Tanglewood Park

Last updated April 18, 2023

Tanglewood Park is a recreation center and park in Clemmons, Forsyth County, North Carolina, USA. It is located on the Yadkin River between Clemmons and Bermuda Run. It is home to the annual "Tanglewood Festival of Lights," a display of lights in the wintertime celebrating the holidays. Additional attractions include the Tanglewood Park Arboretum and Rose Garden, a public pool, a dog park, horse stables, and Mallard Lake for fishing and paddleboat renting. Tanglewood has two golf courses, the Championship Course (designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr.) and the Reynolds Course. The former hosted the PGA Championship in 1974, won by Lee Trevino, with Jack Nicklaus one stroke back.^[1]

Festival of Lights

Tanglewood Park's Festival of Lights is an outside drive-thru light show open to the public every winter. Visitors can drive their own vehicles through the course or take a hay ride for a fee. The light show at Tanglewood started in 1992 with a grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Charitable Trust as well as funds raised by the Tanglewood Park Foundation. In its early days, the Festival of Lights was a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) route with 25 light displays. The route is approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) long adorned with about 180 displays (70 of which are animated). An estimated 300,000 visitors converged at Tanglewood Park for the 2001 Festival of Lights as the event celebrated its 10th Anniversary and honored those who died on September 11, 2001. Today, over a million lights complete the light show. The festival has been recognized as a "Top 20 Event in the Southeast" and a "Top 100 Event in North America".

History

Among the earliest European settlers of the Yadkin River Valley was William Johnson, an immigrant from Wales. In 1757, just four years after the Moravian settlement of the Wachovia Tract in the nearby communities of Bethabara and Salem, Johnson purchased the mile square central portion of the present property from the Ellis family to whom the land was deeded in 1753 by Lord William Linville. The Ellis family leased the land for a short time "for five shillings lawful money of Great Britain in hand a yearly rent of one peppercorn payment at the Feast of Saint Michael, the archangel". After obtaining the property, Johnson built a fort overlooking the Yadkin River to protect his family and neighbors from attacks during the French and Indian War. Currently, this spot is marked by a monument just south of the Manor House. In 1765, he died and is now buried on the highest hill in the area called Mount Pleasant. In 1809 a simple frame church was erected next to his grave and remains today as one of the park's architectural attractions. Although services are no longer held there, many people are united in marriage at the Mount Pleasant Church each year.

In 1859, James Johnson had the 18 room Manor House built on a hill in the center of the estate. The house was a gift of love to his daughter, Emily, for a wedding present. Two wings were added later.

Tanglewood Farm

The Johnson heirs sold their property in 1921 to William Neal Reynolds, brother of tobacco entrepreneur R. J. Reynolds. At that time the Tanglewood tract was enlarged to over 1,100 acres (4.5 km²) and the Manor House expanded to 28 rooms. Mr. Will, as he was called, raised and raced Standardbred harness horses and established Tanglewood Farm as a home to some of the country's finest pacers. In the Manor House, Mr. Will had a special room dedicated to his trophies, called the "Trophy Room." A fire that started mysteriously in a trophy room display case in 1980 did considerable damage, but the room has been restored. The room is surrounded by plaques and horse photographs. Mr. Will was a horse lover, and this tradition is carried on with Tanglewood Stables. Trail rides, hayrides, and carriage rides are available by reservation.

Today, the Manor House is a Bed & Breakfast Inn with 10 guest rooms, sweeping staircases, the Trophy Room, 20's Room, and Rock Fireplace Room. These facilities are used for weddings, meetings, and overnight accommodations.

Mr. Will's wife, Kate, a horticultural enthusiast, began the extensive native and ornamental plantings at Tanglewood and employed German master gardener, Mr. Frank Lustig, who continued her plans and his life's work. He contributed the 800 bush Rose Garden on the Manor House lawn, the Arboretum behind the house, and the nearby Fragrance Garden to the estate. For 60 years, even after the death of his employers, and their gift of the estate, Lustig poured his talents into Tanglewood. He is buried in the graveyard at Tanglewood next to the historic church. The Reynolds couple had no children, and, as a gesture enabling others to benefit from the beauty, elegance, history, and recreation their country estate had to offer, in 1951, they willed the Tanglewood property to the citizens of Forsyth County to share as a public recreational park. At the time, Will Reynolds specified it was to be used only for the benefit of white citizens or its ownership would revert to his heirs, so it opened in 1954 as a segregated park.^[2] When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it difficult to continue operating under those terms, the park closed its Manor House, pool, theater, motel, and restaurant. A federal court case forced desegregation of the park in 1971, which reverted its ownership to the Reynolds family, who leased it to a nonprofit before finally selling it to Forsyth County in 1976.^[3]^[2]

Today, most visitors are unaware of this racialized history. There is no mention of it on Forsyth County's "Park History" page for Tanglewood.^[4]

Cross country

Tanglewood Park was also the site for the NCHSAA State Championship for Cross Country for eight consecutive years between 2001-2009. The location of this cross country meet moved to Beeson Park in Kernersville, NC in 2010. Tanglewood Park is also the site for the Ascis 4runners only Invitational.

Related Research Articles

Forsyth County is located in the northwest Piedmont of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 382,590, making it the fourth-most populous county in North Carolina. Its county seat is Winston-Salem. Forsyth County is part of the Winston-Salem, NC, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point, NC, Combined Statistical Area. Portions of Forsyth County are in the Yadkin Valley wine region.

Bermuda Run is a town in Davie County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,725 at the 2010 census. It was incorporated in 1999 as a fully gated residential community near country clubs and golf courses like the Bermuda Run Country Club, Oak Valley Golf Club, and Tanglewood Park. In 2000, the town annexed into neighboring Hillsdale, picking up a commercial district. The town rests on the western bank of the Yadkin River along U.S. Route 158 and North Carolina Highway 801. Interstate 40 provides express access to Winston-Salem, the town's nearest urban center. In 2012, Kinderton Village was voluntarily annexed by the town of Bermuda Run.

Clemmons is a village in Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States and a suburb of Winston-Salem. The population was 21,177 at the 2020 census, with an estimated population of 21,517 in 2021.

Winston-Salem is a city in and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in North Carolina, the third-largest urban area in North Carolina, and the 90th most populous city in the United States. With a metropolitan population of 679,948 it is the fourth largest metropolitan area in North Carolina. Winston-Salem is home to the tallest office building in the region, 100 North Main Street, formerly known as the Wachovia Building and now known locally as the Wells Fargo Center.

Waddesdon Manor is a country house in the village of Waddesdon, in Buckinghamshire, England. Owned by the National Trust and managed by the Rothschild Foundation, it is one of the National Trust's most visited properties, with over 463,000 visitors in 2019.

Ascott House, sometimes referred to as simply Ascott, is a Grade II* listed building in the hamlet of Ascott near Wing in Buckinghamshire, England. It is set in a 32-acre / 13 hectare estate.

The Piedmont Triad is a metropolitan region in the north-central part of the U.S. state of North Carolina anchored by three cities: Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. This close group of cities lies in the Piedmont geographical region of the United States and forms the basis of the Greensboro–Winston-Salem–High Point Combined Statistical Area. As of 2012, the Piedmont Triad has an estimated population of 1,611,243 making it the 33rd largest combined statistical area in the United States.

The Yadkin River is one of the longest rivers in the US state of North Carolina, flowing 215 miles (346 km). It rises in the northwestern portion of the state near the Blue Ridge Parkway's Thunder Hill Overlook. Several parts of the river are impounded by dams for water, power, and flood control. The river becomes the Pee Dee River at the confluence of the Uwharrie River south of the community of Badin and east of the town of Albemarle. The river then flows into South Carolina near Cheraw, which is at the Fall Line. The entirety of the Yadkin River and the Great Pee Dee River is part of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin.

William Neal Reynolds was a U.S. sportsman and businessman with R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, which was founded by his brother R. J. Reynolds.

Wachovia was the area settled by Moravians in what is now Forsyth County, North Carolina, US. Of the six 18th century Moravian "villages of the Lord" established in Wachovia, today the town of Bethania and city of Winston-Salem exist within the historic Wachovia tract. The historical tract was somewhat larger than present-day Winston-Salem and somewhat smaller than present-day Forsyth County.

Wimbledon Park is the name of an urban park in Wimbledon and also of the suburb south and east of the park and the Wimbledon Park tube station. The park itself is 27 hectares in area. The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club is immediately to the west of the park. Wimbledon Park is not part of Wimbledon Common, which is situated further to the west up the hill.

Gatcombe Park is the country residence of Anne, Princess Royal, between the villages of Minchinhampton and Avening in Gloucestershire, England. Built in the late 18th century to the designs of George Basevi, it is a Grade II* listed building. It is a royal residence as it is home to the Princess Royal, and is privately owned. Parts of the grounds open for events, including horse trials and craft fairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oglebay Park</span> Historic house in West Virginia, United States

Oglebay Park is a self-supporting public municipal park, the only one of its kind, located on the outskirts of Wheeling, West Virginia, on 1,650 acres (670 ha). In 1926, Earl W. Oglebay deeded his estate, Waddington Farms, to the city of Wheeling for the express purpose of public recreation. The park has been open to the public since 1928 when its governing body, the Wheeling Park Commission, began operations.

West Forsyth High School is a high school in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.

Tring Park Mansion or Mansion House, Tring Park, is a large country house in Tring, Hertfordshire. The house, as "Tring Park", was used, and from 1872 owned, by members of the Rothschild family from 1838 to 1945.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is a historic house museum in Akron, Ohio. The estate includes gardens, a greenhouse, carriage house, and the main mansion, one of the largest houses in the United States. A National Historic Landmark, it is nationally significant as the home of F. A. Seiberling, co-founder of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

Tanglewood Park Arboretum and Rose Garden is an arboretum and garden located within Tanglewood Park at 4201 Clemmons Road, Clemmons, North Carolina.

Rockford is an unincorporated community and former town in southern Surry County, North Carolina, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enon, North Carolina</span> Unincorporated community in North Carolina, United States

Enon is an unincorporated community in eastern Yadkin County, North Carolina, United States. The community, which is centered on Enon Baptist Church, is in the Forbush Township and in the East Bend ZIP code zone (27018). It is a Piedmont Triad community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graylyn</span> Historic house in North Carolina, United States

Graylyn Estate, or Graylin, is a historic estate located in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The construction of the Norman Revival style mansion began in 1928. Associated with the house are a number of contributing outbuildings including a garage-guest house and "farm" complex. Today, Graylyn estate is used as a conference center and hotel. It is currently a member of Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

References

↑ "'Super' Lee notches PGA". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 12, 1974. p. 12.
1 2 "Hidden History of Winston-Salem". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
↑ "Mr. Will and Tanglewood Park". Reynolda. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
↑ "Park History". www.forsyth.cc. Retrieved 2023-04-17.

Coordinates: 35°59′39″N80°24′33″W / 35.99417°N 80.40917°W / 35.99417; -80.40917

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[sr74pgsrd4-1] "'Super' Lee notches PGA". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 12, 1974. p. 12.

[:0-2] 1 2 "Hidden History of Winston-Salem". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2023-04-17.

[3] "Mr. Will and Tanglewood Park". Reynolda. Retrieved 2023-04-17.

[4] "Park History". www.forsyth.cc. Retrieved 2023-04-17.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]