Posted on April 23, 2026
By Annie Dance
RUTHERFORDTON, N.C. — The town of Lake Lure will begin a phased “soft opening” of its lake on April 20, restoring limited public access after months of storm recovery while maintaining restrictions intended to protect public safety and allow ongoing work to continue.
The path to reopening began after Hurricane Helene struck on Sept. 27, 2024, sending millions of gallons of water and debris into Lake Lure from surrounding counties, leaving large amounts of material — including debris from nearby communities such as Chimney Rock along the Broad River — submerged in the lake.
One woman, who was a Chimney Rock resident, was found dead in the lake after her home washed away.
