Historic Bethabara Park

Lovely place with some interesting history. We made it on a candle making day and the kids were invited to help. It was pretty special for them, and of course we were sold on buying a few from the gift shop when we left. Could easily spend an hour or two just walking the grounds.

Went to the Apple Festival on a beautiful fall day. The crowds were large and well-behaved. Vendors had a wide variety for sale, and all the historic buildings were open for tours. Bethabara was a sister town to Salem where the Moravians settled in 1753 to escape religious persecution. Eleven settlers, each chosen for their distinct occupation, left Bethlehem PA and covered 520 miles in 40 days. The pottery house and the blacksmith were particularly interesting, as was the petting zoo for children. The large barn has displays of various tools used by the Moravians in everyday tasks. There are a few good hiking trails, one of which leads across Minorcas Creek to their God's Acre burying ground. A lot of history here. The only complaint I have is that no one was selling apple cider! Besides that, it was a great time.

I drove a few hours to get here and was disappointed because I came for the lotus pond. When I got there found out the trail was not accessible. However, we stayed and explored the grounds. It was very educational and interesting. I did find another was to access the pond which was a short drive away.

If you're a history buff, the story of the Moravians and their history in NC is very interesting. We went during the week so there were more staff than the very few other visitors. All were very friendly and informative. The black smithing volunteers have us a personal demonstration and made us a souvenir pot hanging hook from a steel bar ... very cool and interesting. They also had an assortment of metal tools, etc that would have been used in the settlement and explained what they did. I loved it! We only spent and hour and half or so, so we didn't take the guided tour, but I'm sure it would been very interesting. We did watch the we 20 minute video and read a lot of the plaques in the visitors center. Highly recommend if you enjoy history.

Historic Bethabara Park is a hidden gem in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, we enjoyed it!! offering a unique blend of history, nature, and tranquility. It's Well-preserved historical buildings and artifacts: where you can explore the restored Gemeinhaus, archaeological ruins, and historic gardens, providing a glimpse into the lives of Moravian settlers. Aslo, beautiful natural setting: you can enjoy 20 miles of nature trails, including the 2.7-mile Bethabara Greenway, perfect for walking, running, or hiking...♥︎♥︎♥︎