Moments like those experienced while watching the sunrise from the following open-air chapel in South Carolina are memories visitors to this historic spot in the Palmetto State cherish for a lifetime. The chapel, most widely known as Pretty Place Chapel, rests on the edge of a cliff and affords sweeping views of the Blue Ridge and the Blue Ridge Escarpment near the South Carolina/North Carolina state line.
Built in 1941 by Fred W. Symmes (the chapel's true namesake), Pretty Place is part of the YMCA Camp Greenville.
The cross at the center of the chapel's foremost edge sits on a rock base standing 30 inches high. The cross is another eight feet above the base and extends two feet to either side.
When Pretty Place isn't closed for a private event such as a wedding, visitors can sometimes arrive as early as 6 a.m., which is plenty of time to sit and reflect as the sun slowly rises over the horizon.
We can't think of a more moving place in the state to see a sunrise. Can you?
However, it's located on private property (belonging to the YMCA Camp) and in some seasons can be closed quite often for wedding ceremonies and private functions. (Yes, you can rent it, too.)
Your best bet, before you make the trek to Cleveland to watch the sunrise at Pretty Place, is to check the schedule on the website. (Scroll down to the orange section at this link for open dates and times.) It’s very thorough and updated frequently. You can find more information on the chapel, including info on renting it, from the official website. And for another awesome perch from which to watch the sun rise in South Carolina, keep reading here!
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