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John Hollenhorst reportingA Utah County man is trying to sell an idea on eBay! Just an idea, for more than a million bucks.
His scheme is to take a biblical event everyone knows about and turn it into a combination theme park and hotel. No extra charge for the hay in your room.
If you build it, they will come, two at a time, if they're animals, at least in the movies. But if they're people, will they flock to Noah's Ark?
William Kunsman of Pleasant Grove said, "You lend me the money, and I'll build it."
Kunsman wants to build an ark. More specifically, a hotel made up to look like one.
"I believe it will be booked solid before it's built," he said.
As you might imagine, his imagination has outrun his financing. So in a trade magazine and on eBay he's offering to sell the idea for a cool $1.2 million.
"I know my limits. I'm an idea person. I've taken it as far as I can take it, I believe," he said.
The idea is not just a building. It's a concept.
"Every inch of the property will be Noah and the Flood related, visually," he explained.
Live animals won't be allowed. But rooms will look like animals belong there.
"When you go in the rooms, the carpet design will look like hay strewn all over," he said.
Computers will simulate storms in the restaurant. And instead of sub sandwiches, they'll serve "ark" sandwiches, the foot-and-a-half family size will be called "The Cubit."
He imagines excursion cruises on a smaller boat with Captain Noah, probably not as exciting as one movie version. And for idling away the hours, a Noah's Ark board game. "Whoever has the most animals at the end wins," he said.
His preferred location is along the shore of Utah Lake. But he says he'll take inquiries from anywhere. And believe it or not, he says he's had a couple.
The appeal of Noah's Ark has drawn a letter from a possible buyer in Michigan and a phone call from the Middle East. He claims two dozen callers have already tried to book rooms.
"It's history. And everyone can related to history," he said.
But so far it's just an idea, waiting for the financial juice to make it float. Kunsman has his idea registered and copyrighted. He says he has lawyer's ready to go if someone tries to take his idea without paying for it.
