Chimney Rock Park Entrance
Contemporary Chimney Rock and Lake Lure are attached at the hip and are easy for tourists to cover in a day or two. Chimney Rock has a concise commercial corridor with many shops and several dining options.
Chimney Roch Shops and Lodging
Make it a point to check out the various sundries and general stores. Inventory spans from necessities - think hoodies and tee shirts - to lovely candles, games for the kids, and reading materials.
Shopping around Chimney Rock
Casual dining is available at Chimney Rock. Our group preferred a diner with speedy service and generous portions. We allowed about half an hour for lunch, which fit right in with the locale.
Chimney Rock Cafe
Dining Al Fresco
Nestled between Chimney Rock and Lake Lure is the adorable Flowering Bridge. It is very much worth a quick stop for photo opportunities, gardening advice and enthralling views of Lake Lure.
Children's Garden Flowering Bridge
Flowery Flamingo
Lake Lure and Chimney Rock have attracted untold numbers of visitors since explorers to the area discovered the mountains and sought to develop a community - initially more of an outpost - that, after much toil and many years has become the tourist attraction known to many through reputation and through movie scenes. Both
Dirty Dancing and
The Last of the Mohicans filmed among these hills and in these waters.
The area sits at the original intersection of the Cherokee and Catawba tribes. European inhabitation has been first recorded during the 1700s. The Harris Inn was built around this time and its location served as an access point for travelers navigating the rugged terrain from Ashville, Charlotte and elsewhere in North Carolina. Chimney Rock had its own post office as early as the 1800's The recent history of this contemporary tourist attraction began in the early 1900s.
Spend a weekend or a day enjoying Chimeny Rock (the commercial district) and Lake Lure (flower gardens and beachy fun). Do your best to include the Lake Lure cruise, complete with history lessons!
Flowering Bridge Lake Lure NC
