Noah's Ark attraction is damaged by heavy RAIN - but insurers are refusing to cover the $1million repair bill
- The owners of the Ark Encounter attraction in Williamstown, Kentucky are demanding their insurance company reimburse them for rain-related repairs
- The religious tourist destination says heavy rains in 2017 and 2018 caused a landslide on its access road, leading to nearly $1 million in property damage
- But insurance company Allied World Assurance Co. Holdings of Switzerland has refused to reimburse its client for repair expenses
- The Swiss insurance company hasn't responded to the lawsuit in court filings
A Noah's Ark attraction in Kentucky is suing its insurers after they refused to cover damages caused by RAIN.
Owners of the Ark Encounter say excessive rain in 2017 and 2018 caused nearly $1million of damage to the attraction, after a landslide on an access road.
And their federal lawsuit is demanding that their insurance companies, including Allied World Assurance Co. Holdings of Switzerland, cover the cost.
The insurance carriers refused to cover any of the damage costs, arguing that 'faulty design or workmanship' on the road is not covered by the owners' policy, according to the suit.
Ark Encounter's complaint says the insurer later agreed to pay a fraction of the cost that it said was covered by the policy.
The owners of the Ark Encounter attraction in Williamstown, Kentucky are demanding their insurance company reimburse them for rain-related repairs
The access roadway on the eastside of the Ark Encounter property in Williamstown, Kentucky is shown here prior to heavy rain damage in 2017 and 2018
Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky, is based around a 510-foot-long wooden ark - intended to be a replica of the biblical Noah's Ark.
In the famous Christian story, God sent a worldwide flood to destroy all living creatures except for the ones which were taken two-by-two onto a giant ark.
The $102 million replica ark took six years to build and is one of the largest timber-framed buildings in the world.
Opened in 2016, it features an animatronic Noah and lifelike models of animals including bears, giraffes and even dinosaurs.
It was constructed using 3.3 million feet of wooden boards, and funded by donations, junk bonds and tax rebates from the state.
The ark was built by Answers in Genesis, a fundamentalist Christian organization headed by Creationist Ken Ham.
Ark Encounter says heavy rains in 2017 and 2018 caused a landslide on its access road, leading to nearly $1 million in property damage
Share this article
Ark Encounter attorney Amanda Brooke Stubblefield, told the Courier-Journal her client's new lawsuit speaks for itself.
'We don’t have anything to add at this time, other than to say that we are highly confident of the merits of our case as we seek a fair resolution to the matter,' she said.
Allied World Assurance hasn't responded to the lawsuit in court filings.
The Ark Encounter is a theme park centered around a 510 foot long reproduction of Noah's Ark
Replica vegetables grow just below deck at The Ark Encounter
Stuffed animals are displayed for sale inside a gift shop onboard a life-size replica of Noah's Ark at The Ark Encounter
Ark Encounter's leaders weren't happy with media coverage their lawsuit gained on Friday.
In a blog post, the company said: 'There has NOT been a flood at our Ark Encounter themed attraction. Just some ongoing rain, two years ago, that caused a hillside to erode—but no flood! That’s all.'
The firm added that the ark was not damaged.
Most watched News videos
- Shocking scenes at Dubai airport after flood strands passengers
- Prince Harry makes surprise video appearance from his Montecito home
- Shocking moment school volunteer upskirts a woman at Target
- Chaos in Dubai morning after over year and half's worth of rain fell
- Moment Met Police arrests cyber criminal in elaborate operation
- Appalling moment student slaps woman teacher twice across the face
- Murder suspects dragged into cop van after 'burnt body' discovered
- Prince William resumes official duties after Kate's cancer diagnosis
- Shocking scenes in Dubai as British resident shows torrential rain
- Sweet moment Wills handed get well soon cards for Kate and Charles
- Jewish campaigner gets told to leave Pro-Palestinian march in London
- 'Inhumane' woman wheels CORPSE into bank to get loan 'signed off'
