We discovered Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel thanks to a fellow Yelp review and we are so grateful we did. This place is truly a hidden gem and one of the most beautiful and magical locations we have ever visited. From the moment you arrive it feels peaceful and almost otherworldly. The chapel is perfectly tucked into nature and blends seamlessly with the surrounding trees and landscape. The architecture is absolutely stunning. The glass walls allow the natural light to pour in and make you feel completely connected to the outdoors. It feels calm serene and sacred without being overwhelming. Even if you are not attending a service it is a place that invites quiet reflection and appreciation of its beauty. Walking the grounds was just as special as stepping inside. Everything is well maintained and thoughtfully designed which adds to the overall experience. It is the kind of place that makes you slow down take a deep breath and truly enjoy the moment. Photos do not do it justice and it is something that really needs to be experienced in person. If you are visiting the area or even just passing through this chapel is absolutely worth the stop. We are so thankful for the Yelp community for pointing us in this direction and we would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a peaceful inspiring and memorable experience. read more

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Utterly DISGRACEFUL! I've never been so disgusted. My daughter, dressed in white, and my new son-in-law, having just tied the knot went to this beautiful, open to the public, chapel to take some wedding photos with the family. Prior to arrival, we checked their website and Facebook to see the operating hours (900am - 300pm) on this day. We arrived to find no one there and the door unlocked. Excited to have the place to ourselves, the eight of us went in and started taking pictures. This was at 2:30pm. Eventually, the manager arrived and was very friendly. She asked if we were part of the "rehearsal", to which we said, "no". She smiled, said nothing, and we continued our photo shoot. Just before 3:00pm, we finished our photos and thanked her for us being there. In that moment her personality flipped a switch. She instantly began chastising us, verbally threatened us, and physically assaulted (forcibly grabbed) my wife and my elderly mother. She verbally accosted my freshly married daughter, exclaiming how she was a horrible human being and that she should be ashamed of herself for making the "other bride" wait. She demanded that we exit immediately and said that we were trespassing. Not before, exclaiming we leave a donation! We gathered our belonging and left while exchanging words, requesting her name, which she refused to provide, to find a handful of individuals dressed casually outside. We apologized to the folks outside, hoping to not have inconvenienced them, to which the father of the bride to be, expressed kindness and understanding, and stated there was no inconvenience and that they had just arrived. Regarding the chapel itself...gorgeous! Truly a beautiful location that I'm glad the public has access to. Highly recommend you take in the sites. The manager on the other hand, absolutely vile! A hateful human being that needs counseling and jail time. read more

On April 10th my sister and my brother in law got happily married at the court house. After the happy marriage ceremony we were planning on having the group of 8 including the newly weds to this location cause we were highly reccomended to take beautiful photos inside the church for this joyous day. Before we went there we made sure we were arriving at the proper times during visiting hours to the PUBLIC, checking their website, Facebook, everything. There was no mention of any events happening so we went during the public hours and arrived around 2:30. The venue was vacant with no one there and the doors were open. We went inside and started taking beautiful photos of all of us to remember this beautiful day until around 3pm. The director of the memorial chapel came in before 3pm and was at first, super sweet complienting the newly weds as she asked us if we were a part of the upcoming rehearsal as we said multiple times that we were not and just taking photos during the posted public hours. Her true personality appeared and started yelling at all of us to leave and demand that we donate something to the chapel, calling my sister that she is a "horrible human being and is selfish to make the 'other bride' wait on her SOON TO BE special day" as well as told us that we should've reserved time to do a simple "photoshoot" while during the posted public hours. Not only did she insult my sister but assaulted my own mother and grandmother as she was shoving us out of the chapel. My father personally apologized to the other father of the bride for the confusion and disturbing their event as we did not know it was happening and the family was ever so understanding as well as congratulated our family's newly weds for their very special day. All in all, the location was absolutely breath taking! Highly reccomend checking it out if you are ever in the area. But the woman that is in charge of the facility is the most cruel, two-faced slithering snake that should not have the privilege of this job. read more

Beautiful chapel! Great architecture! Nice walking trails. Worth the drive to Bella Vista from Bentonville...15 minutes read more

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I lived in Northwest Arkansas in the early 2000's and return to visit often. I've driven out to Eureka Springs to see the wonderful and magical Thorncrown Chapel. I stopped there on one of my big cross-country trips and if you haven't been, you should absolutely go. And yet, somehow I did not know that this chapel, just as beautiful as that other, existed. Well, now you know too. The chapel was designed by E. Fay Jones (same as the other) and constructed in 1988. It was commissioned by John A. Cooper to honor Arkansas native Mildred Borum Cooper, his late wife. And a tremendous honor it is. This is an absolutely beautiful building on a fabulous site. Thank you, Mister Cooper. I managed to arrive during a relatively quiet time so other than having to shush two women who were talking quietly, I mostly had the chapel to myself. It looks like an open air structure but in fact is completely enclosed and air conditioned. When no one is talking, it is a peaceful and lovely spot to reflect. I am not a particular religious person, but it was easy to sit here and think about how wonderful life is on this fantastic planet and say a quiet "Thank you" to talented people like the ones who built this. The space makes that possible. If you are anywhere near Northwest Arkansas, perhaps passing through on I-49, visiting Walmart or Tyson Foods or the University down in Fayetteville, don't miss out on stopping here. Two asks, my friends. First, please stay on the paved trails and don't wander off into the woods. Second, keep voices down and be respectful of the space. [Review 656 of 2024 - 326 in Arkansas - 21687 overall] read more

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I was so excited to get married at this beautiful chapel, but the way they handled pricing and communication completely changed my mind. I first reached out on September 3rd, after seeing on their website that a small elopement package was listed for $300. On September 5th, Cindy called me back and said the price had changed on September 1st to $500. I pointed out that their website still said $300. Cindy explained the board president instructed her to enforce the new price and said they no longer had access to the person who built the website. I asked if they would meet in the middle at $400 since I had inquired and talked on the phone while the price still said $300. Cindy sighed, sounded frustrated, and said maybe we just weren't the right fit and should look elsewhere. She also said she could ask her boss if meeting in the middle was possible but implied it was unlikely, adding that her boss would probably ask why she was booking on a holiday (Memorial Day) rather than address the issue of misleading pricing. Cindy told me they couldn't update the website, which was why the information didn't match. But when I checked again on September 27, the price had been updated to $500. So clearly, updates can be made when they want to. (Attached are screenshots of the $300 price on September 4th and the $500 price on September 27th--on the very same site they said they couldn't change.) For me, this was never about the extra $200. I would have happily paid $500 if that had been the price when I first looked. It's about principle and trust. When a business publicly lists a price, they should stand by it. Being met with sighs and frustration for asking a reasonable request made the whole interaction worse. Walking away from a venue I loved was disappointing. This chapel is gorgeous, and I truly wanted to be married there. But honesty and fairness matter more than appearances, especially for such an important day. My hope is that other couples see this and know what to expect. Weddings are emotional and meaningful. You deserve professionalism and integrity. I would wholeheartedly recommend looking elsewhere. read more

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The manager is the most venomous vile human beings I have come across in some time. We were there after our daughter and son in law had just been married. We went during the open hours. There was no sign alerting us that it was closed for any special events and we were the only ones there. We even went to the FB page to check the hours. We were in the area and wanted to get some pictures. They were closing at 3. We got there at 2:35. We were walking out by 3pm. The manager came up to us and proceeded to yell and tell my daughter that she was an awful person for making a bride wait, she verbally accosted her. As we were walking to the front door, she grabbed my arm and yelled at us to leave that we were trespassing! We literally have time stamps proving it. She was yelling at us as we were gathering our stuff and she even had grabbed my elderly mother and shoved her!! To not make matters worse for my daughter who was crying at this point, we left as quickly as we could. Never thought I would see the day that a beautiful quick moment for some pictures would result in us getting tossed out of a church!! If that is what a church is all about, I can see why Christianity is taking such a hit. read more

If you are near this chapel you should definitely stop. It is nestled in a beautiful wooded area and is absolutely gorgeous!! The architecture is amazing and it is so peaceful inside read more

Mildred B Cooper Memorial Chapel - Inside the chapel - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bella Vista, Arkansas

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A beautiful venue for a beautiful wedding! Precious friends had their wedding at this gorgeous chapel in the woods. It's well maintained, clean, light and bright. Staff is friendly and easy to work with. Definitely a good distance walk from parking , is handicapped accessible. The office and restrooms are also a lengthy walk away from the chapel, so be aware and have guests plan accordingly. read more

Mildred B Cooper Memorial Chapel - Carlos and Abby's 2-18-24 wedding! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bella Vista, Arkansas

We visited on a Friday afternoon shortly after 4pm--- the space is truly beautiful! Inside the chapel were 3 people and they said the space was reserved for a private event, but they allowed us to take a couple of photos so we were in and out in two minutes. When we exited, a huge group of people entered for their event so we made sure to stay out of their way. Once everyone was seated inside the chapel, we took some photos outside, in front of the chapel. Around 4:10pm, an employee came out and told us we had to leave because the space was reserved for a dress rehearsal. We asked if it would be okay if we took a couple more photos. She was adamant that we leave immediately, even after asking if we were from out of town (we were) and saying we should have checked the facebook page for updated hours. I completely understand that the space was reserved, but people literally arrived in shorts and t-shirts. Everyone was dressed super casually, so I find it hard to believe that our being there for a couple more minutes would have been an issue. The chapel doors were closed and we were not bothering anyone. Our group of 5 traveled to Bentonville for spring break and we were leaving the next morning. I understand the employee's perspective, but I just wish they could have been a little more understanding of our situation. She also stared us down as we left, which felt a little unnecessary. Moral of the story: public chapel hours are 8am-5pm but double check the facebook page just in case! read more

Mildred B Cooper Memorial Chapel - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bella Vista, Arkansas

My best friend got married today. It was wonderful to be a part of his wedding party. And the venue is gorgeous. Amazing raised ceiling with windows from top to bottom allowing the woods to appear to be inside. So much light and such beautiful architecture. Truly a special venue in the midst of a green wooded haven. The staff are so helpful and friendly. I spoke to them on the phone from another state as I was helping with the planning and they had suggestions and were so patient. And day of they were also great. She didn't rush us even though they had three weddings back to back and we were sandwiched in the middle. The only thing you need to consider is there is only one bathroom and the path to it is windy and a little steep for older people. There is a place for the bride to change and get ready in. It's the same building as the bathroom. I would suggest flats until you get back up to the main path if you decide to wear heels. Which they did tell us during the rehearsal. Also warned us about there being only one bathroom. The drive up to the chapel is tricky. Some people got lost so make sure to have good directions for your guests. There is parking although I don't know what the vehicle count it can accommodate would be. Another important thing to check. The venue is pretty enough not to need decorations but you can decorate it if you would like. I would recommend this venue if you are aware of the path and bathroom situation. Also the fact that there aren't any good reception venues nearby. read more

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We were traveling through the area and after visiting Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, we decided to stop by Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel. Both are very nice, similarly sized chapels in NW Arkansas. I think Thorncrown is more famous, but I like this one more. This one (Cooper) is more easily accessible, just a hop skip and a jump from Route 71, a major road through the area. Also, once you are inside, you can see the lake off to the side. Aside from that, you're surrounded by forest, so you can enjoy seeing the trees. At Thorncrown, all you see is trees. Here, they also have paths that wind their way around the chapel and maybe even down to the pond. There's so such paths at Thorncrown. The chapel is very nice with large windows on the sides. It really brings the feel of nature inside and is very visually pleasing. The architecture made me think of the elvish people in Lord of the Rings; if they built a church, it would look like this. So basically, if you make the effort to visit Thorncrown, drive another 45 minutes-1 hour west and visit Mildred Cooper Memorial Chapel; its better and well worth visiting. read more

Amazing architectural design. A gem hidden on a hill, surrounded by water. Wonderful staffs, they helped us and made us feel comfortable, they made sure we had everything we needed. Beautiful place to visit when in Arkansas. read more

Mildred B Cooper Memorial Chapel - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bella Vista, Arkansas

If you're visiting the Northwest Arkansas area, take time to drive up to Bella Vista and see this chapel. It's about a 20 minute drive north of Bentonville, only a couple of minutes off the interstate. After you park, it's a few minute walk down a paved walkway to the chapel. The chapel is surrounded by many trees, and there is a lake not far off from the right. The chapel is open to the public, and it was great to visit on a Monday afternoon because we were the only ones inside of the chapel and could really admire all the beautiful architecture and the scenery outside. We're so glad we made a stop up there to see it! read more

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Beautiful place with amazing building architecture surrounded by forest trees near a lake. Peaceful, lovely, a historic wonder. read more

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Beautiful chapel tucked away in some mountains. Wonderful views from the chapel of the nearby lake. It felt like this chapel just belonged in all the gorgeous nature that surrounded it. No wonder it's made a name for itself. I want to say I read about it in some article on beautiful architectural buildings. One of a kind place, for sure. I was glad to have been able to see it for my niece's wedding last month. read more

Mildred B Cooper Memorial Chapel - View of lake from chapel - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bella Vista, Arkansas

It can be as long or as short of a visit as you want. It is a beautiful chapel. I think the only bad time to go is on a Saturday as I assume this place has weddings all day long. We went on a Thursday and had the entire place to ourselves for a hour. Extremely peaceful. We are glad we stopped. read more

If you are in the area passing through or within a reasonable driving distance, I would recommend checking this chapel out. We arrived during a time where there was no wedding and it was open, so we were able to stop in and check out the inside. Its definitely bigger in person, compared to what pictures show but its also small enough that its not that visible until you are in the parking lot. We did not get a chance to walk all the trails in the area, so I cannot comment on them. Again this is definitely worth a visit if you enjoy unique man made structures and you are in the area. read more

Stumbled upon this place while doing some sight seeing. Very beautiful! We came when it was closed (after 5pm), but we could still see a lot if not all of it. There is a large parking lot among the trees, so if you have an event there or attend one there seems to be plenty of parking. The pathway down to the chapel is beautiful - within the forest - so many trees! The chapel's walls and roof are glass so you can look out and up unto the forest trees. They have a office where you can get information on it, but when we got there it was closed. So Beautiful! read more

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My stars, this place is gorgeous! The architecture is quite a feat & made for stunning pictures. If you're in the area, don't miss it!

Well...this chapel is an amazing place to get Engaged! 12/29/2017 So beautiful...the music was lovely and it was still decorated for the holiday season. Thank you for having such a beautiful place to relax. read more

Mildred B Cooper Memorial Chapel - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bella Vista, Arkansas

Awesome awesome place. Exceptional service for my brother's wedding. #MuseGreenleeWedding read more

Mildred B Cooper Memorial Chapel - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bella Vista, Arkansas

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We have been to two weddings here-- one in the heat of summer and once in the cold of early spring. Both seasons, it was beautiful. The facility was very comfortable in both extremes, and it was the setting was also dramatic for both. I love how the temperature control is so subtly managed. The building is wonderful. The preacher didn't even need amplification. If only it weren't so far away from Texas!!! read more

It looks kind of cool through the timber but was dissapointing in that we were not able to find out that there was a wedding going on and we would not be able to go and see it up close. read more