The Wayside Chapel
While staying at the Trapp Family Lodge, we decided to take one of the wooded trails that winds through the property. Our destination was a small stone chapel hidden among the trees. The walk itself was peaceful, but arriving at the chapel felt like discovering a place that many visitors never take the time to see.
The Wayside Chapel was built by Werner von Trapp, one of Captain and Maria von Trapp’s sons. During World War II, Werner and his brother Rupert served in the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, fighting in the mountains of Italy. In one particularly dangerous battle, Werner believed he might not survive. He made a promise to God that if he returned home safely, he would build a chapel in thanksgiving. After the war, he fulfilled that promise by hauling stone up the hillside behind the family home and, over the course of four years, constructing the chapel by hand.
Standing inside, I was struck by its simplicity. The rough stone walls, small windows, and plain altar create a quiet place for prayer and reflection. There are no elaborate decorations or stained-glass windows competing for attention. Everything about the chapel encourages visitors to slow down and appreciate the peacefulness of the surrounding forest.
What touched me most was knowing that this chapel was not built as a tourist attraction. It began as one man’s expression of gratitude for surviving the war and returning home to his family. In time, it became part of the story of the Trapp family and today welcomes visitors who make the short hike through the woods. Guests are invited to leave written prayers in the chapel, and for many years Werner’s sister, Rosemarie von Trapp, collected those prayers and brought them to her church in Stowe, where they were remembered in prayer.
The story of the von Trapp family is often associated with The Sound of Music, but walking to this small chapel reminded me that their real story continued long after they left Austria. They built new lives in Vermont, raised their families, welcomed guests from around the world, and remained deeply rooted in the faith that had sustained them through war, loss, and a new beginning. For me, this quiet chapel became one of the most meaningful places on the property because it tells that part of their story so simply and so well.
