Lake Lure, North Carolina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Lure, North Carolina
Town
Lake Lure, North Carolina Location in North Carolina Show map of North Carolina Lake Lure, North Carolina Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	North Carolina
County	Rutherford
Area
• Total	14.37 sq mi (37.22 km2)
• Land	13.17 sq mi (34.10 km2)
• Water	1.21 sq mi (3.12 km2)
Elevation	1,119 ft (341 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,365
• Density	94.99/sq mi (36.674/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	28746
Area code	828
FIPS code	37-36500
GNIS ID	2405973

Lake Lure is a beautiful town located in Rutherford County, North Carolina. In 2020, about 1,365 people lived here. The town officially started in 1927. It later took ownership of the lovely lake it's named after in 1965.

History of Lake Lure

In 1902, Dr. Lucius B. Morse and his brothers bought a small piece of land near Chimney Rock. They paid $5,000 for about 64 acres (0.26 km2). Over time, they bought more land, bringing their total to 8,000 acres (32 km2). Lucius Morse's wife, Elizabeth, is believed to have named both the lake and the town.

Building the Lake and Dam

In 1925, the Morse family created a company called Carolina Mountain Power Company. They built a dam on the Broad River. This dam created the lake that the town is named after. The lake, Lake Lure, was completely filled in 1927.

When the water level is normal, Lake Lure covers about 720 acres (2.9 km2). It has a shoreline that stretches for about 27 miles (43 km). The dam's power plant started working in 1928. It sold electricity to a company called Blue Ridge Power Co., which later became Duke Power. Today, the town still sells electricity to Duke Energy. However, the main goal now is to keep the lake's water level steady all year.

Changes in Ownership

In 1929, big plans for developing the area stopped because of the Great Depression. A company called Stroud & Company took ownership of the lake and dam. They owned them and the power they generated until 1965.

In 1963, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a law. This law allowed the Town of Lake Lure to buy the lake and dam from Stroud & Company. So, in 1965, the town officially bought the dam, the power company, and the land around Lake Lure.

Recent Challenges: Tropical Storm Helene

On September 27, 2024, Lake Lure and the nearby village of Chimney Rock faced a big challenge. A storm called Tropical Storm Helene caused severe flooding. This flooding damaged many things, including the historic Lake Lure Flowering Bridge. The amount of rain was so heavy that people were warned about flash floods. Local authorities also asked people to leave their homes. This was because water was flowing over the dam, and there was a worry the dam might break. Luckily, even though the dam's supports were damaged, its main wall stayed strong.

Fun Activities and Tourism

Lake Lure Flowering Bridge

Recreation and tourism are very important to Lake Lure's economy. The town has faced challenges like the Party Rock wildfire and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, it remains a popular place to visit.

In 1999, a historic building called Pine Gables was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.

Lake Lure was a main filming spot for the movie Dirty Dancing. The town even hosts a yearly festival to celebrate the movie!

The Right Track Toy Train Museum opened in 2011. It's located on Memorial Highway. The museum has a large collection of toy trains that belonged to Larry Keyes. His wife, Peggy, opened the museum to honor him. All the money from the museum goes to research for pancreatic cancer.

The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge

The Rocky Broad River Bridge was built in 1925. It was closed to cars in 2011. In 2013, it reopened as the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge. This bridge became a beautiful garden spanning 155 feet (47 m). It was called "The Gateway to Somewhere Beautiful."

The Flowering Bridge had lovely garden beds and even a phone tour. It also had a Sensory Tour for guests who couldn't see well. The Rainbow Bridge, part of the Flowering Bridge, was a special place to remember pets that had passed away. The bridge was recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat and a Monarch Waystation. This means it was a safe place for wildlife, especially monarch butterflies.

In 2020, the bridge was briefly closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly, on September 27, 2024, Tropical Storm Helene severely damaged the bridge. Most of its gardens were destroyed. Cleanup and repairs are still happening.

Geography of Lake Lure

Lake Lure is located in a beautiful area. The town covers about 14.8 square miles (38 km2). Most of this area, about 13.6 square miles (35 km2), is land. The remaining 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) is water, which is the lake itself.

Panorama of Lake Lure

Population of Lake Lure

2020 Census Information

According to the 2020 United States census, 1,365 people lived in Lake Lure. There were 745 households and 504 families living in the town.

Movies Filmed in Lake Lure

The Lake Lure area has been a popular spot for filming movies. Some of the films that include scenes shot in or near Lake Lure are:

• Thunder Road (1958)
• A Breed Apart (1984)
• Firestarter (1984)
• Dirty Dancing (1987)
• My Fellow Americans (1996)
• Careful What You Wish For (2015)

Also, parts of The Last of the Mohicans (1992) were filmed nearby at Chimney Rock and Hickory Nut Gorge.

Famous People from Lake Lure

• Verda Welcome – She was an educator and politician from Maryland. She was born in Lake Lure.

See also

In Spanish: Lake Lure para niños