Körner’s Folly Capital Campaign
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 will also serve as a community gathering place. The center was completed in a public-private partnership with the Town of Kernersville, whereby the Town matched donor contributions up to our goal.
We’d like to thank the many #HistoryMarkers who contributed their time and resources to create a new space for our community: The John & Bobbie Wolfe Visitors Center at Körner’s Folly, opened to the public on April 1, 2024!
A History of Civic Pride and Engagement
In 1873, civic pride and visionary thinking brought townspeople together as they raised over $10,000 to build a four-mile section of the Northwestern North Carolina Rail Line, ensuring that Kernersville would be a stop between Greensboro and Salem.
Not content to be passed by, citizens saw the prosperity that the railroad would bring and worked toward a common purpose, even laying some of the track with their own hands.
Right: People waiting at the train depot, in Kernersville, North Carolina, ca. 1900. Courtesy Old Salem Library/Digital Forsyth.
This history of civic pride continued in 1970, when twenty-six families, including Kerner / Körner descendants, pooled their resources to save Körner’s Folly from demolition. They were successful in listing the unique home on the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring that Kernersville’s landmark home would be saved for future generations.
By rescuing this remarkable building, the community underscored the historical value of Körner’s Folly, and since then, has supported the restoration and preservation of this incredible example of American ingenuity and Victorian design.
The Körner’s Folly Foundation was formed in 1993 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the house for the education and enjoyment of the public. Today, 22 rooms and thousands of items in our collection are on view, including Jule Körner’s original paintings and furnishing designs.
Making Visitors Feel Welcome
More than just a beautiful place to visit, Körner’s Folly helps citizens connect with history and with each other through educational programs and community events.
Over the last decade, Körner’s Folly has tripled the number of visitors we welcome each year.
In 2018, a study of the needs of our visitors, partner organizations, and local resources determined that expanded facilities and increased accessibility would greatly enhance the Körner’s Folly experience. A new Visitors Center allows us to present even more rich and diverse programming to larger audiences while offering meeting and event space to other local nonprofits and citizens alike.
A Destination for Kernersville
In addition to serving as a cornerstone for the Town’s history, Körner’s Folly offers citizens a sense of identity, and acts as a springboard for the Town’s economic development by attracting tourism and keeping our community culturally vibrant. The new John & Bobbie Wolfe Visitors Center is located right next door to historic Körner’s Folly. Situated only ½ mile from the downtown historic district, and easily accessible from Business 40, it serves as a tourism asset to the area.
A partnership between the Town of Kernersville and the Körner’s Folly Foundation was created for the new Visitors Center because Town leaders understand the significant value it brings to the entire community. Thriving tourism powers a thriving economy.
When out-of-town visitors select an attraction such as Körner’s Folly as a destination, they spend hundreds of dollars in our Town on dining, shopping, and other cultural and historical destinations, resulting in new customers for local businesses and increased tax revenue. In 2018 alone, Forsyth County residents saved $192 per person in taxes that were directly attributed to tourism spending.
