My family decided to visit High Point City Lake Park, located at 602 W. Main Street in Jamestown, NC on May 21, 2023. The park was easy to find using GPS with very few turns from Hwys 70 and 29. They do not charge an entrance fee or a parking fee; however, parking spots were scarce when we arrived around 11:00 a.m. A large event at the pool and a religious service were happening when we visited, but I am thinking that this park probably is quite popular, especially after the Aquatic Center opens on May 27, 2023.
A couple of members of my family had already visited the park previously and highly recommended the boat ride, so my family visited the park with the boat ride in mind. I recommend checking the web site for the schedule because boat rides are only offered on weekends at this time of the year. We parked near the carousel, which is smaller than the one at
Dan Nicholas Park or
Village Park, but we saw several kids riding the carousel and they seemed to enjoy it.
Tickets for the amusements and rides, including the carousel, train, miniature golf, and boat rides, can be purchased at a building just past the miniature golf area. When we arrived, there was only one family in front of us, so the line was quite short and the boat ride tickets were only $2.50/person. They also offer 1/2 hour and 1 hour rental options for larger groups. If you plan to do the boat ride, you'll need to pick a time - some time slots fill up, so it would be wise to purchase tickets upon arrival. The boat leaves on the hour and half-hour and the ride lasts about 25 minutes. Members of my family who visited on an earlier date said they would let visitors in at an earlier time if they have empty seats on the boat.
After purchasing tickets, you'll find an area for the line that begins just to the right of the marina. This area has about three steps, but after that, there were ramps all the way to the boat dock. If you have someone in your family who has mobility issues, I would ask first to see if there is any way to access the boat without the steps. No pets are allowed on the boat, but I'm assuming service dogs would be allowed per ADA regulations. The boat is covered, which is quite nice if you have fair skin or would prefer to be in the shade. It has multiple wooden seats that allow riders to have a great view from either side. Riders must stay seated and life jackets were not required when we rode the boat.
The temperature was very comfortable in the 70s when we visited, but my oldest daughter highly recommended a jacket for the ride, which was a good call because there was a breeze on the lake and it would have been chilly for me if I had not had a jacket. If you plan to wear a hat, I recommend strapping it under the chin if there is a breeze. We all enjoyed the boat ride around the lake and saw Canada geese with goslings, black waterfowl that often swim with only their heads and necks out of the water that are called anhingas (Thank you to Google for the name!), blue herons, and lots of turtles sunning on logs. The person driving the boat didn't talk but simply let the riders enjoy looking for the beauty of nature on and around the water. I would definitely do this boat ride again.
We saw several people kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing while we were at the park. According to their web site, you can rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, but I could not locate the pricing on any of those. Boat rentals, launch fees, fishing licenses, bait, tackle, and snacks are all located at the marina.
The miniature golf area is small to average size. A few people were playing on it as we were preparing to leave the park. When we visited, guests could purchase a ticket to play one game for $3 or a ticket that was good for the whole day for $5.
Between the lake and the miniature golf area is a small train from High Point University. The train ride is short and similar to the one at Dan Nicholas and Village Park. Those in my group who visited the park at a previous time rode the train and said it made two loops. The train ride is a good bit shorter than the pontoon boat ride.
The train runs right by a very nice playground that is free for visitors. I wish I had known about this park when my kids were smaller because they would have LOVED this playground. It had quite a few different play areas with a wide range of slides and climbing features. It looked well-maintained and trees flanked the edges of the playground, which is particularly helpful for adults who are watching the kids play.
Of particular note is the Aquatic Center that will be opening on May 27 on the weekend and opening daily starting June 3 for the 2023 season. This area offers a large pool, splash pad, lazy river, zero depth entry with a water-based playground area, a vortex, and three nice sized water slides, one of which has a double slide. Ticket options include daily, season passes, and private rentals per the official High Point City Lake Park web site.
If your group enjoys water activities in particular, this park is definitely one to consider. The water park area is smaller than Carowinds, but it also has a significantly lower daily price and is smaller and easier to get from one area to the next. I'm not sure how crowded the aquatic area will be, but I would think this would be a popular destination. Those interested in hiking can find several greenway options. Many areas of the park are paved, and according to the
High Point City Lake Park web site, the locker rooms for the aquatic center are accessible.
You can also find a vintage building that I believe used to be a church (called the Friends Meeting House on the map) and an old graveyard near the miniature golf area. Some of the stones are from the 1700s and 1800s. You can also find some interesting wood carvings scattered throughout the park. We saw some workers going around trimming some of the trees and shrubs when we visited and the park appeared well-maintained. The only issue I noticed that could use some work were two stall doors in the women's bathroom would not lock.
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