Alluring Lake Lure
Cool off with a day trip to this famous — but nearby — mountain lake

When some Hollywood filmmakers want to make a period film, they often set their time machines for Lake Lure, N.C., just north of Spartanburg. The town and lake of the same name make a charming pair, nestled at the base of sheer cliffs and green mountains.

Look-alike America seems to have skipped by here, leaving the resort town with a nostalgic feel that’s perfect for creating childhood memories. To reach Lake Lure, take Interstate 26 from Greenville or Spartanburg. Exit onto U.S. Highway 74 East, then exit onto N.C. Highway 9. Travel approximately 11 miles to U.S. Highway 74-A/64-W. Turn left onto U.S. Highway 74-A/64-W at the Lake Lure sign and travel 3 1/2 miles to the marina on the right.

9:15 a.m.

Lake Lure Tours Marina

Arrive early and secure your tickets for the pontoon tour of the lake. This costs $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $6 for children ages 4 – 12. Children under 4 can tour for free. While waiting for the boat to depart, buy a bag of duck food for the mallards that paddle among the boats moored at the dock. Or visit the adjacent park and playground that sports an impressive play structure. Drop a quarter into the binoculars and view Chimney Rock and the surrounding mountains that rise just beyond the lake’s shore.

10 a.m.

Lake Tour

Select a prime seat aboard the 28-foot covered pontoon for the one-hour ride around the 736-acre mountain lake. A lively tour guide maneuvers the boat out of the harbor and into the open water. He is full of stories about the natural history of the lake, as well as the lore of the Lake Lure. The main attraction of the tour, by far, is the Dirty Dancing Cove, where many scenes from the popular 1980s movie were filmed.

“A lot of people take the tour just to see (where the movie was filmed) — we take you right up into the cove,” said Sonya Ledford, a supervisor at the marina and beach.

If you prefer to explore on your own, the marina rents canoes for $16 per hour (including life vests), according to Ledford. Four-person paddleboats can also be rented for use in the harbor area for $16 per hour.

11:30 a.m.

Lunch at Malarkies

After your cruise, take a walk on the boardwalk that connects the Lake Lure Marina to the beach and pavilion area. There, across from the beach, is Malarkies. Billed as “Eatertainment” on the T-shirts, it is part restaurant, part bar and part arcade. The house specialty is barbecue, including pulled pork and ribs. Food from the sizable children’s menu is served on a souvenir flying saucer — perfect for throwing on the beach later in the afternoon. The large, airy game room has pool tables, skee-ball, pinball, air hockey, basketball and, of course, video games.

1 p.m.

Water Works and The Beach at Lake Lure

As the summer heat settles in for the long afternoon, make your way across the street to the The Beach at Lake Lure and adjacent Water Works. Admission to both the beach and Water Works is $11 for adults, $10 for seniors, $9 for children ages 3 – 9 and free for children under 3. Swimmers can deduct $6 for admission to the beach area only.

Change clothes in the spacious bathhouse and hit the sandy beach. Several lifeguards keep watch over the water from nostalgic wooden stands located both on land and a few yards out in the lake. The Water Works area, located at the far end of the beach, is the main attraction here. Two large tube slides spit squealing bathers out into the cool lake water. Kids exact justice on their siblings and friends as they hurtle water balloons back and forth and shoot water cannons. Smaller children will enjoy dancing and playing under water trees and dumping buckets.

The lake water comes from the Rocky Broad River, according to Bo Williams, a beach manager. The lake is monitored by the Town of Lake Lure to insure it meets EPA standards.

“We have never been closed due to a water-quality issue,” Williams said.

The beach is open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., and the lake tours continue through sunset, seven days a week, so feel free to mix it up and do this day trip any way you want.