Bermuda Run: A Planned Community

Bermuda Run is one of Davie County’s newer towns, but its story reaches back to the mid-20th century when a vision for a planned residential and golf community began to take shape along the rolling hills near the Yadkin River. Unlike the county’s older settlements—which grew organically around mills, railroads, and crossroads—Bermuda Run was intentionally designed from the start as a cohesive community organized around recreation, leisure, and thoughtful residential living.

The development was launched in the 1960s and 1970s on a large tract of land just south of the Yadkin River, in the southeastern corner of Davie County. Its unusual name comes from the Bermuda grass that the original developers chose for the golf course’s fairways and greens. Bermuda grass is a warm-season turf known for its durability and lush appearance, and it has been a staple of Southern golf courses for generations. The name stuck, and the community became known simply as Bermuda Run.

The original master plan called for single-family homes, townhomes, and villas woven into the landscape around the golf course, with winding streets, mature tree buffers, and carefully preserved green spaces. The goal was to create a place where residents could live, play, and socialize without needing to travel far from home. For decades, the community operated as an unincorporated subdivision governed by homeowners’ associations rather than a municipal government.

The Country Club Era

At the heart of Bermuda Run’s identity has always been the Bermuda Run Country Club. The club was designed as the social and recreational centerpiece of the development, and it quickly earned a reputation as one of the finest private club communities in the Piedmont Triad region.

The original golf course was designed by noted golf course architect George Cobb, a prolific designer whose portfolio includes dozens of courses across the Southeast. Cobb’s design took advantage of the natural topography, with gently rolling fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and elevated greens that offered views of the surrounding countryside. In the 1990s, the course underwent a significant redesign by Kris Spence, a respected golf architect specializing in restoration and renovation work. Spence’s updates modernized the layout while preserving the course’s original character.

Beyond golf, the country club offered swimming pools, tennis courts, a clubhouse with dining facilities, and a full calendar of social events. For many residents—particularly those who moved to Bermuda Run as a retirement or leisure destination—the club was the social hub of daily life. The community attracted families from across the region, including professionals from Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and High Point who were drawn to the quiet, well-maintained environment just a short drive from the Triad’s urban centers.

Growth and Incorporation

Through the 1980s and 1990s, Bermuda Run experienced steady residential growth. New neighborhoods were added, home values rose, and the community’s reputation as a desirable place to live continued to spread. The area’s proximity to Winston-Salem and Wake Forest University (just across the Yadkin River in Forsyth County) made it especially attractive to professionals, academics, and medical staff associated with the university and the city’s growing healthcare sector.

As the population grew, residents began to feel that the existing homeowners’ association structure was no longer sufficient to manage the community’s needs. Issues such as road maintenance, zoning, law enforcement, and long-term planning required the authority of a municipal government. A push for incorporation gained momentum, driven by residents who wanted local control over the community’s future.

The incorporation process was not without debate. Some long-time residents worried about increased taxes and bureaucracy, while others felt that incorporation was the only way to preserve the community’s character in the face of growing development pressure. In the end, the pro-incorporation side prevailed, and Bermuda Run became Davie County’s fourth incorporated town, joining Mocksville, Cooleemee, and Advance.

Following incorporation, the town began to develop commercial areas along U.S. Highway 158, which runs through the southern part of the community. Retail centers, restaurants, and professional offices gradually appeared, providing residents with convenient services without having to leave town. This commercial growth was carefully managed to complement the residential character of the community rather than overwhelm it.

Bermuda Run Today

Today, Bermuda Run is home to approximately 3,000 residents, a figure that continues to grow slowly but steadily. The town has successfully maintained its original vision of a planned community while adapting to the needs of a modern population. The demographic mix has shifted over the years, with a growing number of families with children joining the retiree population that was the community’s original focus.

Several key factors contribute to Bermuda Run’s continued appeal:

• Proximity to Wake Forest University — Located just minutes across the Yadkin River, the university is a major employer and cultural resource for Bermuda Run residents, who enjoy access to its athletic events, arts programs, and continuing education offerings.
• Access to Winston-Salem — The city’s downtown, medical centers, and cultural venues are a fifteen-minute drive from Bermuda Run, offering the amenities of an urban center without the daily congestion.
• Continued residential development — New neighborhoods and infill development have added a range of housing options, from patio homes to custom-built estates, attracting a diverse mix of residents.
• Quality of life — Low crime rates, well-maintained roads, and a responsive town government contribute to a high quality of life that residents consistently cite as a reason for staying.

The Bermuda Run Country Club remains a vital part of the community, though it has evolved with the times. The club now operates as a member-owned entity, and its events calendar includes everything from golf tournaments and swim meets to holiday parties and charity fundraisers. The club continues to serve as a gathering place where neighbors become friends and where the community’s social fabric is woven.

Looking ahead, Bermuda Run faces the same challenges that many small planned communities encounter: managing growth without losing the character that makes the town special, maintaining aging infrastructure, and balancing the interests of long-time residents with those of newcomers. The town’s leaders have consistently emphasized thoughtful, measured development that respects the original vision of a residential and recreational community.

In a county known for its deep agricultural roots and historic mill towns, Bermuda Run represents a different kind of Davie County story—one of deliberate design, community planning, and the enduring appeal of a well-made place. It is a testament to the idea that a community, even when carefully planned from the start, can still grow into something authentic and beloved by those who call it home.