Lake Lure, North Carolina
Lake Lure is a town of 1,543 people in Rutherford County, North Carolina, founded in 1927.
Why visit Lake Lure
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 12 parks and trails, 21 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 21 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Rainbow Falls, Hickory Nut Falls, Pine Gables and Bald Mountain Golf Course.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 88°F; January lows average 28°F.
Weather in Lake Lure
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lake Lure
Lake Lure is a town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States. In 2020 the town population was 1,365. Lake Lure was incorporated in 1927, and acquired the lake after which it is named in 1965.
From the Wikipedia article Lake Lure, North Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do21
Rainbow Falls
Waterfall · 3.1 mi
Waterfall in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States
9 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks3
Pine Gables
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Historic district in North Carolina, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds12
Bald Mountain Golf Course
Golf course · 1.4 mi
Bald Mountain – Designed in 1968, by W.B. Lewis, the Bald Mountain course has stood the test of time. Playing under the shadow of Bald...
Apple Valley Golf Course
Golf course · 2.1 mi
Apple Valley Golf Course – Apple Valley opened in 1986 with rave reviews. It was called the “most beautiful mountain golf course” by...
309 Winesap Road, Lake Lure
Restaurants and cafes21
Bear's Cup Cafe Bar
Restaurant · Coffee Shop, Starbucks · 1.1 mi
162 Mountains Boulevard, Lake Lure
Mo-Su 08:30-16:00
The Gardens
Restaurant · American, Sandwich, Burger, Breakfast · 1.1 mi
162 Mountains Boulevard, Lake Lure
We-Su 08:00-15:00
Riverwatch Bar & Grill
Restaurant · Burger · 2.6 mi
379 Main Street, Chimney Rock
Mo-Tu,Th-Su 11:00-20:00; We off
Legends on the Lake
Restaurant · American, Pizza, Burger, Steak House, Sandwich · 1.1 mi
Sports Bar atmosphere
153 Mountains Boulevard, Lake Lure
The Highlands Kitchen & Bar
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.9 mi
454 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure
Bayou Billy's
Restaurant · 2.7 mi
401 Main Street, Chimney Rock
Chimney Rock Smokehouse
Restaurant · 2.7 mi
430 Main Street, Chimney Rock
Fae Nectar Meadery
Brewery and winery · 2.0 mi
Meadery, Taproom, Live Music, Markets, Festivals, Winery Tours
2992 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure
La Strada - Lake Lure
Restaurant · Italian · 1.9 mi
2693 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure
LakeHouse Restaurant Bar & Grill
Restaurant · 2.2 mi
1020 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure
Lured Market & Grill
Restaurant · 1.9 mi
2655 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure
9 more on the map.
History
In 1902, Lucius B. Morse and his brothers Hiram and Asahel purchased 64 acres (0.26 km2) around Chimney Rock (within present-day Chimney Rock State Park) for $5,000. They later acquired enough land in the area to bring the total to 8,000 acres (32 km2). Lucius Morse's wife Elizabeth is credited with naming the lake (and the town). Included in the area that became the lake, according to a blog entry by Russ Meade, was the town of Buffalo, believed to have been named for a nearby mountain that resembled a buffalo.
In 1925, the Morse family created Carolina Mountain Power Company and funded the construction of a dam on the Broad River (through a mortgage) which produced the lake after which the town is named. The full impoundment of Lake Lure was completed in 1927. At ordinary water levels, Lake Lure covers approximately 720 acres (2.9 km2) and has a shoreline of approximately 27 miles (43 km). The dam's power plant began operations in 1928 with the sale of electricity under a 10-year contract to Blue Ridge Power Co., a local predecessor of Duke Power. In modern times, the town continues to sell electricity to Duke Energy, although profits from the dam now come second to maintaining a fixed water level year-round.
From the History section of Lake Lure, North Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Chimney Rock Inn & Cottages
Motel and hotel · 2.2 mi
126 Main Street, Chimney Rock
Club Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Mountains
Motel and hotel · 1.7 mi
747 Buffalo Creek Road, Lake Lure
Geneva Riverside Lodging
Motel and hotel · 2.2 mi
3147 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure
The 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa
Motel and hotel · 2.0 mi
2771 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure
Churches and places of worship3
Shopping14
Schools, colleges and libraries3
Sunny View Elementary School
School · 5.4 mi
86 Sunny View School Road, Mill Spring
Healthcare1
Map of Lake Lure
86 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°F | 28°F | 5.0 in | 1.6 in |
| Feb | 55°F | 30°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 62°F | 36°F | 4.8 in | 0.1 in |
| Apr | 72°F | 44°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 78°F | 54°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 85°F | 63°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 88°F | 66°F | 5.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 87°F | 66°F | 6.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 81°F | 59°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 72°F | 47°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 62°F | 36°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 53°F | 30°F | 4.7 in | 1.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lake Lure 2 (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Rutherford County has had 15 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-24: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-28: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2022-10-01: Hurricane Ian (Hurricane)
- 2020-08-02: Hurricane Isaias (Hurricane)
- 2020-05-08: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 19 miles away.
- Edneyville 7 mi west, about 12 min by car
- Fairview 12 mi northwest, about 20 min by car
- Dana 13 mi southwest, about 20 min by car
- Black Mountain 13 mi northwest, about 22 min by car
- Fruitland 13 mi west, about 21 min by car
- Hoopers Creek 13 mi west, about 21 min by car
- Columbus 14 mi south, about 22 min by car
- Hendersonville 17 mi southwest, about 27 min by car
- East Flat Rock 17 mi southwest, about 27 min by car
- Fletcher 17 mi west, about 28 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Lake Lure from Chimney Rock, Kapil Chalil Madathil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- PINE GABLES, RUTHERFORD COUNTY, NC, Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- RainbowFallsRutherfordCounty, 5minutes, CC BY-SA 3.0
- HickoryNutFalls, 5minutes, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.