
The parking lot leads to admissions, but you’ll need to board a bus from there to take you to the main attraction. There are signs indicating wheelchair accessibility, but we had a staff member approach us while we were still in line to ask if we would need an accessible bus, and to escort us in the right direction. This turned out to be pretty standard of our day – friendly staff were constantly offering help and pointing us in the right direction before we could’ve asked.
While not all buses were accessible, there was a steady flow of transportation in the accessible boarding lane. We didn’t wait long. The bus driver strapped in each wheelchair and mobility device before filling any extra seats.
The bus drops you off right at the entrance for wheelchair, stroller, and ECV rentals. This first building, the “Answers Center,” is also a great stop for accessible restrooms before beginning your visit.
The Ark
Wheelchair Accessibility
The Ark Encounter is fully wheelchair accessible, with ramps and elevators strategically placed throughout the site. The flow of traffic follows a giant ramp up the three floors of the ark. This allows visitors of all mobility levels to explore the massive wooden replica of Noah’s Ark without missing a thing. If you prefer to skip the ramp to enter the ark, you can also bypass the line and take an elevator to the first floor. A friendly staffer gave us this option at the start of the line, and we took it!
Accessible Restrooms
Accessible restrooms are available at various points throughout the attraction, making it convenient for families with diverse needs.
Hearing Accommodations
For guests with hearing impairments, in addition to captioned videos and visual content to accompany audio, you can request an ASL interpreter for live events. They also host annual “Deaf Days,” when ASL interpreters and Deaf volunteers are available throughout the attraction to answer questions, assist with ticket purchases, interpret the shows and lectures and more!
Service Animals
The Ark Encounter welcomes service animals to accompany visitors with disabilities, ensuring that no one is left behind.
The Grounds
While the ark dominates the landscape, it’s by no means the sole attraction at the encounter. In fact, when I was looking for things to do in the area, Ark Encounter came up as a “theme park,” because of its varied themed attractions. You’ll be pleased to know that every one of these attractions is just as wheelchair accessible as the ark!
Wheelchair Friendly Dining
In sticking with the theme park idea, Noah’s Village is a walkway area in the park filled with dining options. The outdoor dining options like burgers, pizza, tacos, and BBQ are easy for roll-up ordering, but they also have a sit down buffet if you want to elevate your dining experience. We’re still working on navigating a tray in a wheelchair for my seven year old, but the environment was barrier free!
All Abilities Play
You’re going to want to save some time for this one. This is a playground with big fun for everyone. There were climbing structures and ziplines as well as a recessed merry-go-round and a wheelchair accessible maze and music area. The entire playground has a smooth surface for easy navigation. They also have a sensory swing in addition to the regular and handicap swings.
Unique Carousel
The carousel, featuring a variety of Noah’s animal friends, is included with your admission. It’s recessed into the ground so that you can roll right on and ride as many times as you’d like! I knew this ahead of time because another friendly staff person thought to mention it to me while we were in the ark.
Zoo Experience
While there are no live animals on the ark, there are plenty outside of it! The pathways through the zoo and encounters are paved for easy access. We were able to roll through the kangaroo enclosure and into the petting zoo without any issues. The animal encounters showcase some incredible rescues and are worth planning your itinerary around.
Ziplining
This was the only thing at Ark Encounter that we didn’t bother with. While they may have a system in place to help wheelchair users participate, it’s an extra ticket and a whole lot of stairs.
A Few Notes
The Ark Encounter is one of the most thoroughly accessible places we’ve been, and that’s saying something! This is definitely not one to skip because of mobility needs.
Because we typically focus on family travel with young kids, I do want to mention that not all aspects of the ark are kid friendly. Keep in mind that the purpose of Noah’s ark was to protect his family from world-wide destruction. The ark exhibits don’t skip over that. When you enter the ark, it’s to the sound of thunder and stormy skies. The Pre-Flood World exhibit shows a dark picture of Noah’s world that may be best suited for kids who are ready to talk about really bad choices.
That said, there are also plenty of kid-centered exhibits meant for fun exploration. Ark Encounter is an excellent family experience when you plan around your family’s needs.
More to come on wheelchair accessible Ark Encounter’s sister attraction – the Creation Museum!