Veterans Nursing Home Ribbon Cutting October 24
Posted: October 5, 2006

A ribbon cutting for the long-awaited new Ben Atchley State Veterans Home (formerly the East Tennessee State Veterans Nursing Home) will take place Tuesday, October 24, 2006. Entertainment will begin at 2:00 p. m., and the program will begin promptly at 3:15 p.m. The entrance to the nursing home facility will be restricted, but parking with shuttle service to the site is available at Pellissippi State Technical Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37933. Everyone is encouraged to arrive early. Call 215-HELP if you have questions.

"We have worked so long on this important facility for our East Tennessee veterans," Mayor Ragsdale said. "It is wonderful that the home will soon be open to serve our veterans."

Local veterans and Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale played a significant part in getting Knox County designated as the site for the nursing home. In 2002, Mayor Ragsdale began discussions with retired veterans and members from the congressional delegation about the possibility of having a state veterans nursing home located in East Tennessee.

At the Mayor’s request, County Commission appropriated $6 million and land for the project.

Officials were notified by the state in January of 2004 that Knox County had been selected. A groundbreaking was held in the spring of 2005.

The new facility will be located just off Pellissippi Parkway near West Bridge Business Park. The 140-bed, 74,600 square-foot-facility sits on 14 acres. Twenty of the beds will be designated for special needs residents.

The state also has veterans nursing homes in Middle and West Tennessee.