A History of Lake Lure...
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A fiery sunset on the present-day Lake Lure. |
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Legend states that Hickory Nut Gorge was a favorite hunting spot of the Cherokee Indians. The Cherokee loved the mountainous region of North Carolina and deemed it "land of the blue sky." Today, nestled within the same gorge the Cherokee cherished, is a pristine lake known as Lake Lure.
Lake Lure was the vision of Dr. Lucius Morse. He traveled to the Thermal Belt of Western North Carolina in pursuit of its refreshing mountain air and therapeutic qualities. His admiration for the landscape grew as he continued his discovery of the region. Morse dreamed of creating a tranquil environment that would serve as both a tourist destination and resort community with Lake Lure as the centerpiece. He just needed to create the lake.
With the help of his brothers Hiram and Asahel, Morse purchased Chimney Rock in 1902 and later acquired additional land in the surrounding area for a total of 8,000 acres. Morse and his wife Betty lived in the Cliff Dwellers Inn at Chimney Rock. There, he worked diligently to refine his plans for the land.
In the spring of 1925, Morse's dream was realized. Construction began on a 585-foot long, 105-foot deep dam in the Rocky Broad River. The dam created and contained the lake. By 1927 the shorelines had formed, fish swam where trees once stood, and Lake Lure was born. Later that year, the town of Lake Lure was incorporated. Betty Morse is credited for giving the town its name.
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Dam under construction in 1925. |
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Log scaffolding across the top of the building area. |
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The town of Buffalo used to sit along the river where the lake is now located. It was a small mining and farming community that also catered to travelers using the pass in Hickory Nut Gorge to head west. When Dr. Morse built the dam on the river, the town was flooded and now sits about 100 feet below. A majority of the houses and building were removed, but a few were left behind and so remain today.
A small bridge is the only link to the one island of Lake Lure, named Yacht Island but also known as Pig Island or Snake Island. The story goes that before the dam was built the island was a 175-foot hill. As the lake began to fill, all the animals sought higher, dryer ground. Once the desired level of the lake was reached, the top of the hill was now a small island. Dr. Morse decided the island was a great location to create a yacht club or amusement park. When he arrived on the island, he discovered an extremely large population of snakes had found refuge from the rising water. To remedy the problem, Dr. Morse hired a local farmer to place pigs on the island to remove the snakes. After about a year, when Dr. Morse returned, the snakes were gone but the pigs had multiplied.
With the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression, Lake Lure succumbed to financial pressures. The Town of Lake Lure purchased the dam and the lake in the mid-1960's. Today, the dam supplies hydro-electric power to Lake Lure and extra power is sold to Duke Power. Beyond the dam, the water continues as the Broad River, that eventually flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
 Looking for more? Try 10 things to do in Lake Lure.
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