Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel — Local services in Bella Vista

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...

I have waited some time to post this review but I feel it is necessary. My husband and I reserved the chapel for our wedding in March 2023; unfortunately, in January 2023 my mother contracted COVID pneumonia and was placed on a ventilator. She was in a coma for several weeks, and I was required to make all medical decisions on her behalf as her next of kin. As a result, we could not leave the state (Oklahoma) and were forced to cancel our wedding and all festivities. Every single vendor BUT this chapel was understanding. The restaurant we reserved gave a full refund, the photographer refunded our deposit, and the airbnb gave us a full refund on our deposit. BUT this chapel would not give a refund at all since it was under 90 day notice. I explained at length the circumstances, and they finally agreed to a 50% refund. Yet, a few days later I received a check for only a 40% refund. When I called to clarify the misunderstanding, the event director, Cindy, told us this was the decision of their board chair and that since it was under 90 days we should count ourselves fortunate to get any money back at all.

As a person who works in contracts professionally, I would normally be understand of contractual obligations. Yet, this is a small organization who had over 60+ days notice and this was a literal life/death circumstance. The complete lack of empathy and professionalism in this particular circumstance was despicable, and I do not recommend working with this...

Best wedding venue ever! It was so beautiful, we didn't even do any decorating. My whole family (myself included) were just in awe of how gorgeous it is. It's a great price compared to other places. It has heat/AC and they are very helpful with making sure it's at the right temperature for your event. Mrs. Jody was there for my rehearsal and ceremony and she was so much help getting the wedding party organized and helping us figure out the sound system and other small details. They really try hard to make sure no visitors come during your event, but some people ignore the signs that say the chapel is closed. The sound system sounded great, too.

A helpful tip, if you have your wedding in the evening you run the risk of having the sun glaring in from the side (it was doing this during our rehearsal). Our ceremony was at 1:30 and the lighting was perfect. The front where I was standing had no light splotches (all shaded) making for...