Complete Guide to South Carolina’s Pretty Place Chapel

I made a wish at the place closest to the light—hoping everyone I love and who loves me stays safe and sound. “I will lift up my eyes to the hills” Long before I came to UNC, I saw countless photos of this chapel on TikTok and had it marked for years. Finally, I got to visit right before I leave! This time, we stayed at the AC Hotel in downtown Asheville. We hit the road at 4 a.m., and when we drove up the mountain, it was shrouded in fog with endless curves—we had to be extra careful 🥹. 🚗 The chapel opens its final gate to allow cars in sharp at 6 a.m.—I’ve never seen anyone mention this on Xiaohongshu! We arrived around 5:40 a.m., and there were already over 20 cars lined up ahead. The parking lot was completely full, so some people parked directly on the mountain road and had to walk 10+ minutes to the chapel. But here’s the hack: Many people leave right after watching the sunrise, and that’s when the parking lot empties out—you can drive down and park then! 🏔️ Even though South Carolina has been in the 30s (Celsius) every day lately, the mornings on the mountain are still pretty cold—bring a jacket! Aim to arrive no later than 5:40 a.m., so you can walk in as soon as the chapel opens and enjoy the views. A 10-minute difference can mean the chapel gets so crowded you can barely see the scenery. 🤍 This chapel is sometimes rented out for private events, like weddings. Always search for “Pretty Place Chapel” to check its opening hours in advance. Also, look up the sunrise time—don’t miss it! 🥹 Words can’t describe how breathtaking it was in person. It was so, so beautiful. Address: Fred W. Symmes Chapel (The Pretty Place) 📍 100 YMCA Camp Rd, Cleveland, SC #NorthCarolina #SouthCarolina #Chapel #PrettyPlace #Travel