Minters Chapel: A Historic Cemetery Preserved Within DFW Airport Grounds

Minters Chapel traces its beginnings to the mid-19th century. Around 1854, Methodist minister Green Washington Minter, who had moved to Tarrant County from Tennessee, established a small congregation. His son-in-law James Cate donated 4.1 acres of land in eastern Tarrant County for a church, a school, and a burial ground. This tract stood along what is now Minters Chapel Road, near present-day Grapevine and the Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport site.

Early Worship and Cemetery

The congregation first met in a log meetinghouse that served both religious and community purposes. The earliest recorded burial in the adjoining cemetery is A. M. Newton, 1857. Many small gravestones from that era reveal the high rate of child mortality in frontier Texas. Over time, Minters Chapel Cemetery grew into one of the county’s older burial grounds, continuing in use from the 1850s through the present day.

Development of the Church

In 1882, the original log structure was replaced by a framed Methodist church building. This remained the center of worship for the community for more than 80 years. As families settled in the area, the chapel served as both a religious and social gathering place, tying together early residents of the Peters Colony land grant region.

Airport Expansion and Relocation

A major turning point came in 1967, when land surrounding the chapel was acquired to build Dallas–Fort Worth Regional Airport (now DFW International Airport). Most of the small town of Minters Chapel was absorbed into airport property. The 1882 frame church building was relocated to Grapevine, where it continued to serve its congregation.

The cemetery, however, was not moved. About 1.5 acres of the original tract were preserved, leaving Minters Chapel Cemetery surrounded by airport land but intact.

Historic Recognition and Preservation

In 1979, the Texas Historical Commission placed a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark marker at the cemetery, noting its origins with Minter and Cate, the early burials, and the 1882 church. The marker also highlights the cemetery’s endurance as a remnant of a once-thriving rural settlement.

The site is maintained today by the Minters Chapel Cemetery Association, which oversees its upkeep and records. Burials still occur on occasion, making it both a functioning cemetery and a significant historic site.

Key Facts

• Established: Circa 1854 by Rev. Green W. Minter, with land donated by James Cate.

• Earliest Burial: A. M. Newton (1857).

• Original Structure: Log meetinghouse, replaced in 1882 by a frame church.

• Airport Acquisition: 1967; church moved to Grapevine, cemetery retained on 1.5 acres.

• Historic Marker: Texas Historical Commission marker placed in 1979.

• Present Use: Cemetery still active and maintained by local association.