On a creek at the foot of Ski Mountain Road, the small white building that was once Abiding Grace Chapel is now mangled metal scraps and charred cinder blocks.
Gatlinburg’s wedding industry, a sprawling enterprise of full-service chapels, eager officiants, florists and other businesses, has been hard hit by the wildfire that roared through this resort town in late November.
At least two chapels burned and the man widely credited with pioneering Gatlinburg’s wedding boom, the Rev. Ed Taylor, was among the 14 people who died in the wildfire. Some chapels also have seen a downturn in business, including cancellation of ceremonies by brides and sluggish bookings for next year.
Read more at our news partner’s website, knoxnews.com.
Fast fact
In 2013, Sevier County hosted 10,500 wedding ceremonies – more than twice as many as the next closest county.