Congressman Tim Moore Announces $2.5 Million in FEMA Funding to Replace Lake Lure Flowering Bridge

Federal disaster recovery funds to rebuild iconic structure destroyed by Hurricane Helene

U.S. Rep. Tim Moore (NC-14) announced on Sept. 15 that the Town of Lake Lure will receive more than $2.5 million in federal disaster recovery funding to replace the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, a landmark pedestrian span washed out by Hurricane Helene in 2024.

The award — $2,565,168.30 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding — is authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The money will cover 90 percent of the total $2.85 million project cost, with the town responsible for the remaining share.

“The Flowering Bridge is a historic and beautiful piece of Lake Lure that’s become part of the area’s identity,” Moore said in a statement. “I’m grateful to the Trump Administration and FEMA for stepping up with the funding needed to get it rebuilt. This project will support local tourism and marks another important step in rebuilding Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.”

A symbol of resilience

The original arch bridge connected Lake Lure and Chimney Rock before being converted into a pedestrian walkway in 2011 and transformed into a nationally recognized garden space. Its destruction from the storm was a major loss to the community and to regional tourism. 

According to FEMA, the replacement project will include demolition, excavation, and construction of a new structure that meets modern codes and safety standards.

While the federal funding supports bridge construction, it does not cover the restoration of the gardens that volunteers have built along the span. The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge nonprofit clarified in a social media post that the FEMA dollars will go to the town, not to the nonprofit.

“The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge board has approved the new plans for the West End Gardens,” the nonprofit wrote on Facebook. Plans include themed areas such as a Peter Rabbit garden, a rose garden, a pollinator garden, and a “Rainbow Bridge” walkway designed to honor beloved pets.

On Sept. 16, the group shared that volunteers had begun preparing the east end gardens to receive “survivor plants” — flowers saved after the storm and cared for in the home of volunteer Debbie Clark. The nonprofit also confirmed that all of the bridge’s original balustrades were salvaged and will be incorporated into future garden designs, preserving a piece of the bridge’s history even as the new structure is built.

Volunteers still needed

The nonprofit emphasized that while FEMA funding will rebuild the span itself, the gardens remain dependent on community support.

“We are thrilled that FEMA has awarded the Town of Lake Lure the funds to build a new bridge, but none of these funds will be used to rebuild the gardens,” the board posted. “We still have a long way to go.”

The Flowering Bridge has been maintained entirely by volunteers and donations since its creation, drawing thousands of visitors each year. Local leaders say the federal support to rebuild the structure ensures that the community’s investment in the gardens will not be lost.