Visitors Center at Körners Folly

As the new headquarters of the Körner’s Folly Foundation, the John & Bobbie Wolfe Visitors Center serves as a beautiful and accessible entry point to discovering one of North Carolina’s most unique historic homes.

Featuring an admissions counter, gift shop, orientation theater, offices, meeting and program space, expanded restrooms, and rotating exhibit space, the handicap-accessible Visitors Center is located next door to the historic house at 401 South Main Street, Kernersville. Parking for cars, buses, and motor coaches is available in the new paved Visitors Center parking area.

In 2019, the Körner’s Folly Foundation embarked upon a Capital Campaign to build a beautiful new centerpiece in Kernersville – a Visitors Center at Körner’s Folly that would also serve as a community gathering place. Completed in partnership with the Town of Kernersville, the 5,600 square foot Visitors Center allows the Körner’s Folly Foundation to accommodate more people and increased uses, and includes:

• Community Room – flexible space for hands-on educational programs for children and families, lectures, and presentations, available for rental or use by local nonprofits, businesses, and individuals.
• Exhibition Lobby – Beautiful entrance and welcome area to orient visitors to Kernersville and display unique, rotating exhibits, of never-before-seen Körner family artifacts.
• Research Library – accessible storage, conference, reading, and research space for continued study and presentation of documents and writings pertaining to Körner’s Folly, the Körner family, and local history.
• Gift Shop – large area for admissions processing and uniquely curated souvenirs, books, toys, and gifts, increasing earned revenue opportunities.
• Collections Storage – humidity and temperature-controlled space stabilizes artifacts, such as documents, photographs, textiles, clothing, and art.
• Restrooms – increased facilities accommodate larger tour groups, programs, and events.
• Parking – a new paved lot holds a greater number of vehicles and be safer during inclement weather; space for large buses will allow for increased heritage tourism and greater influx of out-of-town visitors to Kernersville.
• Media Room – increased seating and improved technology allow for a smoother introduction to the history of Körner’s Folly and will allow for those who cannot physically access the historic house to enjoy it virtually.
• Pathways – walkways to the historic structures from the Visitors Center improve accessibility and safety.
• Tourism Info Center – information and literature on nearby options for dining, shopping, lodging, and other local attractions. Ask our staff for personalized recommendations!

The Visitors Center at Körner’s Folly will allow for sustainable growth, greatly improve the visitor experience, and increase the resources available to our community. With the help of many local, county, state, and foundation supporters, the John & Bobbie Wolfe Visitors Center was officially opened to the public on April 1, 2024!

For Visitor Center rental information, please visit this page.