LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Autumn Color at Pretty Place

Camp Greenville is a YMCA camp established in 1912. It sits on top of the Southern Blue Ridge Escarpment, just inside the South Carolina border. A year-round camp, Camp Greenville offers summer camps for ages 7-17 as well as environmental education programs, conferences, retreats for business, and weddings.

Weddings? At a YMCA camp? Oh, yes.

At the very end of the road to Camp Greenville, atop Standing Stone Mountain sits the Fred Symmes Chapel, built and donated to the camp in 1941. The chapel is open air and non-denominational, designed as a place for worship and reflection. It is a very popular site for weddings.

The view from Fred Symmes Chapel is absolutely stunning. The location has come to be called, "Pretty Place." Here is the view of the front of the chapel.




The interior is lined with bronze plaques, most with lovely poems and scriptures.
A large wooden cross at the altar overlooks a panoramic view of the mountains. The scripture on the wooden beam above the cross (from Psalm 121) reads, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help."

The view is lovely in all seasons, but the autumn colors are breath-taking. The color is a little past peak with less yellow and more orange and brown.
Even the nearby trees are bursting with color.

From "Pretty Place" the view stretches for miles. (I have no idea what the cleared space represents, but I intend to find out.)
We are still having lovely fall weather with chilly nights and sunny days. We would gladly exchange all the remaining fall color for some much needed rain. The trees really need a good soaking before winter comes.


16 comments:

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

What an amazing view from the chapel. I'll bet there have been some memorable weddings there.
Hope you get some rain. We're expecting rain this afternoon through Friday, then turning to snow.

Tina said...

Who wouldn't want their wedding to include such a wonderful and charming chapel...especially in the fall! Gorgeous! Your pictures of the foliage look like they are on fire! What colors...don't you just love having the freedom to visit these places whenever. We both just retired and are, also, enjoying our time out and about! :-)

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

NC: What wonderful colors you have shown in your mountains. We have moved to a yellow/gold/brown stage and a lot of trees are dropping everything. That view was outstanding, reminds me of PA my home state.

Dog_geek said...

What a great place for a wedding - lovely views, and great color on the trees. We could use some rain here, too - I hope that we both get some soon!

KGMom said...

What a breathtakingly gorgeous setting. Of course weddings would be PERFECT there.

Shelley said...

The stonework on that church is amazing - you captured beautiful photos! Especially those fall trees!

Cicero Sings said...

What a great spot! Gorgeous views. A chapel sheltered and yet exposed to the glories of God! Really, modern churches miss the boat having dark holes of buildings with no natural light (at least most of the modern churches around here are built that way ... for productions they say). I find these buildings so oppressive and depressive. Why is it that children of light want to worship in darkness? Let there be light!

Jayne said...

What a breathtaking view Carolyn! My, I could sit up there forever. :c)

Margaret Cloud said...

Those pictures are awesome, the chapel looks lovely, nice place for a wedding.

100 Thoughts of Love said...

I'm sure that cleared space is for my house....have to wait til Sat though when the lottery numbers get pulled...yep thats my back yard there you are spying on!!!

Ruth said...

Now that is my kind of chapel! Beautiful...

LIFE as it is........ said...

Wow..that's beautiful. Creator's touch is visible. He has spoken in many colors, but this spread of colors is exceptional.

Mary said...

Isn't the color outstanding this year? I don't think I've seen such brilliance in years. Maryland was always colorful. In Delaware there were few trees on the flat, open landscape. North Carolina is showing its best this year.

I love your view, Carolyn.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Carolyn, WOW--what a neat place for a wedding, or just a visit. The colors are fabulous. George and I are 'waterfall' people and we've seen many in your area. We've also stayed at the Hol. Inn Express in your area several times. The last time we came through there, the rhodies were in full bloom. Woooo! Fabulous! Keep sharing your beauty!

Unknown said...

Wow! That's peak leaf season ... as seen from a peak. That looks like an inspirational spot.

The Birdlady said...

GORGEOUS!