A year after Wayfarers Chapel had to be dismantled due to damage from land movement in Rancho Palos Verdes, the historic chapel may have found a new home.
The city of Rancho Palos Verdes is working to gain ownership of a parcel of land on the very tip of the Palos Verdes East Peninsula, only a mile and a half away from the original location of Wayfarers Chapel. The location, currently owned by the federal government, was once used by the military to defend the coast during World War II.
“Once it's transferred to the city of Rancho Palace Verdes, then we'll be able to work out the details that will allow us to rebuild on this four-acre site,” Robert Carr, Wayfarer Chapel’s administrative director, told KNX News’ Karen Adams.
Carr said the site would be the perfect fit to ensure the chapel keeps its National Historic Landmark status.
“The new site has a very steep south-facing hilltop where there's exactly the right amount of room to place all the chapel structures, and it has an east-west orientation that's very close to the original site,” he said. “So we'll really be able to recreate all three characteristics: the rugged coast views, the expansive open ocean views, and the sharp hilltop crest that runs east-west.”
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Land transfers can take years, but Carr said the city is working with the federal government to speed up the process. They hope to have it done by the end of 2026 at the latest.
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