05/24/2026
Many people know the Chapel of the Cross as a beautiful wedding venue or a peaceful corner of Pioneer Town. But the story of how it came to be stretches far beyond Cedaredge.
Years ago, Don and Inez Petersen were traveling through the wooded countryside of New Zealand when they discovered a small country chapel tucked among the trees. Inside, they played the organ, sang together, and sat quietly in the sanctuary looking out over the forest. That experience stayed with them. As they later wrote:
“Enriched as we were by this privilege, we aspired to provide a place of inspiration such as this for other people.”
A few years later, Maynard Nelson of the Surface Creek Historical Society spoke of the need for a chapel at Pioneer Town, and the Petersens decided to make that dream a reality.
Dedicated in 1989, the Chapel of the Cross was designed with symbolism woven into every detail. The architecture points upward toward heaven. The cross at the center of the sanctuary combines stainless steel, representing the perfection of Christ, surrounded by rough wood symbolizing the cross built by man. Roses carved into the stone represent the Rose of Sharon. Even the stained glass was carefully chosen to tell a story.
The chapel’s organ is especially remarkable. It is the same Allen organ model used in one of the largest churches in the world: the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, Africa.
From award-winning architecture to weddings, memorials, concerts, and quiet moments of reflection, the Chapel of the Cross has become exactly what the Petersens hoped it would be: a place of inspiration for others.
Have you attended a wedding, concert, memorial, or special event at the Chapel of the Cross? We would love to hear your memories and stories in the comments.
