Lake Leatherwood and Thorncrown Chapel

Bluff Near Sam's Throne

The Award Winning Thorncrown Chapel

The hot and dry weather has continued since my last update. As I sit here this weekend (the autumnal solstice is this Sunday) the weather forecast is for rain. We hope that it is correct and that we get several days of the stuff. Three or four inches spread over a week would be just perfect. I also note a drop in temperatures is also forecast. Hopefully this will stimulate the tress to start their annual period of going dormant.  We were able to get out one day and see a few spots I have not yet been. Thorncrown Chapel is one of them.
In the heat of the long summer days, we tend to leave early in the mornings on our sojourns around Northwest Arkansas. Often we have traveled west, going through Eureka Springs. When we have, the gate to the Thorncrown Chapel was closed, but this trip we noticed the gate was open so we turned, drove down to the parking lot and went to take a look. The Chapel sits on a beautiful landscaped hilltop and 
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The Inspiring Vertical Design Is Uplifting

the flagstone leads you past the separate and smaller Worship Center and up to the wooden doors of Thorncrown Chapel itself. Designed by the world renowned  architect
​E. Fay Jones and opened in 1980, this structure has won numerous awards and is fourth on the AIA's list of the top ten buildings of the twentieth century. The elaborate trusses, the 6000 sq. ft. of glass with its 425 windows, coupled with the surrounding woods gives the chapel an always changing pattern of light and shadows. At night it is quite inspirational. The Chapel is closed in January and February, and the hours for visitation vary with the season and special events that are scheduled.  You can see pictures of the Chapel under construction here.
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The Seperate, Smaller Worship Center
After visiting Thorncrown Chapel we wandered west of Eureka Springs and decided to visit Lake Leatherwood which is a wonderful park run by the Eureka Springs Parks Department. The 1600 plus acres of park includes an 85 acre spring fed lake which is held back by one of the nations largest hand-cut native limestone dams. Built by the WPA in the 1940's Lake Leatherwood offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities. 
This park boasts over 25 miles of hiking and biking trails which cover a variety of terrain. You can make your way around the entire lake if you want to, or you can rent a boat and paddle to the dam. Of course there is a public boat ramp to launch your own boat. This is a no wake lake so paddling is a pleasure without having to worry about the big boats. Plenty of fish are to be found in these waters, incuding bluegill, bream, large mouth bass, crappie and catfish. You do need a current Arkansas fishing license. There are cabins to rent as well as pull-in sites with electric service and also tent sites. There is a photography blind on the shore to take advantage of the many birds that frequent this area. There is a kids playground and a swimming area. A store, bait shop and office round out the amenities. 
We spent a couple hours wandering around the park. The handiwork of the old WPA crews were evident throughout the park and also the road into the park. We stopped several times to examine the time tested construction and admire their craftsmanship. It was 87° out and already too hot to walk the 4 mile loop around the lake and see the dam so we decided to leave that for another visit when the weather had cooled down. We visited with the office staff and learned that there is a shuttle that will take you to downtown Eureka if you want to spend a day shopping while staying at the park. Very convenient since parking is always an issue in Eureka Springs. 
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Northwest Arkansas has plenty of places to visit in the heat of the summer. Stop by Thorncrown Chapel and experience one of the nations top architectural sites, and then drive to Lake Leatherwood and explore this wonderful city park. Pack a lunch or rent a cabin, you won't regret the trip.