Prospective Site
These four artistic renderings show the National Historic Landmark chapel rebuilt on the new Battery Barnes site, on the Alta Vicente hilltop above Point Vicente Lighthouse and the Golden Cove shopping center.
Wayfarers Chapel’s New Prospective Site
Wayfarers Chapel’s new prospective site offers a rare combination of beauty, access, and long-term stability—exactly what a permanent campus for a National Historic Landmark deserves.
Currently owned by the U.S. Coast Guard, the property is being pursued by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes to expand the acreage of the Civic Center campus. Although the proposal is still in the early stages and no formal agreements have been reached, all parties are steadily working toward this end.
This new prospective site provides a safer setting with the space and flexibility to thoughtfully re-establish the Chapel’s spiritual and architectural presence while protecting its preserved components for future generations. Its highly visible, easy to reach location makes it more welcoming to the full community, worshipers, whale watchers, couples, visitors, and students alike—while allowing Wayfarers Chapel to expand its public mission through education, interpretation, and meaningful community programming.
With room to create a cohesive campus that can include gardens and gathering areas, the site supports both the serenity people cherish and the operational needs of a landmark destination. In short, the new site, named Battery-Barnes (after a well-preserved, underground World War II military bunker on the site), offers Wayfarers Chapel the opportunity to not only return, but to thrive—honoring Lloyd Wright’s legacy and ensuring the Chapel remains a place of peace, reflection and connection for generations to come in the city of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Public Officials Expressing their
Support for Our New Campus
“My pending legislation would provide up to 10 years for the Federal government to convey all rights, title, and interest of the Battery Barnes property to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for the purpose of reconstructing Wayfarers Chapel for use as an educational and community gathering space. The campus is envisioned to include not only a rebuilt chapel and bell tower, but public restrooms, a museum, café, interpretive visitor center, public trails and open space, public parking, and educational native plant gardens.”
“For many years, Wayfarers Chapel has been a place of peace, reflection, and community connection on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Losing Wayfarers Chapel amid the landslide crisis was a huge blow to the community. In the months that followed, we heard from so many residents who were heartbroken — couples who were married there, families who worshipped there, and visitors who were simply moved by its breathtaking architecture and tranquil setting.”
“The advantage to gaining the use of the additional land would advance the Civic Center campus master plan. Additionally, establishing a site for the chapel complex near the Civic Center would add cultural and educational importance to the campus… The site-specific naturalistic materials of the Chapel must stay within the same micro-climate to prevent further deterioration. Due to that factor and the Swedenborgian Church’s desire for the Chapel to stay near its historic original location.”
Site of the New Prospective Wayfarers Campus
Step into a one-of-a-kind destination offering:
You’ll be able to plan your special occasion whether it be inside the Chapel or within the idyllic grounds reimagined in honor of Lloyd Wright’s legacy and the rich military history at the site and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Explore the opportunity to have your legacy reach further into the future of the Peninsula by contributing to Rebuilding the Wright Legacy Fundraising Campaign. This prospective new home, adjacent to the Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall complex and situated on an old military site with infinite views of the Pacific and the Point Vicente Lighthouse, will serve as a center for ideas, education and community.
Following the closure of the chapel in February 2024 and with disassembly completed in July 2024, we have determined that rebuilding on the previous (heritage) site is not possible for the future of Wayfarers Chapel. The new proposed location sits adjacent to Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall on the Battery Barnes military site.
Before-After Images
On the left is a 1958 photo of Wayfarers Chapel on our original site, and the right shows an artistic rendering of the National Historic Landmark chapel rebuilt on the new Battery Barnes site.
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On the left is a 1954 photo of the Wayfarers Chapel Bell Tower on our original site, and the right shows an artistic rendering of the National Historic Landmark chapel rebuilt on the new Battery Barnes site.
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1950s view of Wayfarers Chapel from the road on Palos Verdes Drive South. The right image shows an artistic rendering of the chapel rebuilt up on the Alta Vicente hilltop, seen from Palos Verdes Drive West, with the Point Vicente Lighthouse in the background.
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Left: Late 1950s view of the original Wayfarers Chapel location and the right shows an artistic rendering of the chapel rebuilt on the new Battery Barnes site.
Drag slider left and right to see before and after images.
Views from Our
Prospective New Location
Support Rebuilding the Wright Legacy
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RPV City Talk Interview
Watch the RPV City Talk video with Liz Brown Swanson and Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Dave Bradley to discuss changes at Wayfarers Chapel with Communications Director Stephanie Cartozian.
We look forward to rebuilding and serving the community for another 75+ years
