If you were one of the ~4,000 people at this year's Rock Out the Quarry event, you know The Quarry at Grant Park is a not-so-hidden gem in Winston-Salem. But you might not know how the park came to be. We did some digging with the help of the City of Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks.

Operations at the then-Piedmont Quarry began in the 1930s. Vulcan Materials Company purchased the property in the 1960s and mined it until 1975, though it continued pulling deposits into the 1980s.

The Quarry | Photo submitted by Elena G.

City Council accepted Vulcan's donation of the land in 1998. The city used the space for a vegetation landfill for nearly two decades. In 2014, voters approved $5 million in bonds to turn it into a park.

Land was cleared and a new road to the park was added. Quarry Park opened to the public in Aug. 2017.

In Sept. 2023, it was renamed The Quarry at Grant Park to honor Tim Grant, the city's longtime Recreation and Parks Director. Grant retired in 2016, before planning on the park began, but the naming was a celebration of his many achievements + contributions.

Today, park goers can take advantage of a walking trail, playground, and multiple overlooks. The main observation deck is ~150 ft from the water.

Residents only have two opportunities a year to get on the water. Kayak the Quarry is held in the spring and the fall, usually in April and October.

You can't swim in the quarry but Recreation and Parks does hold Kayak the Quarry events from time to time. | Photo via City of Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks via @ws_recreationparks

Speaking of the water, it's actually crystal clear. Because it's around 175 ft deep, the absence of sunlight makes it appear darker. A natural spring fills the quarry and rainwater tops it off. Water levels have risen at least 15 ft in the past two decades. It isn't drained and no chemicals or wildlife are added.

Ready to see it for yourself? The Quarry at Grant Park is located at 1700 Quarry Rd. off Reynolds Park Road.