precious moments park

Wife and I took a slight detour on the way back from Branson. I hadn't read about this but my wife did so I came in unknowing what to expect. Toured the chapel with the guide. She did an excellent job in explaining all the paintings and stain glass windows. Tour was free so you can't beat that and I'm sure the grounds would be very beautiful any other time except the winter. Huge gift shop and couldn't resist buying a few pieces as they brought back a piece of our past. Gift store worker had all the answers to our questions and ensured our purchases were without defect and good thing she did as one of the items was missing as eye. Kudos to her.

My sister visiting from Las Vegas. Looking for places that might interest those not from the area. As I live only 45 minutes away thought it would be a great short day trip. She (we) were not disappointed in our visit here. Took the tour of the chapel and grounds. Just wondered around enjoying the view from the back of the Chapel. Went to Coffee shop for relax time and wished we had been hungry. Menu looked great with a family doing home cookin'. Very large gift shop. Helpful staff. If in Carthage area a worthwhile stop.

Our group of 50 had a free Chapel Tour to see Sam Butcher's 84 hand-painted tributes to heaven, the 30 stained glass windows, beautiful carved doors, bronze panels and more. Our guide told us stories of those who touched the artist's heart, and they are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. One can find Precious Moments figurines, dolls, and special gifts to commemorate every special occasion and person in your life in their gift shoppe. There i a visitor center atrium filled with large animated dolls as well as a cafe and bakery with panini sandwiches, soups, salads, fresh baked pies, cookies,and "from scratch" yummy cinnamon rolls.

Really neat if you like Precious Moment dolls and collectables. We were able to attend a Holiday lighting ceremony at the Chapel which was very nice.

Precious Moments is a unique place to visit and take in the artistic talents of the painter. The chapel is very attractive and the overall atmosphere calming and peaceful. Something a person should take in to get the feel of all God has done for us.

An amazing display of the work of Samuel Butcher. And it is ongoing!! You might find Mr. Butcher there working!! We heard about this chapel from relatives and so being in the area, we took time out. There were very few there so we could take our time and had a guided tour of the chapel. Amazing work and everything with a purpose. A little out of the way, but great gift shop. A great story!!

Precious Moments Chapel is a big draw for Carthage, MO. I’m not a big fan of the little big eyed angel statues, but was willing to give it a try. Plus it’s free, they have boxes set up for donations. The chapel and grounds are lovely. I was surprised at the length of the walk from the entrance to the chapel ~ something to consider for anyone who has trouble walking distances. Obviously there are angels everywhere you look. I really liked the stained glass windows in the chapel. It's a pleasant stop if you are in the area or are a big fan of the Precious Moments figures.

So you see my high rating and I want to get some of the possible star takers out of the way first. This is a VERY Christian place. I am not religious. I take personal pride in my ability to avoid most group-think. But I do not take offense from religious folks. Precious Moments is built around drawings of little kids with big sad eyes. So the place had a bit of a Michael Jackson Neverland feel that is a little creepy and for Christians-they managed to turn the artist into a bit of an idol to be worshiped (but in their defense, he does seem like a great guy). The only adult in heaven is Jesus at this park and that is just a little ...weird. Second, this place has obviously been here for awhile and it does have a hint of that old park feel, where you can bet it had seen better days. That is the negative and for Christians reading this review, only half of that sounded negative and the religious feel to the place will be a bonus. ....ONTO THE REVIEWYou travel down a long winding country road to find a building that looks like it used to be a hotel and you find a well kept parking lot and a lovely fountain that greets you to what amounts to a free (yes FREE) museum/art gallery. Walking into the building there is a nice gift shop with a friendly staff. The room opens up to reveal an indoor fantasy room with facades and in our case some Christmas decorations. (Food is available but we did not partake so no review). You leave the main building to walk the grounds to the Chapel where more Precious Moments artwork can be found. The sanctuary is a site to behold and the drawings often reflect real people who have passed on. A beautiful -if not odd in the case of adults-memorial to lost loved ones from his family and people the artist met along the way. In the back is another smaller sanctuary where the artist memorialized his young son. The room farthest to the back resembles a funeral home complete with visitor log (and prayer requests that can be very moving). Here you will find pictures of the real people memorialized and fan mail to the artist. There is a lot of bragging on the success of the artist but you have to take a place like this for what it is. It is a tribute to the artist but it's also a cheap family excursion when things to do are expensive. For fans of the art, it gives you a fun inside look. I am not the target audience for this place and I WOULD GO BACK AGAIN-emphasis with caps, not yelling. To make me want to return to see more is a win.

We made a trip out to the Precious Moments Park just because we were in the area and had heard so much about it from other people. It was an interesting experience, as attractions go. It has a very Disney like aspect to it, with all the little characters and displays and landscaping with the fountains etc. The most impressive part is all the work that went into the chapel design and genuine stain glass windows, murals and woodworking. Even if you're not a fan of PM, one has to admire the hard work and dedication that went into the place. Definitely a one timer for me though.

We stop to visit The Chapel at least once a year from where ever we have been visiting. This year we stopped in on our way home from Oklahoma. It is well worth the detour to get here .I will never get tired of visiting the Chapel.It is beautiful no matter the time of the year and we have been here in all four seasons. A wonderful moving experience. I never leave here disappointed.

Worth the trip if in the area. Beautiful chapel filled with beautiful paintings. The main building was nicely furnished with life sized Precious Moments figurines.

Just a few miles from the interstate but a long way from the hectic lifestyle we all live. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. We've been here in the spring, winter and now the fall and the seasons make a beautiful impact on the entire setting. The museum is interesting, the chapel astounding. However, since they do NOT charge admission, and their attendance isn't what it used to be, they have shut down some things in the area. Please go visit and support such a lovely oasis in southwest Missouri.

We had a bit of time before checking into our motel so we decided to visit Precious Moments Park. The setting was beautifully landscaped to compliment the statues and buildings. But nothing could have prepared us for the visit to the Chapel. It was a very moving experience. The art work reflects Mr. Butcher's strong faith. We went with the plan to pick up a few Precious Moments figurines and left with our hearts uplifted!

WE stopped here on our way too Branson,,,,Didnt think the guys really wanted to go through this with us ladys ,,but once they got in there and read the reason for all this and the Little Angels it was very interesting to them,,,we took lots of picturers,,,its so moving,,,,,we ALL loved the chapel and the little walk to it,,,,,,the fountains are awesome......its a MUST SEE for sure !

We saw signs for Precious Moments on the way towards Carthage and since my wife has a few Precious Moments she wanted to stop by to see it. I thought it would be a waste of time but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise! The grounds are nice and well maintained. The chapel is not to be missed. Overall, I was surprised at how much care (and money) goes into maintaining the grounds. There is also a gift shop where all kinds of Precious Moments can be purchased.