Kentucky Ark Encounter will reopen June 8 with new safety guidelines, CEO says.
The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum attractions will reopen June 8 with new safety measures meant to assure the sites follow Gov. Andy Beshear’s reopening rules.
Beshear said Tuesday that museums would be allowed to open June 8, provided that they follow “Healthy at Work” guidelines.
The attractions have been closed nearly three months due to COVID-19 shutdowns. Answers in Genesis, the organization that operates the ark in Williamstown and the museum in Petersburg, has said it will be able to follow the reopening rules with its new “COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.” The plan follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as reopening guidelines from the governor’s office.
“The authorities have done their best in a difficult situation to stem the effects of this pandemic; and, to protect the safety and health of our staff, their families, and those who visit our attractions, we have eagerly complied with their guidance,” Ken Ham, CEO of Answers in Genesis, said in a letter about reopening. “And, now, we can comply with the requirements for a safe and healthy reopening.”
The 45-page plan states that food venues, buses and show sites — like the planetarium and the theater — will be held to 33 percent capacity.
The attractions will also enforce 6-foot distancing rules, add extra sanitization and encourage visitors to wear masks. Employees will have to go through daily health checks when they arrive and will have to wear masks if they are not working alone in an enclosed space. They will also wear gloves and other personal protective equipment as necessary.
Ham said the company employs around 1,000 people and they “have sacrificed greatly during this shutdown time.”
The attractions will be open one hour earlier during the reopening period in order to let guests “safely experience our park over a longer period of time throughout the day,” according to the Ark Encounter’s website. Both will be open from 8 a.m to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
This story was originally published May 21, 2020 at 12:42 PM.