Lizzy Gator and the Twisted Chapel

Lizzy Gator shares about her dreams and the creation of the Twisted Chapel. An amazing performance and event venue.

To book your adventure with Lizzy call 940-391-2260
or reach out to her at elizabethdzines@yahoo.com
Check out her Facebook page LizzyGator

Transcript

Steven Killfoil: 0:26

Cross Roads Podcast for those who want to be in the know! Good morning Cross Roads! This is your host, Steven Killfoil. And on the show today is owner manager and my friend at the Crooked Chapel up in Pilot Point, Miss Lizzie Gator. Thank you for coming on the show today, Lizzie.

Lizzy Gator: 0:58

Thank you,

Steven Killfoil: 0:59

Lizzy's going to be sharing with us all about her and her husband Chris's amazing business and the wonderful fun things that they offer for our area. Lizzie, would you tell us a little about yourself and how you and Chris developed the Crooked Chapel?

Lizzy Gator: 1:14

Well, thank you for having me. This is an honor. I appreciate it. Well, we call it the Twisted Chapel. The Twisted and I'll tell you why we call it the Twisted Chapel because the Chapel if you haven't seen it resembles something a fantasy. And that resembles something that you would see in Dr. Seuss or Tim Burton, that kind of dramatic atmosphere. And so what happened, it was during the plague. We were in a big hurry to finish our honeymoon suite for our venue. And all of a sudden, guess what the country gets shut down. And so instead of sitting there, crying, worrying, depressed, and so on, we decided to create. And so since it was twisted times, we decided to create the Twisted Chapel. There you go.

Steven Killfoil: 2:06

That's pretty cool. Wow. So how long have you lived up in Pilot Point?

Lizzy Gator: 2:12

Well, I've been in Pilot Point now for about 30 years. Just just just new, brand new baby here in Pilot Point.

Steven Killfoil: 2:18

Yeah, that's amazing. So on your Facebook page, you show many events that you offer throughout the year. Would you tell our listeners a little bit about each one of them?

Lizzy Gator: 2:32

Well, originally, we started out as a wedding venue. But we do parties, we also have had songwriter festivals, we actually actually do celebrated life as well. We do corporate events. We've had also some music videos that we've been involved with. And we also had a company from California come out and do a gaming video, which was really neat. And they tore everything apart and rearranged it just the way they wanted it to look. But it was great fun, and we enjoyed it. So we do everything. Right now we personally host two events a year open to the public. And we do our Halloween party. This year. It was on Friday, the 13th Woohoo, it was a lot of fun. And our second party that we have open to the public is on New Year's Eve. So it's coming up soon. It is limited space available. So there is tickets on Facebook. If you are interested in coming and celebrating with us. It is a Mad Hatter party. So that doesn't mean you have to dress like Johnny Depp, or be the Mad Hatter. That just means we love hats. And we do have a contest for hats. And we just like people to dress up and be funny and be whimsical and have great

Steven Killfoil: 3:47

That sounds like a lot of fun. What maybe fun. Mady and I'll swing up there.

Lizzy Gator: 3:52

I would love that party when y'all this should fit

Steven Killfoil: 3:55

Well, when I met you for the first time at right in. the theater, I was amazed at the positive energy that you were radiating, and that amazing smile of yours. And of course you're always dressed in these wonderful outfits. So tell us what is your inspiration?

Lizzy Gator: 4:16

Life!

Steven Killfoil: 4:18

Life in general?

Lizzy Gator: 4:19

Yes. I mean, it's, it's, I would like to celebrate every single day. And I like to get involved with every season and I like to dress up. And I'll tell you why. For example, we did Christmas on the square Pilot Point this last weekend, and we dressed up as Nut Crackers, my husband and it was great. It was magical. And you know you dress up for the Children First of all, but what I've learned is that yes, the children are in awe and they love it when they see you come out looking like something not of Wonderland or some work. Magical. But what I've learned lately is how much the elderly love it as well. They I don't know who loves it more the children or the elderly. And in giving this kind of magic to children or elderly people? It is It fills my heart. I love it. It is it is. It's much more than I ever imagined it when you dress up the smile that it brings people the joy. And a lot of people don't have the courage to do what I do dressing up this fun.

Steven Killfoil: 5:29

No, definitely. Absolutely.

Lizzy Gator: 5:32

But the more you do it, the more you have courage. And the older you get, the easier the less you care, you know, I mean, you want to just do your thing, because it feels good. Yeah, it just feels good. Children love it. And of course you get those that don't understand and shake their head when you come out looking like a nutcracker or whatever character of the day maybe. So I love the holidays, because it gives me such freedom to dress up. I usually go in depression after the holidays because it's like, what am I going to wear now? Yeah, so I love starting September to to really February where you can still dress, you know, fun and funky right now. But it's my it's my happy place.

Steven Killfoil: 6:21

Well, I'll be honest with you, I get excited every time I go up into Pilot Point. And I'll actually I look for you because I'm like, I wonder what she's wearing today. Because you always have these really amazing outfits.

Lizzy Gator: 6:34

No pressure, we just have to keep bringing the shirt. So

Steven Killfoil: 6:38

I'm always I'm always looking forward to seeing you guys up there. You never know. Like, the Oktoberfest that was great. I mean, I love Chris's Little Beer barrel. That was

Lizzy Gator: 6:50

hilarious. Yeah, he outdid themselves, for sure. He actually made himself a whiskey barrel costume. And he made this, of course, a whiskey barrel. He can't walk around with a whiskey barrel. It's way too heavy and too much for the entire day. And so he made something that was lightweight, and it looked really great. It looked really good. And so yeah, we have a lot of, it's just so much fun. It's incredible. And I'm so happy. He had no idea what was gonna happen to him the minute he met me by surprise. Yeah, but he's such a good sport to follow my lead and be willing to, to do all the crazy little things that we do. Oh, yeah,

Steven Killfoil: 7:32

you and Chris really support the city of Pilot Point really well, what advice would you give our listeners out there that want to give back to the community, but really don't know where to start?

Lizzy Gator: 7:45

Oh, gosh, there's so much to do like Meals on Wheels, just visiting the elderly ease. I mean, at a nursing home, just anything being involved in groups, like I'm involved with the rotary, we actually host the rotary every Tuesday at noon, at Lizzie Gator. And so if anybody wants to come and see what the rotary is about, you're welcome to come and see us there. And then the chamber is a great place as well. I'm also involved with the chamber. And I love the chamber. We do a lot of fun things for the city and events as well. That's a lot of fun. I'm also on city council. And, you know, that was scary. And you know, that was the scariest thing I've probably have done, but I love it. I'm learning so much to see how a city operates and see how the city works. And if you don't know, you just don't know. And to me the best way to describe it. It's like what I've learned, it's like a fine watch. That has to take just perfect. It's like a Rolex of fine watch. And that's how a city operates. And so if you want to know more, just get involved in it doesn't take much you can get involved as little or as much as you want. There's so many places to get involved, and every one of them really does feel your spirit. Oh, yeah.

Steven Killfoil: 8:59

I'll tell you what, I invite you over here for one of our parks and rec meetings. Absolutely introduce you to our our council woman, Stephanie Houseright. She'd love to meet you. I know for sure for sure.

Lizzy Gator: 9:14

Well, we need to invite her to her whole our New Year's Eve party as well.

Steven Killfoil: 9:19

That'd be a blast. That would be a blast. Well, with all this that you do, do you guys have a staff to assist you when you put on these large events?

Lizzy Gator: 9:29

It's Chris and I yeah, just you and Chris quite the village.

Steven Killfoil: 9:35

That's amazing. Because I was looking at your Facebook page and I went holy mackerel. And I've been out to the Twisted Chapel and Mady and I went out there and visited I was looking for you and I couldn't find yet I guess you guys might have been in town or out of town. But I looked around I said wow, this is gonna take a lot to run.

Lizzy Gator: 9:57

Yes. And I'm one of my rolls is the landscaping. That's what I did in a previous life. Landscaping so you know it, I love it. But that's my job is the landscaping. So if it doesn't look good, it's all my fault. No one to blame but me, and it's a full time job. It is just the landscaping alone is a full time job. And I'll give you a little example. We do the zero scaping. And so I have a lot of desert type plants. Because really, that's where we should be going to save water and the environment and all that. But every week when plants are growing, and I don't have an event, I fill up an entire trashcan of cuttings and babies just to trim plants just the way I like them to look because everything has to look pristine and very trimmed and manicured. And so, every week, every week, if I don't have an event, I'm filling up a trash can. And those cactus weigh a lot. So that's my exercise as well.

Steven Killfoil: 11:01

Goodness gracious. So do you compost all that?

Lizzy Gator: 11:04

You can't? Cacti you can't because it takes a long time for it to decompose. And, for example, during that winter storm we had was the worst for my type of landscaping in the 30 years I've lived here. And what happened a lot of the plants kind of were mounting almost, if you want to call it that. And like a month later, there were all fermented you could you could smell the entire yard how fermented it was. And it was like a nightmare to take out and to clean up. And I had I mean it was like we had to go we had to get it done because I had weddings in February, and in March and we had to get rid of that stink.

Steven Killfoil: 11:48

Yeah, that they smell like tequila. It

Lizzy Gator: 11:51

smelled like ferment all over the yard. It was like it was I've never seen that happen. But yeah, that's what happens when you get that kind of that kind of freeze.

Steven Killfoil: 12:01

Yeah, yeah, the cacti don't do too well with ice. Definitely not. Definitely not. Well, living in the heart of horse country. Do you have a few horses of your own?

Lizzy Gator: 12:12

Well I actually moved here because of horses. Back in the day, many moons ago. And but I don't anymore to answer your question. I do love them. I did work in a breeding barn for over 10 years. I helped during breeding season and I helped imprint in the babies. So that was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it. And it was hard when I decided not to have horses anymore. You think how am I going to live without these beautiful creatures? But you adjust. You know

Steven Killfoil: 12:39

Do you ever have an opportunity to maybe get a fellow rancher involved and let her have like a horse drawn carriage.

Lizzy Gator: 12:46

We've had them we've had we've had them on the property and it looks magical. But I I still get to see the horses everywhere around so I still get my fix that way. But it's a different season of my life. And there's just the horses take a lot of your time. I don't have that kind of time right now. Yeah,

Steven Killfoil: 13:05

I wish I could have a horse. I really love that animal. That that's an amazing, amazing animal. Well, Christmas is absolutely my favorite holiday. I come from a very large family. And we really made a lot of great Christmas memories. So what's your favorite holiday of the year?

Lizzy Gator: 13:30

I love them all. But for dressing up purposes. It's from September, like I said to really January so I started out with Halloween and then Christmas of course what a beautiful wait and then and the year right? Yeah, it's magical. Yeah. So both of those holidays big Christmas for sure. I love Christmas.

Steven Killfoil: 13:52

Great. What's your favorite event to host?

Lizzy Gator: 13:57

Hmm, I love to host well. I love when brides have I love brides. I love their events, probably more so, because it's all about love. And it's everyone's so happy. And it's all about loving. I really want to celebrate love. And that's really what we're about is love. And so when brides are there to see everyone just so excited, there's nothing better.

Steven Killfoil: 14:20

Oh yeah. And they're so pretty.

Lizzy Gator: 14:23

Yes. And they're all different.

Steven Killfoil: 14:27

What is it that you like most about event planning?

Lizzy Gator: 14:31

Well, I don't get to do a lot of the event planning. I mean, I plan my own events, but brides really want to plan their own weddings. And so if they need a little help, I'll help them and guide them, but they plan their own weddings. So the only events I really plan are my own two events that I host every year

Steven Killfoil: 14:50

Right? But it's fun to watch their events unfold. It is all come together and it's happening.

Lizzy Gator: 14:57

Yes and most of them are very stressed out You know over it. But I think at our place, we provide a different kind of ambiance that a lot of them are really chilled and really relaxed. If you come to our venue, you don't even have to bring in decorations if you choose not to, because we totally deck it out and doll it up for all the holidays. And so it makes it really relaxing for brides not to have to worry about those details.

Steven Killfoil: 15:24

That's amazing. That's, that's amazing. So do you specialize in any specific kind of event other than the the two major ones that you do?

Lizzy Gator: 15:35

Well, we're kind of known for themed events. So even if you don't want to be dressed them in a theme, they come because of the themed events like for Halloween, we have a little graveyard and by the chapel. And so the brides I get a lot of temperate and fans. And so a lot of My Brides want to have a little scene or pictures by the graveyard by the chapel. As a matter of fact, last year, we had a wonderful wedding. And it was all the bridesmaids were vampires, and the groomsmen were all zombies. And it was quite a production. They hired somebody from Fort Worth to come and do all this amazing makeup. And I got my face on to I was also a vampire. And the man took the longest because they did one of them look like Michael Jackson in thriller. Oh, wow, it was amazing. And when the wedding started, they came out and had a little skit. And they came out behind the chapel walking like a bunch of zombies. And there's these glamorous gorgeous vampire women. So even though the bride and groom weren't dressed up in character, or themed, a lot, there's a lot of little theme touches in their events. That one was one that really went all out. And you know, it was incredible. But a lot of them just want little touches, you know of something themes, so, and the majority of the themes that we do of wedding so far have been either pirates. We did pirates and fairies. And then we also have a lot of steampunk.

Steven Killfoil: 17:14

Yes. Yeah, that's pretty. Yeah.

Lizzy Gator: 17:17

But we're known for themed events. Yeah, that's great.

Steven Killfoil: 17:23

Well, what are some of the challenges you face when planning an event?

Lizzy Gator: 17:28

What to wear? Because it has to always be over the top, you know, in my mind, and keep doing it. And, and really the biggest challenge of what to wear is where to store? Because imagine these gowns take a lot of space. Oh, yeah. And so and I do have a lot. Yes. And there's, they require a lot a lot when I mean a lot, a lot of space, and you have to be organized in your head, at least where things are. And I am very honored that I get to dress a lot of people. So for example, we did a music video and I got to dress 18 People 18 People for this video. And it was amazing. And I thought oh my gosh, how am I going to pull it off? Good thing, I had a lot of things in storage and a lot of hats. And it was a steampunk vibe. So that was you know, something that I could do very easy. And so I did I dressed 18 people and I happen to have all these amazing gallons. And everybody look wonderful. And we the we custom made. The main singers dress, Rachel Stacy, which we work with a lot. And she's also going to be performing at our Harlow not Halloween at our New Year's Mad Hatter event. So if you'd like Rachel Stacy, you should come and hear her as well. She's amazing. She's quite a performer, and she's gorgeous. And she's very pretty amazing woman.

Steven Killfoil: 19:01

Oh that sounds great. Well, how would this person reach out to you if they wanted to come and plan an event with you?

Lizzy Gator: 19:11

Just call me. What's your number 940-391-2260 Or you can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, any of those just look for Lizzie Gator. And because we're on everything and so we would love to show your our venue. We've actually become a tourist attraction and a destination wedding place. And so people we had three back to back weddings from Oklahoma this last year, this year, back to back and so we've had brides that come from six eight hours away. So it's they come for the chapel. And no one told us we were going to become a tourist attraction when we did this. No one No one we had no idea we were gonna be like there's a dragon. But surprise. This is what we've become. And so I love it. It fits our purpose. finality it works really well. We've been published eight times, I think, and six of them in the UK. We've had the honor of had two covers. And so it's been amazing. And it's not easy to be published in a bridal magazine. And we've had, we've had the honor and the privilege to be published eight times. And it's all because of the chapel, the chapel, and also this year. I can't wait for everybody to see it. If you're a fan of Texas bucketlist they came and filmed. I am so excited. But we were totally decked out for Halloween so it will not air till next fall.

Steven Killfoil: 20:41

Okay, yeah. Yeah, definitely. So

Lizzy Gator: 20:45

we're excited. We're excited.

Steven Killfoil: 20:47

That is great as great. Well, we are we ever going to have the pleasure of having you participate in a play with us at the theater?

Lizzy Gator: 20:55

Well, I'm very dramatic. But an actress I am not.

Steven Killfoil: 21:01

I never know. I mean, look what you do. Yes,

Lizzy Gator: 21:05

I know. But your natural. It would appear but I am a little shy. Believe it or not. I am a little shy. I truly am. Yes. But dressing up is like it's no different than being like Superman or Wonder Woman. You just put on your cape. That's it. Yeah. Imagine that.

Steven Killfoil: 21:29

I bet having you in a play on a stage would be a riot. Be a blast. I'm certain

Lizzy Gator: 21:37

night I know. I probably lose sleep over it. So I don't I don't know. I because I'm an actress. I am not a singer. I am not. Yeah, I know. Right? You would think I would be You think I'd be a natural but

Steven Killfoil: 21:55

Oh, no. Fun

Lizzy Gator: 21:58

to try once one of these days maybe? Yeah. I'll have to work up some courage. Sure.

Steven Killfoil: 22:03

Well, hey, I mean, one thing that me and a couple of guys have been hashing around would be how fun it would be to do a Hee Haw theme. Yeah. They've got tons of material that you could just pull out. And reutilize and it's just,

Lizzy Gator: 22:23

I could play Minny Pearl. It would be hilarious. Yeah. Cuz she wears hats.

Steven Killfoil: 22:29

Definitely, definitely. Yeah. Love it. So just that phone number and Lizzie Gator on on Facebook on Instagram. That's LIZZY GATOR. Yes, that's it. Yeah. Awesome. Everybody. No, look it up. I'm telling you, man, this place is amazing. What one more quick question on that twisted chapel that how long did that take you guys to build it? Well,

Lizzy Gator: 22:56

you know, that has been our biggest challenge we litigator is all about the arts. It's and we actually call it litigator where art meets love. And but that has been our biggest challenge. If you see it, you'll understand. So we had to really focus if we hadn't had the time. Because you couldn't leave your house. Right? Yeah, I don't know if we could have finished it the way we did. It really was a magical time for us to be able to really focus on something of, of that. Of that kind of project and that kind of art. It was amazing. And we couldn't have done it if we hadn't had the time. The inside of the chapel is unfinished. And I'll tell you why. At first, we were waiting for lumber to come down because it was you remember it just went Oh, yeah.

Steven Killfoil: 23:52

Hardly anything.

Lizzy Gator: 23:53

But then we realize that brides really don't care much about the inside of the chapel. They want the experience of the outside of the chapel because that's where the magic really is. Because it looks like something not a Tim Burton. And so the outside really took us about six months to do. Just focusing on the outside. We are going to finish the inside. But really I have to had no brides really have any interest. And when it is finished, it's going to be so tiny that it's going to be for a tiny little elopement. Oh, sure, just pictures or prayer or just quiet time or something like that. That I think it'll still be the outside. That's the focus.

Steven Killfoil: 24:37

But it's it's amazing. I tell you, you guys did a great job on that design.

Lizzy Gator: 24:42

The hardest part for me was the steeple. Because we had to do the steeple on the ground. And then pick it up, pick it up and move it and hopefully cross your fingers that it would fit. And of course it did because Chris is amazing. And then but what What was even harder for me was that it has copper on on the steeple. And we had to put the copper when we were up very, very high during it and do it. No. Because if we would have done it on the ground when we were moving it a copper is so soft. We might have really tore it up and shredded it. And it's just real copper. And it's too expensive to take any chances like that. So we actually did the copper steeple, the copper when it was already in place, and that was scary. It was it was scary. I hope to not have to do that again for a long time. Even

Steven Killfoil: 25:39

Did you have any twisted ladders to get up there?

Lizzy Gator: 25:41

No we were normal. No, no, we didn't we have we had a lift that we were on a lift where we did it. And thank goodness for these this kind of equipment. And Chris was strapped because he was literally hanging out there on the ledge. And I was just the assistant hanging, hanging the handing him things. But it was still pretty scary. And sometimes when there was a little tiny bit of a wind, like moving, swaying back and forth getting a little seasick up there. It was like it was too much. But it was it was it was magical. And it was really a bonding time. It was an incredible bonding time. So I don't look at that time of shutdown for the country for Chris and I personally to be a negative experience to us. It was a magical, magical time that I'm so grateful that we had this together. That's great.

Steven Killfoil: 26:34

You took and took it took a negative and turned it on to the positive. Absolutely. That's algebra for you. Okay, well you heard it today from Lizzie Gator of the Twisted Chapel. For questions or suggestions email us at Crossroadspodcast2023@gmail.com. If you want to be on the show, call us at 469-230-5956. We'd love to have our local businesses on the show. Now for some local announcements here in crossroads and in the area. The Town Council will be meeting today at Six o'clock at the Cross Roads Police Department meeting center. Your Municipal Development District will be holding their meeting Thursday, December 14 at six o'clock at the Cross Roads Police Department meeting center. Friday, December 15. Grab your hats and boots and dance to DJ Texas T at the Pilot Point Community House coffee house from 8pm to 12 midnight. And the Cross Roads Holiday Market will be this Saturday December 16. From 9am to 2pm. At the park in Cross Roads. Don't forget to bring the kids out to meet Santa Claus and the Grinch. May all your families be safe and have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Stay tuned in for new and exciting guests until next week. I'll see you at the top!