The boat launch with the deepest channel. The trail to the gorge. The farm stand that takes Venmo. The icon you've heard of and the one you haven't.
A family-owned rental operation on Memorial Highway — pontoon, fishing boat, kayak, and paddleboard rentals, delivered to a lakefront dock, Washburn Marina, or Rumbling Bald Resort.
The town-run marina on Lake Lure, the most popular boater access point on the lake — several public landings with well-maintained boat ramps for anyone bringing their own boat.
A historic stucco inn on Memorial Highway, open since 1927, fronting the lake's only public beach — waterslides, a splash zone, picnic tables, and lifeguards, open Memorial Day through Labor Day. The inn's own restaurant, The Veranda, and the Moose & Goose Lounge sit inside.
Several key scenes from Dirty Dancing (1987) were filmed here — including the lift scene in the lake itself, the talent show and final dance at a former boys' camp gymnasium, and the stairs where Baby carries the watermelon. Mountain Lake, Virginia, a different lake, provided the film's lodge exteriors.