Hopkins Co. awaits first step in new horse center

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

May 19, 2005 - Build it and they will come, right? Maybe, but the first step is to get it built.

This first step will be a 180' x 300', 300-stall horse center near the Hopkins County Civic Center in Sulphur Springs, just south of the current high school parking lot, in the location of the old ballfields.

The new center will, according to many, make the area more attractive for horse-related activities.

Earlier in the year, civic center board member Roy King stated, "(It's) in progress; we are well on the way to construct a 300-stall horse barn." But, as of early May, no ground has been turned for the facility.

Members of the civic center board (who will oversee the project and center), and a special committee for the project, have expressed frustration because the task has not begun.

From a story in the May 11 Sulphur Springs News-Telegram, King cited, "I am optimistic we are going to get it done. It is frustrating at how long it takes, let me tell you."

The delay in the start of construction could be because of a lack of communication between board and committee members and members of the county's commissioner's court.

Jonas Helm, the special committee leader, said, "I think our main setback right now is we need a project manager, somebody that will take hold, get out there and get it built. I think the county is leaning toward that ... somebody to take some of the risk off of their back." But, according to County Commissioner Beth Wisenbaker, one of two commissioners appointed to the center's committee, the specifics of a "project manager" had not been discussed.

Funding for the project will come from $750,000 in certificates authorized by the commissioners earlier this year and approved by local banks, but the bonds still have to be initiated by the commissioners.

"The banks have approved it, the bonds are sitting here and are ready to fund," King said. "All we have got to have is approval" by the commissioners. The addition of a new center, according to committee members would "make an impact on the local economy and East Texas."

"It will make a definite impact on the economy. The good thing is it will attract big (horse) sales. With these sales, people will come in and spend three to four days and then leave. They will spend their money in our hotels, businesses and restaurants. It will really help the civic center, the city of Sulphur Springs and will increase sales tax," King said. He added, "This is really good for East Texas ... promoting all of East Texas, not just Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County." The county, and city, has been promoting the area as the up-and-coming Horse Capital of Texas for several years because of its good soil, coastal hay, cheaper land and close access to nearby major horse events (such as Fort Worth and Oklahoma City). It is also within a four hour drive to five race tracks, according to Bill Elliott with the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce.

"We are still promoting. Quite a few have already moved to the area from California and Florida," Elliott said.

Currently, the area is being promoted in Giddy-up Texas, Blood-Horse Magazine and the Texas Horse Council. Elliott stated the area has "good soil, good location and good equine mentality."

But, as the project is awaiting the green light, building cost continue to increase and horse event organizers are choosing to hold their venue somewhere else. For example, the July 8-9 Southern Classic Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Charity Show was to be held at the Hopkins County Civic Center, but was moved to Marshall because the group was told there would be hook-ups, etc. for RVs and campers, among other emenities that will not happen by the July event.

For now, it is still a wait-and-see game, but the land is still cheap and the soil is still good.