Somebody carved the Ten Commandments into a mountainside, and every single letter stands five feet tall. The whole display stretches 300 feet across a slope in the far western corner of North Carolina.
At the top sits a 30-foot Bible, open to a verse about loving your neighbor. Getting there takes 326 stairs, unless you take the paved road and keep your calves happy.
I like how the place makes zero attempt to be subtle or quiet about anything. It goes big, writes it in stone, and charges nothing at the gate from sunrise to sunset.
I can’t imagine driving past without stopping, especially with a flag-ringed cross, a walk-through tomb, and a prayer mountain nearby. Ready to see how big a sermon can get?
Those Five-Foot Letters Are Even Bigger Than They Sound
Five-foot letters tend to get your attention fast. At Fields of the Wood, each letter of the Ten Commandments stands five feet high and four feet wide.
The full display runs 300 feet from side to side across a slope called Burger Mountain. One-foot concrete sections frame the words, so the whole thing reads like a giant stone page.
It holds the title of the world’s largest representation of the Ten Commandments. That’s a big claim, and the hillside backs it up without any help from a zoom lens.
Construction on the park began in 1940, and the commandments display was finished in 1945. That means these letters have been greeting travelers for roughly eight decades.
Bring a camera with a wide setting if you want every commandment in one shot. The base of the hill is a smart place to start, since the climb comes next and you’ll want both hands free later.
Free admission also means you can linger as long as you like. Read every line slowly, take a breath, and let the sheer scale sink in.
Your Legs Will Have Opinions About All 326 Stairs
Counting steps becomes a hobby on this hill. There are 326 stairs climbing alongside the Ten Commandments, and every one of them earns its place.
Your legs will probably notice before the halfway mark. Good walking shoes help, and a water bottle in your bag helps even more.
Take it slow and stop to read the commandments as you rise. Each pause doubles as a rest break, which feels like a clever trick for anyone short on breath.
Not up for the climb? A paved road winds to the top, so drivers can reach the summit without a single stair.
That option makes the view possible for families with strollers, grandparents, or anyone with tired knees. Nobody hands out medals for walking, and the view looks the same either way.
One plan works for nearly everyone. Let the climbers race ahead while the drivers meet them at the top with snacks.
The stairs are open during park hours, which follow daylight from sunrise to sunset. Morning starts give you cooler air in summer and more time to explore the rest of the grounds.
A 30-Foot Bible Waits As Your Reward At The Summit
Matthew 22:39 waits at the summit, printed on a Bible taller than most houses. The open book stands 30 feet high at the top of the Ten Commandments hillside.
The verse is a famous one about loving your neighbor as yourself. After all those commandments below, it feels like a fitting summary at the finish line.
Size alone makes it hard to miss from the summit area. Stand next to it for a photo and you suddenly look about as tall as a bookmark.
Kids will probably get a kick out of how giant everything looks up here. Adults might too, though they may hide it better.
From the top, you also get a wide look across the surrounding mountains of North Carolina. The park sits in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, so the scenery holds its own.
Take a minute to look back down the slope at the commandments. Seeing them from above gives you a fresh sense of how much work went into the whole project.
Pair the Bible stop with the All Nations Cross nearby for a full summit visit. Both sit high enough to make the climb or drive feel well spent.
Bring Your Flag Knowledge To This Massive Hilltop Cross
Eighty-six flagpoles circle one enormous cross here. The All Nations Cross is outlined right on the ground, and when it was built it was called the largest Christian cross in the world.
Each flag represents a country where the Church of God of Prophecy has ministries. Seeing so many colors together turns the site into a quick geography lesson.
Try naming as many flags as you can before checking the answers. Families with curious kids could turn this into a friendly contest with zero prep.
The cross reflects the park’s description as a sanctuary for people of all races and Christian beliefs. That welcoming idea shows up clearly in the flags flying side by side.
Breezy days add motion to the whole scene as the flags lift and ripple. Calm days give a stiller, quieter look that suits slow reflection.
The road to the summit makes this stop reachable without a long hike. Drivers can head up and skip the long walk entirely.
Bring sunglasses on bright afternoons, since open hilltops rarely offer much shade. A hat would not hurt either, especially during the warm summer months in North Carolina.
Prayer Mountain Turns A Stair Climb Into A Quiet Pilgrimage
Prayer Mountain asks for 321 steps, just five fewer than its commandment-covered neighbor. Apparently nobody here believes in short staircases.
Along the path, 29 marble tablets share biblical teachings and quotations. Four more markers tell the history of the Church of God of Prophecy, which owns the park.
Reading each tablet as you climb gives your legs regular breaks. It also turns the hike into something closer to a walking Bible study.
An 80-foot altar sits on this part of the grounds. Its impressive length makes it one of the more striking features anywhere in the entire park.
At the top, a marker reads Prayed and Prevailed. Visitors are encouraged to leave written prayers there, so bringing a small notecard and a pen is a thoughtful idea.
Some people may want quiet time once they reach the peak. Keep voices low and give others room, since this spot was made for reflection rather than selfies.
Like the commandments hill, Prayer Mountain can also be reached by car for those who prefer driving. That keeps the summit open to visitors with limited mobility or limited patience for stairs.
Walk Right Through An Open Tomb Below Three Crosses
Three crosses stand on a re-creation of Calvary Hill, also called Golgotha. The scene brings one of the most important moments in Christian history into clear view.
Nearby, a replica of the Garden Tomb waits with its door standing open. You can actually walk through it, which is not something most monuments allow.
Stepping inside gives the Easter story a physical shape. For kids who learned about the empty tomb in Sunday school, this stop could make the lesson click.
Families might use the visit as a chance to talk through the story together. Reading the related Bible passages beforehand could make the moment even more meaningful.
The site is self-guided, so there’s no tour schedule to follow. You set your own pace and stay as long as feels right.
Visiting during Easter week could add extra meaning to this part of the park. Even on an ordinary Tuesday, though, the open door carries a hopeful message.
Photographers will appreciate the three crosses against the mountain sky. Try shooting from a slightly lower angle to capture their full height rising above the green hillside.
Baptisms Here Come With A Mountain Backdrop
Twenty-nine feet long, 14 feet wide, and five feet deep. Those are the measurements of the baptismal pool, and it’s no decorative fountain.
The pool is available for baptisms by appointment. That means planning ahead if your family or church group hopes to mark the moment here.
Mountain air and open sky make a memorable backdrop for such a big step of faith. Few church buildings can compete with the Great Smoky Mountain foothills as a setting.
Even if you’re not planning a baptism, the pool is worth a look. It shows that Fields of the Wood serves as a living place of faith as well as a sightseeing stop.
Contacting the park ahead of time is the best way to arrange a service. Ask about timing and any details your group should know before arriving.
Guests watching a baptism should give the group space and quiet. A respectful distance lets families enjoy the moment without feeling like an exhibit.
Bring towels and a change of clothes if you’re the one getting baptized. Wet clothes and winding mountain roads are not a fun combination on the ride home.
One Minister’s 1903 Moment Started All Of This
A Quaker-turned-Pentecostal minister started this whole thing. Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson, General Overseer of the Church of God of Prophecy, had a spiritual revelation at this spot on June 13, 1903.
That experience stayed with him for decades. Construction on the park finally began in 1940, nearly 37 years after his revelation.
Tomlinson got the project started, but he didn’t see it finished. After his passing in 1943, his son M.A.
Tomlinson and other church leaders completed most of the permanent structures.
The name comes from Psalms 132:6 in the King James Version. The verse reads, We found it in the fields of the wood.
Later additions arrived in the 1980s, when the café and gift shop joined the grounds. Today the Heritage Ministries Department of the church maintains the park.
Knowing the backstory makes every monument feel more personal. Each display traces back to one man’s vision and a church’s long follow-through.
The park was voted the best attraction in Cherokee County in both 2023 and 2024. Not bad for a project that started with one moment on a North Carolina hillside.
Burgers, Picnics, And Souvenirs Keep The Day Rolling
Climbing hundreds of stairs builds an appetite, and the Burger Mountain Café has a plan for that. The seasonal café serves sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks.
Since it runs seasonally, checking ahead before counting on lunch makes sense. A cooler in the trunk works as a solid backup plan.
Numerous picnic areas spread across the grounds, so packing your own meal is easy. A blanket, some sandwiches, and mountain scenery make a cheap and cheerful lunch.
After eating, swing by the gift shop for a souvenir. Shelves hold park memorabilia plus Christian-themed items like Bibles, postcards, and jewelry.
Postcards make an easy keepsake for kids who want proof they climbed the stairs. Jewelry or a new Bible could make a thoughtful gift for someone back home.
Restrooms are available on-site, which matters more than anyone admits on a long day trip. Parking is also available, so there’s no circling the block hunting for a space.
Bringing some cash is a good habit for small purchases and donation boxes. Rural mountain areas can have spotty signal, and card readers sometimes depend on it.
Plan Your Free Day Trip Before The Curvy Drive
Twisty mountain roads lead the way here, so take your time on the drive. Fields of the Wood sits at 10000 NC-294, Murphy, NC 28906, near the North Carolina and Tennessee border.
The park covers more than 200 acres in Cherokee County. Short hiking trails, including the Old Timers Trails, let you explore the natural side of the property.
Posted hours currently run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. Plan on about an hour and a half to two hours to see the highlights.
Admission costs nothing, though donations help maintain and revitalize the grounds. Dropping a few dollars in a donation box is an easy way to say thanks.
There’s no campground and no large preaching venue on the property. Book lodging elsewhere and treat the park as a rewarding day trip.
Rain or shine, wear sturdy shoes for the stairs and trails. Layers help too, since mountain weather can change its mind quickly.
Families, solo travelers, and church groups can all find something worth the drive. Few free stops in North Carolina hand you this much to see, climb, and think about.
