The Town of Lake Lure has sadly announced that the beloved Lake Lure Flowering Bridge will be permanently taken down following severe structural damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024. Two independent engineering assessments concluded that the bridge is beyond repair and cannot be safely restored.
Mitch Contracting has been awarded the removal contract after a competitive bidding process. Demolition is scheduled to begin August 18, 2025, and will likely take several weeks to complete.
For public safety, all access to the bridge and surrounding areas will be restricted during demolition. This includes both the east and west sides, near the Flowering Bridge Education Center. The Town urges residents and visitors to respect posted signage and barriers throughout the process.
The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, once a 1925 vehicular bridge, was transformed into a unique walking garden thanks to a grassroots effort led by local resident William Miller. After the town took ownership from the North Carolina Department of Transportation in 2010, Miller proposed a garden inspired by Massachusetts’ Bridge of Flowers. A volunteer committee formed in 2011, leading to the bridge’s opening as a public garden in October 2013. Since then, it has drawn thousands of visitors and become a cherished local landmark.
Town officials expressed deep gratitude to the Friends of the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge nonprofit and its many volunteers, whose dedication over the past decade helped create a treasured community gateway.
Although the bridge’s physical structure is being removed, its legacy and impact on the community will endure. The Town is currently pursuing a 10-year lease to preserve aspects of the bridge’s mission while awaiting resolution from the North Carolina General Assembly on related legislative matters.
