Marvin J. Rosenthal, president of Zion's Hope Inc., previously based in Philadelphia, wants to add a replica of Noah's Ark with live animals; an exhibit on creationism; and a 1,600-seat outdoor theater to the ministry's property at Conroy Road and Interstate 4 in south Orlando.

Rosenthal, a Baptist minister who converted from Judaism, didn't return a GlobeSt.com phone call and e-mail message that sought further details on the expansion. But construction industry estimators working in the south Orlando attraction submarket tell GlobeSt.com the project expects to be completed by year end 2004.

A $9.5 million mini-museum, housing 12,000 religious artifacts and manuscripts, is scheduled to open in August. Rosenthal borrowed the items from the estate of Robert D. Van Kampen, the late Chicago financier.