Lake Lure welcomes visitors back nearly 2 years after Hurricane Helene

LAKE LURE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Nearly two years after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, the town of Lake Lure reopened to visitors.

The storm forever changed the landscape of the mountain community, leaving behind catastrophic damage after more than 22 inches of rain triggered devastating flooding and mudslides.

Now, nearly 20 months later, Lake Lure is welcoming visitors back for the summer season. Town leaders say the recovery effort has become a story of resilience and rebuilding.

"We're very fortunate and blessed to be where we are now," said Dustin Waycaster.

Waycaster, who serves as Lake Lure's emergency management director and fire chief, said the storm is something he will never forget.

"Something I hope I never have to experience again in my career," he said. "A tremendous amount of work has been put in by contractors, the town, local folks, as well as state and federal agencies."

The centerpiece of the town is the lake itself.

Waycaster took ABC11 out on a boat, showing how crews removed more than 1.2 million tons of sediment and debris that flowed into the lake after Helene. The cleanup took more than a year.

"The overwhelming amount of work that we faced a few years ago," Waycaster said, "and then here we are today, and we're actually open, and the lake is really beautiful."

He said crews are continuing to test the water and that it's "as great as it has ever been."

The lake's clean, calm appearance is a dramatic contrast to the destruction left behind after Helene.

Dave DiOrio, Lake Lure's mayor pro tem who has lived in the area for 14 years, described the storm's aftermath as a "mixture of the water and the mudslides."

"The mudslides were horrendous," DiOrio said. "And that's really what created most of the damage."

Dozens of boats and boathouses were destroyed, along with some homes, Town Hall, the visitors center and the Flowering Bridge.

"The heartache with the cleanup, because all that mud and sedimentation that ended up in the lake had to be pulled back out," DiOrio said. "People's lives entered the lake, and we tried to save some of those pieces...And we were successful."

He said the recovery has been difficult for residentsand businesses.

"The infrastructure has a long way to go, and we really feel for those folks in Hickory Gorge that lost their homes -- that's going to be a longer recovery," DiOrio said. "But the natural beauty is here, so come and enjoy the natural beauty, which then supports those people trying to get back up on their feet."

Lake Lure Dam

Another major concern during the storm was the century-old Lake Lure Dam.

Town leaders said water levels rose 10 to 12 feet above capacity during Hurricane Helene, raising fears the dam could fail.

"That dam performed magnificently and saved a lot of lives," Waycaster said. "It absorbed the initial impact of the storm, buying time for everybody downstream."

Since the hurricane, officials say the dam has undergone extensive repairs and infrastructure upgrades to better handle future flooding.

"Now we have the capability to proactively lower the lake to a safer level before a storm," Waycaster said.

The town also added a new cell phone tower to improve emergency communications.

"Having the capability to alert folks and get them prepared, and then just the resiliency that's been built back into our infrastructure, like shoring up unstable ground and landslides and getting the roadways put back in, really helps us out," Waycaster said.

Officials say the improvements are critical for a town that relies heavily on tourism. Many local businesses struggled during the lengthy rebuilding process, but leaders hope reopening the lake will help bring visitors back.

"It's so clear and so fresh," Waycaster said of the lake.

Area has so much to offer

Several activities were planned for the reopening on Memorial Day weekend. DiOrio said visitors can once again boat, swim, or rent a kayak or canoe.

The area also offers much more.

"The trails are great. Chimney Rock State Park is open, which is a great trail system," DiOrio said. "We have our own municipal park and green space area."

Town leaders hope the holiday weekend will kick off a strong summer tourism season and provide an economic boost for businesses still recovering from the storm.

"The wildlife is back in hordes," DiOrio said. "The eagles are flying, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. We have a number of folks who are fishing here today, catching lots of fish."

He added this year has probably been his best fishing year in 14 years.

Town leaders say while life in Lake Lure may look different after Helene, many attractions are once again open.

Diane Lee, who grew up visiting Lake Lure, returned with her husband Wylie to see the progress firsthand.

"It is better than ever," she said. "It is wonderful."

Recovery efforts are still ongoing, but the town is ready to welcome visitors back. Events are planned throughout the summer, as leaders hope tourism helps restore economic activity the area has missed since Hurricane Helene.

"We know this is the new normal," DiOrio said. "But the things people come here to see and enjoy are back up and running."