There’s a new top attraction in NC as state parks attendance overall falls 14%

CHARLOTTE — More than 19 million people visited North Carolina state parks and recreation areas in 2022. That’s a 14% drop from 2021, when nearly 23 million people came through the gates.

Some parks saw big year-over-year increases in attendance, while others saw major drops. In fact, 2022 was the first time in seven years that Jockey’s Ridge State Park did not garner the most visitors. Regularly at more than 1 million visitors per year, the Nags Head attraction brought in just over 982,000 last year.

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, meanwhile, topped 2 million visitors in 2022. It’s a 27% bump from 2021 — the biggest year-over-year gain on the list.

North Carolina State Parks includes 41 parks and recreation areas. In the greater Charlotte area, that includes Crowders Mountain State Park, Lake Norman State Park and Morrow Mountain State Park.

The division manages more than 258,000 acres of landscape within the state.

See the biggest movers with regard to year-over-year attendance here.

Read more here.

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