Park church dates back to 1847

The Wilderness Church has been a fixture at Silver Dollar City for nearly 50 years.
Mindy Honey | Branson Tri-Lakes News

By Mindy Honey
Society Editor
Originally published Nov. 21, 2009

While roller coasters, funnel cakes, music shows and parades are expected when visiting most theme parks, some visitors to Silver Dollar City may be surprised to find a functioning church.

“You expect the church to be just another thing,” said Marty Schmitt, the parks entertainment manager, about Silver Dollar City’s Wilderness Church. “It is a surprise to many.”

Services, weddings, hymn singing and vow renewals are held regularly inside the century-and-a-half old church.

“It does have its own ministry,” Schmitt said. “We hold hundreds of weddings and vow renewals a year.”

The historic one-room church was built by settlers near Reeds Spring in 1847. The church, constructed from hand-hewn oak logs, was originally used as a country church and school.

Later it became the Evangelistic Center and community building for the towns of Reeds Spring and Galena.

In 1960, the church was dismantled log by log, moved to Silver Dollar City and reconstructed and preserved at its site at the park.

According to Silver Dollar City officials, when early park employees found the perfect site for the church — on a hillside overlooking the White River Valley — the site was at first rejected by park founder Mary Herschend because of a massive white oak tree which would have to be cut down.

Herschend, well-known as a protector of trees, first denied permission. However, the staff came up with a solution — the white oak tree could serve as the church pulpit.

And, while the tree still had to be cut down, it would remain on the hillside and a part of the park.

The huge trunk was hand carved into a 600-pound pulpit. Nearly 50 years later, the pulpit remains a fixture in the church along with the original split-log pews.

Today, people still gather in the church for Sunday services and hymn sings.

Hymn sings are held four times a day. During the months of November and December, Sunday services are held at 1 p.m.

Throughout the rest of Silver Dollar City’s season, services are held at 8:30 a.m. for employees and 9:30 and 11 a.m. for employees and park guests.