They drove 13 1/2 hours from Arkansas to stay at Dan Nicholas Park.

What brought this couple roughly 800 miles? The scenery, the peace and quiet and the tranquility are all pluses. But their real reason is a baby.

Their daughter-in-law, Tammy Armstrong, had her fourth child, an 8 pound, 5 ounce girl, at NorthEast Medical Center in Concord on June 7. She and husband Thomas named their baby girl Nicole.

Connie and Bernard and her mother, Beatrice Farrell, have been at Dan Nicholas since June 1 and plan to stay until July 5. “We gotta enjoy the grandbaby,” said Bernard.

The proud grandparents had a full campsite last weekend when Tammy, Thomas and the four children joined them at the park — four generations camping together.

The 425-acre park, on Bringle Ferry Road about seven miles southeast of Salisbury, sees people from all over the country who have come for a variety of reasons.

As the county’s largest park grows in popularity, it is beginning to get crowded.

The park has 88 campsites, 55 with electricity and water. Each site is allotted to one tent or camper, usually accommodating one family.

According to Andrea Baucom, special events coordinator for the park, the majority of people come for the weekend, some stay a week or two at a time and others even longer.

Tasha Pack and Mark McBride are staying at the campsite until October. McBride is working in the area so the two came down from West Virginia and set up camp. Pack said she likes the atmosphere because it is quiet and peaceful.

People usually stay for extended periods of time when large events are in the area. Baucom said that during race week or the Autumn Jubilee, the park has a large number of campers.

On occasion the park staff does have to turn people away. Baucom said they try to accommodate everyone, but sometimes there just isn’t room. “(And) unfortunately there aren’t that many campgrounds around” to send these people to, she said.

Rowan County residents pay $14 per day or $12 for a primitive (no electric or water hook-up) site. Nonresidents pay $16 each day or $14 for a primitive site. For groups of more than five, the park charges $1 more per person, with a maximum of eight per site.

Residents of the county who stay a week can pay $80; $92 for non-residents.

Reservations aren’t mandatory, but are a good idea. Baucom recommends six weeks’ notice, but she said three is a pretty safe plan.

In the 10 years Baucom has been with the park, she has noticed a significant rise in the number of people who camp.

The park sees many families, especially in the summer. Baucom attributes this to the rise in gas prices. “People aren’t driving as far,” she said. Instead of going to the beach, they are going camping.

She also thinks people are simply getting back to old family vacations. “We all remember the good times we had with our families and we want to show our children,” she said.

Debora and Donald Ziglar of Kernersville, who were down visiting family, were at the park for the first time. “I understand why it’s so popular,” he said.

Ray McGuffin of Albemarle was fishing with his 8-year-old grandson Evan, who was visiting from Columbus, Ohio.