The tourist attraction landmark opened on an obsolete state bridge in 2013, drawing more than 150,000 visitors a year before Helene brought a powerful wall of debris.

The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge will be demolished on Aug. 18 due to irreparable damage from Hurricane Helene. LAKE LURE, N.C. — After nearly a year, Western North Carolina is still feeling the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene.

Severe damage from Helene led engineers to declare the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge beyond repair, but volunteers say the garden’s legacy will live on.