Rock Springs Camp Meeting Ground
Why it's listed
Rock Springs Camp Meeting Ground is a Methodist revival site near Lincolnton where families gather each August. It consists of 288 numbered wooden "tents," built as one-story row houses with shared walls, set in two full square rows and a partial third around an oak-planted grove. At the center stands the arbor, a roofed, open-sided shelter built in 1832 for $255, with hand-hewn mortise-and-tenon timbers and seating for about 1,000. Lots were laid out and sold in 1830 on land deeded to the camp ground trustees, and permanent shelters followed several years later. Tent No. 1, of squared saddle-notched logs, is believed to be the oldest. The ground was incorporated in 1851. It was listed as the earliest camp meeting organization in North Carolina, possibly among the earliest in the country, and as one of the few state sites still active. The gathering continues each first week of August.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the earliest camp meeting organization in North Carolina and possibly one of the earliest in the country. It is also one of the few camp meeting sites in the state still active. It embodies the communal religious spirit of the Piedmont and western North Carolina, and its tents form a distinctive architectural group.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72000970, listed September 22, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1373 off NC 16, Lincolnton |
|---|---|
| County | Lincoln County |
| Listed | September 22, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000970 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Areas of significance | Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated good; in active religious use, with the camp meeting held each first week of August and new tents still being added. |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 35.53967, -81.02564 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72000970.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.