SoCal’s iconic glass chapel, a historical landmark, faces shaky future

Rev David Brown stands inside the Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, Southern California. He has launched an appeal on GoFundMe to try to raise money that can be used to stabilise the chapel, which sits on an accelerating landslide complex. Photo: TNS

In the last year, the Instagram-famous Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, Southern California, has held an estimated 400 weddings in the glass-walled structure overlooking the ocean, costing each couple US$5,400 (RM25,295) – and more if they scheduled their nuptials on a weekend or opted for the floral or candle add-ons.

But despite its steep fees, the popular wedding venue is facing a growing financial crisis. The accelerating landslide complex on which it sits is cracking, crushing and threatening the entire property, forcing its indefinite closure, while much-needed restoration work has fallen by the wayside.