Published October 15, 2026Updated October 18, 20263 min readMountains

Lake Lure Facts for Rental Guests

Quick answer

Lake Lure is a small, man-made lake in Rutherford County, North Carolina, owned and regulated by the Town of Lake Lure. The town says it covers about 720 acres at ordinary water level, with about 27 miles of shoreline. On BnB Search, the Lake Lure and Chimney Rock vacation rentals hub lists 163 places, 112 of them individual stays. Sources are linked at the end.

The lake in numbers (Town of Lake Lure)

Size: about 720 acres at ordinary water levels with about 27 miles of shoreline (town history page). Another town page gives about 812 acres (1.15 square miles), so treat acreage as approximate.
Dam: built in 1925 and 1926 on the Broad River; the lake was fully impounded in 1927, the year the town was incorporated.
Ownership: the town owns the lakebed up to the 995-foot elevation and its Marine Commission regulates activity on the lake (Lake Use Regulations).

Why this matters for renters: this is a small lake with town rules, so a rental boat or the boat that comes with your rental home may have limits.

Boat rules renters should know

From the Town of Lake Lure's boating pages:

All motorized boats need a town permit, displayed on the boat. Non-motorized boats such as kayaks, canoes and paddleboards no longer need a permit as of 2024.
If you are in a rented boat or one supplied with your rental home, the town says that permit does not allow towing, skiing or tubing.
No wake (idle speed) in coves, within 75 feet of shore or other boats, and from 7 pm to 7 am October through April and 9 pm to 7 am May through September.
Children under 13 must wear a life jacket.

Rules change, so check the town's boating page before your trip.

What our Lake Lure and Chimney Rock listings show

These counts come from BnB Search's own directory data and change when listings are added or removed.

163 listings in total: 112 individual stays, 19 resorts, inns or lodging businesses, 26 rental companies, property managers or real estate offices and 6 other local listings that are not rentals.
Area tags: Lake Lure 109, Chimney Rock 3. Our area tags are broad, so open the map pin to see exactly where a listing is.
Words in the stay titles: of the 112 stays, 13 mention lakefront, waterfront or lake access; 4 mention a mountain view; 11 mention a hot tub or spa; 10 mention pets or dogs; 32 mention cabin. Hosts write these titles themselves, so confirm each feature before you book.

Browse them on the Lake Lure and Chimney Rock hub (map and filters) or in the full Lake Lure and Chimney Rock listings directory.

Before you book a Lake Lure and Chimney Rock rental

Boat with the house: ask the host whether it has a current town permit, and plan for no towing, skiing or tubing on a rental permit.
Dock: ask whether the dock is private and how close it is to the house.
Paddling: kayaks and paddleboards no longer need a town permit (2024 change).
Pets: confirm the pet policy and fees with the host.

FAQ

Do I need a permit for a kayak or paddleboard on Lake Lure?

No. The Town of Lake Lure says non-motorized boats no longer need a permit as of 2024. Motorized boats do.

Can I tube or water ski behind a rental boat on Lake Lure?

The town says a rented boat, or one supplied with your rental home, may not tow, ski or tube.

How big is Lake Lure?

About 720 acres with about 27 miles of shoreline, according to the town. Another town page gives about 812 acres.

How many Lake Lure and Chimney Rock rentals does BnB Search list?

163 listings, including 112 individual stays. The rest are lodging businesses, rental companies or other local listings.

Does BnB Search book the stay?

No. Compare on the hub, then book on the site linked from the listing.

Sources

Lake Lure family cabins · Pet-friendly Lake Lure rentals · Lake Lure vacation rental companies