Pretty Place

I'm not a religious person. I'm actually not even that spiritual. So how is it that in the last year I have found two chapels that I wouldn't mind visiting? The first was mentioned here and is in Bella Vista, Arkansas. I love the serenity of the place. The surrounding woods. It appears like something out of a painting rather than a real place. And I know I'll eventually make a trip down to see it.

The other I found when I was doing some digging on Asheville, North Carolina. If I could choose any city to live in, regardless of income or jobs, this would be the city. Just look at these images. Gorgeous. Asheville is not only beautiful but the population is educated and mostly liberal. It has been listed as one of the best medium size cities for vegetarians and has easy access to two sets of mountains. It is a major tourist destination for its easy access to nature and has a mild enough climate that even I could be happy with it.


As I was looking for information on the city I stumbled across the Fred W. Symmes Chapel or as it is commonly called Pretty Place Chapel.

The chapel was built in 1941 by Fred Symmes for the YMCA Camp Greenville. The chapel is used mostly by the camp but hundreds of couples have been married here. The chapel has hosted weddings, memorials, and other services. And I can see why. This view, from the top of Standing Stone Mountain, is just stunning.

I have to go make a visit. The camp and Pretty Place were just recently threatened by fire in February of this year. The firefighters were able to contain the blaze and it did not hit the chapel. Given a little time the flora and fauna will return to the basin. Life finds a way. This place, like the other chapel I mentioned before, is beautiful because of it's connection with nature. And that is the closest to a religion that I have ever found. So many of our current buildings seem to block out nature. These embrace it. Which is why they seem more spiritual than any church I've ever been in.

Memorials

One of my favorite parts of my job is that I get to find data and pictures of different cities. I love to imagine living in different places throughout the country. Google's street view maps are one of my favorite new toys. I just checked out CNN Money's new list for top 25 places for affordable houses. This was a list of cities that had very nice homes for a very cheap price. Des Moines was on the list so I had to go there. And one of the other cities listed was Bella Vista, Arkansas.

I had never heard of this city but I'm always interested in looking at cities south of me so I pulled up the city-data information on the place. City-data offers demographic, climate, education, and attraction data for locations. It also offers pictures. And that is where I saw this structure.

I've always said that I want to be turned into a firework when I die. A company will turn your cremated remains into a firework that can be shot up in a private ceremony. I love the idea of going out with a bang, but this is truly a memorial.
Now for anyone who knows me, you know that religion plays a very small role in my life. I don't attend church, don't practice any organized religion, and don't even really believe, but this is different. I wouldn't have it as a chapel. I would just have it as a resting place where people could go to soak up the beauty of nature. The memorial, dedicated to Mildred B. Cooper (a prominent citizen of the area), seems to me more about communion with nature and the beauty of nature then communing with any higher power. It is a place for introspection among some of the prettiest surroundings I can think of. It is a place that I would spend some time.

I am going to have to make a trip south. Bella Vista is a tiny town (the area only has 16,000) but I will go down just to see this structure. Of all the memorials I have ever seen this is the most beautiful. And the most fitting with what I would want.