Tanglewood Park facts for kids
Tanglewood Park is a super fun place in Clemmons, North Carolina, USA. It's a big park and recreation center located right by the Yadkin River.
Tanglewood Park is famous for its amazing "Tanglewood Festival of Lights" every winter. This event celebrates the holidays with millions of sparkling lights! But there's more to Tanglewood than just lights. You can also find the beautiful Tanglewood Park Arboretum and Rose Garden, a public swimming pool, a special park for dogs, and stables for horses. There's even Mallard Lake where you can go fishing or rent a paddleboat.
If you love golf, Tanglewood has two awesome courses. One is called the Championship Course, designed by a famous golf course architect named Robert Trent Jones, Sr.. This course even hosted a major golf tournament, the PGA Championship, back in 1974! A legendary golfer named Lee Trevino won that year.
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Tanglewood's Festival of Lights
Imagine driving through a magical world of lights! That's what Tanglewood Park's Festival of Lights is all about. Every winter, this outdoor light show opens to everyone. You can drive your own car through the route or even take a cozy hay ride.
The Festival of Lights first started in 1992. Back then, it was a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) route with 25 light displays. Today, it's much bigger! The route is about 4 miles (6.4 km) long and has around 180 displays. About 70 of these displays are animated, meaning they move and tell stories with lights.
In 2001, over 300,000 people visited the festival to celebrate its 10th birthday. Now, more than a million lights make the show sparkle! This amazing festival has been called one of the "Top 20 Events in the Southeast" and one of the "Top 100 Events in North America". It's a truly special holiday tradition.
The History of Tanglewood Park
The land where Tanglewood Park now sits has a long and interesting history. One of the first European settlers in the Yadkin River Valley was William Johnson, who came from Wales. In 1757, he bought the central part of the property.
Johnson built a fort overlooking the Yadkin River. This fort helped protect his family and neighbors during the French and Indian War. Today, a monument marks this important spot near the Manor House. William Johnson passed away in 1765 and is buried on a hill called Mount Pleasant. In 1809, a simple wooden church was built next to his grave. This old church is still there and is a beautiful part of the park. Many couples even get married there each year!
In 1859, James Johnson, a descendant of William, built the grand 18-room Manor House. It was a special wedding gift for his daughter, Emily. Later, two more sections were added to the house.
Tanglewood Farm and the Reynolds Family
In 1921, the Johnson family sold the property to William Neal Reynolds. He was the brother of the famous tobacco businessman R. J. Reynolds. Mr. Will, as he was known, made the Tanglewood property much larger, to over 1,100 acres (4.5 km²). He also expanded the Manor House to 28 rooms.
Mr. Will loved horses! He raised and raced Standardbred harness horses and made Tanglewood Farm a home for some of the best horses in the country. He even had a special "Trophy Room" in the Manor House to display all his awards. In 1980, a fire damaged the room, but it has since been beautifully restored. Today, you can still see plaques and horse photographs there. The tradition of loving horses continues at Tanglewood Stables, where you can go on trail rides, hayrides, and carriage rides.
Today, the Manor House is a Bed & Breakfast Inn. It has 10 guest rooms, grand staircases, the Trophy Room, and other unique spaces. It's a popular place for weddings, meetings, and overnight stays.
Mr. Will's wife, Kate, loved plants and gardening. She started many of the beautiful gardens at Tanglewood. She hired a talented German gardener named Mr. Frank Lustig, who helped her plans come to life. He created the amazing 800-bush Rose Garden, the Arboretum (a collection of trees), and the Fragrance Garden. Mr. Lustig worked at Tanglewood for 60 years, even after Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds passed away. He is buried in the graveyard next to the historic church.
The Reynolds couple did not have children. In 1951, they made a wonderful gift: they gave Tanglewood property to the people of Forsyth County. They wanted everyone to enjoy the beauty, history, and fun of their country estate as a public park. The park opened in 1954. Over time, the park worked to become a place where all citizens could enjoy its facilities. In 1976, Forsyth County officially bought the park, making sure it would always be a place for everyone to share.
Cross Country Running
Tanglewood Park has also been a popular spot for cross country running events. For eight years, from 2001 to 2009, it hosted the NCHSAA State Championship for Cross Country. It's also the location for the Ascis 4runners only Invitational, another big running event.
See also
- North Carolina Wine Festival
