Pretty Place Chapel at YMCA Camp Greenville officially reopened to the public Jan. 3 after undergoing repairs following Hurricane Helene.
The open-air chapel has been closed since late September 2024 after the storm ripped off part of the structure’s roof. The chapel’s wooden benches also sustained significant water damage.
Sam Franklin, CEO and president of YMCA of Greenville, said approximately $455,000 in repairs were completed to the chapel including replacing the roof, installing new wood/metal benches, adding water drainage protectors and more. Hogan Construction Group was hired to complete the work.
“We wanted to make sure that the original rustic feel of the chapel was maintained,” Franklin said. “It’s a landmark for not just this area but for our state and so we’re just happy and excited to have it back open.”
Around 250 people traveled to the reopened chapel to watch the sunrise on the morning of Jan. 3. The famous structure, officially named Fred W. Symmes Chapel, sits at 3,200 feet atop Standing Stone Mountain in northern Greenville County. Tinisha Johnson, an Anderson County resident who visited the chapel on Jan. 3, said it was devastating to see such a beautiful place damaged by the storm.
“I’m so glad that they were able to repair it and they were able to restore its natural beauty,” Johnson said.
In addition to Pretty Place Chapel, tree removal and other storm repairs are underway throughout YMCA Camp Greenville. Franklin estimates Helene caused over a thousand trees to fall across the campus, damaging several cabins and areas around the 1,400-acre property.
Read more about YMCA Camp Greenville damages from Hurricane Helene
“We’re probably about 75% to 80% done with the tree removal which is great,” Franklin said. “Most of the program areas have been cleared. The camper cabins have been repaired.
Franklin said YMCA Camp Greenville will be ready by June for its summer programming. The YMCA of Greenville is accepting monetary donations to help cover the cost of the camp’s storm repairs. For more information, visit campgreenville.org.
View this post on Instagram
Cost estimates
$455,000: Pretty Place Chapel repairs (roof replacement, new benches, etc.)
Approximately $700,000: Tree removal and cabin repairs across YMCA Camp Greenville
Pretty Place fast facts
Pretty Place Chapel, officially named Fred W. Symmes Chapel, was built in 1941.
The chapel welcomes more than 325,000 people each year.
Around 550 wedding ceremonies are held at the chapel each year.
162 weddings had to be canceled after the chapel was damaged by Hurricane Helene.
Visitation schedule
Pretty Place Chapel officially reopened on Jan. 3. To view the chapel’s visitation schedule, visit campgreenville.org/visitation-schedule.
