The Ucross Chapel

When driving east from Sheridan, along US Highway 14 East, just before one gets to the Ucross Y, there is a small stone chapel set back from the highway and surrounded by tall trees. Named the Ucross Chapel, the building has an interesting history.

Caitlin Addlesperger, President & Executive Director of the Ucross Foundation talked about this unique chapel.

She added about the chapel and its part in the artist residency program.

Addlesperger added that the chapel was built in 2012 by Ucross Founder Raymond Plank. He was a huge world traveler, and when he was in New Zealand,

“Raymond had this vision when he saw the chapel in New Zealand, that this same chapel needed to be in Ucross.”

She added about the New Zealand Chapel. “It is very amazing to see, it is located on a beautiful lake there, and for us, who live in Ucross, it is very surprising to see this same chapel in Ucross.” Although it is not situated on a lake, the land around the Ucross Chapel is landscaped with green lawns, lots of trees and two flower gardens. There are picnic tables on the grounds as well.

Addlesperger said that the stonework on the chapel was done by Bob Hruza of Tongue River Masonry in Dayton, who also did the stonework on the Raymond Plank Center and some of the other buildings on the grounds. The pews are from an old church in Buffalo, and they were refinished to suit the new chapel’s interior.

There is a stained glass window in the chapel, and it was created by Nancie Furnish, owner of Goose Creek Art Glass of Sheridan.

The chapel is open from dawn to dusk. It is interdenominational and open to all. Addlesperger said that many times area residents will rent the chapel for weddings or other special events.

Anyone wishing to rent the chapel for a wedding or other special event can contact Ucross Foundation at 307-737-2291 or email info@ucross.org.