The building in which the Sunday School met also served as a community center and day school until it was torn down in the early 1920's. At this point the Sunday School moved its meetings to a building near the property of the Grandfather Home for Children on Bald Mountain and continued to meet there until the building was destroyed by fire. Following the fire and until 1926, when a sanctuary was erected on the site of the present building, the group met in the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Ramsey.

Beginning as a Sunday School serving the mountain people from many Christian backgrounds, Arbor Dale soon became a chapel to the Banner Elk Presbyterian Church, with the same minister serving both congregations. IN 1958 a Commission of Holston Presbytery of the Synod of Appalachia (Presbyterian Church in the United States) organized the Arbor Dale Presbyterian Church, thus terminating its status as a chapel and establishing a two-church field (Banner Elk Presbyterian Church and Arbor Dale Presbyterian Church) in Banner Elk, with the same minister continuing to serve both congregations.

To meet the growing needs of the congregation, Sunday School rooms and a Fellowship Hall were added to the sanctuary in 1975.

In 1985 the Banner Elk and Arbor Dale congregations resolved to become and "Unyoked" field. For the next two years several ministers supplied th Arbor Dale pulpit on a Sunday to Sunday arrangement, with the Reverend Dr. John C. Wilson, D. Min., having been named Moderator of the Session. In 1987, while still a member of the Holston Presbytery, the Reverend E. O'dell Smith was named stated supply Minister with primary responsibilities for Preaching. Dr. John Wilson continued in the voluntary ministry capacity he had occupied since 1969.

In 1989, having become a member of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina along with Dr. Wilson, Mr. Smith was called as Arbor Dale's Pastor. Dr. Wilson was named Parish Associate in 1996, and in the same year, Ms. Ann Bell became a part-time Christian Educator.

In late 1996, serious conversations about enlarging the building began. Extensive and meticulous planning resulted in an expansion, beginning in the Spring of 1998. Much of the work was done by members and friends of the congregation. Workdays provided wonderful meals prepared by the world's finest cooks and good fellowship opportunities. The completed work was dedicated in Miss Julia Ramsey's honor on July 25, 1999.

The Reverend O'dell Smith retired in August of 1999 and was named Pastor Emeritus and Reverend John Wilson's relationship as Parish Associate was dissolved. The church began a search for a new Pastor while filling the pulpit with various ministers. During this time, the Reverend Tom Phillips served as Moderator and the Reverend Bud Howell served the Pastoral needs of the church while also preaching for the Summer months.