Tybee saves movie chapel

The little white chapel has no plumbing, no wiring, no insulation, and its new owner by contract can’t disclose that it is where pivotal scenes from Miley Cyrus’ “The Last Song” were filmed.

No matter.

Stacye Jarrell is seeing stars of another sort when she thinks about the potential the building has for Tybee Island tourism.

“This chapel will be part of Tybee’s history,” she said. “Who wants to be the person who tore it down? There’d be no community support for that.”

Indeed, she says, the community has rallied around the effort to move the chapel from a corner lot on 13th Street and Sixth Avenue to a prominent spot at 1112 U.S. 80, not far from Huc-A-Poo’s.

Jarrell, owner of Oceanfront Cottage Rentals, plans to use it as a wedding and special events site. She estimates the moving, rebuilding and upgrades needed to meet permanent building codes will cost about $600,000 — and admits it may have been cheaper just to build a new chapel.

“But it wouldn’t have the same social significance,” she said.

While Tybee’s beaches attract plenty of weddings, the island doesn’t have a chapel available for rentals, she said. She plans to expand on the 1,800-square-foot building to include 700 square feet for a caterer’s kitchen, a groom’s restroom, a bride’s changing room and two restrooms.

Stephen Palmer, co-owner of Tybee Island Wedding,  eagerly agrees with Jarrell. His business does about 300 beach weddings a year, and he regularly gets calls from couples wanting to know whether a chapel is available for rental.

Though there are churches on the island, having a wedding in one requires church membership or steps such as pre-marital counseling.

“This is an opportunity to have a non-denominational chapel setting that you can rent almost on an hourly basis,” he said.

It also provides an all-inclusive spot for a wedding and reception or can serve as a backup for couples who want insurance against getting rained out on the beach, Palmer said.

The chapel originally was going to be moved near the Tybee Island Lighthouse. Those plans changed when Mike Hosti, owner of the Tybee Market IGA, offered the Historical Society an original Tybee raised cottage. It is on property next to his market, and he wants it moved so he can expand his parking to that site and an adjoining lot.

Jarrell still has a few hurdles to clear before bells ring and bird seed is thrown at the chapel. She has an application for a small business loan on fast track at two banks, and this month  her site plan will go before City Council for approval. It will require no zoning variances, she said.

If all goes according to plan, the chapel will be moved sometime around Valentine’s Day, and all construction work will be finished by the end of July.

She is confident her little white chapel will help bring more business to local hotels, restaurants and shops.

“With this, Tybee can turn its own economy around,” she said. “It’s like that little ripple in the water.”