Western North Carolina has hosted the casts and crews of plenty of famous movies over the years, from "The Hunger Games" to "The Last of the Mohicans." Now, a site with connections to the 1987 classic "Dirty Dancing" has been sold for millions.
The nearly century-old Lake Lure Inn is still in operation today, with 69 rooms and suites plus three cabins to accommodate guests. It features plenty of activities on the water including swimming, fishing, boating and canoeing, as well a spa and dining options.
Along with solid ratings on multiple platforms and a long history of operations, part of the Lake Lure Inn allure is its connection to "Dirty Dancing." Here's what to know about the purchase, the famous film connection and more.
Who bought the Lake Lure Inn?
Atlanta real estate company Ridgeline Acquisitions LLC purchased the inn and surrounding 1.48 acres of property on June 23 for around $11 million. The Citizen Times reached out to Lake Lure Inn but has not heard back.
What famous film was filmed in Lake Lure?
The NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources has a page dedicated to the area's involvement in the filming of "Dirty Dancing," starring Patrick Swayze as Johnny and Jennifer Grey as Baby. Though the movie was set in the Catskills, the N.C. website says that many of the most famous scenes in the film were shot at Lake Lure.
As for the inn itself, Rutherford County Tourism put out an article in 2022 stating that, while the hotel wasn't used in the shoot itself, cast and crew were provided lodging at Lake Lure Inn during N.C. filming.
Where in Lake Lure was Dirty Dancing filmed?
According to the same article from Rutherford County Tourism, filming locations in Lake Lure included:
- A large amount of the filming done in Lake Lure took place at a former boys' camp which was demolished in the 1980s. However, the stone stairway where Baby practiced the mambo still exists on private property in Firefly Cove community.
- Rumbling Bald Resort's Bald Mountain Golf Course.
- Esmerelda Inn and Restaurant lobby contains salvaged wood floor from the famous final dance scene.
What happened to the Dirty Dancing Festival?
Lake Lure honored the spirit of "Dirty Dancing" by holding an annual Dirty Dancing Festival every fall since 2010. But in 2023, organizers said in a news release that contractual obligations required by Lionsgate forced them to end the tradition. Lionsgate is the studio that owns the rights to "Dirty Dancing."
In place of the Dirty Dancing Festival, the town in 2023 held its first Lake Lure Dance Festival, in which "The Chamber of Hickory Nut Gorge is taking things up a notch for 2023 by including the great dance music of past festivals and adding a little salsa flavor to spice things up!"
Intended as an annual event, Lake Lure is pivoting again this year and will hold instead a Vintage Vibes Weekend on Sept. 6-8. According to a news release, "participating business will embrace a unique nostalgic theme, paying homage to iconic figures, celebrating movies filmed in our area, and honoring our cultural roots. From tributes to local legends to themed activities, there will be something for everyone to enjoy and cherish."
The event will not be forgetting "Dirty Dancing," the news release said.
"A special highlight of the weekend will be a heartfelt tribute to Patrick Swayze, commemorating his time spent filming 'Dirty Dancing' in Lake Lure. We aim to honor his profound influence on our community and showcase the enduring legacy of this iconic film."
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
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