The Graylyn Estate

We recently stayed at Graylyn Estates to celebrate our anniversary. I had visited years earlier on a business retreat so I was familiar with the property.||We thoroughly enjoyed our stay! The staff, restaurants and other amenities are all top notch. The food and drinks were excellent. ||We enjoyed taking walks on the manicured grounds every day and we enjoyed the complimentary fresh baked cookies and ice cream. The property is also pet friendly.||I highly recommend Grayln for a weekend getaway or a special celebration. They go above and beyond to ensure their guests have a memorable stay.

Awesome little hide away heaven! Great place to relax and enjoy the historic view..not big or crowded.. The staff is absolutely amazing! Only reason I didn't give the room a 5 is because it was very cold in the room the first night..but maintenence came the next day and didn't stop until he fixed the issue. I also would've loved my own coffee machine..walking across the courtyard in the am to get coffee when it's 31 degrees outside is not fun! Allie, Amanda, Aaron Chris and Jason were the absolute best, Graylyn your staff rocks!!

Everything was wonderful. At first we parked in the wrong place, but a very friendly and kind older gentleman showed us where to go and even took a photo of us in front of the castle. The place itself is absolutely stunning. The food was great, we tried the steaks and really enjoyed them. As for drinks, Natalie’s Spritz is a must-try. I highly recommend this spot for special date nights.

Graylyn Estate is a unique place for an overnight stay. The grounds are breathtaking! Seeing up close the glorious castle that is the manor house reminds me of the castles I have viewed only in movie adaptations of Jane Austen's novels. The estate is a grand place indeed! It is well worth the money you will spend for an overnight stay there. The room amenities are plentiful, and the dining experience (both breakfast and dinner) is exceptional.

I really enjoyed my stay at the Graylyn Hotel while attending a friend’s wedding. Everyone on staff was exceptionally friendly, and I want to give a special thank-you to Courtney, who stopped what she was doing not once, not twice, but three different times to help me get where I needed to go. The food was amazing, the service was outstanding, and I’m already looking forward to coming back for a longer stay.

Just had friends stay at Graylen . The Mews room was very could and after maintenance came they could not fit the problema. We requested a room in th Manor House, much nice than the Mews. The thermostat in the Manor House also had problems. Housekeeping was also unpredictable. Came in and left one chocolate while there were two in room. Did not fix their bed. Worse of all was the dinner. Scallops with risotto very salty. Three of us had to return this dish. The waitress was very good offering to redo entree. Second plate was better but stilll salty and scallops should have been grilled. I will think twice before recommending Graylen. The property is beautiful and I sincerely hope these issues will be addressed. My friend said this was the worse meal she has had.

The Graylyn Estate was the perfect setting for our semi-annual 3-day business meetings! The grounds are stunning, the cottages are charming, and the meeting room was one of the best we’ve ever used. The hospitality was incredible, Kaitlyn handled last-minute changes with a smile, the food was delicious, and yes—the ice cream was a huge hit! I highly recommend Graylyn Estates for business gatherings or even a local staycation—it’s worth every penny.

Graylyn: A Scottish Soul in Carolina Stone They call it Norman Revival, but that name feels borrowed — a costume too light for its weight. Graylyn stands not as a memory of Normandy, but as something older, lonelier, and prouder. Its stone walls, rough and irregular, breathe like the Carolina earth itself — the color of rain, moss, and time. Look closely: this is no French farmhouse. The roofline rises like a Highland horizon, sharp and solemn against the sky. Turrets keep watch where the air grows still, and the chimneys gather like clan sentinels at dusk. It is the Scottish baronial spirit — transported, translated, and reborn in the American South. Here, in Winston-Salem, the architects reached across an ocean not to imitate, but to remember: the romance of granite manors weathered by wind, the poetry of slate and smoke, the dignity of stone built for endurance, not display. Graylyn is a dream of the Highlands told in a Carolina dialect — a castle with a softened accent, a manor with a mountain’s heart. It may stand among magnolias and pine, but its soul still hears the bagpipes over misted hills far away.

Queue the music! We were invited to the Graylyn Estate to witness the union of two extraordinary young adults. Chosen family- John has been family to the brides side since before she was born. We arrived at 3pm on a cool, fall Saturday in November. The grounds beg to be explored, the history of the house has secrets in her stairwells and rooms. The architecture breathtaking. We waited by the koi pond until it was time to take our seats in the lower garden for the ceremony. Cocktail hour was outside as well and the temperature was dropping. We couldn't wait to get inside for dinner. Well- it wasn't much warmer indoors. The dining area was split between two rooms, one of which was a sun room- all glass doors around the room. The interior room had a giant fireplace blazing in the center. We sat in the outer room- my shawl stayed on throughout dinner. I wore fleece leggings under my gown because I am always cold, but even that wasn't enough. The staff! They wowed me- from escorting guest to the powder rooms (clear on the other side of the house), to the bartenders making drinks the whole night, to the servers working our side of the dining room. Every member of the staff was beyond helpful and friendly. Amanda and Katherine worked the bar & were fantastic! And the servers I encountered all hustled while helping the guests- Christian, Dylan & Kelton were on our dining room team. Special shout out to all of them, they made a great impression. Food- fresh salad and warm dinner rolls were set down first. Wine glasses filled & water glass too. John and I both opted for steak as our main- cooked perfectly and I know that's not easy when catering an event. The whipped potatoes and green beans perfection. The table were set beautifully. The dance floor was in the pool room, the put the floor down right over it! Which was comical because of the bounce in the floors once the dancing began. Being cold the whole time, I couldn't wait for the dj to turn it up. They had the doors open for the dance floor room leading out to the lower gardens where the nuptials were earlier. At this point the sun had set and all of the guest were cold. That was my only complaint- we needed heat for cocktail hour and definitely heat for dinner. Once the dancing began, I warmed up quickly & even had to take 10 outside, without my shawl, to cool down! The festivities were to go on till 10:30pm, but some of us more seasoned guests departed before that. I really hope to come back and explore the estate in the future.

This is my second dining experience with a group of my friends for Christmas dinner. The food was excellent as it was the time before and drinks as well although everything coming was a tad slow to arrive . Since this was my second time here and I hadn't toured the entire facility, myself and some of us took a walk around the inside area that we missed and discovered a tavern downstairs with a group of festive people here for the holiday staying at the hotel on premises. After looking at all the rooms that we had missed, we settled in the bar by the fireplace and had a drink and enjoyed the ambience before we departed . It was a wonderful experience and at some later date I'd like to check out the hotel part of Graylin as well as the beautiful grounds. Check it out, its worth a long glance.

Preliminary review This hotel is so beautiful and the grounds go on forever! We have a cozy room and we are looking forward to sleeping here tonight! The staff is very friendly and accommodating! 5 stars for grounds and graciousness!! The bellman has been here for 11 years and he is so sweet! He gave me a history lesson about Winston Salem while bringing our bags upstairs.

My daughter chose this place for their wedding venue and I, along with all our guests, were thoroughly impressed by this place. Obviously, the place is gorgeous and beautiful and the manor has a very castle-like atmosphere that left the newlyweds feeling truly like a Prince & Princess. The food served was outstandingly delicious that the guests went back for seconds and I didn't stop hearing from everyone about "the bomb" mojitos. What really put the icing on the cake was the service. Everyone was ready to serve, never having to wave someone down, and they brought the southern charm in the most classy way. A special shout out to one of our event servers, April! She deserves the utmost praise and I received so many compliments of how awesome she was. She really treated us like family and was hilarious!

I stayed at this location when I was at Wake Forest to give a talk. It is an old mansion converted to a hotel. The staff was outstanding and I liked the historic vibe. I have to give a shout out to the ice cream that was available at any hour in the butler's pantry. I did enjoy my breakfast quite a bit. The dining room had a cool throwback vibe. The grounds surrounding the center were well maintain and pretty as well. However, at the end of the day this is a hotel. The rooms are small. They give off an B&B vibe. That is fine, but it isn't an B&B. It is a relatively expensive hotel. Maybe I got a bum room (air travel got me in around 1am). Overall though it is quant but not what I consider a good value. I think the cottages could be an interesting experience but wasn't able to check those out or the pool.

I recently stayed at the Graylyn Hotel for a business trip and was so impressed! The estate itself is so impressive to see when you drive on to the property and the inside of the manor is just as beautiful. When I entered the lobby, I was warmly greeted by the front desk. He gave me a brief overview of the property, including information about the all you can eat ice cream. I stayed on the third floor of the manor house in a beautiful room that had all the amenities I needed. The room was spotlessly clean and the bed was one of the most comfortable hotel beds I've slept on. The ice cream room was a nice touch - it had a freezer full of complimentary ice cream, on demand coffee and tea, and fresh ice and water with glass cups. I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again. It is such a stunning property with absolutely fabulous service.

I had no idea how amazing this visit would be. My mom and I chose this place for our Mothers Day retreat and had no regrets! The staff is so wonderful and the facilities are amazing. Devin especially went above and beyond to make sure we had a great visit! We enjoyed room service on Mothers Day and the food was amazing. We didn't love the pancakes, they had an odd consistency but everything else was awesome. The beds were comfortable, we enjoyed riding the bikes they provided, and ate lots of free ice cream! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! We will absolutely be back.

Took my daughter here for lunch. Very intimate atmosphere. Dining areas are lovely. Food was good. Service was impeccable. Will return.

Update: this restaurant charges an automatic 20% service charge to all restaurant checks. I have been told they pay wait staff $15 an hour and that fee supports that rate. Additional gratuity is not necessary unless you feel you had exceptional service.

What a beautiful historical hotel!! And the kindest employees who speak with grace and respect. They all look the part of making you feel special! From lemonade to coffee to butterscotch cookies and free ice cream. The grounds are stupendous

This is quite simply the most beautiful hotel I've ever stayed in. What a perfect place to go for a romantic vacation, a fabulous honeymoon, or just a treat for yourself. The Bowman Gray suite is AMAZING! It's charming, elegant, and wonderfully historic. You won't be disappointed. One important note for the restaurant: There is a 22% fee that is included. This is not the tip and it does not go to the staff.

This hotel is very elegant especially from the outside. However, their reservation system is very poor. We made reservations over two months in advance on-line only to find out we were at their mercy in room selection. As a result, we felt our accommodations were substandard. The room was in the Mews section and in our case it was upstairs and had the feel of sleeping in the attic. The ambient light was lacking. The furniture was in really bad shape, the wallpaper was worn and coming off the wall, and sadly the television streaming service was "not available in our section." Pricing for the room was exceptionally high given what was delivered. If you choose to stay here be very cautious of the erratic pricing which literally can vary day to day.

One of the most delightful places in Winston Salem. Go there for a walk to enjoy the beautiful sights. Spend the night to enjoy some time away and feel like you're escaping without leaving your own town. If you're visiting it's a perfect spot that's close to everything you need and not your traditional hotel.

Beautiful historic place a must visit but we had reservations 5:30 , food was good but for the prices not what we were hoping for!Restaurants should knock your socks off with flavors! Not impressed there!

Beautiful property and lovely hotel rooms with character. I wish I had more days to explore here. Sadly the first day of my stay was very rainy. The next morning was lovely but I also had to check out. We did have a few tasty meals here - they even served plantains during the breakfast buffet.

We had a wonderful experience at Graylyn! I wish we had more time to really enjoy the beautiful grounds. My mother and I were visiting my niece at Wake Forest and decided to try the Graylyn. We stayed in the Gardener's Cottage, which has two bedrooms with private bathrooms and a lovely shared living area. We checked in and pulled our car right up to the cottage. When we were getting settled, I read that there were cookies and ice cream available at the main lodge. I called the front desk to inquire if they were still doing this during Covid. Not only did they say yes, but they brought the cookies and ice cream to our cottage for us!! The beds and bedding here are top notch! I don't know when I have slept in a more comfortable bed! Mom said she hadn't slept that well in a long time. There was a coffee and tea station in the living area of our cottage which was nice the next morning. Will definitely stay here again if in the area.

I came here on 1/18/21 very impromptu with my friends. We only came to site see. We past by this estate all the time but never really knew what it was. It is very beautiful! Masks are required and social distancing is required. It's technically closed to the public but it is an open and working hotel. This estate is historic with interesting history! My friends and I are thinking about spending a weekend!

My Grubbing Buddy and I had a wonderful time at the Graylyn Estates located in Winston-Salem, N.C. -- an incredible manor full of beautiful living quarters with lovely views of the plush grounds. This place could be described as an 18th-century small castle or a grand Victorian home. Oprah televised a lavish party she held there for her late mentor, Maya Angelou, a few years ago. There is an abundance of history at Graylyn, named for Bowman Gray, son of the founder of Wachovia Bank and Trust. Butlers and maids helped to make our stay enjoyable, and we dined on a luxurious meal in the Grille Room, located in the lower level of the estate. Unlike the warm welcome my Grubbing Buddy and I received, the food was a bit cold but still delicious. They also had a breakfast buffet full of goodies for their guests. Everyone we encountered at Graylyn was so pleasant and accommodating. If I could, I would love to return there just for the ambiance and the free ice cream.

Dirty, run down. Nice property. Waste of money I called to cancel a reservation and was giving the room to a friend since it was paid for. I called 8 times before the arrival, they never called back until the following week and it was too late so was out $1000. The manager, Mark Mcfetridge, felt I should have called before the weekend to discuss this but I did many times and they never called me back and blame me. So they booked the room and got paid twice and I'm out $1000. Very frustrating. Terrible customer service. The rooms are run down and gym is useless but it is a pretty property.

A generally good experience. The facilities are older, as you should expect, but all in good working order. The grounds are nice and wonderful for a walk or bike ride (bikes available on grounds). Close to Reynolda Village and downtown WF. Staff training is not exactly what you would expect for a high-end / high-priced hotel, but everyone is congenial and helpful. Housekeeping is the lone quality exception. All are informed about the Graylyn history and story. Free ice cream in each of the hotel sections is a nice treat given the daily resort fee. Lawn games are available all day. Great pool experience. The food selection is limited, but good quality. Avoid the weekend buffet - the selection is not on par with the price ($30). Overall, a B+ experience and a nice weekend stay spot.

I flew in from CA to visit my daughter. I'm very picky about hotels and restaurants. So this is an honest review. I stayed in the hotel, not one of the out buildings. It is absolutely gorgeous. I have to agree that they are under staffed buy it was fine with me. I was able to wander through the beautiful public rooms and admire all of their beautiful decor and antiques, without an employee hovering over me. It was so relaxing and wonderful. Sometimes I felt like I was the only person in this gorgeous mansion with just a household staff. I personally loved that. I used room service for my breakfast and afterward left my tray and dirty dishes outside my room. They were always gone within a short time. We did eat in the beautiful dining room one night and the food, decor and service were wonderful. The people who do work there are so friendly and warm. I can't wait to stay there again. It felt like home. Oh and my bed was so comfortable that I'd love to be able to buy the same pillows for my bed at home. Thank you everyone at Graylin for making my stay so special.

Beware of the restaurant. 20% gratuity is automatically added, and it GOES TO THE HOUSE. Not the server. This is an awful business practice, misleading your customers and screwing over your servers who work hard. Please don't support awful places like this.

Beautiful Historic Hotel. Grounds were lovely and the food was fantastic. But the SERVICE is what really SHINES. Deanna and Daniel really outdid themselves and ALL the folks who take care of every guest with a smile and professionalism. Cannot day enough about free ice cream and coffee service and we will tell everyone if service matters then Graylyn is where you stay. A true Crowning Jewel in Winston Salem.

I was a little disappointing in my Graylyn experience. I saw them advertise their Valentine's Night dinner so after taking a look at a sample menu online I decided to make reservations. I will start off by saying that the sample menu had much better entree selections than what was available on Valentine's Day. Walking up to dinner you could see inside a portion of the dining room and it looked pretty empty. The hostess seated us in what looked like the entry to the actual restaurant. It was a beautiful wood carved room so the ambiance was nice. But, they seated us at fold out tables. My seat was literally where the leg of the table was so I couldn't even get close to the table without banging my legs. To set at a fold out table for a $50pp dinner just didn't sit well with me. I ended up being able to move my seat and place setting around a bit so I was able to actually push in to the table. For the started I went with a roasted tomato and mozzarella dish which was really good. We got one salad that was mixed greens, with goat cheese, and oranges which was good and a Cesar salad that had a sun dried tomato Cesar dressing that was really good. The main entree choices were a filet with mushroom sauce, salmon with a tomato sauce, stuffed chicken, or a quinoa and polenta cake. I went with the salmon and the bf had the chicken. The salmon was cooked really well but the tomato sauce seemed out of place, I think a cream sauce would have been better. The stuffed chicken was good and had what we believed to be the same sauce on it as the salmon. For dessert I asked if they had cappuccino. The waitress had no idea. So i said okay if no cappuccino then I'll take a tea. Well what came to the table was coffee with a foamed top. No milk. Okay, so this is clearly not a cappuccino but whatever. I asked for some sugar and milk. I am not exaggerating when I say it took at least 12-15 minutes for the sugar and milk to come to the table. By that point my coffee was cold and adding in cold milk did not but make it worse. The actual dessert dishes were good but for me there is really no excuse for waiting 15 minutes to get some sugar for your coffee. They write the bills out by hand and when it came to the table the bf realize that she had added wrong. She added $20 more to the bill than what we actually owed (tip had already been included as well). Luckily we noticed it and were then charged appropriately. I just don't get how such a nice establishment had Valentine's Dinner on foldout tables with table cloths and how they didn't have very competent staff set to work Valentine's Day. And why we were not seated in the standard dining room which looked like it had plenty of open spots. One last thing I thought was odd was that they were having the butler tours with couples come through and stop and talk about the room we were eating in. It seemed weird to have that going on literally five inches from where you were trying to eat your Valentine's dinner.

This place is gorgeous!! Absolutely stunning. They followed all of the proper precautions to keep us safe during the pandemic. Very impressed We originally got one of their basic rooms in the Mews. It was beautiful but I recommend upgrading to the antique rooms in the main house. We asked for an upgrade and they accommodated us very quickly. We were very happy with the second room. Erwin made the trip that much better as well! Super friendly and good conversation. We will definitely put this on our list of place to revisit. Nicole and Ed

I visited Graylyn for a professional conference. At first I wasn't sure exactly what type of venue it was and I still am not sure exactly what all it entails. It is a very enchanting place though. For the conference we had access to several rooms/buildings and each area was very well-kept. We encountered many staff throughout the day from servers to technical support to shuttle drivers to housekeeping and everyone was extra pleasant /helpful. The grounds were maintained superbly. This would be an awesome place for a major event.

Stay was very enjoyable in many ways. Very clean room and staff are very helpful. Feels like you are in ashford castle in Ireland with the beautiful grounds.

Attended professional development here and was not disappointed with the space nor the service. The estate and grounds are gorgeous and well kept. The workers and attendants were helpful and attentive. The catered lunch (by the Graylyn staff) was delicious! I spent the week feeling pampered every time I drove through the gates. I was told of the walking trails that are amazing but never had the chance to explore. I hope this was not my last visit to Graylyn!

My husband and I are both Wake Forest graduates and we stayed at Graylyn for the first time after moving out of Winston 5 years ago. We stayed at one of the antique guest rooms on the second floor of the Manor House. We were super pleased with the spacious room, comfortable bed, antique décor, and attentive staff! Free coffee and ice cream 24/7 and the breakfast buffet was great as well. Valet parking seemed like the only option at the Manor House and the front desk brought our car out promptly every single time! We took a little walk in the morning and the estate is gorgeous! We would definitely consider staying here again in the future!

Beautiful estate. Really enjoyed with my family. Kids enjoyed exploring "the castle" and getting treats from their ice cream room. This place was our favorite memory from our holiday trip. Breakfast was good - nice selection of proteins, danishes and fruits. Loved how breakfast was presented in Le crusets - nice fancy touch. Loved the room with carved wooden walls to ceiling - next time I'll have to reserve my dinner there.

My wife and I had a nice valentines weekend getaway here. She had been there before but I had not. I'm glad we went. The property is beautiful and well kept. The manor house is amazing. We stayed in Bernard cottage. The breakfast was served by the staff and was wonderful.

I was trying to make a reservation and had questions about the rate appearing on their site. The quote had a line for "taxes and fees," but then on the side indicated that taxes and fees were excluded from the rate. So we just wanted to know the actual total, including resort fees and taxes, prior to booking. I called Graylyn, and the person at the front desk indicated that she could not help and transferred me to reservations. No answer, so I left a vm. I called the front desk again, and they said that the reservations department is one person, and that she would call me back. Now it is almost 24 hours since I left that vm, and "reservations" has not returned the call. And the rate on their site has increased significantly since I first tried to inquire. If this is any indication of how they treat their guests, we are lucky that we were unable to make a reservation.

This is really more of a tip than a review, but when browsing from laptop didn't see tip option. If it matters to you like it does me, they will not guarantee bed size with your reservations. I understand why you encounter some properties that do that from time to time, but sorry, that means they are off my list. Too bad, would have enjoyed visiting there.

I was there for an event. The property is absolutely beautiful like a picture out of an English Victorian novel. The room was nice and cozy, mine was on the smaller side but there are several room sizes which I saw later with colleagues. The service was impeccable which checking in, meal times, checking out and throughout the stay. The food was phenomenal at every meal. We were there for about 2 days and I was stuffed at every meal because i couldn't have enough. My husband and I will definitely go back here for a weekend get away when we get a chance. I would highly recommend this establishment.

If I could leave a negative review I would. Booked 2 rooms for Dec 26-29. Husband came down with Covid on the 25. I called on the 25 to see about moving the reservation so we would not get guests and staff sick. Was told I would have to forfeit 1 night per room plus taxes (almost $1000). Trying to explain my situation to no avail. Was told Covid is out new normal and I was welcome to come or cancel with applicable fees. Left a voice mail for Cody Bowman "the manage", still waiting on a call back. Was giving him some grace because I'm sure he's busy since it was Christmas, but it's now the 29 at 7pm. I have never ever ever left a negative review. I guess there's a first time for everything. Disappointed is an understatement. Child will be attending Wake in 2023 guess where we will never stay and I'll be posting this on the parent and alumni pages. All I asked for was credit and a call and I got neither.

This place is very fancy! There are butlers, people who take you in cars places, a breakfast area that looks like it's from Downton Abbey, a suit of armor just kind of hanging out, and even FREE ICE CREAM! I'm serious there's free ice cream! It's in a fridge. The rooms are really nice too. Do you want to be fancy? GO HERE AND BE FANCY.

I am giving this 3 stars ONLY because it is breathtakingly beautiful and made me feel like I was at home (England) Let me start by saying that upon first arrival where you enter the long winding road down to the stunning manor house to check in where they have a butler greet you and make you feel special, you get a sense this place is going to be amazing. WRONG. Don't get me wrong - some parts are, such as the service the staff provides (except one front desk worker I came across) and of course the buildings in general are great, but the rooms are terrible. We switched between 3 different rooms in the first 2 days of being here. The first room was in the mews, it was nice, kind of updated but the shower was broken so we called to tell them and they sent someone to fix it. As we were waiting for it to be fixed, someone started walking around upstairs and it wasn't just a sound you could ignore. It was like full blown stomping. We could not deal with that so we asked to move. They moved us to the bungalows which is a separate building and the room was larger with no one above it but the smell of mildew was completely overpowering. I get these are old buildings but that is disgusting. At this point it was really late and we were too exhausted to move so we decided to order room service. Room service - I called and got put on hold for 15 minutes so I called back and told them I had been on hold for that long to order food and she told me she was sorry and to hold again for "one quick second" which lasted another 5 minutes. I was furious. When I put our order in they said it would be 30-45 minutes. Lo and behold another issue arose. We were now a part of the man that was staying next door's conversation. The wall was so thin we could literally hear him WORD FOR WORD, as if he was actually in our room. So we decided to go to the front desk and talk about moving rooms again, they said they would be able to move us back to the mews tomorrow in a room that had no one above it. Over an hour had passed since ordering room service and it still had not arrived. We literally ordered salads so there was no excuse for cooking time. We called and magically within 5 minutes it was at our door. We ate our food and tried to sleep but was unable to until the man next door decided to stop talking. Such a joke. They have complimentary breakfast here 7-9 M-F AND 7-10 sat & sun. They have an omelette station, fruits, cereal, breads, and a little buffet area that had different options each day but main staples were bacon and sausage. I don't know what egg they use to make the scrambled egg and the omelette but it is a pre made mix that he pours in and it is absolutely disgusting. I don't even know how to explain what the taste is. You can kind of mask it with an abundance of cheese and salt. One day they offered eggs Benedict which was good. They have staff that wait on you, and can get you drinks such as water, juice and coffee. Our next room in the mews ended up being fine, thank god. The beds were comfortable, the bathroom was big, it was updated and didn't smell. I think the owners of this hotel need to seriously consider updating all of the rooms, because for the price it is not worth staying here. It is definitely worth a visit because the property itself is absolutely beautiful. The housekeeping staff are good at their job, and I love that the chocolate they give you for turn down service is heavenly. They also have a 24 hour snack/gift shop that has free ice cream! The snacks in there aren't great though, really unhealthy fattening items such as candy, chocolate etc so I think it would be a good idea to look into more healthier options. Also if you can't walk very far or don't want to walk, this place is not for you unless you are actually staying in the main manor house. You have to park so far away from where your room is at the mews, at the bungalows it was in front of it but I wouldn't recommend anyone to stay there. It really is a pain, and if the weather is bad (it was pouring when we were there) it was a huge inconvenience. This hotel is definitely somewhere you stay for the novelty factor and not for comfort.

I won a stay at the Graylyn Estate as part of a contest and was so excited to bring my mom here for a weekend getaway. As soon as you enter the premises of the 55-acre estate, you are transported to another place. The grand building (Manor House) sits on this lush green property and it is like something out of a magazine. It is reminiscent of Downtown-Abbey and other European estates and it was so enchanting. It was truly a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city and I understand why it was created to act as a place for solitude and tranquility for the Gray family. We pulled up to the Manor house to check in and I learned later that you can also check in at the Mews if you are staying there. I was not familiar with the layout and where we were staying so I took a shot at the main house and that is where started. The check-in was the only thing that was a bit off during our stay. We arrived on a Friday evening at 8pm and there was no one at the main window yet I could see someone in the back on their phone texting. We were finally greeted and I was expecting a more formal and hospital welcome from such a fine establishment. I gave the on-duty manager my name and she questioned my reservation and make me pull up my winning certificate. I had a hotel reservation already and I thought it was a bit tacky and not handled professionally at all. As a winner, I wanted to be excited and greeted with some time of hospitality and it was just the opposite. My only comment would be to take some more hospitality training because your first impression is a lasting one and you want the forefront of your check-in team to be polished and on-point. We received our keys and the polite bellman escorted us to the Mews in the Graylyn van. The Mews is the area that used to be the stables so it is an open courtyard made of cobblestones and beautiful towers that look like something out of the French or Dutch countryside. The Mews has its own little gift shop as well and I later learned that we could have also checked in there. There is also a dining room that serves continental breakfast in the Mews and a gift shop with all kinds of Wake Forest University memorabilia. Our room was private and had comfortable beds, a large TV and modern bathroom. The only thing I noticed though is that the shower head is not made for anyone over 6ft tall. It is a bit low. The bath products from Lather are heavenly and I love the lemongrass soap. I enjoyed reading about the history of the Graylyn Estate and how Mrs. Gray loved her butterscotch cookies and ice cream. For this very reason, you can go get an ice cream cone any time that the Mews shop or Manor House is open. The cookies and lemonade are served in the afternoon from 3-5 and this was a sweet touch. Breakfast is included in your room rate and is served in either the Mews Dining room or in the Manor House. We walked to the Manor house and the breakfast spread was unbelievable. It is set up in various rooms and each day we sat in different rooms because of wedding parties and other events. There was an omelette station, fresh waffles, pancakes, Hickory bacon (you have to get this) and fruit and jogurt. The staff did a fantastic job and refilled coffee and water. It was like a brunch spread every morning and the pancakes were some of the best I have ever had. We also swam in the pool and seemed to be shared by a local swim club as well. There was a wedding on the Saturday and I can see this being a perfect venue for weddings and meetings. Grayln is also right next to the Reynolda House and we had fantastic visit during the Ansel Adams exhibit. Allen at the Manor House on Saturday morning was also a wealth of knowledge and he provided us with maps and an overview that we did not receive at check-in the night prior. This is a gorgeous property and I highly recommend staying here to relax and soak in the beauty of this European replica.

If you ever visit Wake Forest University, you should do everything in your power to stay at Graylyn. Burn bridges if you have to -- it will be worth it. This hotel / conference center is such a unique experience that you will undoubtedly it remember for a very long time. This hotel looks like a castle in Europe, only with modern amenities. Inside are huge fireplaces, knight armor, antique furniture, etc. that support my European castle comparison. The rooms themselves are fairly modern with wireless internet access, for example. I got lost a few times in their spiral staircases (trust me, skip the elevators), and I ended up finding a few surprises including the "Grill" restaurant and a billiards table. The best part of the entire experience is the exceptional service of the hotel staff. I think that for pretty much anything you ask, they will find a way to make it happen. I cannot remember another hotel staff experience that came even close. However, don't bother looking for the "ice cream room", even though there are signs everywhere for it. It's just a small kitchen with ice cream bars in a mini-fridge. I wonder what would happen if I asked the hotel staff for an actual ice cream sundae. Oh well, perhaps on my next visit. :)

I should start this review by saying I did not stay the night. I simply drove around the grounds and found them to be absolutely beautiful. Also, from an architectural standpoint, the buildings are just gorgeous. It has plenty of trails for walking and bike riding, a pond for a relaxing picnic and a pool for recreation. Very charming place.

So I am speaking to this place ONLY as a wedding venue... WOW this is utterly a spectacular wedding venue (oh and I have worked for a premier wedding venue before). The Amazing Interior: This place has a classy Victorianesque feel (not the creepy ghostly type) that is super well decorated to have active historical feel (if that makes sense). The Service: This is beyond world class service. The staff were all just beyond helpful and friendly... The Food: When they say buffet, usually I am concerned. But oh gosh... this place had amazing shrimp and grits to order... perfect cuts of stake... and most of all - they made sure nothing ran out (which can easily be a problem). The Location: This is simply North Carolina greens and nature at its finest. Parking: It is a bit deceptive at first, but once you figure it out in the back, there is plenty of parking (and you don't have the mass of cars pollute your sense of natural balance for this place).

We attended the Summer Luv event last night which featured Chef Rollins of Graylyn Dining! What an incredibly gifted, humble, and creative chef and human being! His BBQ Duck Confit was spectacular, as well as the Mango Avocado Salad. He was the real winner in our eyes, and such a humble and enlightening conversation with him was a highlight. We are excited to come for dinner at his house....The Graylyn Estate real soon!

Haven't been able to get in touch with anyone on the phone or in person to discuss our wedding we've been trying to plan for in October. They have sent only standard email and haven't addressed specific needs we want to discuss. Email contains information about increases in cost and decreases in service. Upsetting and disturbing.

I got married here, and was INCREDIBLY impressed. The Estate, the home of Bowman Gray, carries a great amount of history, as evident by the decorations, antique furniture and paintings hanging inside the main manor. The halls, walls, and rooms all carry the original feel of Gray family. The master Bowman Gray suite was the original bedroom of Mr. Gray, and is laced with intricate details of originality, ranging from original artwork, to the original desk used by Mr. Gray. The outdoors gardens are well kept, and scenery, stunning. Our ceremony site, the backyard gazebo, reminds me of a once upon a dream. It took my breath away. The food. For our reception, we opted for the 3 course plated dinner of Mahi mahi, graylyn chicken, and ribeye. We were not disappointed. My entree, the Graylyn chicken, was a perfectly breaded piece of tender chicken breast, stuffed with proscuetto, cooked to perfection with a sun dried tomato sauce. Our service at the reception was also phenomenal. The catering staff was extremely polite, attentive, and available. During my wedding planning process, Graylyn was very accommodating to my food preferences, and worked with me to create appetizers there were not on the original menu. My only complaint. the lack of flexibility of the wedding contract. The prices are pretty much non-negotiable. For our wedding, our rain back up space was appointed to us, without any flexibility to change. If you are considering getting married here, read, read, READ through your contract carefully before signing! Overall, Graylyn took my breath away. I felt like a princess wedding my prince at the castle!

We had a wonderful stay at the Graylyn Estate! What an amazing historic property! The staff was very friendly. Lawrence gave us a very nice tour of the main house. The complimentary icecream and hot chocolate was a treat in the evenings.

Terrible service. Wrong drink brought, no butter brought with bread, dinner order incorrect, no water refill, slowest service ever, when food finally arrived it was not hot, waited 10 minutes for a box and to pay but waitress never came so we had to take the check to another waiter AND the real kick in the ass, 20% gratuity. It was my husband's birthday and we were seated in a nice area but halfway through our dinner they brought 6 loud 20 year olds that ruined the ambiance. Also, tables and chairs are banquet table and chairs. A pole under the table made it impossible for me to cross my legs. We were 2 people at a round table for 6. Never again.

Graylyn conference center is a beautiful part of Winston Salem. The buildings look like castles and cottages. The grounds are sprawling green and beautiful trees. If I were coming in from out of town I would hope to know about this place. It's very convenient to visit Reynolda Gardens across the street, even if only to walk the grounds. There are several restaurants nearby and it's not far from downtown. A very inexpensive cab ride. I know a lot of families who stay at Graylyn when visiting Wake Forest to see their children. It's so close by and is comfy and clean. The pool is nice and has a shaded part and a sunny side, something for everyone. I've eaten food prepared on site at a Christmas party held at Graylyn. The food was wonderful and the staff was very professional.

The most peaceful, picaresque, place in Winston Salem North Carolina. A place to recharge

Grayly is a beautiful venue for a wedding! Wonderful customer service! The grounds are breathtaking, and the main house is immaculate.