If you’ve always wondered what it’d be like to recreate the lift scene from the movie, Dirty Dancing, now’s your chance. The iconic 80’s movie that made everyone want to dance like Baby and fall in love with a guy like Johnny, was filmed at Lake Lure – a popular tourist attraction in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina.
Located about a half hour’s drive from Asheville, Lake Lure is a beautiful, man-made lake that’s situated in the 14-mile canyon known as Hickory Nut Gorge, and sits just beneath the famous Chimney Rock – a massive monolith that provides breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery. Visitors can also take a walk along the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge – a 155 foot former highway bridge that has now been transformed into a massive garden featuring numerous types of flowers, plants and sculptures, and nicknamed “A Gateway to Somewhere Beautiful” by the locals.
For those that enjoy hiking, the 1.5 mile loop, Rumbling Bald Trail in Chimney Rock State Park, gives you a close-up look at the boulders and cliffs that overlook Lake Lure, while the Town Center Parkway and Morse Park Greenway offer more leisurely walks and view of the surrounding mountains. If you prefer to see the area by bike, Buffalo Creek Park at the northern side of Lake Lure is home to a challenging 3.5 mile loop that climbs nearly 500 feet as it twists through the forest.
More adventurous types can fill their need for thrills by soaring through the foothills on a zipline from Canopy Ridge Farm or by visiting Lake Lure Adventure Company and going wakeboarding, wakesurfing, waterskiing, tubing or kneeboarding. The company also rents out boats if you want to fish. If you prefer someone else does the driving while you enjoy the scenery and the fresh air, Lake Lure Tours offers guided tours on a covered boat with a narrated tour of some of the local landmarks, including the locations where Dirty Dancing was filmed.
Although the buildings that housed the resort staff in Dirty Dancing have since been torn down, you can still swim and do your own lifts in the infamous lake waters where Johnny and Baby practiced their moves. In the summertime, you can also enjoy the sandy beach with a little sunbathing along the shoreline. The beach also has a waterslide, a small water park, picnic tables, a snack bar and changing rooms.
The Lake is also home to several different festivals throughout the year. If you’re visiting in May or October, be sure to check out the Lake Lure Arts Festival, which features arts and crafts from more than 60 local artisans. Athletes may want to visit in August to take part in the annual Lake Lure Olympiad, a 3-day sports festival that includes a triathlon, a 10K and a junior Olympiad, among other races. But movie lovers will definitely want to check out the annual Dirty Dancing Festival – a dance and music festival that pays homage to the iconic movie with live music, dance lessons, performances, games and of course, a screening of the film. You may even spot a special guest or two if you’re lucky!
