Lake Lure has begun reopening to the public after more than a year of recovery work following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in 2024. The Town of Lake Lure, North Carolina, announced a Phase One “soft opening” as continued progress in recovery efforts and improving lake conditions is made. The lake reopened to visitors April 21, marking the first public access since the hurricane. Officials said lake levels have returned to full pond, allowing the town to begin safely reintroducing access while continuing restoration work. The phased reopening will also allow crews to confirm that safety measures, operations and access points are functioning as intended under full pond conditions. The lake had been drained to remove massive amounts of debris and sediment left behind by historic flooding when Helene tore through the region in September 2024. Refilling began in early February, signaling a turning point in restoring one of western North Carolina’s most important tourism and economic ...