Körner's Folly
Körner's Folly
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Korner's Folly is the architectural wonder and home of artist and designer Jule Korner. Built in 1880 in Kernersville, North Carolina, the house originally displayed his interior design portfolio. Visitors can now explore the 22 room house museum and its unique original furnishings and artwork, cast-plaster details, carved woodwork, and elaborate hand-laid tile.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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See what travelers are saying
- Lauren RGulf Shores, Alabama176 contributionsDefinitely stop in!! Beautiful home.I did not know anything about this place when I decided to go here. I didn't really expect much from pulling in and paying my admission. When I entered the home I was very impressed. I completely enjoyed going through this home. I was so glad I took time to stop in. If you like old homes u must stop in!!Visited June 2023Traveled soloWritten October 4, 2023
- sarahg600ac54 contributionsWell Worth the TripWe visited about 7 years ago and returned recently to see the beautiful Christmas decorations. They have done a fantastic job preserving this whimsical and fun home as well as hosting unique events. I highly recommend visiting!Visited December 2023Traveled with familyWritten December 21, 2023
- Dewayne PElizabethtown, Kentucky2,024 contributionsUnique home and showplaceThis was a really interesting house. Self-guided tour starts at the Visitor's Center where you can watch a short film on the Korner family and home. Docent in the house to answer questions as you peruse the 22-room mansion at your leisure. Signage in each room to explain a little more about it. No two rooms have the same dimensions, door frames, window frames, crown molding, etc. Definitely unique.Visited May 2024Traveled soloWritten June 7, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
165 reviews
Excellent
103
Very good
54
Average
6
Poor
2
Terrible
0
LeslieL4
Mooresville, NC246 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
Husband & I stopped here to see Christmas decor. Our adult kids described it as a little Biltmore. Well, maybe. The house is interesting to explore. The owner used it as a showroom display for selling his home decorating products, many of which he designed. Built in 1880, it morphed over the years depending on family status. I don’t know if he was a genius or an over zealous inventor.
It’s not a bargain at $25 for two adults. They really should have a senior citizen rate. Husband doesn’t care to go back. I’d like to go when it’s not Christmas to see more of the house. So many things were hidden by the Christmas displays.
My hubby is handicapped & walks with a cane. He did ok. There are many many steps without hand rails. I honestly don’t know how much they could do to make more accessible. There are some places in the lower area & on the porch that could be improved. The docent was very helpful with making it easy for us to navigate our way.
It’s not a bargain at $25 for two adults. They really should have a senior citizen rate. Husband doesn’t care to go back. I’d like to go when it’s not Christmas to see more of the house. So many things were hidden by the Christmas displays.
My hubby is handicapped & walks with a cane. He did ok. There are many many steps without hand rails. I honestly don’t know how much they could do to make more accessible. There are some places in the lower area & on the porch that could be improved. The docent was very helpful with making it easy for us to navigate our way.
Written December 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate Illinois1
Illinois4,861 contributions
Apr 2023
Frank Lloyd Wright would roll over in his grave...lol. This was an interesting house that I guess we won't forget. Mr. Körner kept creating rooms within an existing blueprint. The master bedroom is large but there is an archway in the middle of the room making it not pleasing to the eye. Other rooms are long and narrow or stacked on top of eachother leaving no head room for an average height today. The reception room and theater made sense. Mr Körner had eccentric eclectic ideas.
Written May 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maryenc
NC1 contribution
Nov 2022
As a North Carolinian, what a historical treasure this place is for NC! Without having fully read the info about it before we arrived, I thought it would likely be, as its name suggests, the result of some eccentric person's whimsical lifetime of dabbling. Not so! While ornate, elaborate, and certainly out of the ordinary, as the info boards in each room and the semi-docent (who greeted us at the door and appeared periodically during our self-guided tour) explained, all things about the house were purposeful and planned. I'd recommend a web search before your visit to read about the history (of Jule Korner, the house (that was nearly demolished), and Aunt Dealy) for a fuller appreciation of the historical value of this interesting site!
Without too much dawdling, it took us about an hour to complete our tour. As noted by other reviewers, the house is definitely not handicapped accessible and, also, probably not the best stop for small children, having some steep stairs, tight spots, lots of nooks and crannies, and plenty of trinkets around.
Without too much dawdling, it took us about an hour to complete our tour. As noted by other reviewers, the house is definitely not handicapped accessible and, also, probably not the best stop for small children, having some steep stairs, tight spots, lots of nooks and crannies, and plenty of trinkets around.
Written November 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shannon B
Spartanburg, SC176 contributions
Dec 2020
In the height of COVID, I found the tour to be excellent. There was a sign in every room detailing the history of the house and family. They kept each tour group (family) in a separate room. The house was incredible decorated for Christmas.
Written December 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dewayne P
Elizabethtown, KY2,024 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
This was a really interesting house. Self-guided tour starts at the Visitor's Center where you can watch a short film on the Korner family and home. Docent in the house to answer questions as you peruse the 22-room mansion at your leisure. Signage in each room to explain a little more about it. No two rooms have the same dimensions, door frames, window frames, crown molding, etc. Definitely unique.
Written June 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kellylikesgirls
9 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
This is the coolest place EVER. I’m personally very into history, old houses, and eccentric people. This place combines all 3. It was such a treat to learn about this house and it’s history. I recommend this for people of any age, families, or even as a unique date idea. I had an absolutely stellar time here, and spent a full 2 hours wandering around.
Accessibility: this house has ALOT of stairs and narrow doorways. If you have mobility issues you may find certain areas of this home to be difficult to navigate.
Accessibility: this house has ALOT of stairs and narrow doorways. If you have mobility issues you may find certain areas of this home to be difficult to navigate.
Written July 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lauren R
Gulf Shores, AL176 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
I did not know anything about this place when I decided to go here. I didn't really expect much from pulling in and paying my admission. When I entered the home I was very impressed. I completely enjoyed going through this home. I was so glad I took time to stop in. If you like old homes u must stop in!!
Written October 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OMC Adventures
Apex, NC75 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
Wonderful whimsical house. Lots of history and fascinating story of this house. So many little nooks and crannies with surprising doors. My kids would have loved this house when they were younger. Fascinating house.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Timothy V
Cleveland, OH40 contributions
Jul 2023
This was a very interesting place! Well laid out with a lot of good background info. Absolutely beautiful workmanship with some great insights into the Victorian age! Thankful the local community saved the place for all to admire! A very pleasant surprise (thank you Trip Advisor!)
Written July 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sarahg600ac
bunnlevel54 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
We visited about 7 years ago and returned recently to see the beautiful Christmas decorations. They have done a fantastic job preserving this whimsical and fun home as well as hosting unique events. I highly recommend visiting!
Written December 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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