Pretty Place
The South Carolina Mountain View You Have to See at Least Once
South Carolina’s Mountain Chapel with a View
There are some places that make you stop talking for a minute.
Pretty Place is one of them.
Perched high in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Fred W. Symmes Chapel—better known as Pretty Place—sits on the property of YMCA Camp Greenville in Cleveland, South Carolina. The open-air chapel looks out across miles of mountains, valleys and sky, and the view is the kind that photographs beautifully but still doesn’t fully prepare you for standing there in person. YMCA Camp Greenville
This one came straight from the South Carolina Meet Up community, which makes it even better.
SCMU MEMBER PICK
And yes—this is absolutely Worth the Drive.
What Is Pretty Place?
Pretty Place is the nickname for Fred W. Symmes Chapel, which was constructed in 1941 and gifted for the children attending YMCA Camp Greenville. Over the years, the chapel has been renovated and improved several times, including work in 2012, 2018 and again in 2025 following Hurricane Helene. YMCA Camp Greenville
The chapel sits at roughly 3,200 feet in elevation, overlooking the rolling mountains of Greenville County. Visit Greenville SC
Wooden pews face the open mountain view, with the chapel’s simple cross framed by layers of Blue Ridge ridgelines.
It doesn’t need much decoration.
The mountains do all the work.
Why Go?
Pretty Place is one of those destinations where the experience is mostly about being there.
You can sit quietly.
Take photographs.
Watch the clouds move between the mountains.
Catch the changing colors in fall.
Or, if the schedule allows it, get there early enough to see sunrise spill over the ridges.
Visit Greenville specifically highlights Pretty Place as a destination for panoramic mountain views and sunrise visits. Visit Greenville SC
And even though it is a chapel, you don’t have to be attending a service or event to appreciate what makes the place special.
In fact, YMCA Camp Greenville notes that Pretty Place is not operated as a church and does not hold regular services; it functions primarily as part of the camp and as an event space, while public visitation is offered when the chapel is available. YMCA Camp Greenville
The Most Important Thing to Know Before You Go
CHECK. THE. SCHEDULE. 😂
Seriously.
Pretty Place hosts weddings, memorials, camp programs and private events, so it is not automatically open just because you drove up the mountain.
YMCA Camp Greenville posts the public visitation schedule about two weeks in advance and specifically recommends checking it again on the day of your visit. YMCA Camp Greenville
September, October, April and May are among their busiest event months, so availability can be especially limited then. Pretty Place is also generally closed to public visitation from mid-May through mid-August during summer camp. YMCA Camp Greenville
That means this is not the trip where we say:
“Oh, we’ll just head up there and see.”
No ma’am. 😂
Check first.
CHECK PRETTY PLACE VISITATION SCHEDULE
How Much Does It Cost?
Here’s one of the nicest parts:
Public visitation is free.
There is currently no charge to visit Pretty Place during the times when it is open to the public. YMCA Camp Greenville
Donations are welcomed and help support Pretty Place, YMCA Camp Greenville and camp scholarships. YMCA Camp Greenville
What About Accessibility?
The chapel is wheelchair accessible from the parking area into the chapel, although there is currently no ramp down to the very front altar area.
The YMCA notes that the mountain view can still be enjoyed from anywhere inside the chapel. YMCA Camp Greenville
Parking has also recently been expanded, adding space for more vehicles as part of an ongoing accessibility improvement project. YMCA Camp Greenville
There are public restroom facilities available during open hours, but at the moment they are portable toilets rather than permanent indoor restrooms. YMCA Camp Greenville
And one more thing dog owners should know:
Only service animals are permitted at the chapel. YMCA Camp Greenville
Make It a Full Mountain Day
Pretty Place doesn’t have to be the only stop.
This is where SCMU gets involved. 😏
If you’re already driving into the mountains, build an entire day around it.
You could pair Pretty Place with:
Caesars Head State Park
For another huge mountain overlook and easy scenic stop.
Table Rock State Park
For hiking, mountain scenery, lakes and one of South Carolina’s most recognizable peaks.
Travelers Rest
For lunch, coffee, shopping or a relaxed stop on the way back toward Greenville.
Falls Park on the Reedy
If you want to end the day downtown with the Liberty Bridge, waterfalls, food and a walk through Greenville.
Visit Greenville even pairs Pretty Place with Caesars Head in its suggested mountain itineraries, which makes these destinations especially easy to combine. Visit Greenville SC
SCMU Fall Idea 🍂
This is the trip I want us to remember when the mountains really start changing color.
Imagine:
Pretty Place at sunrise
↓
Caesars Head overlook
↓
Table Rock
↓
Late lunch in Travelers Rest
↓
Falls Park in Greenville before heading home
That is an entire Worth the Drive day right there.
And somebody better bring snacks because we're not turning around once we've gotten into the mountains. 😂
A Few Tips Before You Leave
Check the visitation schedule immediately before traveling because availability can change around private events and camp programming. YMCA Camp Greenville
Bring a camera or make sure your phone is charged. If you’re hoping for sunrise, give yourself plenty of driving time and remember that mountain roads can be slower than the mileage makes them look.
And take a few minutes to just sit.
Pretty Place is one of those destinations that doesn’t need an itinerary packed with activities.
The view is the activity.
SCMU Verdict
Best For: Scenic drives • Couples • Photography • Quiet time • Mountain lovers • Fall day trips
Cost: Free during public visitation
SCMU Member Pick: ✅
Worth the Drive: Absolutely. 🚗
There are plenty of places in South Carolina where you go because there is something to do.
Pretty Place feels different.
You go because there is something to see, feel and remember.
Sometimes that is enough.
Take the long way.
SCMU — Worth the Drive.
