The John & Bobbie Wolfe Visitors Center at Körner’s Folly will open to the public with a Grand Opening Celebration on April 1, 2024!
In 2018, 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 will also serve as a community gathering place. The center will be completed in partnership with the Town of Kernersville. Funds raised as part of this campaign will also complete necessary interior renovations and develop new community programs at the Folly.
The 5,600 square foot Visitors Center will allow the Körner’s Folly Foundation to widen access to this historic site through the following spaces:
- 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·
- 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
- Exhibition Lobby – Beautiful entrance and welcome area to orient visitors to Kernersville and display unique, rotating exhibits, of never-before-seen Körner family artifacts
- Gift Shop – large area for admissions processing and uniquely curated souvenirs, books, toys, and gifts, increasing earned revenue opportunities
- Restrooms – increased facilities to accommodate larger tour groups, programs, and events
- Parking – a new paved lot will hold 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
- 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
- Collections Storage – humidity and temperature controlled space to stabilize artifacts, such as documents, photographs, textiles, clothing, and art
- Pathways – interpretive walkways to the historic structures from the Visitors Center to improve accessibility and safety
For information about event rentals in the new Visitors Center, including availability and pricing,
contact Brittany Ashby, Operations & Programs Manager, at brittany@kornersfolly.org or (336) 996-7922.