Lake Lure rebuilding marina destroyed by Helene

Nearly a year and a half after Helene caused major damage across western North Carolina, the Town of Lake Lure is continuing its recovery efforts.

Town leaders say rebuilding the marina and refilling the lake are key steps toward helping the community recover and bringing visitors back to the area.

Helene washed away buildings, docks, and of the town’s largest features: the lake itself. Mayor Carol Pritchett says the town continues to work towards reopening both the lake and the Washburn Marina.

“You can see where the boardwalk is, and so that connects the entry there to the marina over on that side so that people are able to walk all along there in order to get to the beach,” Pritchett said. “That’s critical for people to be able to go back and forth to the beach. This will be permanent boat docks over here.”

Local leaders say most of the town’s revenue comes from renting boat slips and permits, something they haven’t been able to do since the storm.

“Our revenue has been down about 50%. So to that point, the increased revenue to the town is really important,” Pritchett said.

Pritchett says the reopening of the lake and the marina go hand in hand.

“We are coming up now and I believe we’re about at 982.5 and so we just have to be at 990.5,” Pritchett said. “That’s very reasonable to think that we could accomplish that.”

The town hopes to have the lake reopen for this year’s season, something local restaurants say would help boost their foot traffic. 

 “We’re here all year, but it definitely affects us here in the summertime because it is a seasonal job with the lake being open. It draws more people towards us business-wise,” Lured Market & Grill employee Annabelle Ruff said.