Anthony Chapel
4.8(1.3K)google
5.0(20)yelp
Historic BuildingWedding VenuePhoto SpotRomantic
Overview
Anthony Chapel is a breathtaking architectural crown jewel nestled quietly inside the Garvan Woodland Gardens complex in Hot Springs. Rising six stories high, this open-air forest sanctuary features soaring yellow pine pillars, expansive clear glass walls, and a masterfully engineered glass ceiling pattern. It seamlessly merges internal structural artistry with the natural surrounding canopy, creating a dreamlike environment. It remains one of the nation's most sought-after and photographed locations for destination weddings and peaceful personal meditation.
Practical Info
Mon9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tue9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wed9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thu9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Fri9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Suggested Duration0.5-1 hour
Best Time(Note: Specialized dedicated architectural profile for completeness). Exceptional year-round. The most magical hours to step inside are 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM right at opening or 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM before closing. The low-angle light cuts laterally through the soaring 57-foot-high glass walls, painting complex, moving cross-hatched wood shadows over the grand flagstone aisle.
Getting ThereNestled seamlessly within the northern perimeter of Garvan Woodland Gardens (550 Arkridge Road). After utilizing the garden's free main parking lot, pass the welcome plaza. Chapel access is free; follow the clear directional signage along the paved, fully accessible woodland trail to the right for a 3-minute shaded walk to find the transparent sanctuary rising amid the pine woods.
Travel Tips
- The landmark glass-and-timber sanctuary is fully operational for private, commercial ceremonies. Weekends encounter rampant unannounced public lockouts for high-end weddings; visitors must call the central administrative desk the morning of travel to ensure structural access.
- The chapel behaves as an organic acoustic soundboard; absolute structural silence is actively policed by on-site staff. Outside open coffee cups, carbonated soft drinks, snacks, and selfie-sticks are banned from passing the timber vestibule threshold.
- The altar platform and chancel risers are sacred operational spaces; guest movement is restricted behind the forward-most pew alignment. The prime lighting window to capture the interlocking overhead wooden truss canopy without severe lens flare is early morning before 09:00 AM.
Reviews
Positive
- An absolute pinnacle of modern architectural aesthetics! Soaring yellow pine beams and hundreds of glass windows bring the surrounding forest inside.
- The chapel is completely free to enter, surrounded by ample free parking for cars and buses, with excellent directional signage from the highway.
- Despite its immense fame, the interior is masterfully managed to ensure visitors speak in whispers, successfully preserving a deeply sacred, quiet atmosphere.
- Encircled by dense Ozark woods, the scenery framed by the glass transforms beautifully with the seasons—from lush greens to autumn reds, never disappointing.
Heads up
- As a premier destination wedding venue, the chapel closes frequently for private ceremonies, leaving regular tourists locked out entirely.
- Large tour buses regularly drop off massive crowds during midday peaks, quickly packing the small chapel and making empty photos impossible.
- The pedestrian pathway from the parking lot up to the chapel is a relatively steep incline, which can be challenging for seniors or manual wheelchairs.
- Tripods and large professional photo rigs are strictly banned inside to avoid disrupting others, limiting photography to handheld shots.