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is a town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,027. Lake Lure was incorporated in 1927, and acquired the lake after which it is named in 1965.
In 1902, Dr. Lucius B. Morse and his brothers Hiram and Asahel purchased 400 acres (1.6 km
) around Chimney Rock (within present-day Chimney Rock Park) for $5,000. They later acquired enough land in the area to bring the total to 8000 acres (32 km
). Lucius Morse's wife Elizabeth is credited with naming the lake (and the town).
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 and has a shoreline of approximately . 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.
The plans for development came to a halt in 1929 with the advent of the Great Depression. A mortgage-holder, Stroud & Company of Philadelphia, foreclosed on the lake and the dam. Stroud owned them and the power the dam generated until 1965. In 1963 the North Carolina General Assembly enacted the legislation that authorized the Town of Lake Lure to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of acquiring the assets from Stroud. The dam, power company, and real estate of Lake Lure were acquired by the Town of Lake Lure in 1965.
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 for the residents of the Lake Lure area.
The Lake Lure area is commonly used as a filming location for major motion pictures. Films include
starring Patrick Swayze which was filmed here (the dance scenes at the Lodge) and in Virginia. It is also a common recreational area for residents and those within of the Lake from four states to come visit, picnic, water ski, boat and fish or spend the summer.
Lake Lure was the location for the HGTV Dream Home contest in 2006 where a lucky contestant won a furnished home and an automobile.