Winston-Salem Neighborhoods

Winston-Salem is rich with diverse neighborhoods and architecture. From urban living downtown and historic neighborhoods to big yards and country club living, Winston-Salem offers a home setting for almost any taste. This list of neighborhood descriptions can be helpful when searching for a home that fits your lifestyle. We will continue to add to the list as the options are many.
Are you already a resident? If so, which neighborhood do you call home?  The author has called both the Polo area and West End neighborhoods home and wishes the lofts of downtown had been available in her more youthful days.

Ardmore

Ardmore, the largest and newest historic district in Winston-Salem*, is a popular Winston-Salem neighborhood for young families and medical students, as it is located between Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and Forsyth Hospital and hosts one of the largest parks in the city — Miller Park. Located in the 27103 postal area, the median home price is $185,243. Schools in the neighborhood include Bolton Elementary, newly renovated Moore Elementary and Redeemer School (private).

Bermuda Run

Bermuda Run is an upscale, fully-gated town located just off Interstate 40, minutes from Winston-Salem, that actually borders Forsyth County on the west, along the Yadkin River. Situated in Davie County, the community of 1,500 is next door to Tanglewood Park and home to Bermuda Run private country club, golf course and retirement community.

Buena Vista/Runnymede/West Highlands

This sophisticated neighborhood west of the West End neighborhood with Italian Renaissance and Tudor-style mansions is home to the work of many famed architects, including Charles Barton Keen. The streets are lined with sidewalks and large oaks. The neighborhood is dissected by the heavily-traveled Stratford Road. Neighborhood schools include Whitaker Elementary School, Brunson Elementary, Wiley Middle School, RJ Reynolds High School, Summit School (private) and St. Leo’s Catholic School (private). Located in the 27104 postal area, the median house price for this neighborhood is $321,700.
Points of interest include Reynolds Auditorium, Historic Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Reynolda Village, Diamond Back Grill and 1703 Restaurant. Note: Although Buena Vista’s neighborhood name is Spanish for “beautiful view”, and certainly true, residents pronounce in a decidedly Southern way, — “byoo-nah vistah.”

Downtown Winston-Salem

With downtown revitalization in recent years, downtown is now vibrant, especially after business hours and weekend nights. The tobacco warehouses and knitting mills of our farming and industrial history have now been transformed into beautiful urban lofts in the heart of downtown surrounded by restaurants, the galleries of the Arts District, cinemas, music venues and more.

 

Holly Avenue

Holly Avenue is one of the smallest neighborhoods in the city, but it enjoys a prime spot just southeast of the downtown area between Hanesbrands Theatre and the BB&T Ballpark. Home to Calvary Moravian Church, this neighborhood of colorful bungalows and duplexes has been rejuvenated in recent years with the revival of downtown development.

Olde Vineyard

The Olde Vineyard neighborhood was constructed at different times, beginning in the 1950′s and so offers a variety of architectural styles and housing types from mid-century modern and ranch style homes to more contemporary and traditional homes. Sidewalks thread through the neighborhood.
Located in the 27103 postal area, Olde Vineyard is located near Hanes Mall area and Forsyth Hospital and is bordered by Interstate 40 Business Loop/Hwy 421 on the west, I-40 on the south, South Stratford on the east and Silas Creek Parkway on the northeast. Points of interest include Hanes Mall, Bolton Park, and many shopping centers. The neighborhood is served by Moore Magnet Elementary School.

Old Salem

Old Salem is a preserved Moravian planned community. The Historic Town of Salem dates back to 1766 and includes cobblestone streets surrounded by gardens, living historical tours and classes with staff in period dress .
Points of interest include Home Moravian Church and the Moravian Archives; Old Salem Visitors Center; St. Philips, the oldest standing African American Church in North Carolina*; the Museum of Southern Decorative Arts; Salem Academy; Salem College; the 1800 Tannenberg Organ, the largest organ in existence; Winkler Bakery and Zevely House Inn.

Sherwood Forrest/Polo

The Sherwood Forrest neighborhood is filled with classic brick homes built mostly in the 1960′s and ’70′s with large yards, mature trees, walkable schools and soccer fields. It is home to a popular neighborhood pool. Neighborhood schools include Sherwood Elementary, Speas Elementary and Mount Tabor High School.

South Fork/Country Club

The South Fork neighborhood is situated around Country Club Road and is convenient to Forsyth Hospital. South Fork Elementary is located in the neighborhood and the area is served by Wiley Middle School and Reynolds High School. There is a wide range of home size and styles, from manor homes to ranch-style homes to condos. There are few sidewalks in the neighborhood. Points of interest include Forsyth Country Club, South Fork Park and Community Center, Hathaway Park, The Greek Orthodox Church and school,

Washington Park

This is another historic neighborhood making a comeback. The architecture of the Washington Park is varied, from Georgian and Queen Anne-style mansions, to smaller Craftsman bungalows. Points of interest include the largest neighborhood park in town, (including a dog park), the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and quaint neighborhood market and bar Washington Perk and Swaim’s Grocery.

West End

The first suburb of Winston-Salem, now dubbed, “Winston-Salem’s front porch,” the West End historic district is adjacent to downtown and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in the 27101 postal area. The neighborhood was historically part of the Hotel Zinzendorf spa resort property in the 1890′s, which tragically burned in a fire just months after opening.
This neighborhood of turn-of-the-century architecture, rolling hills, stone walls and tall oaks was home to the Hanes and Reynolds families and the first Millionaire’s Row in town. Architectural styles include Queen Anne, Neoclassical, Colonial Revival and Craftsman. Residents must ascribe to historical guidelines for their home fronts. Points of interest in the West End include Grace Court Park, Hanes Park and the William G. White (formerly Central) YMCA, and many great restaurants. Neighborhood schools include Brunson Elementary School, Wiley Middle School and R.J. Reynolds High School.

West Salem

West Salem is a historic neighborhood that borders downtown Winston-Salem and Old Salem. Established in 1782, it is the second oldest neighborhood in town, having been initially settled as farmland serving Old Salem before it was associated with the suburban expansion of Winston-Salem’s industrialization in the early 1900′s. It features over 1,000 homes and structures with varied architectural styles from 19th Century Greek Revival to a large collection of Craftsmen-style bungalows.
Some points of interest include the gothic Christ Moravian Church and the new BB&T Ballpark. In the heart of West Salem sits Historic Granville Park where neighbors come together to enjoy social events and utilize the tennis courts and new playground equipment.  West Salem also features a community garden where neighbors grow food for themselves and others – an average of 1,000 bags of produce are offered back to the community each summer from the garden.

Tell Us About Your Neighborhood

More neighborhoods to come! Post a comment below about why you love your neighborhood the most.