This week, I’m excited to share a favorite destination with you–one that makes a beautiful, relaxing vacation spot. If you like mountain views, peaceful rivers, quaint shops, and cabins on the lake, you won’t want to miss Lake Lure.
Lake Lure, North Carolina, has been my family’s traditional holiday trip for years. I honestly don’t remember the last time we didn’t make the winding drive up into the Blue Ridge Mountains to visit at least once a year. My family loves it so much we often visit twice, getting a taste of this quaint little town in both the spring and winter atmospheres.
We only stay for a day at a time since we frequently visit, but Lake Lure is the perfect vacation destination for those wanting to get away for several days at a time. Guests can choose from hundreds of cabins, bungalows, inns, and even resorts, all tucked snugly around the borders of Lake Lure and the surrounding woods.
Prime activities here include hiking, bouldering, swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, golfing, good old-fashioned exploring, and more. It’s one of the ultimate outdoor vacation spots in the United States, with its 720+ acres of lake and the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains all around.
That’s Lake Lure in a nutshell, but I want to go into detail on a few specific things you can look forward to when you visit.
1. History of Lake Lure
Lake Lure has a rather fascinating history for such an unassuming vacation spot.
If you didn’t already know, Lake Lure is a giant man-made endeavor created back in the early 1900s. The whole resort area was the dream child of Dr. Lucius Morse, who wanted to create a European-inspired resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The lake’s creation required a large dam to contain the waters from the Broad River and two other creeks into a maintainable water level and also included a hydroelectric plant to turn that water into energy.
Both of these feats are even more impressive considering that the original dam and hydroelectric plant are still used almost 100 years later! Both of these are hard at work to ensure you get the best possible lake experience and help support Lake Lure’s town. You can read more details about it in the link above.
2. Scenic Views
Few things are more peaceful than waking up to a mountain-lined lake view outside your window. As I mentioned, the many housing options available often include stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Many houses are built right on the water with docks extending out into the lake, while others reach right up the sides of the mountains with 3-4 stories clinging directly to the steep incline. So your view will be spectacular whether you stay on the water or up in the foothills.
But the views don’t end there! With many hiking, biking, and bouldering trails in the area, you can see the charming valleys and mountains around Lake Lure from all angles! Check out the Rumbling Bald Trail, Morse Park and Greenway, Buffalo Creek Park, or Chimney Rock State Park!
3. Chimney Rock Village
At the foot of Chimney Rock State Park, you’ll find an “extension” of the town of Lake Lure, known as Chimney Rock Village. This little town has a wonderfully rustic feel to it, with old-fashioned buildings that actually date back to the early 20th century as well when the Lake Lure area started booming.
Chimney Rock Village is filled with locally-owned, unique shops loaded with a wide variety of goods and goodies. It’s also the home of the Broad River Inn, a beautiful two-story building on the edge of the Broad River’s banks.
One of my favorite shops in town is Bubba O’Leary’s General Store, a large, two-part building filled with outdoor gear, fresh licorice, and unique household decor. I can never get through without a bag of sweet licorice and an old-fashioned soda appearing in my hands.
At least two stores exclusively sell gemstones in the forms of stunning jewelry, gem trees, and polished decorative stones, while the Chimney Rock Gemstone mine lets you actually pan for your own treasures in a working flume mine.
Other shops sell everything from fresh fudge and ice cream to woven blankets, cast-iron cookware, cowboy boots, unique toys, creative home decor, Russian nesting dolls, T-shirts, gag gifts, saltwater taffy, and mosaic lamps from Turkey. Some items embrace the rusting feel of Chimney Rock Village, while others lean toward more exotic styles. But no store fits into the mold of your “average” tourist shop.
4. Rocky Broad Riverwalk
Lining the backside of Chimney Rock Village is the Broad River, a beautiful rocky waterway that tumbles toward Lake Lure. A pleasant pathway follows the river’s edge, allowing guests to enjoy all the lovely nooks and crannies. In many places, giant boulders extend out into the river, offering the perfect spot for a picnic over the water or a better look at the mini rapids below.
In the summer, the calmer parts of the river, sheltered by large rocks, offer peaceful little pools that are perfect for swimming around.
5. Lake Lure Watersports
As a lake resort area, Lake Lure has almost every conceivable watersport available for your enjoyment. So if you like getting active on the water, this is a prime location to enjoy all your favorite activities at once. Available watersports include the following: pontoon boats, water skiing, fishing (bass, trout, catfish, yellow perch, sunfish, and crappie), wakeboarding, kayaking, tubing, sailing, canoeing, and kneeboarding.
You can rent different watercraft throughout the week or bring your own so it’s always ready to go (with a proper permit of course). However, do note that due to the lake’s size, particular watercraft, such as jet skis, are not permitted on the water. You can check all the regulations on the town’s guidelines page.
6. Chimney Rock State Park
From the streets of Chimney Rock Village, you can look up and see the rugged outcropping of the famous Chimney Rock. This flag-topped stone towers over 3 miles high, offering a stunning view of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains and the Hickory Nut Gorge. On a clear day, you can supposedly see as far as 75 miles! Besides the gorgeous view, Chimney Rock is also known as a filming location for movies like Dirty Dancing, The Last of the Mohicans, and A Breed Apart.
But there’s more to Chimney Rock State Park than just Chimney Rock. You can also enjoy several beautiful walking trails with remarkable mountain views; visit one of North Carolina’s highest waterfalls, Hickory Nut Falls, measuring 404 feet tall; picnic with a view; go birdwatching; or try your hand at bouldering!
7. The Flowering Bridge
Enjoy another piece of local history at the Flowering Bridge, a 1925 highway bridge converted into a gorgeous garden. When a new bridge opened up in 2011, the community joined together to turn the old bridge into something new. The Flowering Bridge features a wide array of flowers and sculptures, all taken care of by local volunteers and often visited by butterflies. It’s quite a magical walkthrough, and it’s entirely free to enjoy!
8. Lake Lure Beach and Waterpark
The final sweet spot at Lake Lure has to be the beach. The three-acre beach is regularly maintained to ensure a clean and enjoyable experience for guests. But you’ll find more than just sand and sun here. Lake Lure Beach includes a small water park with water slides, water balloons for water wars, splash pads and more! Beach amenities also include clean bathrooms, changing areas, a snack bar, and picnic areas.
Guests do have to pay an admission fee for the beach since it’s privately owned, but for a day at the beach with a water park, $9 per adult and $7 for children over the age of 4 isn’t bad.
I hope you enjoyed this peek into the town of Lake Lure and the beauty surrounding it. You can easily spend a week here and never do the same thing twice. There are gorgeous views around almost every corner and a plethora of opportunities to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.
As for me, I know I’ll be back come Memorial Day for some mountain views and fresh licorice.
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Until next time, happy travels!
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