Businesses Reopen as Lake Lure Restoration Efforts Continue

LAKE LURE — Signs of recovery are emerging in Lake Lure and Chimney Rock following the devastation of Tropical Storm Helene. Bubba O’Leary’s, Riverwatch, and Chimney Rock Harley-Davidson have all announced plans to reopen on August 14.

While businesses and attractions are slowly coming back to life, the lake itself remains closed and restricted to authorized personnel only. The Town of Lake Lure, working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), continues large-scale operations to restore the lake. Officials stress that the lake is currently a federal job site and unsafe for public access.

Despite repeated announcements, the town continues to receive reports of illegal lake entry. Under the local state of emergency, the Lake Lure Town Council last week passed a proclamation suspending all lake access until further notice. Violators face a Class 2 misdemeanor, in accordance with G.S. 14-288.20A.

One of the most visible restoration projects is underway at Washburn Marina and the Lake Lure Beach area. Contractors are now removing debris and sedimentation, a process made more difficult by standing water. Crews are stabilizing equipment with pallets in order to safely move forward with the work. Officials call this a major milestone that brings the community closer to reopening the lake, which is expected sometime next year.

To support the effort, access to Morse Park will be temporarily restricted during the operations. The town says it cannot provide a timeline for reopening the park, but weekly updates will be shared.

While Morse Park is closed, several outdoor amenities remain open, including:

• Dittmer-Watts Nature Trails

• Lake Lure Green Space

• Pool Creek Picnic Park

• Youngs Mountain

• Rumbling Bald Golf Courses

• Chimney Rock State Park (by reservation)

• Chimney Rock State Park – Rumbling Bald Access

• Horseback riding and zip lining opportunities

  
  

In a difficult setback, officials also announced that the popular Lake Lure Flowering Bridge will be removed beginning Monday due to extensive damage from storm debris.

Town leaders acknowledge the challenges of the ongoing restoration but emphasize that the work is critical to restoring Lake Lure for public use.