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OUR HISTORY

Attendees would sacrifice nothing for the pleasure of holding their event at this extraordinary place.The beauty and significance of WinMock’s design led to its listing as a National Historic Site, and earned an individual listing on the United States National Register of Historic Places — a designation held by less than 10% of all properties on the Register. Combine that with the considered renovations of veteran event planners, and you’re looking at one of the most capable and exquisite event venues in the American South.

Today WinMock at Kinderton hosts corporate conferences, social events and weddings throughout the year. Its experienced staff is grouped into teams dedicated to specific types of events. You can meet them here.

In 2010, Sterling Events Group took ownership of a vacant farm and launched an extensive restoration plan to breathe new life into the property. Prior to the purchase, Sterling had built a strong reputation in the global events industry. The company had planned and produced conferences and gatherings of all kinds, all over the world. Founder Wayne Thomas and his team had become masters at finding fascinating venues at which to hold events — from Scottish castles to isolated Alpine villas.

The events staged in these unusual places were memorable, but the Sterling team regretted one common shortcoming: it seemed the more interesting the property was, the less likely it would be to have the technology expected by attendees at modern conferences. When Sterling discovered WinMock at Kinderton, they committed themselves to restoring the finely crafted buildings while installing the most advanced technical infrastructure. 

ABOUT WINMOCK

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OUR HISTORY

ABOUT WINMOCK

recognized an opportunity to create a place that brought together the best of what he had seen in his travels. From this vision, a truly unique and historical venue was born. Wayne then brought the perfect team on board to make it work. The result is Carolina’s most unique event venue with an experienced event industry veteran at its helm.

With nearly 30 years in the events industry, Wayne has seen scores of venues, many of them among the most highly regarded in the world. When he first viewed the WinMock property, he

OWNER

Wayne

wedding and social event clients. Sydney exhibits the perfect blend of detail-orientation, excitement, and genuine care, making her a beloved member of the team. 

With a background in floral design, event coordination and a bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Management from UNCG, Sydney brings a ton of value and knowledge to our

VENUE COORDINATOR

SYDNEY

responsibility for the setup needs for WinMock. He has been with WinMock before its grand opening and continues to be an integral part of WinMock’s success and reputation for outstanding levels of service to our guests.  

John’s background is rich with experience in organizing and executing the operational needs of a wide-variety of companies. All of this has well-prepared John to take the reins of 

DIRECTOR OF DEPOT SERVICES

JOhn

skills. Jim became Facilities Manager in April of 2018. With an early career in customer service and full-time ministry, Jim takes great pride in making sure the property is as welcoming as it is uniquely beautiful. You will find Jim working on the next project to preserve the heritage of the barn for generations to come.


Jim began his career at WinMock in 2013 as event staff, working events and helping with general upkeep. It became evident that Jim had a passion for the venue and a wide-range of maintenance

FACILITIES MANAGER

Jim

the Executive Sales Director and handles Corporate and Non-profit clients with ease. Donna is known for her meticulous attention to detail and her bubbly personality. She is also known as the promise keeper, ensuring that every event runs smoothly and meets or exceeds the clients expectations. Her passion for her work is evident in everything she does, and she is a true asset to our team.

Donna is a seasoned events professional who joined our team in the spring of 2023. She holds a degree concentrated in Food & Beverage from Johnson & Wales University, and has over 20 years of experience in the events industry. Donna works directly with 

CONFERENCE SERVICES MANAGER

DONNA

personality, Federica can relate to our guests in a way that makes them feel welcomed and taken care of. She enjoys the challenge of transforming WinMock into the perfect venue for each event that comes her way, and strives for excellence with every celebration she helps bring to life.

Federica’s position at WinMock allows her to work with a wide range of events from weddings to anniversary parties and everything in-between. With fine attention to detail and a caring

senior venue COORDINATOR

Federica

Bill's background is widely known to many in the area. After 26 years of co-owning The Golden Apple, Bill's reputation as a professional chef is highly regarded. His knowledge of food and beverage as well as special events, is now perfectly applied to lead WinMock's sales efforts in the corporate and non-profit markets. Bill's creativity and passion for what he does is evident from the start.

highly regarded. His knowledge of food and beverage as well as special events, is now perfectly applied to lead WinMock's sales efforts in the corporate and non-profit markets. Bill's creativity and passion for what he does is evident from the start.

Bill's background is widely known to many in the area. After 26 years of co-owning The Golden Apple, Bill's reputation as a professional chef is

DIRECTOR OF corporate + non-profit SALES

Bill

with a smile on her face. That involves great communication and organizational skills to make every detail perfect from tour to last dance. She brings joy, passion, and boundless energy to WinMock every day.

When you arrive for a tour of WinMock, it’s Laura who will greet you! With a heart for hospitality and love of WinMock, Laura guides each guest in their journey

executive director of WEDDINGS + SOCIAL events

Laura

bring Ashley home to WinMock in 2021 as a Venue Coordinator. Her background, bubbly personality, and attention to detail have made her a perfect fit for the role. 

After serving as a WinMock student-intern during her time at Western Carolina University, Ashley gained experience as an event consultant at an event rental company. We were eager to

VENUE COORDINATOR

After serving as a WinMock student-intern during her time at Western Carolina University, Ashley gained experience as an event consultant at an event rental company. We were eager to bring Ashley home to WinMock in 2021 as a Venue Coordinator. Her background, bubbly personality, and attention to detail have made her a perfect fit for the role. 

VENUE COORDINATOR

ASHLEY

Donna is a seasoned events professional who joined our team in the spring of 2023. She holds a degree concentrated in Food & Beverage from Johnson & Wales University, and has over 20 years of experience in the events industry. Donna works directly with the Executive Sales Director and handles Corporate and Non-profit clients with ease. Donna is known for her meticulous attention to detail and her bubbly personality. She is also known as the promise keeper, ensuring that every event runs smoothly and meets or exceeds the clients expectations. Her passion for her work is evident in everything she does, and she is a true asset to our team.

CONFERENCE SERVICES manager

DONNA

Federica’s position at WinMock allows her to work with a wide range of events from weddings to anniversary parties and everything in-between. With fine attention to detail and a caring personality, Federica can relate to our guests in a way that makes them feel welcomed and taken care of. She enjoys the challenge of transforming WinMock into the perfect venue for each event that comes her way, and strives for excellence with every celebration she helps bring to life.

SENIOR VENUE COORDINATOR

Federica

John’s background is rich with experience in organizing and executing the operational needs of a wide-variety of companies. All of this has well-prepared John to take the reins of responsibility for the setup needs for WinMock. He has been with WinMock before its grand opening and continues to be an integral part of WinMock’s success and reputation for outstanding levels of service to our guests.  

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

JOhn

Jim began his career at WinMock in 2013 as event staff, working events and helping with general upkeep. It became evident that Jim had a passion for the venue and a wide-range of maintenance skills. Jim became Facilities Manager in April of 2018. With an early career in customer service and full-time ministry, Jim takes great pride in making sure the property is as welcoming as it is uniquely beautiful. You will find Jim working on the next project to preserve the heritage of the barn for generations to come.

FACILITIES MANAGER

Jim

With a background in floral design, event coordination and a bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Management from UNCG, Sydney brings a ton of value and knowledge to our wedding and social event clients. Sydney exhibits the perfect blend of detail-orientation, excitement, and genuine care, making her a beloved member of the team. 

venue COORDINATOR

sydney

When you arrive for a tour of WinMock, it’s Laura who will greet you! With a heart for hospitality and love of WinMock, Laura guides each guest in their journey with a smile on her face. That involves great communication and organizational skills to make every detail perfect from tour to last dance. She brings joy, passion, and boundless energy to WinMock every day.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
WEDDINGS + SOCIAL EVENTS

LAURA

With nearly 30 years in the events industry, Wayne has seen scores of venues, many of them among the most highly regarded in the world. When he first viewed the WinMock property, he recognized an opportunity to create a place that brought together the best of what he had seen in his travels. From this vision, a truly unique and historical venue was born. Wayne then brought the perfect team on board to make it work. The result is Carolina’s most unique event venue with an experienced event industry veteran at its helm.

OWNER

WAYNE

Our Team

Our History

More than 80 years ago, S. Clay Williams, president of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, fell in love with a patch of gently rolling acreage along the Yadkin River and decided to build a country retreat for himself and his family. From the start, his plan was bolder than creating a space for idling away the weekends. Soon after the land was cleared, the property became a fully functioning dairy farm. Herds of the finest Red Poll cattle meandered the grounds of one of the largest such farms in the state.

Mr. Williams called this special haven Win-Mock Farm. The name referenced the property’s location midway between Winston-Salem and Mocksville. At its heart was a collection of buildings that served both leisure and labor. The expansive family home was known as Willsherr Lodge. Scattered nearby was an assortment of finely built farm structures, crowned by the most magnificent barn in all of North Carolina.

THE WINMOCK STORY

The barn is enormous—and yet the architect managed to imbue it with surprising grace. The roof suggests the inverted hull of a great ship, or an extended series of Gothic arches, creating a spellbinding atmosphere.

For years, the barn housed as many as 7,000 bales of hay. The nearby bottling plant hummed along, providing fresh milk for customers across several counties. The complex was built to take advantage of new processes and technologies that enabled higher levels of production. (This emphasis on advanced technology would emerge again during renovation years later.)

Over the years, Win-Mock Farm became less remote, as nearby towns grew and new roads were built. The biggest such thoroughfare was Interstate 40, which the state proposed to run straight through the Win-Mock property. By now the farm was in the hands of the Bahnson family. The family put up some resistance to the highway but was eventually persuaded to allow it to go through, in return for a few concessions from the state. The government agreed to build a tunnel below the freeway, and a bridge over it—for the cows. For years, herds of bellowing cattle would cross high above the speeding traffic (as well as underneath it) on their way to a pasture on the other side.

Eventually, Win-Mock Farm’s role as a working dairy farm came to an end. The property languished and the buildings were neglected. It was still a magical place but in order to see that vividly, one would need to peer through the air of resignation hanging over the place and see it for what it once was.

There aren’t many people who can do that. But there are a few, and in 2011, one of them found himself strolling the grounds of the faded estate. Wayne Thomas, an entrepreneur in the events industry, had heard about Win-Mock Farms and as he surveyed the scene he was entranced by the slumbering spirit of the place. When he stepped inside the cavernous barn and took in the muted scene—dim light filtering through dusty windows—he was electrified. He knew immediately that he would restore the farm to its former glory and create a remarkable place for people and businesses to congregate.

It would retain the peerless craftsmanship of the original structures; but behind the hardwood walls would be installed the most advanced information infrastructure, so that events held here would sacrifice nothing for the extraordinary experience of meeting in such a place.

Wayne poured countless hours into bringing Win-Mock Farms out from the past and into the future. He tweaked the name and dubbed the new center WinMock at Kinderton. Three historic buildings were fully restored—the iconic dairy barn, the bottling plant and the granary, where threshed wheat had been stored for feed. The renovation of this magnificent place earned it an individual listing on the United States Register of Historic Places.

Wayne’s vision has come to fruition. WinMock at Kinderton hosts business conferences, social events and weddings throughout the year. Attendees know, the minute they arrive, that they will be spending time in a captivating place imbued with history—the polar opposite of the indistinctive (and indistinguishable) events venues that are so common.

For all our descriptions, it’s hard to beat the experience of actually being here. We welcome all those looking to host an event at this historical place, and often find ourselves giving unofficial tours daily. WinMock stands as an exceptional testament to the beauty of our region—a place Mr. Williams called, and we’re still happy to call, our home.

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ABOUT WINMOCK

OUR HISTORY