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Tourism

A day trip down picturesque Kernersville’s main thoroughfare requires little planning and lots of meandering. Historical interest, outdoor beauty and unique shopping anchor the day. Of course, the trip isn’t complete without including a stop to Korner’s Folly, the most eccentric old house in the Triad. According to paranormal research, some even say the grand old home could be haunted.

Kernersville, though, can be anything you want it to be. The town recently adopted a branding theme called “Discover YourVille in Kernersville.” This campaign emphasizes that there is much to discover about and in Kernersville, whether you are a newcomer, have lived here for decades or are planning a visit. The “Discover YourVille” campaign is full of photos and real-life stories of people in Kernersville who make the community special.

The newest star attraction in Kernersville is the botanical garden on Main Street. The Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden (www.pjcbg.org) is open Monday through Friday (Saturday and Sunday by special arrangement) from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The growing garden’s progress promises a beautiful future for Kernersville. In the spring, tens of thousands of tulips bloom. In the fall, the plantings in the pattern garden show interest as well. Children and adults alike are delighted by the gigantic copper bowl once used for making sugar at a Louisiana plantation and site of a future fish pond. The pattern garden was one of the first to be planted and has become a focal point. The gardens lured visitors to Kernersville even before the official opening date with bi-annual plant sales, an ongoing monthly lecture series and guided trips to famous United States gardens.

The event center at the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden was unveiled at the annual Town of Kernersville Parks & Recreation’s wedding fair in January of 2011, appropriate since many brides and grooms will enjoy the gardens for portraits and their special day. The grand opening, held later in spring, was a thrilling event for many.

Not too far from the newest attraction is one of the town’s oldest. The iconic Korner’s Folly (www.kornersfolly.org) was built in the late 1800s. When Jule Korner built the house that would be known as his “Folly,” he knew he was creating an unconventional structure. It’s doubtful, though, that the successful artist/interior designer could have predicted that his multi-storied home of bizarre nooks and crannies would become the town icon.

Since the Folly is only open to tours (special arrangements can be made for groups of 10 or more) on Thursday, Friday or Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday afternoons, visiting Kernersville’s main attraction takes planning ahead. With 22 rooms on seven levels and three floors, the intriguing home has many steps and no elevators. However, the climb through the odd house makes visitors feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland.

Visitors will be hard-pressed to describe the house. No two doorways are alike. Each of the 15 fireplaces differs in design. The children’s rooms are miniscule in scale and size; adults over five tall must stoop to enter the fantastical rooms. The mouldings are ornate, and the murals resplendent of a former glory. The “air-conditioning” system using trap doors and ventilation is remarkable. Korner’s Folly also boasts of America’s first home theater – not a big screen with plush reclining chairs but the top of the structure actually houses a small stage and seating for about 45. Kernersville Little Theatre still uses the site for some of its performances.

The story behind the house is extraordinary, too. Once slated for destruction, the house was rescued by a group of citizens with foresight and love of Kernersville’s heritage.

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 Street, 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.

Teachers especially appreciate how the Kernersville Historic Preservation Society joined forces with Korner’s Folly, the botanical garden and the Kernersville Downtown Preservation and Development Council to create a walking field trip of Kernersville. The tour includes the attractions listed above as well as the fabulously restored 1873 Depot and new Farmers Market.

More collaboration is being planned for visitors who travel from all over the state and region for athletic events at Beeson Park. In recent years, the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce documented that Beeson Park brought in more tourism than the famed Tanglewood Park in western Forsyth County. Kernersville Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Bruce Boyer notes that during very busy weekends, a trolley service from Beeson Park to downtown Kernersville will be available.

Discover Kernersville . . . we want to make it “YourVille.”