Strong Storm Destroys Roadside Arizona Chapel

A severe storm is suspected of lifting a tiny chapel in southwestern Arizona off its foundation and slamming it into the ground 60 feet away.

The Yuma Sun reports on Wednesday that the Monday storm brought strong winds that also uprooted trees, knocked down power poles and cut power to about 1,200 people.

It also destroyed a roadside chapel 14 miles northeast of Yuma along U.S. Route 95. The chapel was 7-by-12-feet large and had six small pews that seated about 12 people.

It was built in 1995 by man named Loren Pratt in honor of his deceased wife.

Loren Pratt’s son, Cecil Pratt, says the steeple was crushed in the storm and that one wall is completely gone. The chapel also was upended and found 60 feet from its foundation.

The family plans to rebuild the roadside chapel, which saw guests from nearly every state in the U.S. and from around the world.