Precious Moments park will close some attractions December 30, 2006
Posted by Ron in Attractions, Businesses.trackback
The Joplin (Mo.) Globe reports today that the Precious Moments Inspiration Park, located in the Route 66 town of Carthage, Mo., announced it will close several attractions because of a steep decline in bus tours.
Among the attractions slated to close and likely won’t reopen are the Fountain of Angels, Wedding Island, an RV park and Super Sam’s Restaurant. The company says it instead will concentrate on “core operations,” including the Precious Moments Chapel.
Park attendance is down only about 1 percent, from 205,476 visitors through 2005, compared to 203,053 through Thursday in 2006.
But the number of motor-coach tours had dropped about 21 percent in the last year, while the number of tickets sold at the Fountain of Angels had declined by about 15 percent, according to information provided by the park.
“Our traffic historically consisted of bus tours and people driving in cars. The people in bus tours wanted sit-down meals and booked tickets to the Fountain of Angels,” Huwel said. “Those in cars wander the grounds, stop at the chapel and gift shop and leave. To eat, they would either want to just get a sandwich, or choose to go someplace else.”
In response to the changing patterns, Huwel said Precious Moments is shifting operations “to mark sure the parts of the park that are visited most often are well-maintained and supported.”
The Precious Moments park was created by Sam Butcher, who came up with the popular, angel-like child figurines during the 1970s. The park is not on Route 66, but it’s such a big attraction that it’s inextricably linked to the road.
My wife and I visited Precious Moments park a few years ago. I feel bad for the 11 full-time employees and 29 part-timers that will be laid off. But it struck me at the time that Sam Butcher’s park was way too sprawling for its own good. Does it really need two restaurants? And what red-blooded American male would want to get married at a Precious Moments Wedding Island?
Another problem is Precious Moments’ audience. By a wide margin, we were the youngest tourists at the complex. By our reckoning, most visitors are senior citizens, plus a small fraction who read the irreverent Roadside America and admire/mock Precious Moments for its tackiness and kitsch.
We didn’t see any Roadside America hipsters at Precious Moments the day we were there. That leads me to believe that the park’s audience is starting to die off, literally.
I think you’re right that most people who visit Precious Moments tend to be seniors.
I’ve seen the Fountain of Angels light show and would miss that if it closes as it was a nice attraction (tho we visited with free tickets).
To me, the Chapel is the real draw.. the mural paintings and the story behind them are incredible.
Glad to have stumbled upon this info as I was puzzled about why I couldn’t find any Fountain of Angels info on the official PM site. I visited PM (including Fountain of Angels show) several years ago and am currently working on a fictional story set in PM. Gives me more to think about as I write…
Keri – January 25, 2007
I just found out about the closing of PM Wedding Island by calling to speak to JoEtte, the wedding coordinator, and being informed that she no longer works there. The lady I spoke to told me the sad story of the cutbacks at PM. My husband and I held our dream wedding there in 2005 and were planning a trip back to see JoEtte before we have our little one who is due in April. My husband wasn’t too sure about getting married there when I first mentioned it, but we made a trip out to see the island and he knew it was the perfect place for our wedding. He thought it was absolutely beautiful and unique. We are very sad to hear that noone else will be able to have their fairytale wedding at the island. JoEtte was truly amazing and her heart belonged to that island. We are very fortunate that we were able to work with JoEtte and experience our dream wedding at PM Wedding Island.
I visited both the Fountain of Angels and wedding Island and was in awe. I got married in 2005 here in Texas and then honeymooned in Disney World. The release of the Disney figurines definately caught our honeymoon. With being married 2 years now, my husband and I were looking forward to planning a trip and hitting the Fountain and Wedding Island. He’s only heard me speak of these a million times. I dreamed of the day he and I could be together and experience the glory of wedding island. I am very sad to hear these have closed
My 5 year old grandaughter, myself and grandpa were so heartbroken and dissappointed to see cubby bear park closed down. we had planned this for a month. we stayed ther for the last 4 years and were very impressed. i could understand the fountain closing down, but to be able to stay close to the store and chapel, will be no more. needless to say we will not be coming back because it was a tradition with my grandaughter to go there twice a year and stay at cubby bear park, go shopping and buy her dolls and other merchandise at the shops. so sad , now we need to find another tradition.
My husband and I were married on the Wedding Island in 2000. I’m really very sad to find out that it is closed. The wedding coordinator was just an angel. She is really a special person. We always planned on returning there for our 10th anniversary, so now I guess we’ll make other plans.
I am 26 years old and visited the Precious Moments chapel about 6 months ago. I talked my boyfriend into stopping there on our way back to Oklahoma from Missouri. He’s not exactly the type of guy you would normally think of enjoying something like this.You know, one of those “red-blooded American male” types. However, he did. Except that he REALLY wanted to explore wedding island. I did as well. After seeing pictures of others tours, I can see how a fairytale wedding could be created there. My boyfriend also expressed interest in using it as a possible venue for our future wedding. Too bad we’ll never get to experience it for ourselves.
I am 34 years old and love the Precious Moments Wedding Island, I was proposed to on May 16 1999 and was married down there September 14 2000. My husband and I worked together to set the arrangements with Joette, she was my maid of honor!!! I am very disappointed that they closed the island. I was hoping one day to bring my daughter and son there for a visit when they get older!!
All that I can do now is say “Thanks for the memories!!!”
I am 34 years old, and my husband and I visited the Precious Moments chapel, as our last weekend together before his all expenese paid Goverment paid trip to Iraq. He is back now, and we thought it would be ideal to renew our vows at Wedding Island (our five year anniversary is next year), and I just learned on this site they are closed. I find it interesting there was a lack of interest, because so far everyone that has left a comment has been VERY interested!! Our prayers go to whomever wishes to see Wedding Island Reopen… We believe dreams can come true…
I visited Precious Moments SEVERAL time while traveling in the Midwest and am sad to hear of the many park attraction closings. I have on tape probably one of the LAST showings of the Fountain of Angels show which was truly stunning. In the background on the tape you can hear our kids oooing and awing to the lights and music. It was a truly magical show that we all miss so much.
I hope the powers that be will read this and perhaps reconsider reopening the Fountain Of Angels for the next generation to ooo and awe over.
I got to visit the Precious Moments park only once with a friend a few years ago. Before the Fountain of Angels show, we saw Sam Butcher and asked for a picture and he asked one of the employees to take one of all three of us. This is a treasured picture. I am very sad to see it and Wedding Island closed, as they were definitely highlights which I was planning to see again this week….so sad, but I’m very thankful that I had the opportunity to see the park at its peak. I hope there is renewed interest for the future to open these attractions.
ever since the wedding island was created i always imagined a beautifull wedding there…i wonder if they will ever reopen that again…it would b incredable…
Mayra – Orlando Florida – Jnauary 22,2009
I just visited the Precious Moments Chapel and park. I never though I would have the opportunity to visit the chapel. The new park hours are from 9am to 4pm seven days a week. I could not beliebe how punctual they are with closing time, after going taking the tour I had no time to visit the gift shop. I was sad not to be able to buy something special for my 6 year old. Since ity os winter time, there was no vegetation sourrounding the premises, I look forward to be able to travel to Joplin, Mo sometime in the future and be able to visit the Precuious Moments Chapel.
I have to agree that the park needs love and care, this may be due to the decline of visitors to the park. There is no fee to visit the chapel, they financially support the park by donations and gift shop sales.
April 26, 2009
WOW! We are extremely shocked that the Precious Moments Wedding Island is closed. My husband and I married there in the year 2000. We were excited to start making our 10th year anniversary plans to come back. Very SADDENED to hear this news. This was certainly a beautiful, unique, fairytale dream wedding. Unlike no other. When showing my photos and video, people were amazed that there WAS such a place. To: SAM BUTCHER: Maybe Precious Moments couples should have a special advantage. This was indeed a Memorable Precious Moment Wedding.
I was so sorry to hear the closeing of the best place to visit in Mo. Have been their twice and I still love it. I loved the R.V. park and so wanted to come again for a visit. So sorry for Mr. Butcher as he has put so much love in this place and in his paintings. I wish him all the best in years to come. And I hope some day soon it’ll open up again. That you for the memories.
I am so sorry to hear the fountain of angels has closed. We have seen it a couple of times and were planning on taking 3 of our grandchildren there next week to see it. We planned on going to the chapel and then to the fountain show. I am so disappointed that we won’t be able to show it to them. We enjoyed it so much when we saw it before. Please tell me it will be opened next week!!