Winston-Salem, North Carolina: A Southern City Transformed From Tobacco Hub to Cultural Destination

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has spent the last several decades trading its industrial reputation for a culture-forward identity. Once dominated by Big Tobacco, the city has repurposed its historic factories and Gilded Age estates into walkable arts districts, living-history museums, and modern research parks. The result is a destination that honors its past while building a dynamic future.

Winston-Salem's Industrial Rebirth

The city's transformation is visible in its architecture and public spaces. According to Michael Breedlove, senior public relations and communications manager for Visit Winston-Salem, the city embraces a spirit of reinvention. Rather than demolishing historic structures, Winston-Salem builds upon them—reshaping abandoned warehouses into lively urban spaces and preserving 18th-century settlements.

Where to Stay in Winston-Salem

Kimpton Cardinal Hotel Located in the original 1929 R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company office building, the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel offers 174 guest rooms, including 15 luxury suites. The building was designed by the same architectural firm that later designed the Empire State Building—a connection celebrated with a Father’s Day card from the Empire State Building displayed in the lobby. Amenities include an industrial-style Rec Room with a basketball court, a two-lane bowling alley, and a spiral slide. The on-site restaurant, The Katharine, serves Southern-inspired French brasserie fare.

Graylyn Estate & Conference Center Built in 1932 for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco executive Bowman Gray and his wife Nathalie, the Graylyn Estate features 85 rooms across five buildings. The property includes 17th-century hand-carved paneling from Paris and a Persian Card Room with historic Syrian art. The estate offers 24-hour butler service and dining at the Graylyn Estate Dining room or The Grille Room. Guests can also enjoy unlimited free ice cream in the former butler’s pantry.

Summit Street Inns For a more intimate experience, the Summit Street Inns offer bed and breakfast accommodations in the historic West End neighborhood. Options include the 1893 B.J. Sheppard House and the 1887 Colonel Ludlow House, both featuring original tiled fireplaces, stained glass, and expansive porches. A hot Southern-style breakfast is included, along with a complimentary evening glass of wine or beer.

Top Cultural Attractions and Historic Sites

Reynolda House Museum of American Art Constructed in 1917 by Katharine and R.J. Reynolds, the 34,000-square-foot Reynolda House now serves as a museum of American art. The collection spans from the colonial period to contemporary works, featuring pieces by Andrew Wyeth, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Andy Warhol. The surrounding Historic Reynolda Gardens offer themed gardens, a 1913 Lord & Burnham greenhouse, and wooded nature trails.

Old Salem Museums & Gardens Founded in 1766 by Moravian settlers, Old Salem functions as a living-history museum. Residents occupy 18th-century homes, and bakers still use the original 1799 oven at Winkler Bakery. Key sites include the 1769 Single Brothers’ House and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts. During the holidays, the site hosts the traditional Moravian Candle Tea, a ticketed event featuring caroling and beeswax candle-making.

Historic Bethabara Park Predating Salem by 13 years, Bethabara was North Carolina’s first European settlement. The 183-acre National Historic Landmark features preserved 18th-century buildings, a reconstructed French and Indian War stockade, and the Bethabara God’s Acre cemetery. The cemetery holds over 7,000 uniform gravestones, where the departed were buried chronologically and grouped by age, gender, and marital status rather than family plots.

Mrs. Hanes' Moravian Cookies Located in Clemmons, just outside Winston-Salem, Mrs. Hanes' Moravian Cookies has been family-owned for over a century. It is the only bakery that still fully rolls, cuts, and packs the ultra-thin cookies by hand. Weekday visitors can watch the "Artists in Aprons" process more than 110,000 pounds of dough annually. Flavors include ginger, butterscotch, sugar, black walnut, chocolate, and lemon.

Innovation Quarter Spanning 330 acres, the Innovation Quarter is one of the country's fastest-growing urban research parks. Former R.J. Reynolds tobacco factories and coal plants now house medical labs, startups, and local eateries. The district includes the 1.7-mile Long Branch Trail and Bailey Park, which hosts live concerts, outdoor movies, and food trucks.

Dining and Culinary Highlights

• Mission Pizza Napoletana: An osteria-style restaurant using a wood-fired oven to create blistered Neapolitan crusts. They offer a "Pizzakase" experience, an omakase-style tasting where the chef selects the courses.
• Heff’s Burger Club: Known for its distinct atmosphere featuring punk rock and cartoons, the restaurant serves smash burgers like the Lady Killer, topped with American cheese, local pickles, and black garlic sauce.
• Mozelle’s: Operating since 2008, Mozelle’s offers elevated Southern dishes such as shrimp and grits, fried chicken, and tomato pie, with ample gluten-friendly, vegetarian, and vegan options.
• Camel City BBQ Factory: A modern take on traditional North Carolina barbecue, located downtown. The third floor features a "Barcade" with darts, foosball, pool, and classic arcade games.

Planning Your Visit: Transit and Timing

Best Time to Visit Spring through fall offers mild weather ideal for exploring the city's historic gardens and outdoor districts. The winter holiday season is also highly recommended, as the city leans into its Moravian roots with candlelight tours and Lovefeast services at Old Salem.

How to Get There Winston-Salem is located in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region. While the city has Smith Reynolds Airport (INT), most commercial travelers fly into Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) in Greensboro, located about 23 miles from downtown. Drivers can access the city via I-40, I-77, U.S. Highway 52, and I-285.

Neighborhoods to Explore The Arts District, centered along Trade Street, features galleries, street murals, and Artivity on the Green. On the third Friday of each month, the "Art Crush" event keeps galleries open late with street music and vendor activities. For outdoor recreation, the 1,000-acre Tanglewood Park in nearby Clemmons offers trails, an arboretum, horseback riding, golf, and paddle boats.

Data Table

Category	Top 5 Can't-Miss Experiences in Winston-Salem
Accommodation	Ride the spiral slide to the Rec Room at the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel
Food & Drink	Take a behind-the-scenes tour at Mrs. Hanes' Moravian Cookies
Dining	Eat at Heff's Burger Club or Camel City BBQ Factory
History	Explore the living-history exhibits at Old Salem Museums & Gardens
Arts	Browse the galleries and shops in the downtown Arts District

Key Takeaways

• Winston-Salem has successfully transitioned from a tobacco-industry hub to a destination focused on arts, history, and adaptive reuse.
• Visitors can stay in repurposed historic buildings, including the 1929 R.J. Reynolds office building (Kimpton Cardinal) and a 1932 executive estate (Graylyn Estate).
• Old Salem Museums & Gardens and Historic Bethabara Park offer authentic insights into 18th-century Moravian settlement life.
• The city's culinary scene ranges from hand-rolled Moravian cookies to Neapolitan pizza and elevated Southern cuisine.
• The best times to visit are spring through fall for outdoor activities, or during the winter holidays for traditional Moravian celebrations.

FAQ

What is the closest major airport to Winston-Salem? Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) in Greensboro is the closest major commercial hub, located approximately 23 miles from downtown Winston-Salem.

What is Old Salem Museums & Gardens? Old Salem is a living-history museum established in the original 1766 Moravian settlement. It features preserved 18th-century buildings, traditional baking at Winkler Bakery, and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.

When is the best time to visit Winston-Salem? Spring through fall provides mild weather for exploring gardens and outdoor districts. The holiday season is also popular for traditional Moravian candlelight tours and Lovefeast services.

Where can I see the Moravian cookie-making process? Mrs. Hanes' Moravian Cookies in Clemmons (just outside Winston-Salem) offers weekday behind-the-scenes tours where visitors can watch the "Artists in Aprons" hand-roll, cut, and pack the cookies.

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Disclaimer: All information is obtained from reliable flight tracking and news sources and is subject to change.