The Ray and Barbara Bible Equestrian Facility is now officially open for business.

The $1 million expansion to the Walters State Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center was dedicated in a special ceremony Friday during the East Tennessee Saddlebred Association’s Midsummer Classic Horse Show. The dedication honored Mr. and Mrs. Ray and Barbara Bible, whose generous gift made the expansion possible.

“The beautiful facilities located behind the Expo pavilion that many of you are using this weekend would not be here if it were not for the generosity, lead-ership and vision of the Bibles,” said Dr. Wade McCamey, president of Walters State Community College.

“In fact, this very horse show, as a result of its popularity and growth, would have, in all probability, been held at another venue this year if the Bibles had not stepped forward with their $1 million gift.”

The horse show filled 385 of the available 408 stalls. Previously, only 200 stalls were available. The new addition is expected to have an economic impact of over $1.2 million each year.

“The impact of the Bibles’ contribution reaches beyond the property lines of the Expo Center. It is clearly a gift that will benefit our entire community for years to come,” Bible said.

Also on display will be pleasure craft and all manner of fishing-related equipment and boating supplies.

Other contributors to the project were the city of Morristown, the town of White Pine and the state of Tennessee.