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Tourism

On weekends, visitors from all over the state and region drive down the picturesque, pastoral road leading to Beeson Park. According to Kernersville Parks & Recreation Department Marketing and Community Relations Director Jerri Crews, the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce documented that Beeson Park brought in more tourism than the famed Tanglewood Park in western Forsyth County.

“Their stats were based on the fact that almost every three-day weekend from mid-March through mid-November is booked with a traveling softball or baseball tournament. In addition, we have one of the largest adult softball leagues with 50-65 teams playing each spring and fall. That is about 1,200 locals that play each week Monday through Thursday. We also house the Kernersville Soccer Association that adds another 1,200 or more children competing every weekend,” says Crews.

So what are people to do when visiting Kernersville? Our parks are spectacular havens for outdoor fun. Our downtown area is both historic and inviting. But our crown jewel is the unique, unparalleled Kõrner’s Folly.

Kõrner’s Folly, billed as the “strangest house in the world,” was completed in 1880 and consists of 22 rooms on three floors and seven levels. Joseph Kõrner, the original owner, was an interior designer, decorator and painter. He achieved fortune and fame by painting Bull Durham bulls on buildings and advertisements throughout the United States. His home in Kernersville became an outlet for his creative passion. The top floor, known as Cupid’s Park, became America’s first in-home theatre and is used today for occasional Kernersville Little Theatre productions.

The cost to maintain the Folly is enormous, an endeavor that began when the majestic oddity was rescued from neglect and vandalism in 1970 by a group of citizens committed to its preservation. Tours are held that help defray operating costs. The tours also showcase the Folly’s grandeur, a point of great pride in Kernersville.

“So many people don’t even know we’re here. We’re a hidden treasure and people are missing an opportunity to see a fabulous house and get to learn about an interesting family,” says Connie Martin, Folly executive director. “Once people come, they come back and bring their family and friends. You can never take it all in in one trip.”

Specifically, the home is treasured for its exorbitant sense of style. Kõrner used his interior design skills and artistic flair to create an architectural treasure that draws many interior design students to study today. Fifteen fireplaces are scattered through the house, most of which have artistic tile inlays. Hand-painted murals grace ceilings and walls. Moldings of intricate design adorn the home. Original furnishings are a study in furniture design. The miniscule children’s room with its low ceilings delights the very young and the young at heart.

Each fall the annual Kõrner’s Folly Wine Tasting event attracts visitors from various areas. In addition, many make it a family tradition to tour the Folly at Christmas when its rooms are transformed to holiday showcases by area interior designers.

Another draw to Kernersville is in the initial phases of completion. The Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden began construction in 2005. As its formal entry and gardens take shape, passers-by await the day that the seven-acre site opens. A webcam keeps interested online viewers up to date on progress.

“I love the idea of seeing what (the garden) can be and being here from the beginning. I can see people going out of their way to visit Kernersville to visit the garden, and I can see myself retiring here. I just hope that Kernersville keeps its small town flavor,” says Nancy Fauser, operations and program director for the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden.

The gardens lured visitors to Kernersville even before the official opening date with biannual plant sales, an ongoing monthly lecture series and guided trips to famous United States gardens.

Visitors can also enjoy a walking tour of the historic downtown, taking note of prominent structures using the walking tour brochure provided by the Kernersville Chamber of Commerce. The pre-Civil War African-American cemetery is another must-see in Kernersville. Through volunteer labor, much of it student-based, the cemetery has reclaimed attention from Kernersville. Tucked away at the entrance of historic downtown, the cemetery is a hidden gem.

The restored train depot, known simply as “The Depot,” was built in 1873 and restored with an initiative that began in 1994. It rests at 121 W. Railroad St., tangible evidence and a tourist stop to show how Kernersville residents pulled together to save an important part of the town’s past. Renovations continue as The Depot highlights the way Kernersville once operated. From The Depot to the African-American cemetery, visitors will find Kernersville’s downtown a fascinating day.

Once appetites are awakened from a full day of touring Kernersville, visitors will enjoy discovering the array of restaurants and eateries offered in Kernersville. Try a delicious gourmet pizza or Italian dish from the Brick Oven or the seafood fare at Captain Tom’s Seafood on Highway 66. From quick and easy on-the-go grabs, meeting friends at Smitty’s Grille, or enjoying a leisurely dinner at Salem Kitchen, dining in Kernersville is a delicious adventure for visitors and residents alike.

Those needing a place to stay can find rest at hotels such as the Holiday Inn Express or Sleep Inn, both on Highway 66, or the Embassy Suites on Centreport Drive, the site of the annual Kernersville Chamber of Commerce Fall Banquet.