When Richard Reade traveled with his wife, Barbara, to the Ark Encounter in Kentucky, he was inspired and decided he wanted to create his own.

Based on the dimensions in the Bible, Noah’s Ark is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet high.

The Monroe County toy maker certainly couldn’t do something of that magnitude, but he started looking for the perfect pattern.

The result is a 52-inch-long ark measuring 10 inches wide with the door closed and 15 inches with the door open. It is 15 inches high.

The masterpiece was entered in the wooden toy category at the recent West End Fair, where he captured best of show in the handcrafts — original section.

A true labor of love, Reade said he spent two years planning and then about 300-plus hours carving and assembling.

“I gave up on it a few times,” Reade said. “When I started putting it together things just didn’t fit right.”

Barbara said that he has the perfect temperament for a project this size.

“If it’s not up to his expectations, he never gives up and doesn’t get mad,” she said.

Reade added, “I sleep on it and make it work.”

Barbara said he spent way more time than the 300 hours he suggested.

He started in earnest at the beginning of the year, and finished about a month before it was time to take it to the fair.

Now 83, Reade started making wooden toys in 1976 when his children were young. A design draftsman by trade, he transferred his talents to wood, making puzzles for his two children. He took about 20 years off, and returned when the four grandchildren came along.

Now he makes toys mostly from scrap wood to sell at craft shows and on Etsy. Under the name Back to Wood Toy Shop he crafts smaller arks and mostly puzzles.

What’s next for his prize-winning ark?

People have asked if he would sell it.

“You never know,” Reade said.

He doesn’t plan to enter the fair again. This was a once-in-a-lifetime creation.

“No way could I walk away with another ribbon,” Reade said.