Dan Nicholas Park

This may be one of Salisbury’s best kept secrets. This park is amazing. It has so much to offer from water activities, nature trails, rids, miniature golf and learning exhibits. Although despite all the things that you can take part in. My favorite thing is the bench that overlooks the lake. It is beautiful and peaceful. This is a must see if you are in the area. Heck just plan to camp and stay overnight!

We have camped at Dan Nicholas for years as we are part of a monthly camping club. It’s a nice park with lots to do, however, it would be nice if Rowan County would put money in upgrading their sites to make somewhat level and add gravel so when rains, you are not flooded. They have added more sites, just cut out of the woods, but what they need to do is improve the quality of the sites they have. Very disappointed when camped last weekend to see ruts and ditches and very unlevel sites, the same as 10, 15 years ago. It’s such a beautiful park, please update campground.

Me and my family love this place… something for all of our kids ranging from 3 – 9 along with us… trains our favorite along with the trails. Can be a bit full at times… but lots of fun.

This was such a fun low-​cost day trip. For 13.50 I got to see and do all of the attractions the park has to offer. They offer a discount pass for 10 bucks which includes the train ride, gem mining, carousel, and mini golf. I also added the paddle boating, animal area, and petting barn. We packed a picnic lunch and there were plenty of picnic tables to use. The bathrooms are not the nicest but they are flush toilets. I would definitely come back in the future.

I LOVE THIS PLACE! The GEM mining is the best. I could go every day. All the things they have to do there are fun. Great for families. They have paddle boats, huge park for kids, small zoo, splash pad, good food and snacks, and you can camp there. I am a big fan and will continue to go there as often as I can.

Dan Nicholas Park is much more than I expected for a county park. It is CLEAN, CLEAN… CLEAN! And, has so much to offer families.
From Hayden’s carousel, zoo, petting zoo, gem mine, aquarium, paddleboats and more, this place is top notch.
The price isn’t bad either. We camped in the campground and it was affordable as were the atttractions at the park.
A stones throw from Charlotte, if you’re looking for a place to camp or just a day trip with the family this place is a must visit!

First time was a blast with the kids however. The second time the bathrooms were over flowing with raw sewage and I saw an employee come out of the restrooms and go back to his work station. Park is great but how about getting the sanitation down gesh!

One great thing about the region is the plethora of impressive public parks. As a plus, many of the regions parks have very natural settings. Walking and driving paths wind through trees and there seems to be very little intrusion on the natural habitats.
With any public park, it’s quite easy to be underwhelmed. It’s a park, so you don’t expect much right? Talk about mind blowing — Dan Nicholas had everything. This wasn’t just a park with open fields and picnic shelters, this was an educational learning experience. This was a state fair, a fishing pond, petting zoo. You name it — they have it.
Miniature golf was affordable, the splash park was free, the carousel and train rides were only a $ 1 and the wildlife center was about the same. Fishing was fund and affordable and on top of all that they even offer camping.

I have been coming here my whole life. I love this place.
There is paddle boating, a petting zoo, a zoo, fishing, playground, tons of shelters, mini golf, aquarium, reptile house, train, a carousal, camping… etc etc etc!
They do a lot of events throughout the year and different programs mainly for children.
The green areas are large enough so you aren’t sitting right on top of anyone else. There is also a playground for the smaller children that is fenced in.
Also, they do a fall festival every year and the place gets packed out, its really worth checking out.

Went on a cold windy day with my family just as a last minute thing & fell in love! The place was literally empty, but the aquarium & reptile house was open & free! Really cool local animals, trout, rattlesnakes, alligators, more snakes, more fish, & some really cute turtles. We then went to the concession stand & paid $ 2 for 2 tickets to the wildlife walk, which was empty as well. Didn’t have to fight a 5 year old to get a good view of bears, bobcats, foxes, wolves, groundhogs, raccoons, hawks, vultures, turkeys, deer, eagles, & more! All of the animals were surprisingly active given the cold weather.
There’s more to do here too, gem mining, fishing, camping, mini golf, water park, paddle boats, lots of playgrounds & bike trails. If i can enjoy it on a cold day, i can’t wait to come back on a hot day. So worth it! I absolutely adore this place!

Absolutely great time for family! Especially with little ones. Multiple age-​appropriate playgrounds are only part of what the park has to offer. My son could have stayed all day on the carousel (only $ 1). The other reviews hit all of the highlights about this place. I highly recommend and is worth the 1 hour drive from Charlotte!!!
The only gripe I have is they allow smoking in a place where most of the people there are children. Nothing like getting your kid out of the city to a park to breathe the fresh air… and cigarette smoke. Plan next time is to get there early and enjoy the park, while the smokers are still at the gas station buying their coffin sticks.

Great inexpensive fun. Loved the panning for gems.

Imagine an auctioneer as I spew the list of offerings at Dan Nicholas.
Gem mine, aquarium, boat pond, mini golf, petting zoo, train rides, carousel, picnic shelters, playgrounds, water pavillion, camping, trails, ducks to feed, reptile house… whew! That was exhausting and that’s not all!
This place has something for everyone at rock bottom prices. We rented a big shelter for my son’s bday party a few weeks ago, complete w/​two grills for the ½ day price of a mere $ 20. Shelters are clearly marked w/​parking areas and reservations. Petting zoo is 50 cents, train rides, $ 1 dollar. Water pavillion, play areas, free. There’s so much to do it’s easily a day of fun and can even be a weekend camping adventure. Highly recommend for families and out-​of-​towners alike.

Dan Nicholas is way more than a park. Most people in the Charlotte vicinity think of a park as a small patch of land (think «big yard») where there may or may not be a picnic shelter, you might find a swingset and if you are really lucky, you might even get a ball field or two.
At DNP, you get all that and a bag of chips.
There are picnic shelters. Seventeen at last count, and they are not all on top of each other. Eleven of them hold 150 people. Each. There are not just swings, there is a petting zoo, an aquarium, a gem nine, mini golf, paddle boats, a water park — even a carousel!
As has been mentioned, you can camp at the park (in a cabin or a tent, with or without electricity). You can fish. You can feed the ducks. They even have a concession stand. Nice.

Dan Nicholas Park… One of those places that I do not hear many people talk about around here. Its a great place to camp, visit, picnic and much more. Its local and the prices are very reasonable
. Not sure why more locals do not go if they do it may be one of those «What Happens in Vegas stays in Vegas things»
One of the things that kids young and old like is the Live cameras they have in different spots in the park (Check out the web site). Children and You can check out where they are going next week-​end!!! Sure its not Yellow Stone but, its a nice little park for a Place like Salisbury .So if your in the area …