FEMA Gives $2.5M To Replace Lake Lure’s Historic Flowering Bridge

FEMA has sent $2,565,168 to build a new Lake Lure Flowering Bridge. The old bridge fell to Hurricane Helene's wrath last August. U.S. Rep. Tim Moore broke the news Monday.

"The Flowering Bridge is a historic and beautiful piece of Lake Lure that's become part of the area's identity," Moore said in a statement to Spectrum Local News.

Building the new bridge will cost $2,850,187. FEMA's funds make up 90% of the total. Workers must first clear away the old structure before starting fresh.

Built in 1925, the bridge's three stone arches once linked Chimney Rock to Lake Lure. In 2013, local groups stepped in to transform the unused road into a garden walkway after getting state approval.

The 155-foot span bloomed with life until 2024. Thirty themed gardens filled its length, drawing 180,000 yearly visits. Hurricane Helene struck hard, crushing one end and twisting the steel frame. The storm destroyed most of the 2,000 plant varieties that once thrived there.

Engineers found the damage too severe to fix. On Aug. 18, crews took down the last pieces.

Local gardeners plan to honor the bridge's memory. They'll use salvaged materials in a new West End Garden. The storm spared their Education Center, which still runs its usual programs.

The bridge project fits into a wider storm recovery plan. FEMA has put aside $4.75 million to fix Western North Carolina. The money will help mend both Rutherford and Burke Counties, including work at Chimney Rock State Park.