Among the earliest European settlers of the
Yadkin River Valley was William Johnson, an immigrant from
Wales. In 1757, just four years after the
Moravian settlement of the
Wachovia Tract in the nearby communities of
Bethabara and
Salem, Johnson purchased the mile square central portion of the present property from the Ellis family to whom the land was deeded in 1753 by Lord William Linville. The Ellis family leased the land for a short time "for five shillings lawful money of
Great Britain in hand a yearly rent of one peppercorn payment at the Feast of
Saint Michael, the
archangel". After obtaining the property, Johnson built a
fort overlooking the
Yadkin River to protect his family and neighbors from attacks during the
French and Indian War. Currently, this spot is marked by a monument just south of the Manor House. In 1765, he died and is now buried on the highest hill in the area called Mount Pleasant. In 1809 a simple frame church was erected next to his grave and remains today as one of the park's architectural attractions. Although services are no longer held there, many people are united in marriage at the Mount Pleasant Church each year. In 1859, James Johnson had the 18 room Manor House built on a hill in the center of the estate. The house was a gift of love to his daughter, Emily, for a wedding present. Two wings were added later.
Tanglewood Farm The Johnson heirs sold their property in 1921 to
William Neal Reynolds, brother of tobacco entrepreneur
R. J. Reynolds. At that time the Tanglewood tract was enlarged to over and the Manor House expanded to 28 rooms. Mr. Will, as he was called, raised and raced
Standardbred harness horses and established Tanglewood Farm as a home to some of the country's finest pacers. In the Manor House, Mr. Will had a special room dedicated to his trophies, called the "Trophy Room." A fire that started mysteriously in a trophy room display case in 1980 did considerable damage, but the room has been restored. The room is surrounded by plaques and horse photographs. Mr. Will was a horse lover, and this tradition is carried on with Tanglewood Stables. Trail rides, hayrides, and carriage rides are available by reservation. Today, the Manor House is a Bed & Breakfast Inn with 10 guest rooms, sweeping staircases, the Trophy Room, 20's Room, and Rock Fireplace Room. These facilities are used for weddings, meetings, and overnight accommodations. Mr. Will's wife, Kate, a horticultural enthusiast, began the extensive native and ornamental plantings at Tanglewood and employed German master gardener, Mr. Frank Lustig, who continued her plans and his life's work. He contributed the 800 bush Rose Garden on the Manor House lawn, the Arboretum behind the house, and the nearby Fragrance Garden to the estate. For 60 years, even after the death of his employers, and their gift of the estate, Lustig poured his talents into Tanglewood. He is buried in the graveyard at Tanglewood next to the historic church. The Reynolds couple had no children, and, as a gesture enabling others to benefit from the beauty, elegance, history, and recreation their country estate had to offer, in 1951, they willed the Tanglewood property to the citizens of Forsyth County to share as a public recreational park. At the time, Will Reynolds specified it was to be used only for the benefit of white citizens or its ownership would revert to his heirs, so it opened in 1954 as a segregated park. When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it difficult to continue operating under those terms, the park closed its Manor House, pool, theater, motel, and restaurant. A federal court case forced desegregation of the park in 1971, which reverted its ownership to the Reynolds family, who leased it to a nonprofit before finally selling it to Forsyth County in 1976. == Cross country ==