Hamby Park

This is one of those vouluntary pay when you enter type dam parks. There is a station when you first enter the park on the right. That you have to stop fill out a short form, place your money in the envelope and tear off the stub, to put in your window, then drop the envelope into the drop box. IF you do not have the stub in your window when the ranger comes around, your vehicle can and will be towed in. IF you are in your vehicle and you do not have a ticket stub to show the ranger. He will write you a hefty fine right then and there. Yes, he does check the drop box first to make sure there is some money inside the envelope. So you can't trick them. I know from personal experience that this does happen even at Hamby Park on Minton Rd. off of 421. So it is not quite as good as Blood Creek Overlook (which is totally free) and you can act like you are fishing or getting ready to fish at Blood Creek, for free, which you can't at Hamby Park (no fishing dock or walkway). So actually it is more dangerous (to be harrased by the rangers) than Blood Creek. Some of the dam rangers are now riding around in unmarked vehicles. So they can watch you and sneak up on you and ask you why you haven't paid or what you are doing there. Use this place at your own risk. Very risky.

What I meant was, the Sherriffs department AND rangers are stepping up patrols and watches here. The neighbors have been complaining of seeing the SAME traffic going in and back out in short time lapses, so they know what is going on there, cruising. Plus several of the neighbors have seen and heard of what is taking place down there. They are disgusted and complaining. There are no local houses at Blood Creek or at the NEW Yadkin River Greenway walkway at the dam's spillway / Yadkin River beginning. So these 2 places are much safer and FREE, than this Hamby Park. Hamby Park is a place just waiting for you to be harrassed and busted (arrested).

Rangers do have the authority to arrest and detain you until the sherriffs department gets there. It is a FEDERAL charge on this FEDERAL property. So be careful, don't try to cheat the park, by not paying (depositing required money into envelope with corresponding number with your ticket stub and depositing into the drop box). They do check it every time they come in the park. Maybe not first but before they leave. So if they catch you without a ticket stub or no money in the same numbered envelope in drop box. You can go to jail or at least get a hefty ticket fine. If you're not in your car, it will be towed, I have seen it done here RECENTLY. The neighboring houses are complaining too much traffic going in and then right back out in short time lapses. So they are stepping up watches there. Plus they have heard / seen what is going on there. They are reporting it.