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Last updated on Tuesday, July 25, 2017
(WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky.) - Kentucky’s tourism agency has suspended a tax break worth up to $18 million for a Noah’s ark biblical attraction after the park transferred its main property to a nonprofit affiliate.
The Kentucky Tourism Arts and Heritage Cabinet said the park's action breached the incentive agreement, which would refund a portion of sales tax collected at the site.
Ark Encounter worth $48 million transferred land to Crosswater Canyon, a non-profit ministry in June for a mere $10. The tourism agency says Ark Encounter failed to inform the state of any change in ownership or get prior written consent.
Mark Looy, a spokesman for the group that built the ark, Answers in Genesis, says in a statement it doesn't believe the property's transfer created a default and that the group will comply with concerns over the transfer.
The 510-foot wooden ark opened in July 2016.
The City of Williamstown also has rejected the latest request by the Ark Encounter theme park to reduce the amount of a new "safety assessment fee."
Earlier this year, the city imposed a per-ticket charge of 50 cents to cover the cost of increased police and fire services.
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