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I really feel like my soul comes alive each time I go to Lake Lure, a small city in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Tucked under the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s surrounded by the forested inexperienced of the pine timber, mountain views, and naturally the glistening man-made lake.
Lake Lure could also be a small city, but it surely’s filled with issues to do and locations to see. Situated simply 45-minutes from Asheville, it’s the right place to spend a day or every week, relying on how a lot rest you’re searching for.
Being simply 5 minutes’ drive to Chimney Rock State Park and 1 hour’s drive to the scenic Pisgah Nationwide Forest, being in Lake Lure is all about being in nature – it’s a spot the place you may disconnect, reconnect, and slip right into a serene life-style.
About Lake Lure, NC
Lake Lure was artificially made again in 1927 by Lucius Morse, and is surrounded by lush mountain tops and sheer granite cliffs. Within the distance are the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and Hickory Nut Gorge with names like Buffalo Head and Sleeping girl.
He envisioned a lake resort that might be one of many largest within the nation as he gazed down upon the Broad River Valley from the highest of Chimney Rock, which he owned and opened to the general public in 1916.
The city of Buffalo, a small Gold Rush and farming city, now sits on the backside of the lake.
Legend of the church mentioned to be 70 ft under within the middle of the lake whose bell is claimed to be heard ringing on stormy evenings
The lake is now owned by the city of Lake Lure, with personal houses surrounding most of it. Entry is supplied through a city marina, seashore and park.
What I like about this lovely lakeside vacation spot, is that it has NOT change into one massive lake resort.
It’s largely a well-liked USA vacation spot of privately owned houses that caters to households who trip in North Carolina each summer time.
That’s what I would like!
Issues To Do On Lake Lure
1. Chill out, Be taught and Dream on a Lake Lure Boat Excursions
On a Lake Lure boat tour, you get to expertise the perfect of this lake’s pure magnificence, in addition to some iconic areas – you may see the steps from Soiled Dancing the place Child carried the watermelon, for instance.
We took the boat tour within the afternoon. It was sunny and heat and the breeze was light. Surprisingly, the seats on the boat had been padded and spacious.
We had loads of room to look at the world go by and study extra concerning the lake’s historical past – and admire these attractive lake homes on its financial institution – from our captain and information.
The excursions final an hour and is the right solution to spend a day. Make sure you reserve your spot prematurely as they’re in style.
2. Paddle Boarding or Kayak on Lake Lure
It’s not lengthy after arriving in Lake Lure that I slip into lake time. It strikes sluggish and rhythmically just like the oars on my rise up paddle board shifting throughout the lake.
Paddle boarding is one among our favourite issues to do in Lake Lure and it’s the very first thing we did after we arrived at our lodging, the Lodge on Lake Lure.
Stand-up paddle boards and kayaks are complimentary for friends staying on the Lodge on Lake Lure and we made positive we took one out on every day of our two evening keep there.
In case you don’t keep at Lodge on Lake Lure, you may lease a SUP, canoe or kayak for $60 a day from Lake Lure Journey Firm (in addition they have boat leases, wakeboarding, fishing journeys, and waterski experiences you may e-book).
In case you’ve by no means completed it earlier than, don’t fear, supping takes a bit of observe to get used to balancing – I fell off dramatically the primary time I did it. Now, I hardly ever fall of except it’s intentional.
It’s a bit like using a motorbike, as soon as you determine the steadiness it sort of turns into computerized.
3. Play or Chill out at Lake Lure Seaside and Water Park
Sure, there’s a seashore at Lake Lure. Nicely, it’s not an ocean seashore with waves like say, Wrightsville Seaside on the Carolina coast, however our two women loved it and it’s one of the vital in style sights in Lake Lure!
Right here you may float in an inside tube, kayak, paddle board, experience on a pontoon boat, swim, experience the water slide or get soaked by the water works cannons, or just calm down on the sand and take in the solar with majestic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The seashore and water park is often open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. And it does get busy right here, particularly on heat days and on weekends!
Admission Charges
- Adults: $10.00
- Seniors: $9.00
- Children ages 4-12 and 45″ & taller: $8.00​
- Beneath 4:Â Free (when accompanied by grownup)
​​Admission to the water park is included in seashore admission worth!
4. Stroll Throughout Flowering Bridge
How does an previous bridge overtaken by blooms and art work sound to you?
One in all my absolute favourite issues to do in Lake Lure is to walk throughout the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge. It’s an exquisite instance of neighborhood care and spirit.
They got here collectively to resolve what to do with the previous freeway bridge as soon as the larger and wider new highway was constructed coming into city.
Why not flip it in to a public backyard house? It was created by volunteers and is maintained by volunteers, and accommodates greater than 2,000 species of vegetation. It’s nonetheless cared for by native volunteers to at the present time.
The 300 foot pathway is a part of the three/4-mile City Heart Walkway that continues previous Morse Park to the Lake Lure Seaside with nice views of the Hickory Nut Gorge and Chimney Rock.
It’s one among most scenic walks in western North Carolina, is opened 12 months spherical and is totally free!
5. Seize An Ice Cream at Scoop Lake Lure
Throughout the highway from City Seaside sits a well-liked native ice cream retailer referred to as Scoop. It has all kinds of tantalizing flavors resembling s’mores, cherry blossom, banana pudding, orange sherbert, peach and low.
We ordered the ladies ice cream first so we might see precisely what a single scoop seemed like. It was large! Craig was about to ask for a double, and shortly modified his thoughts as the only servings had been ginormous!
It’s good to seize your ice cream after a day of taking part in at City Seaside, or you may stroll there alongside the lakefront boardwalk after your stroll throughout the Flowering Bridge, or your Lake Lure boat tour.
6. Keep at The Lodge on Lake Lure – It’s Beautiful
One of many issues I liked doing in Lake Lure was to take a seat on the deck outdoors our room on the Lodge on Lake Lure among the many timber and look down on the lake under, watching it slowly fall asleep after which slowly get up the following day.
Lake Lure Lodge is likely one of the most lovely locations to remain in Lake Lure, and I merely fell in love with it. I fell in love with the view after I visited there final 12 months with my Soiled Dancing associates, and I used to be so excited to remain there after we returned to go to Lake Lure this time!
The Lodge on Lake Lure was constructed within the 30’s as a retreat for North Carolina freeway patrolmen.
It opened to the general public in 1990. It’s the one lakefront lodging in Lake Lure and provides a singular expertise.
The Tree Tops Eating Room has gorgeous views of Lake Lure and the Hickory Nut Gorge mountains.
It’s one of the best ways to start out your day with a buffet breakfast and dinner is served Wednesday by Saturday evenings. See costs and availability right here.
7. Attend the Lake Lure Dance Pageant
Sadly the annual The Soiled Dancing Pageant, one of the vital in style annual occasions to happen at Lake Lure is not occurring.
On a earlier journey to Lake Lure, we attended the eighth annual Soiled Dancing Pageant, which coincided with the movies thirtieth anniversary, and sure it was a hoot, and sure I carried a watermelon, and sure you may go in a lake elevate competitors!
As an alternative this 12 months, they’ll have their first Lake Lure Dance Pageant, which can nonetheless honor the legacy of Patrick Swayze with quite a lot of themed occasions, together with a film screening and social gathering in Lake Lure, dwell music, dancing, and interesting actions all through the weekend.
The Lake Lure Soiled Dancing Pageant is held yearly in August or September.
The pageant takes place at Morse Park, only a 5 minute drive out of the city. In case you plan to go to for the pageant, be sure you e-book your lodging early as there aren’t too many choices at Lake Lure!
Some extremely rated resorts which can be in style to remain in throughout this pageant are Esmeralda Inn, Lake Lure Inn, and Rumbling Bald Resort.
8. Get Energetic at Chimney Rock State Park
Chimney Rock State Park is a simple 5 minute drive from Lake Lure Seaside and is likely one of the hottest locations to go in North Carolina – film buffs would possibly know that scenes from Final of the Mohicans was filmed right here.
On the prime of Chimney Rock you get gorgeous views of Hickory Hut Gorge and Lake Lure. The hike as much as the highest of Chimney Rock from the car parking zone is 500 steps – straightforward! However there may be additionally an elevator that takes you up a few of the method when you’re not into mountaineering.
If you’re into mountaineering, there’s a beautiful 1.4 mile return path by the hardwood forest to Hickory Nut Falls.
9. Play A Spherical of Golf at Bald Mountain Golf Course
Situated on the property of Rumbling Bald Resort, is likely one of the greatest golf programs in North Carolina, Bald Mountain Golf Course.
The 18-hole, 72 par course spans over 6,300 yards, and is likely one of the solely programs in NC that has 5 par 3s and 5 par 5s.
For {the golfing} fanatic, that’s definitely a problem price testing!
10. Go Fishing for Trout or Bass
Though being a man-made lake, Lake Lure is a good place to go fishing.
It accommodates each heat and cold-water species of fish, resembling largemouth and smallmouth bass, white bass, trout, bream, crappie, carp, and perch – to not point out a number of forms of catfish.
In case you’re huge on fishing, you then’re in all probability conscious that North Carolina is likely one of the greatest states to catch a trophy fish.
Why not strive your luck and see what you may pull out of Lake Lure?
11. Zip Line at Cover Ridge Farm
Up to now I’ve solely listed some stress-free issues to do in Lake Lure and that’s largely as a result of that’s what I like – however when you do prefer to take the journey stage up a notch, then be sure you head over to Cover Ridge Farm.
Situated only a 10-minute drive from Lake Lure, this farm is thought for its thrilling zip-line expertise, which takes you gliding by the canopies 100 ft within the space, over a 60 acre hardwood forest.
There are 6 zip-lines in complete, which take you on a mean velocity of 35 miles per hour!
12. Stroll Alongside Rocky Broad River Stroll
There are numerous mountaineering trails close to Lake Lure, however one among our favorites is the Rocky Broad River stroll, as a result of it’s household pleasant and never too difficult – nicely, it is perhaps when you had been to stroll all the 33 mile size, however most individuals solely do a small part of it.
The stroll begins at Chimney Rock Village and takes you alongside the river banks of the Rocky Broad River.
There are many locations to cease and relaxation, with picnic tables and locations to play.
If you’re touring as a household, be aware that the terrain is pure floor so you could wrestle with a stroller.
Closing Ideas
Lake Lure NC is my glad place, and it’s one among my prime two favourite locations to go to in North Carolina together with Wrightsville Seaside.
I wish to purchase a lake home as a summer time residence right here. I simply wish to spend my summers on this lake, in my lakeside residence, with my paddle board.
This was my mantra for our very quick two day Lake Lure trip.
I simply needed to deliver my dad and mom right here on our huge highway journey from Dallas to Boston. It was barely out of the way in which, however completely price it.
For extra Western North Carolina suggestions, try our publish on 19 locations to go within the Western North Carolina mountains.
