Welcome has direct access to Winston-Salem, without the city feel
Schools, restaurants and the headquarters of successful NASCAR team Richard Childress Racing fill the center of Welcome, but strawberry farms and a vineyard are found around its edges. This unincorporated community is alongside Interstate 285 and a 15-minute drive from Winston-Salem, which makes it popular with commuters who drive to the city. “People who work in Winston or want to go there for the big restaurants and the mall, they’re just a few minutes from it,” says Sandy Walker, a Realtor and broker with Leonard Craver Realty who is based in nearby Lexington. “But you get the cheaper tax rate of Davidson County.” Welcome is far enough removed from Winston-Salem that development hasn’t completely overtaken its rural features.
Clusters of homes surrounded by pine trees
Minimal traditional homes and ramblers sit along the pine tree-lined streets that branch off Welcome’s central highway. Newer subdivisions with Cape Cod-style houses and New Traditional designs are common on the north and south sides. Many of these houses are separated from the streets by large front yards and have backyards bordering tree thickets. The community’s newest homes have been built on the east end of Welcome, near the interstate. Two- and three-bedroom homes typically sell between $165,000 and $245,000, while larger houses can cost up to $575,000.
The CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, less than the national average of 4.
Community stands behind North Davidson High athletics
Walker says some refer to Welcome as “Black Night country,” after North Davidson High School’s mascot. “The sports teams lead a lot of that community, because that’s a big deal,” she says. Examples of the high school’s athletic success include winning the state softball championship in 2010 and the football team capturing three conference titles between 2016 and 2023. Niche gives North Davidson High a B-plus grade. Prior to North Davidson High, students can attend North Davidson Middle, also graded a B-plus, and B-rated Welcome Elementary.
Racing museum, award-winning burgers along highway 52
Welcome’s shopping and dining center around Old U.S. Highway 52, where buildings, strip malls and shopping centers house Food Lion, Dollar General and several fast-food spots. There are also a few local restaurants, such as Nick’s Old Fashioned Hamburger House. Awards and laudatory newspaper articles line the walls of the burger joint, which is also known for its fried tenderloin sandwich. Among the highway’s shops and eateries, the Richard Childress Racing Museum guides visitors through the history of Richard Childress Racing. Dale Earnhardt once drove for this championship-winning NASCAR team, and the museum displays several cars used by the racing legend. An on-site shop sells collectibles and merchandise commemorating the team and its current drivers, such as Kyle Busch. In Winston-Salem, there are larger shopping complexes such as Hanes Mall.
Several wineries operate vineyards on the northern side of Davidson County, including Weathervane Winey in Welcome. In the summer and fall, people crowd around the vineyard’s outdoor stage to hear live music during Weathervane’s weekend events.
Two lakeside parks to the east
Behind Welcome Elementary School, the Welcome Athletic Complex hosts youth leagues for football, baseball, soccer and other sports. There are also two waterside parks east of Welcome. At Lake Thom-A-Lex Park, children can run around a fish-themed playground just steps away from a pier where anglers cast into the water. There’s also a boat ramp and rentable kayaks for people who want to explore the lake. Nearby, Old City Lake Park borders a much smaller body of water, but its sandy shoreline and calm waters still draw fishers and paddlers.
Interstate connection to Winston-Salem
Interstate 285 cuts through Welcome, continuing north for about 15 miles to Winston-Salem. From Winston-Salem, it’s a 20-mile drive to Greensboro, where Piedmont Triad International Airport offers direct flights to about a dozen cities. The nearest hospital is Lexington Medical Center, 8 miles south of Welcome.
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Alex Soderstrom
