- An Odessa, Texas businessman plans to install massive Ten Commandments statue inside Vista Ridge mall
- The stone tablet will be eight feet tall, five feet wide and weigh 800 pounds
- Owner John Bushman says he wants the mall to be a community space where people can find ‘peace and love’ in the Commandments
The stone tablet will be eight feet tall, five feet wide, and weigh 800 pounds. Pictured: A statue of the Ten Commandments outside the Texas State Capitol
A Texas businessman who recently purchased a mall in Odessa plans to install a massive Ten Commandments stone tablet inside the shopping center.
John Bushman’s paid $17.3 million in cash for the Vista Ridge mall last month and plans to spend another three to four million in renovations.
He plans to turn the mall into a family-friendly community space complete with live music and a 30-foot-by-60-foot American flag outside.
The statue of the Ten Commandments will be on the first floor of the shopping center. It will be eight feet tall, five feet wide, and weigh 800 pounds.
‘We’re not trying to overwhelm anyone or make a statement we just believe in the Lord’s love,’ Bushman said to Dallas News.
‘That’s the sole reason. We hope when someone sees it, it will touch their heart and give them new hope that day.’
Bushman originally hoped to place the monument on the second level of the mall, but there were concerns the weight would be too great.
An Odessa, Texas businessman plans to install massive Ten Commandments statue inside Vista Ridge Mall
Instead, the second level of the mall will have a two commandments.
‘We’re putting the two greatest commandments about loving the Lord and your neighbor on the second level because they weigh about a third of the 800-lb. Ten Commandments,’ Bushman said.
He expects it to be several months before the monument is ready to be installed.
Bushman owns multiple other businesses, including hotels in Texas, Colorado and New Mexico and other shopping centers. All of his other properties also display the Ten Commandments.
‘In times of turbulence in the world,’ Bushman said, ‘we’re sharing peace and the Lord’s love. We all need more of that.’