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October 30, 2023 The Pretty Place Chapel has been on my bucket list since I saw a picture of it 2 years ago. While the chapel is free to visit, it is reserved the majority of time for weddings and other events. All the stars finally lined up for my mother and I to visit on a Monday morning. The drive up the mountain is not for the faint of heart! Whew! Winding 2-lane road with hairpin curves. We went in the height of leaf season which was gorgeous. It was hard to tell the edge of the road because of the millions of leaves. An 18 wheeler truck was in a wreck with a SUV on one of those curves. Quite scary! When we finally arrived, it was a relief to be off that road. The views are incredibly breathtaking! It was very spiritual to be in such a lovely place at the highest elevation I've ever experienced. I was moved to tears a few times. This quaint chapel in the most perfect setting should be on everyone's bucket list. Note the drive down the mountain was less traumatic than the drive up. Make sure you check the availability schedule before planning a visit. The open times can change at the last minute. No food or beverages allowed, no pets in the chapel, wear comfortable shoes (parking lot is all rocks), only portable toilets available in some months.
The Chapel (also known as "Pretty Place" because of its amazing view) is part of the YMCA Camp Greenville. Getting up the mountain to visit is quite scary with the winding roads especially on our drive up given the dense fog in the area but it's sooooo worth it!! The peacefulness and solitude makes you want to sit here for hours. Just breathtaking and beautiful. It's free to visit but be sure to check their website and the visit schedule before your trip to ensure they are open. Typically the chapel is booked throughout the day on Saturdays and Sundays. Important note: there are NO restroom facilities available and if traveling with your pets they are not allowed in the chapel area, unless you hold them so they cannot mess in the chapel.
what an absolute blessing to be able to experience a sunrise here! arrived at 5:50 AM and the gates opened right before 6, it's not too bad of a drive back once you hit the gate (5min) but getting there in general was probably 30 minutes total considering the road is extremely windy/curvy and it was pitch black. we got to see it lit up when we left though! we were there for an hour total. there's more than enough spots for people to sit and enjoy the scenery. it was deafening quiet, which was lovely knowing that people respected the time spent there to enjoy nature and the rising of the sun another day! got to hear the birds singing & the outdoors coming alive highly recommended taking this trip, we drove an hour out of the way just to experience this & so glad I did!
Such a surreal experience! We went right when they opened at 6am, for the sunrise. It was gorgeous from 6 until the sunrise at 7:05am. Such an awesome experience I would recommend!
I... highly... recommend... this... place. Fred W Symmes Chapel (aka "The Pretty Place") is owned by the YMCA of Greenville, overlooking the edge of Standing Stone Mountain. What you get is simply breathtaking view that will leave you speechless. And add that the fact that there is a Cross right front in the middle of the Chapel, adds the finishing touch. It just leaves you a peaceful and serene feeling. Perfect place to meditate and get your Jesus on. You will be moved by the scenery. We went here with a group of friends. It was a 7 hour drive, which was all worth it every second, minute and hours. The fam and I enjoyed watching the sunrise, especially seeing the sun slowly popping out of the mountains. This is a great place for any occasions....weddings, church services and to even pop that question ala Proposal. Definitely a Pretty Place!!! For more info: www.campgreenville.org
Fred W Symmes Chapel is an amazing place with breathtaking views and scenery. It truly does offer a "peaceful solitude, an open-air sanctuary overlooking the rolling hills of Greenville". The drive up to the Chapel takes a while, but it's well worth it. We arrived before the sunrise; however, we were surprised to find dozens of other people already there. Thankfully, we were able to find a seat and room to walk around and take pictures near the cross during the sunrise. The pictures we took don't do enough justice. It's truly something you must experience for yourself. I recommend making the trip here and suggest arriving extra early and wearing something warm, as it can get cold in the fall/winter months.
Would you believe me if I told you that one of the top ten social media apps led me to driving a whole eight hours from Florida's flat land to South Carolina to see this breathtaking view? Thank you TikTok. Check the schedule on their website to check their hours, as they may be closed due to special events. Dress accordingly to the weather, as you are high up. May want to bring a light jacket depending on which season you visit. Beautiful place to pray and meditate with incredible views. Would be nice to see sunrise here one day, as another visit will be made again, hopefully sooner than later. Photos do no justice. Perfect place for a proposal and or wedding. Well worth the drive.
Ok, the first time I saw the Grand Canyon I said to myself that really is Grand!!! "The Pretty Place" may be one of the most beautiful, breathtaking, peaceful, spiritual places I've ever been in my life... I'm traveling in Europe I have been to many religious sights... One of the most beautiful places not sure why you'd be in the area spiritual moment!
A must visit. Absolutely serene. My family and I visited on a weekday morning in March, which is probably why crowds were low. There we a few moments when there was just a few people present. The chapel looks out toward beautiful mountains of the Appalachians in SC. From every seat in the chapel you have a beautiful view of the mounts through the cross of Jesus. Along the a cross beam at the from reads "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills" Psalm 121:1. When you walk through the front entrance and into the chapel it's as if you are walking into a sacred place. Visitors are quiet, prayerful, and talk in a soft voice. Some visitors sit quietly for a long period of time--some read and some pray. The grounds are well kept. The steps in the chapel are not big steps. There is a place to use the restroom. The road to "Pretty Place" is long and windy and worth the extra time and effort.
Pretty Place was on my bucket list of places to see. It was even more beautiful in person. I could have sat there all day. So Peaceful.
An amazing view! I drove 8 hours from VA just to see this, it was worth every minute. It was 20 minutes of driving up the mountain, the roads were small and windy. We got there 5 minutes before they opened and had to parking on the side of the road. The parking lot can only fit about 15 cars, so get there early! No parking or admission fee, it is all free! The church was only open from 6-7AM when I was visiting. We all waited 40 mins for the sun to rise. I can't explain the feeling when the church lights turn off...you can see hills for miles. Only bad thing about this experience was that there were rude people who parked right in the middle of the road so no one could get out and they were the last ones to leave. We were stuck waiting for those people for 15-20 minutes. A few tips for coming here: -Check the schedule the night before -Arrive at least 20 mins before they open to get a good parking spot -GPS "Fred W Symmes Chapel" not the "Pretty Place" or you'll get lost
What a beautiful place to have a wedding or just stop by to meditate, pray, or enjoy the view. It is out of the way but worth the drive to get there. Just be sure to map out the directions before setting out as our GPS didn't quite get us to the right place and we lost cell reception on the way there. The chapel, aptly knick named "Pretty Place", is on the grounds of a YMCA campground. You can reserve it for weddings for $1275 on weekends and can check availability online or by calling. It holds approximately 200 people. During the day you can just drop in but they recommend that you check the schedule to ensure there are no special events. On the day I went in mid August there was a bit of haze but the view was just stunning, with layered mountains spreading out for miles and miles in front of us. If you're in Asheville or the surrounding area I highly recommend it!
Pictures don't do this "Pretty Place" justice. Definitely an overwhelming feeling of the Holy Spirit here. We went on a Wednesday early afternoon and there were only 2 other people. Would love to visit in the summer and fall. The drive up wasn't bad and the scenery and neighborhoods were beautiful. About a 45 minute trip from Asheville.
We stopped on our way to East Tennessee !! It's 1000% the visit. Make sure you take your time to read the plaques and pray. Make sure you check the hours before you go and console your in the way they are subject to change. We saw a proposal while we was there she said yes. 1000/10 great place to visit read more
This is at the end of a windy mountain road which passes through, among other things, various grounds owned by the YMCA. I think of the YMCA as denoting just a random place where you'd go to the pool, but here it is really clear that it is a "Christian" organization, as evidenced by the use of the fantastic overlook at the end of the road to construct an open air chapel. The parking lot was notable for some portapotties, which you'd think would be clean out here in the wilderness, but you'd be wrong. There was also a lot of dubious pedestrian behavior and people generally making nuisances out of themselves, and various signage around telling people not to do even more nuisance-y things. But even accounting for all of the hassles, credit to the YMCA for having this space open to the public for free. You certainly don't have to be religious to enjoy the view, and the sights are majestic. read more
6 months ago
October 30, 2023 The Pretty Place Chapel has been on my bucket list since I saw a picture of it 2 years ago. While the chapel is free to visit, it is reserved the majority of time for weddings and other events. All the stars finally lined up for my mother and I to visit on a Monday morning. The drive up the mountain is not for the faint of heart! Whew! Winding 2-lane road with hairpin curves. We went in the height of leaf season which was gorgeous. It was hard to tell the edge of the road because of the millions of leaves. An 18 wheeler truck was in a wreck with a SUV on one of those curves. Quite scary! When we finally arrived, it was a relief to be off that road. The views are incredibly breathtaking! It was very spiritual to be in such a lovely place at the highest elevation I've ever experienced. I was moved to tears a few times. This quaint chapel in the most perfect setting should be on everyone's bucket list. Note the drive down the mountain was less traumatic than the drive up. Make sure you check the availability schedule before planning a visit. The open times can change at the last minute. No food or beverages allowed, no pets in the chapel, wear comfortable shoes (parking lot is all rocks), only portable toilets available in some months. read more
3 years ago
The Chapel (also known as "Pretty Place" because of its amazing view) is part of the YMCA Camp Greenville. Getting up the mountain to visit is quite scary with the winding roads especially on our drive up given the dense fog in the area but it's sooooo worth it!! The peacefulness and solitude makes you want to sit here for hours. Just breathtaking and beautiful. It's free to visit but be sure to check their website and the visit schedule before your trip to ensure they are open. Typically the chapel is booked throughout the day on Saturdays and Sundays. Important note: there are NO restroom facilities available and if traveling with your pets they are not allowed in the chapel area, unless you hold them so they cannot mess in the chapel. read more
what an absolute blessing to be able to experience a sunrise here! arrived at 5:50 AM and the gates opened right before 6, it's not too bad of a drive back once you hit the gate (5min) but getting there in general was probably 30 minutes total considering the road is extremely windy/curvy and it was pitch black. we got to see it lit up when we left though! we were there for an hour total. there's more than enough spots for people to sit and enjoy the scenery. it was deafening quiet, which was lovely knowing that people respected the time spent there to enjoy nature and the rising of the sun another day! got to hear the birds singing & the outdoors coming alive highly recommended taking this trip, we drove an hour out of the way just to experience this & so glad I did! read more
3 years ago
Such a surreal experience! We went right when they opened at 6am, for the sunrise. It was gorgeous from 6 until the sunrise at 7:05am. Such an awesome experience I would recommend! read more
I... highly... recommend... this... place. Fred W Symmes Chapel (aka "The Pretty Place") is owned by the YMCA of Greenville, overlooking the edge of Standing Stone Mountain. What you get is simply breathtaking view that will leave you speechless. And add that the fact that there is a Cross right front in the middle of the Chapel, adds the finishing touch. It just leaves you a peaceful and serene feeling. Perfect place to meditate and get your Jesus on. You will be moved by the scenery. We went here with a group of friends. It was a 7 hour drive, which was all worth it every second, minute and hours. The fam and I enjoyed watching the sunrise, especially seeing the sun slowly popping out of the mountains. This is a great place for any occasions....weddings, church services and to even pop that question ala Proposal. Definitely a Pretty Place!!! For more info: www.campgreenville.org read more
Fred W Symmes Chapel is an amazing place with breathtaking views and scenery. It truly does offer a "peaceful solitude, an open-air sanctuary overlooking the rolling hills of Greenville". The drive up to the Chapel takes a while, but it's well worth it. We arrived before the sunrise; however, we were surprised to find dozens of other people already there. Thankfully, we were able to find a seat and room to walk around and take pictures near the cross during the sunrise. The pictures we took don't do enough justice. It's truly something you must experience for yourself. I recommend making the trip here and suggest arriving extra early and wearing something warm, as it can get cold in the fall/winter months. read more
Would you believe me if I told you that one of the top ten social media apps led me to driving a whole eight hours from Florida's flat land to South Carolina to see this breathtaking view? Thank you TikTok. Check the schedule on their website to check their hours, as they may be closed due to special events. Dress accordingly to the weather, as you are high up. May want to bring a light jacket depending on which season you visit. Beautiful place to pray and meditate with incredible views. Would be nice to see sunrise here one day, as another visit will be made again, hopefully sooner than later. Photos do no justice. Perfect place for a proposal and or wedding. Well worth the drive. read more
3 years ago
Ok, the first time I saw the Grand Canyon I said to myself that really is Grand!!! "The Pretty Place" may be one of the most beautiful, breathtaking, peaceful, spiritual places I've ever been in my life... I'm traveling in Europe I have been to many religious sights... One of the most beautiful places not sure why you'd be in the area spiritual moment! read more
A must visit. Absolutely serene. My family and I visited on a weekday morning in March, which is probably why crowds were low. There we a few moments when there was just a few people present. The chapel looks out toward beautiful mountains of the Appalachians in SC. From every seat in the chapel you have a beautiful view of the mounts through the cross of Jesus. Along the a cross beam at the from reads "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills" Psalm 121:1. When you walk through the front entrance and into the chapel it's as if you are walking into a sacred place. Visitors are quiet, prayerful, and talk in a soft voice. Some visitors sit quietly for a long period of time--some read and some pray. The grounds are well kept. The steps in the chapel are not big steps. There is a place to use the restroom. The road to "Pretty Place" is long and windy and worth the extra time and effort. read more
4 years ago
Pretty Place was on my bucket list of places to see. It was even more beautiful in person. I could have sat there all day. So Peaceful. read more
An amazing view! I drove 8 hours from VA just to see this, it was worth every minute. It was 20 minutes of driving up the mountain, the roads were small and windy. We got there 5 minutes before they opened and had to parking on the side of the road. The parking lot can only fit about 15 cars, so get there early! No parking or admission fee, it is all free! The church was only open from 6-7AM when I was visiting. We all waited 40 mins for the sun to rise. I can't explain the feeling when the church lights turn off...you can see hills for miles. Only bad thing about this experience was that there were rude people who parked right in the middle of the road so no one could get out and they were the last ones to leave. We were stuck waiting for those people for 15-20 minutes. A few tips for coming here: -Check the schedule the night before -Arrive at least 20 mins before they open to get a good parking spot -GPS "Fred W Symmes Chapel" not the "Pretty Place" or you'll get lost read more
2 years ago
What a beautiful place to have a wedding or just stop by to meditate, pray, or enjoy the view. It is out of the way but worth the drive to get there. Just be sure to map out the directions before setting out as our GPS didn't quite get us to the right place and we lost cell reception on the way there. The chapel, aptly knick named "Pretty Place", is on the grounds of a YMCA campground. You can reserve it for weddings for $1275 on weekends and can check availability online or by calling. It holds approximately 200 people. During the day you can just drop in but they recommend that you check the schedule to ensure there are no special events. On the day I went in mid August there was a bit of haze but the view was just stunning, with layered mountains spreading out for miles and miles in front of us. If you're in Asheville or the surrounding area I highly recommend it! read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
Pictures don't do this "Pretty Place" justice. Definitely an overwhelming feeling of the Holy Spirit here. We went on a Wednesday early afternoon and there were only 2 other people. Would love to visit in the summer and fall. The drive up wasn't bad and the scenery and neighborhoods were beautiful. About a 45 minute trip from Asheville. read more
8 years ago
Breathtakingly beautiful. 100% worth the beautiful drive up the mountain! When you walk up to this chapel, it seems like the world stops spinning. And when you enter into the chapel-a sense of stillness, peace, and God's presence overwhelms you. The view is incredible. And the memorial plaques placed throughout the chapel are wonderful reminders of some amazing bible verses and quotes about God. I felt His presence from the moment I arrived until the moment I left. And it was hard to leave. Just one of the most amazing places I've ever been! read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
Just plain beautiful! The drive up there was a little nerve wracking if you're not an experienced driver but the views were well worth it! read more
3 years ago
Very beautiful. You walk inside and are immediately greeted by the beautiful view of the mountains with a big cross right in the middle. With lots of seats to sit and reflect, and beautiful trails all around it, this is a great place to get lost for a few hours. read more
8 years ago
8 years ago
This place is a must see!! Pictures don't so it justice!! It should be on everyone's bucket list!! Can't wait to go back!!! read more
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6 months ago
Fred W Symmes Chapel - weddingchappels - Updated September 2026
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