Dan Nicholas Park & Campground
add photosLAKE AND RECREATION: The lake in Dan Nicholas Park provides recreation for the entire family. Come and enjoy fishing or just feeding the ducks. Visit our concession stand for refreshments, rules on feeding the animals, or purchasing your pass for fishing in our bountiful lake. Also, the best view of the bridge can be seen only by boat, so visit the dock and take a leisurly paddleboat ride.
NATURE CENTER: Come and learn about the wild plants and animals of Rowan County and see living creatures eye to eye. No entrance fee
GYM MINE: Take a step back in time at our gem mine. We have four flumes for you to try your luck. You could find a number of color gemstones. All ages love to pan for treasures. Wash the stones from your bucket at the flume line using the screen provided. When the stones are wet, you'll discover Earth's treasures.
When you finish panning, go by the gem mine shack and have your stones identified by one of our experienced rock hounds. Let us cut your stones and create a custom piece of jewelry! We sell fine jewelry, fun jewelry and novelties for all ages.
THE HURLEY TRAIN STATION is one of the most popular attractions of the Park! Come ride the Spencer Moose Special, Stanback Express or the F&M Bank Express.
PICNICS AND SHELTERS: Dan Nicholas Park has 17 covered shelters available for rent. Eleven shelters will accommodate 150 people and six will accommodate 30 people. They are equipped with picnic tables and grills. There is a charge for shelter and picnic tables on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays.
PARK HOURS: January - February: 9:00 - 5:00, March: 9:00 - 6:00, April - June: 8:00 - 8:00, July - August: 8:00 - 9:00, September - October: 9:00 - 7:00, November - December: 9:00 - 5:00
18 Reviews for Dan Nicholas Park & Campground
1
00 families found this helpful
"love it"
My girls 2 and 4 absolutely loved the park. We stayed at the local Holiday Inn they had great rooms with a indoor and outdoor pool. Loved the park and loved the hotel. We had such a good time over three days of local sights and the park was amazing. We visited each day for a few hours (until nap time) then we enjoyed hotel the remainder of the day or visited downtown for some homemade ice cream at Sparky's. Yum. Loved it. great vacation.
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It's helpful0 families found this helpful
"Fun for the family"
I just love Dan Nicholas Park. It is fun for the day, great for little ones. Take your picnic basket with you and rent a table.
It is an inexpensive way to spend a day. Bring the grandparents, you can even bring a dog. The kids enjoy the rides. You get the tickets in the gift shop at the train ride. It is better than a busy amusement park. Lots of things to do: petting zoo, carousel, mining, miniature golf and more. Kids can bring bathing suits, there is also a spray fountain.
You can even spend the night in one of the cabins.
0 families found this helpful
"Dan Nicholas Park"
It's a little bit of a drive from Charlotte, but worth it. Kids can go on a carousel or a train ride through the woods for a buck. There's also cheap mini-golf, gem mining, and more. The gem mining is fantastic. You always get gorgeous gems. There's also a nature center and live animals. You can even camp here.
0 families found this helpful
"Variety of fun activities!"
This 400-acre park just southeast of Salisbury offers a big lake for paddle boating and fishing. Live animals in a petting barn and nature center are eager to greet the kids. The park also offers miniature golf, a carousel, gem mining, and a miniature train ride.
You'll also find standard park amenities such as tennis courts, picnic shelters, a playground, volleyball, horseshoes, and ballfields. There are also eighty sites for tents and campers.
1 family found this helpful
"Dan Nicholas Park"
We've only been out there once, but we've been planning to go again ever since! They have the most playground equipment I have seen since I was young. They have 2 or 3 different set ups, which is great for families. The set ups are based on age, so children of all ages can enjoy the park. In addition, they have a train ride, a carousel, and a fountain. The fountain wasn't opened when we went, but we enjoyed the train and carousel. The pricing is great, I was shocked! Cannot wait to go again!
0 families found this helpful
"Good Cheap Fun!"
Dan Nicholas Park is great! It's only about 10-15 minutes off of 85, so it's easy to get to from the local area. You can easily spend less than $10/child for a great day of fun. We love the merry-go-round, train, and the little zoo. Don't forget to pack a picnic lunch! Also, the Autumn Jubilee that occurs in October is fun for all!
0 families found this helpful
"We had a great time for little dough!"
We visited Dan Nicholas Park after hearing so many good things about it, and it was definitely worth the drive! Our kids, ages 6 and 2, had a great time on the large playground area. Our 6 year old loves to play mini-golf, so also took in a round of golf. We also took a trip on the train and two times around on the carosel. All of this for two adults and two kids, plus 4 drinks, cost right around $20! Three hours of fun for $20 is pretty good!
1 family found this helpful
"Awesome Park"
This park has it all. I especially loved the gem mining as did my 9 year old. We spent a good 45 minutes just going through our bucket and showing each other our "finds." The animals are close up and easy to see. The birds are really beautiful. We enjoyed the paddle boats. too. So much to do and enjoy. A "must go to" park..
'10
1 family found this helpful
"A nice day out with younger kids"
This park is a good for a nice day out with younger kids (elementary and below). There is two playgrounds, a merry-go-round, a little train to ride (this is really little and the ride is very short - kids older than about 8 will probably be bored), a small zoo-ish animal exhibit, a "petting" zoo attraction, a place where you can rent paddle boats and go out on the "lake", and my kids' favourite - the gem mining. You pay a fee, get a bucket of dirt that is pre-loaded with some semi-precious gemstones and other interesting rocks, and go use the sluices to find your gems. There is also a small splash fountain for hot days.
There are also plenty of picnic grounds to rent. To enter the park is free, but to do almost anything besides play on the playground or visit the splash fountain, you'll have to pay. The last time I was there, there was limited concessions available, and the park itself is way out in the country with nothing nearby, so you may want to be sure and bring some provisions.
0 families found this helpful
"Park for all ages"
This park has something for every age group. It includes a small train ride for the younger kids. A carousel for the older children, a petting Zoo. Paddle boats, and even a little water area for the smaller kids to run through. There is picnic areas, open fields to play ball or just run. This is an amazing place to visit.
0 families found this helpful
"Dan Nicholas Park is fun for the whole family!"
Dan Nicholas offeres a wide variety of activities and is fun for kids and adults alike! Plan to spend at least an entire day here if you want to try all the activities that are offered. You and the family can go gem mining, ride the train or carousel, spend some time fishing or even camping! This is a great place to spend a fun filled family weekend!
0 families found this helpful
"Great park!"
If you're looking for a great way to spend a day in Salisbury, NC, look no further than Dan Nicholas Park. This park has a great playground, carousel, train, splash pad, petting zoo, gem mine and more! Each activity is reasonably priced, as are their concession stands. The playground has equipment for all ages and it's separated so the little kids can safety play. In all, it's a great place to play!
0 families found this helpful
"Excellent Full Day of Fun!"
This park is an excellent way to spend a warm day out with the family! It's a bit of a hike for us, but we're always up for the trek. With mini golf, playgrounds, mini zoo, paddle boats, petting zoo, merry go round, splash pad and train, there is something for kids and adults of every age. Everything at the park is cash only, so be prepared.
0 families found this helpful
"love it"
I really love this place!! It has so many different things to do for all ages. The camp sites are nice and it's very inexpensive. My daughter went for the first time last year and she is only 2. She had a blast. She loved the animals and the putt putt course. It is just a great place all around, whether you want to spend one day or the whole weekend!
0 families found this helpful
"Huge park with LOTS to do!"
I have been going to this park since I was a small child and it has grown so much over the years. There is a large lake for fishing and paddleboats. They have a campground area to camp. There are lots of playgrounds...putt-putt golf, a sprayground area, a nature center with lots of animals...there is also a place to pan for gold. There is also a train for the kids to ride as well as a carosel. Lots of trees and picnic tables makes this place somewhere to come for the whole day!! We love this park!!!
0 families found this helpful
"Great Day Trip"
There is nothing better than spending the day at the park and there is no better park to do this than Dan Nicholas! We love coming to this park because there is just so much to do! There is a great walk through zoo and an area to pan for gems and sharks teeth. Both of these activities are loads of fun! There are also paddle boats, a train ride, a carousel and splash pad area. If that doesn't keep you busy, you can even play a round of putt putt or visit the aquarium or petting zoo. I can truly promise, you will not be disappointed when you visit Dan Nicholas Park- it's loads of fun!
0 families found this helpful
"Great Park for Toddlers"
Dan Nicholas Park has several activities for your toddler to enjoy. Take a ride on the train, play in the splash pad, look at the animals in the zoo area, go on the carousel, swing on the swings, and pet the animals at the petting zoo. Each activity is quick and toddler friendly. They also have picnic areas and a snack bar. The kids are sure to take a great nap after a fun day at the park!
0 families found this helpful
"Dan Nicholas Park"
The kids & I love this place! Tons of picnic areas, two mini golf courses, extensive playground a carousel, petting zoo, splash pad, train, paddle boats, gem mining ... you name it. There are also snack bars that sell our favorite: CheerWine Slushies. There is no "admission" and attractions are reasonably priced ($1 a person) if you choose to partake. Lots of special events as well! We usually pick one or two things to do every trip in addition to the playground and a picnic lunch... that way it never gets old!
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