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Triad Communities
Welcome to the Triad! As you’ll soon discover, this rapidly growing region, consisting of Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point, is definitely the place to be. That’s because all of these amazing cities are heavy hitters when it comes to business, education, and healthcare.
But don’t just take our word for it. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Estimates of the Population, the Triad region has a combined estimated population of 1.53 million in 2007, making it the 30th largest metropolitan area in the United States.
But despite this growth, the cities have managed to successfully hold onto their small-town feel while providing residents with a quality of life that’s hard to beat. Additional draws to the region are the mild climate with four distinct seasons, which makes year-round outdoor recreation possible; the wealth of colleges and universities, which make attaining a higher education more of a reality instead of a dream; and a large number of diversified companies, which are helping to grow the business offerings in the Triad.
Whether you choose to live in one of the region’s action-packed big cities, such as Greensboro, Winston-Salem, or High Point, or prefer the quiet and slower pace found in smaller Triad communities, we’re confident that you’ll quickly fall in love with the area.
“The Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem area (called the Triad) is a great place to live because of its location,” said Bob Woodard, division vice president of McCar Homes, Raleigh–Greensboro. “The central location allows people who live here to enjoy the mountains (just a couple of hours drive west) or the beach (just a three-hour drive east). These cities offer diverse occupational opportunities, excellent universities, a great downtown nightlife, and a laid-back kind of attitude that’s very refreshing.”
One such popular smaller community is the Town of Kernersville, which is located in the heart of the Triad.
“Kernersville is also a great place to raise a family,” said Curtis Swisher, Kernersville town manager. “We have several wonderful elementary, middle, and high schools here. We also have several parks in Kernersville that offer a variety of activities for all ages. Plus, the triad-based park is less than two miles away.”
Triad living
The good news is that no matter where you want to live, chances are pretty good that you’ll be able to find a home that’s perfect for your lifestyle.
“The hottest areas in the Triad right now are the Kernersville area (The Heart of the Triad) and the Clemmons area near Winston Salem,” said Woodard. “We serve the Kernersville area with two communities, Glennstone (our newest) and Robbins Brook. We also have a community in Clemmons called Meadow Glen. Another hot area of the Triad is the North High Point area. Our Mendenhall Mill community is located there and is very popular.”
These homes are proving to be quite alluring because of one key factor.
“Location, location, location!” said Woodard. “All of our communities are located within easy reach of the interstate for commuters and are close to shopping and restaurants. They provide easy access to parks, greenways, and outdoor activities as well.”
When it comes to cost, the range in price from the 160,000s to the upper 300,000s depending on the community, and the homes range in size from 2,100 square feet to almost 4,000 square feet, said Woodard.
And no matter where you plan on living in and near the Triad, chances are pretty good that new homes are being built to accommodate the need for affordable and a variety of housing.
Recreational haven
No matter where you live in the Triad, there are plenty of recreationally driven activities for those who like hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and golfing. But if you prefer to watch sports from the sidelines, then there are plenty of opportunities for you as well.
“We have a great golf course at Mill Creek,” said Glendel Stephenson, Mebane mayor. “We also have a tremendous Recreation and Parks Department that offers a variety of activities for people of all ages.”
Mebane’s Lake Michael Park is a 59-acre lake that’s stocked with bass, crappie, and bream, which are perfect for fishing off the piers or off your boat. Its 200-acre park offers residents many challenging and scenic nature trails and picnic areas, paddle boat and jon boat rentals, and sand volleyball areas.
Winston-Salem has the 365-acre Salem Lake, which is the perfect place to cast a line. High Point has City Lake Park, which features two playgrounds, a merry-go-round, a miniature train, a miniature golf course, a swimming pool, a waterslide, 10 picnic shelters, and one ball field.
“Mebane also has an amazing 30,000-square-foot Arts and Community Center that has lots of ball parks and a soccer complex,” said Stephenson.
Plus, many of the towns and the cities in the Triad offer a robust slate of organized sports for people of all ages.
Sports fans who prefer to watch games from the sidelines have many opportunities right at their fingertips.
The universities in the Triad offer fantastic collegiate sports action year round, and the local minor league baseball teams, the Greensboro Grasshoppers and the Winston-Salem Warthogs, play many exciting home games each year. Plus, soccer fans should check out the Carolina Dynamo play at the Bryan Park Soccer Complex, which is off U.S. Highway 29 North in Greensboro.
Hockey enthusiasts won’t have to drive far to take in a game because Winston-Salem is home to the Twin City Cyclones, which is a minor league ice hockey team. The Twin City Cyclones kicked off their 2008–2009 schedule on October 24 and will wind up their season on March 21.
Cultural mecca
The region is also a cultural mecca for those who like to participate in many educational and entertaining activities, such as attending concerts, plays, and dance performances at several venues, as well as touring art galleries, zoos, wineries, and museums.
The good news is that the chances of seeing your favorite singer or watching your favorite play are pretty good in the Triad. That’s because the region is home to many venues.
Winston-Salem is home to the Winston-Salem Entertainment–Sports Complex; the Bowman Gray Stadium, which is the home field for Winston-Salem State University football and NASCAR’s Dodge Weekly Series, held Saturday nights from May through August on the flat quarter-mile oval. Also in Winston-Salem is Groves Stadium, which is home field for Wake Forest University football and is part of the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum Complex.
Just some of the many events that are going to be held at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex include Disney on Ice from Dec. 4–7, 3 Doors Down on Dec. 17, and The Nutcracker presented by the Greensboro Ballet from Dec. 18–21.
The High Point Theatre is a year-round performing arts facility that will host a wide variety of performances, including It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Show on Dec. 23, the Freddy Cole Quarter in concert on Jan. 17, Stanley Jordan’s Trio on April 4, and the Atlanta Rhythm Section on May 9.
One of the biggest attractions in the area is Asheboro’s North Carolina Zoo, which houses wildlife from around the world in simulated natural habitats. Each year, approximately 700,000 visitors from all 100 N.C. counties and all 50 states stop by the zoo, which features polar bears and other bears, reptiles, monkeys, elephants, rhinoceros, gazelles, wolves, and a wide variety of birds, according to the zoo’s Web site at www.nczoo.org.
If you love to sample wines made from locally grown grapes, then be sure to stop by one of the many wineries in the 1.4-million acre Yadkin Valley, which located in the western portion of the Triad region.
Another popular attraction in the region is the Old Salem Museum & Gardens. Visitors can take a step back in time by touring many historic town buildings that were built in the mid- to late-1700s by the Moravians, who established the Salem portion of what is now Winston-Salem. While there, you can also tour the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, the Old Salem Toy Museum, and the Children’s Museum, as well as the Gardens of Salem, which have been restored to show what the early Moravian settlers cultivated.
Those who like to shop will find the Triad’s offering much to their liking. There are several large malls, smaller shopping centers, and many small quaint boutiques and specialty stores.
If you’re in the market for new furniture, then High Point’s the place for you because it features 50 discounted furniture stores. It’s also home to one of the most unique attractions, the World’s Largest Chest of Drawers. This 38-foot-tall dresser was built to pay homage to the city’s rich history as the hub for furniture manufacturing, and the socks that dangle from the front of one the drawers symbolizes the area’s hosiery industry.
And speaking of oversized furniture, Thomasville’s Big Chair, which is a 30-feet-high reproduction of a Duncan Phyfe dining room chair, draws many stares from people as they pass through the city. The chair was originally built by the Thomasville Chair Company to reflect the city’s part in supporting the furniture industry.
Community events
If participating in many family-oriented festivals and events appeals to you more, then the Triad’s offerings will keep your calendar quite full.
Downtown Lexington serves as a central location for many community-based events that are held throughout the year, such as the Uptown Christmas Open House, which attracts 7,000 to 10,000 people each year, said Gray.
One of the most exciting and fun events held in the city is the annual Lexington Barbecue Festival, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year.
“This event attracts more than 150,000 visitors each year,” said Gray. “I’ve heard that it’s the largest one-day food festival in the southeast. During the event, we go through between 5,000 to 10,000 pounds of barbecue. We’re really proud of this event. It’s part of our image, and it has really put us on the map.”
In fact, Travel & Leisure Magazine ranked this event as “one of the top 10 food festivals in the USA.”
And speaking of festivals, the Triad and surrounding areas proudly boast of a wide variety of events each year. These events include Kernersville’s Spring Folly, which is a music festival that attracts 20,000 to 25,000 people each year; Winston-Salem’s Holly Jolly Craft Show and its Apple Festival; and Greensboro’s Annual Holiday Market, Eastern Music Festival, Annual N.C. Storyfest, and Craftsmen’s Spring Classic Arts & Crafts Festival. Plus, the City of Mebane’s Recreation and Parks Department assists with the Mebane Dogwood Festival.
As if those festivals weren’t enough to keep you busy, many cities and towns in the Triad host a slew of annual events, including Easter Egg Hunts, haunted houses, Fourth of July celebrations, Christmas parades, and free concerts.
One of the fun things to do when you move to a new city or town is to discover all of the wonderful things that the community has to offer. To get you started on your new adventure, log on to the Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Web site at www.greensboronc.org, the Winston-Salem Visitors Center’s Web Site at www.visitwinstonsalem.com, or the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Web site at www.highpoint.org.
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