Lake Lure Archives

Inside the North Carolina mountain town that Hurricane Helene nearly wiped off the map

CHIMNEY ROCK VILLAGE, N.C. (AP) — Nearly 400 miles from where Hurricane Helene made landfall, the North Carolina mountain hamlet of Chimney Rock Village has been all but wiped off the map. The backs of restaurants and gift shops that boasted riverfront balconies dangle ominously in mid-air. The Hickory Nut Brewery, opened when Rutherford County went “wet” and allowed alcohol sales about a decade ago, collapsed nearly a week after the storm. The buildings across Main Street are choked with several feet of reddish-brown muck. A resident who served in the Iraq war said it reminded him of a combat zone.… Continue Reading

Torrential rains flood North Carolina mountains and create risk of dam failure

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Days of torrential rain in North Carolina culminating with tropical downpours from what was Hurricane Helene have officials keeping a close eye on a major dam. More than a foot of rain has fallen across much of the region in the past several days. The two main interstates in the mountains have closed. Crews have conducted 100 swiftwater rescues as of Friday morning. Officials in Rutherford County were warning residents who live on nearly 30 roads below Lake Lure Dam to evacuate immediately because water was coming over the top of the dam. Winds gusted to 108 mph atop Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.… Continue Reading