Lake Lure T
he town of Lake Lure and its namesake water feature date to the 1920s. That’s when Lucius Morse, a noted developer of his day, arranged to dam the Rocky Broad River and create the 720-acre lake that would be the centerpiece of a unique resort community Today, Morse’s vision lives on, and Lake Lure continues to provide a kind of laidback luxury that’s in perfect tune its natural surroundings. The mid-sized mountains of western Rutherford County are filled with forests, streams, striking vistas, stunning rock formations and gently winding roads and trails. What’s more, Lake Lure features a large share of spacious homes ranging from the historic to the modern, from the somewhat rustic to the state-of-the-art. With slightly more than 1,000 permanent residents, the community’s population surges in summer and fall with small waves of tourists and water-sports enthusiasts. The lake itself has much to offer, above and below the surface and along its 21 miles of shoreline. Permitted residents can launch from the nicely outfitted Lake Lure Marina to enjoy waterskiing, jet skiing, leisure cruising, speed boating, paddling and swimming. And Lake Lure’s clear mountain water is home to sizable
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Welcome Beverly-Hanks & ASSOCIATES
Boaters often meet in the middle of the lake to catch one of Lake Lure's unforgettable sunsets. One of several town parks in Lake Lure, Morse Park at Lake Lure features walking paths, bird watching and great views of the lake and mountains. VALERIE A. HOFFMAN PHOTO
stocks of blue gill, catfish and largemouth bass, making it a haven for anglers. If parts of Lake Lure look familiar to first-time visitors, it’s no surprise. The lake and several local properties were the prime shooting ground for a wildly popular movie, the 1987 romance “Dirty Dancing.” The film was set in the early 1960s, but even today, parts of Lake Lure feel like the lakeside stomping grounds of the two main characters, which were played by Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze. It’s a connection the town continues to celebrate with the annual Dirty Dancing Festival, launched in 2010 and held each September. Also popular are Lake Lure’s longstanding annual events, including premier fireworks displays on the Fourth
of July and the summertime Lure of the Dragons Race and Festival. The latter event brings “dragon boat” and other races to the lake, and raises money for local children’s charities. In May, there’s the Olympiad Fly Masters Tournament, hosted on both the lake and the Rocky Broad. In August, the Hickory Nut Gorge Olympiad beckons athletes from around the nation for footraces, a triathlon and tournaments in golf, pickleball, swimming, water skiing, basketball and other sports. A lesser known, smaller body of water is Bald Mountain Lake, which adjoins Lake Lure and is nestled in Rumbling Bald Resort. The resort’s residents and guests have access to a marina and a recreation center featuring a host of outdoor