RICHMOND, Va. (AP)- Virginia State Parks set an attendance record in 2012 with nearly 8.4 million visitors.
The old record was about 8 million set in 2010.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation said Thursday that attendance was up 7 percent over 2011.
About 1.1 million visitors stayed overnight at state parks. That's another record and a 4 percent increase over 2011.
First Landing State Park recorded more than 1.5 million visitors to remain Virginia's most visited park.
High Bridge Trail State Park's attendance more than doubled, from 86,110 to 188,467.
The park system's economic impact rose 6 percent to $198 million.
