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Lake Lure, Rutherford County
& Chimney Rock Area |
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sed to be, the warm, friendly towns and breathtaking scenery of Rutherford County were a secret known only to a few. Travelers would take a wrong turn off the highway, or go looking for a friend down a quiet country road, or follow directions to a secluded inn, and all at once, perhaps just at sunset, there would be a placid lake surrounded by mountain peaks. Or a tree-lined gorge etched by a rushing river. Or a small, friendly town that felt good.
Franklin D. Roosevelt visited here, as well as F. Scott Fitzgerald, and more recently, Emily Post. Others prefer to slip in unannounced, enjoying the respite of these color-drenched mountains before returning to real-world problems.
It’s provided the settings for such movies as Dirty Dancing and The Last of the Mohicans,
but long before Hollywood discovered Lake Lure and its remarkable surroundings, the rich and famous knew what a gem existed in this part of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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here’s so much to do. In addition to Lake Lure, Rutherford County is the home of small towns that virtually flow into one another – Spindale, Rutherfordton and Forest City.
Another plus is the renowned Chimney Rock, a striking scene when viewed from afar, and a fantastic perch upon which to survey the surrounding mountains and valley.
For Steve and Linda Hayes, the area beckoned as a vacation getaway for more than 11 years, until they finally made their decision to stay. “My husband is from Ohio, and I’m originally from Kentucky,” she explains. “We moved to Charleston and lived there for years, but something kept drawing us back to these mountains.” The couple was on the lookout for property when they spotted a small white cottage. A tiny workshop in the back provided the inspiration for the first of several cabins, and their version of a B&B was born.
“Every time you drive around a curve the sights are so beautiful,” she says, noting that the thermal belt running through Hickory Nut Gorge keeps the air more comfortable year round.
Part of what keeps folks busy here is the entertainment, found at the fabulous Foundation Performing Arts and Conference Center, patterned after Charlotte’s Blumenthal Center.
The Foundation hosts professional touring companies, and welcomes comedy, dance, Broadway and children’s events to Rutherford County.
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Visitors will enjoy the Mame Etta Black History Museum, Bennett Classics Antique Auto Museum and the Rutherford County Farm Museum in Forest City.
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The Cherry Bounce Trail, a marked auto tour of the county’s history, is also a “don’t miss” experience. The Trail features visits to Revolutionary and Civil War sites, as well as what is known as the traditional birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. Maps are available at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.
There’s a wealth of pleasures tucked away here... from wilderness hiking trails and the broad vistas of Chimney Rock Park to equestrian activities, antiques,
art and garden clubs to community theater and concerts, to great fishing and boating and championship golf.
For more to do, Asheville, Hendersonville, Greenville and Spartanburg are close. The Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority offers free customized retirement planning packets.
“This is God’s country,” says Mrs. Hayes. “Even now, I can step outside the courtyard, look up at Chimney Rock, and it takes my breath away.”
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Katherine O. Pettit has worked as a writer,
magazine editor, printer and public relations consultant. The Columbia resident has
published more than 250 articles in magazines and newspapers. Her writing explores a
variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles, business and management.
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