Arkansas might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of architectural masterpieces, but these striking structures prove that sometimes, the most stunning designs emerge in the quietest places. Whether you’re into photography and Frank Lloyd Wright, looking for a unique wedding venue, or simply appreciate breathtaking structures, these four glass chapels in Arkansas are absolute must-visits.
A Note on E. Fay Jones
A name you’ll constantly see through this article and all Arkansas architecture fodder is E. Fay Jones. This man wasn’t just an architect — he was a master of blending buildings with nature, making them feel like they sprouted straight from the Ozark hills. A Pine Bluff, AR, native, Jones kicked off his architectural curiosity with backyard treehouses before fate (and a film about Frank Lloyd Wright) set him on a path toward organic design.
After serving in WWII and studying at the University of Arkansas and Rice, he got thirty minutes of one-on-one time with Wright himself. This solidified a lifelong influence that’s easy to see in each meticulously thought-out and slightly offbeat structure he created. Neither Jones nor Wright felt constricted by customs or trends.
Jones eventually established his practice in Northwest Arkansas, where he fused Wright’s principles with his own signature style. He used glass, steel, and native wood to erase the boundaries between inside and out. His designs feel less like buildings and more like extensions of their surroundings.
It’s hard to tell where architecture ends, and nature begins. A longtime professor at the University of Arkansas, Jones later served as dean, leaving a legacy so influential that the school now bears his name.
His work was also a love letter to sustainability, proving that great design could exist in harmony with the land rather than imposing upon it. In 1990, he received the AIA Gold Medal, the highest honor in American architecture — a fitting tribute to a man whose work quietly but profoundly reshaped how we experience space.
Thorncrown Chapel | Eureka Springs, Arkansas
One of E. Fay Jones’s most significant architectural wonders is Thorncrown Chapel. It opened in 1980 and has wowed more than seven million visitors since. Sitting quietly in the Ozark woods near Eureka Springs (a town rife with architectural gems of all kinds), Thorncrown gives off major ethereal forest vibes.
This chapel draws inspiration from Sainte-Chapelle, the luminous Gothic gem of Paris, but E. Fay Jones put his own twist on it, dubbing its style “Ozark Gothic.” Soaring 48 feet into the sky, the chapel has 6,000 square feet of glass and 425 windows. Measuring 24 by 60 feet, it’s constructed almost entirely of organic and local materials to blend seamlessly with its woodland surroundings.
Jones imposed a unique constraint to preserve the pristine setting: no structural component could be larger than what two men could carry through the woods. This led to the use of pressure-treated pine two-by-fours, two-by-sixes, and two-by-twelves, with larger elements like the trusses assembled on the ground before being lifted into place. The result? A breathtaking structure that feels less like a building and more like a sacred extension of the forest itself.
Thorncrown has won numerous architectural awards, including being named one of the top buildings of the 20th century by the American Institute of Architects. It’s open for visitors from March through December, and while it’s free to visit, donations are appreciated. If you’ve ever dreamed of saying “I do” inside a floating glass sanctuary, this is your spot. Just be prepared for Eureka Springs’s notoriously unpredictable weather.
Mildred B. Cooper Chapel | Bella Vista, Arkansas
Mildred B. Cooper Chapel (commonly called Cooper Chapel) is nestled in another northwest Arkansas town called Bella Vista. Like a cathedral rising up within a fairytale forest, this stunning glass and steel structure was also designed by E. Fay Jones alongside his longtime collaborator for over 25 years, Maurice Jennings (this name will resurface in a bit!).
It was built in 1988 to honor Mildred Borum Cooper, a philanthropist and nature lover who founded two Girl Scout troops and devoted much of her life to family, church, school, and community services.
At 50 feet tall, the chapel comprises 15 elegant Gothic-style arches, giving it the grandeur you wouldn’t expect from a tucked-away woodland sanctuary. Built using 31 tons of steel and 4,460 square feet of glass, it’s 24 feet wide and 65 feet long, so just a bit longer than Thorncrown. The max 120 visitors have a clear view of the surrounding woods and, in the bare-trees months, a view of Lake Norwood below. Despite Cooper Chapel’s church-like feel, there’s no religious affiliation, and anyone is invited to soak up the peace, serenity, and stunning architecture.
Anthony Chapel | Hot Springs, Arkansas
Located within the dreamy Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Anthony Chapel is younger and slightly lesser known than its Jones-designed cousins. Perched along the University of Arkansas’s 210-acre botanical garden just 45 minutes from Little Rock, this 57-foot-tall glass chapel was completed in 2006 and immediately became a showstopper.
It was designed and built by Maurice Jennings and David McKee (you guessed it — they’re both protégés of the great E. Fay Jones) on a much grander scale than the first two on this list. It seats 200 and is comprised of 10,000 square feet of glass.
Unlike some of its older Arkansas chapel cousins, Anthony Chapel is part of a sprawling botanical garden, so visitors can make a whole day out of it. Pop into the crazy cool treehouses and grab a bite at the seasonal Chipmunk Cafe. Yes, this a wedding hotspot, and hopeful brides book years in advance. The chapel is open year-round, and while entry to the gardens comes with a small fee, it’s worth every penny for the sheer magic of the place.
Hunt Chapel | Rogers, Arkansas
Tucked inside Pinnacle Memorial Gardens in Rogers, Hunt Chapel is a modern glass chapel in Arkansas that’s not as famous as the rest but still as striking. Unlike the others, which are all about soaring glass walls, this one leans into a more classical stone and wood aesthetic.
Designed by architect Maurice Jennings (yep, him again), Hunt Chapel was completed in 2010 and blends raw natural elements, geometric shapes, and lots of unstained glass, befitting of its friends on this list.
The roofline makes this one unique. It sweeps upward like a cathedral but with sleek skylights that show off the sky above — no tree coverage here. The interior features locally sourced stone and handmade wooden pews, giving it a warm, organic feel. While it’s not as well-known as Thorncrown or Anthony Chapel, Hunt Chapel is a hidden gem for architecture lovers and those looking for a peaceful place to reflect.
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