The golden stupa at Wat Phouthapasaram, ringed by white lotus-bud finials, with an American flag strung across the front.

ວັດລາວພຸດທະປະຊາຣາມ

A Lao Buddhist temple
in Crescent City, Florida

Forty years of gathering, giving, and remembering. Everyone is welcome — whether you have come every Sunday since childhood or have never set foot in a wat.

See the calendar Visiting for the first time

Coming up at the temple

Full calendar, 2026–2030 →

Sep 11

Friday · 2026

Boun Khao Padap Din

ບຸນເຂົ້າປະດັບດິນ

Sep 26

Saturday · 2026

Boun Khao Salak

ບຸນເຂົ້າສະຫຼາກ

Oct 26

Monday · 2026

Boun Ok Phansa

ບຸນອອກພັນສາ

The temple's entrance sign: gold nāga serpents flanking a Dhamma wheel above a yellow board reading Wat Phouthapasaram Buddhist Temple, Inc.
The entrance gate on Union Camp Road.

Your first visit

Come as you are.
Here is what to expect.

Nobody expects a visitor to know the customs, and no one will mind if you get something wrong. A few things make it easier.

  • Cover shoulders and knees. Otherwise, ordinary clothes are fine.
  • Shoes come off before you enter the shrine hall. There is a rack by the door.
  • Sit with your feet tucked behind you, away from the Buddha image and the monks.
  • Bring food if you like. Offerings to the monks are made before noon; whatever is left is shared by everyone at lunch.
  • Ask before photographing people or ceremonies. The grounds themselves are fine.
Inside the shrine hall: a seated golden Buddha in a saffron robe beneath a painted bodhi tree, flanked by attendant figures, marigolds, and offering vessels.
The shrine hall, prepared for an observance.

Ceremonies

For the occasions
that bring families here

Ceremonies are arranged with the abbot. There is no set fee — families give what they are able, and no one is turned away.

Memorial & funeral rites

ພິທີສົ່ງສະການ

Chanting and merit-making for someone who has died, on the day and at the anniversaries that follow.

Blessings

ພິທີສູດມົນ

For a new home, a new business, a wedding, a recovery, or a journey.

Baci & naming

ບາສີສູ່ຂວັນ

The soul-calling ceremony and the tying of blessing strings, held for births, departures, and returns.

Dāna · ທານ

The temple runs entirely on giving

There is no membership and no dues. Electricity, the roof, the grounds, and the monks' daily needs are met by the generosity of the people who come here. Any amount helps, and one-time gifts matter as much as monthly ones.

Give online Other ways to give

Coming soon  ·  online giving is being set up. Until then, offerings can be made in person at the temple.

Wat Phouthapasaram Buddhist Temple, Inc. — confirm 501(c)(3) status and EIN before publishing this line.

Find us

215 Union Camp Rd
Crescent City, FL 32112

About twenty minutes east of Palatka, off Highway 17. There is room to park on the grass by the gate.

Open in Maps
Sundays
Almsgiving and chanting in the morning, shared lunch after. Confirm times.
Holy days
Observed on the lunar dates listed in the calendar.
Languages
Lao and English. ເວົ້າພາສາລາວ
Phone
To be added.
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Phouthapasaram Buddhist Temple