LAKE LURE - Shelby Star

LAKE LURE
YOUR
OUR GUIDEE
TO
TO LAKE LURE AND THE AREA
SPRING/SUMMER 2011  FREE
Visit Patricia Maringer’s
European
Getaway
PLUS: It’s time to plan your
Chimney Rock wedding
STRENGTH. G
GROWTH. INDEPENDENCE.
What’s in a name?
Rutherford Hospital is proud to introduce our new name and logo
to the community.
This new identity is a celebration of the many ways we have grown
over the years, as well as our promise to continue providing the highquality, personalized care you’ve come to expect from Rutherford.
Not only have we kept pace with the latest medical advances; we
have expanded our services beyond the walls of our hospital to offer
you and your family access to both specialized and primary care.
As Rutherford Regional Health System, we remain your local
healthcare provider—independent and committed to serving the
unique needs of Rutherford County.
1579104
288 South Ridgecrest Avenue, Rutherfordton www.MyRutherfordRegional.com
3
Welcome to Lake Lure
The Lake Lure Guide is published
by The Shelby Star
704-669-3300
www.shelbystar.com
315 E. Graham St.
Shelby, N.C. 28150
Publisher
Skip Foster
Ad Director
Brent A. Powers
CreativeServices Mgr. Crystal Armstrong
Special Projects Editor
Jackie Bridges
Layout Designer
Eric Beam
Photo Editor
Jeff Melton
Graphic Design
PNC Graphics
INSIDE
Bubba O’Leary’s general
store is a step back in time
4-5
Visit an Austrian-inspired
bed and breakfast
6-7
Taking the plunge: Tying the
knot at Hickory Nut Falls
8-9
Nuptials atop Chimney Rock;
reception at The Esmeralda
10-11
Business Directory
14-15
The friendly communities and sights of Lake
Lure and Chimney Rock are treasures waiting to
be discovered in the heart of Hickory Nut Gorge.
828-625-2020
Coldwell Banker, one of the most trusted names in Real Estate.
Buying or Selling ?
Contact one of our professionals today
Your Lake Lure Real Estate Experts!
Serving Lake Lure and Surrounding Counties
Quarters Real Estate
828-625-2020
www.ColdwellBankerLakeLure.com
[email protected]
An independently Owned and Operated Member of Coldwell Banker Residential
d i l Affili
Affiliates, IInc.
4
Welcome to Lake Lure
Peter O’Leary is shown in his general store, Bubba O’Leary’s, in Chimney Rock. The store. which O’Leary
and his wife, Ann, opened in 1992, has a little something for everyone.
Take a step back in time at
Bubba O’Leary’s
Story by Jackie Bridges  Photos by Jeff Melton
Welcome to Lake Lure
Peter and Ann O’Leary left
their life in the city to open a
general store in Chimney Rock
C
offee for a dime and candy for a penny —
if you thought those days were long gone,
just step inside Bubba O’Leary’s store in
Chimney Rock Village.
Owners Ann (from Atlanta) and Peter
O’Leary (from Charlotte) left city life
behind to open the old-timey general store. The couple’s
1-year-old yellow Labrador, Bubba, became the store’s
mascot.
“Both of us liked old general stores and felt like Chimney
Rock needed one,” said Peter, former general manager of
Chimney Rock Park, where he worked for almost 20 years.
“It’s a neat little town and has a great history. When I first
moved here, I fell in love with it and didn’t want to leave.”
The O’Learys specialize in
nostalgic items, including
We have all of what bottled Cokes and Nehi drinks,
you need and most of candy cigarettes, Zots, Elvis
what you want.
and Marilyn Monroe memorabilia and other items.
Peter O’Leary
Co-owner of Bubba O’Leary’s
They opened the store in
1992, across the street from its
present location at 385 Main
St. Quickly realizing more space was needed, they built an
addition and moved into their present building in September 2009.
“This area is twice as big as what we’ve had before,” said
Peter, who has also served as mayor of Chimney Rock. “We
were bursting at the seams. It all started before the economy went down.”
The new space has quite a history. Built in 1927 as a
movie theater, it has also been home to a restaurant, book
store, junk shop and clothing store.
In addition to the nostalgic items, Bubba O’Leary’s offers
T-shirts, mountain clothing, hiking gear and sportswear.
Campers and picnickers can also find sticks for roasting
marshmallows or fire starters.
“We are a tourist general store,” O’Leary said. “We have
all of what you need and most of what you want.”
“
5
6
Welcome to Lake Lure
Patricia Maringer and her late husband, Salzburg-born Werner Maringer, opened the Gaestehaus Salzburg 15 years ago.
A little slice of
Austria
Story by Jackie Bridges  Photos by Jeff Melton
7
Welcome to Lake Lure
Patricia Maringer’s
bed and breakfast is
one of Lake Lure’s
hidden jewels
T
he steep, narrow
driveway turns off
a sharp curve in
Memorial Highway
74A in Lake Lure. If
you’re not careful,
you’ll miss the gravel drive, but waiting at the top is an alpine hideaway
known as Gaestehaus Salzburg.
Locals prefer you don’t discover the
intimate German restaurant — open
on Thursday, Friday and Saturday
evenings for reservations only and
Sunday for lunch, beginning at11:30
a.m. and last seating at1:30 p.m.
“It’s typical Austrian — very small
and intimate,” said owner Patricia
Maringer. “Everything is cooked as you
order it. That makes it more special.
We have a lot of locals who eat here.”
After Memorial Day, the beer garden — a summer tradition for locals
— will be open on the weekends.
Settling in Lake Lure
Patricia and her husband, Salzburgborn Werner Maringer, opened the
bed and breakfast 15 years ago. Werner, who was a volunteer fireman and
active in the community, died unexpectedly in January.
“He was well-loved in this community,” Patricia said. “They have been
so supportive and caring.”
After taking time off, Patricia re-
 Gaestehaus Salzburg
1491 Memorial Highway (U.S.
64/74A), Lake Lure
Call 828-625-0093 or go to
www.gaestehaussalzburg.com
opened the bed and breakfast in April
and recently reopened the restaurant.
The Maringers had visited Lake Lure
on vacation and “fell in love with the
area,” Patricia said. “We decided this
was where we wanted to return.”
They were ready to settle down.
Werner’s career in the hospitality
industry kept the couple on the move
for 20 years. His expertise was in turning properties around, and he was in
high demand, Patricia said.
He built a bed and breakfast that
reminded him of his Austrian home
and the area also reminds Patricia of
the West Virginia mountains where
she grew up.
Located on eight heavily wooded
acres to the southeast of Lake Lure
Beach, Gaestehaus Salzburg is surrounded by gardens and features
European touches — natural wood
interiors and flowerboxes across the
upstairs balcony.
Amenities for guests
There are three rooms in the main
house and seven separate cabins,
suites or studios that offer more privacy. Guests are served a Europeanstyle breakfast with cold cuts, German
sausages, select cheeses, soft-boiled
eggs served in an egg cup, fresh fruit
in season and a variety of fresh baked
breads. After a day of sightseeing in
Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, guests
can enjoy the pool, hot tub or infrared
sauna.
“The people who stay here come to
get away,” Patricia said. “We get a lot
of people who just want time alone.”
Four of the cabins offer double
Jacuzzis and the Edelweiss Suite — or
the honeymoon suite — has a private
balcony with a view of the woods
and glimpses of the lake. The cabins
feature knotty pine walls and ceilings,
fireplaces and kitchenettes. The Bluebird Cabin is handicapped accessible
with its own parking space, a level
entry and a sidewalk leading to the
main building.
8
Welcome to Lake Lure
Taking the
Plunge
Joe and Sue decided the perfect
spot for their wedding vows
was at the base of a waterfall
Photos by Van Atta
9
Welcome to Lake Lure
By Jackie Bridges
I
n celebration of the obstacles
their relationship overcame,
Joe Odzak and Suzanne
Kennedy decided to have
their wedding ceremony on
a mountainside in western
North Carolina.
They had visited Chimney Rock Park
State Park shortly after relocating to
Durham from California and loved its
scenic waterfall and trails.
“We found that Chimney Rock provided a great hike to the falls and there
were great amenities nearby,” Joe said.
“Sue is an outdoorsy person and she
was the one who suggested the idea.”
They were married July 31, 2010, at
the base of Hickory Nut falls.
The guests had no problem with the
¾-mile hike to the wedding platform,
Joe said.
“Everyone was able to make it, no
problem,” he said. “They called it an
adventure wedding. They were surprised at how beautiful the park was.”
‘A leap of faith’
Sue is originally from upstate New
York and Joe is from the farm country
in California. They met in San Francisco at a belly dance event. They dated
for close to a year, but when Sue’s
career took her to Chapel Hill, she
thought the relationship was over.
“It was a hard move. I chose career
over the Bay,” she said, “and did not
want to be in a long-distance relationship.”
Though they fell out of touch for a
bit and tried to move on, Joe didn’t
Bed and Breakfast • Cabins • German Restaurant
S lb
Salzburg
Room
R
- Queen-size room w/ balcony on 2nd
floor. Adults Only, No Children.
$115
Deutschland Room - Queen-size room w/ balcony on
2nd floor. Adults Only, No Children.
$115
Austria Suite - The Cottage Two-room suite w/ living room &
kitchenette & queen-size bedroom. Jacuzzi.
$140
Italy Suite - The Cottage Two-room suite w/ living room &
kitchenette & queen-size bedroom. Jacuzzi.
$140
Bluebird Cabin - Separate cabin, completely handicapped
accessible w/ own parking. Large wrap around deck.
$150
Chickadee Studio - Living room & kitchen combo, king-size
bedroom, 2 person Jacuzzi, fireplace.
$160
Vienna Studio - Duplex studio overlooking pool. Spacious
living room, king bed, garden Jacuzzi.
$160
Edelweiss Suite - Honeymoon Suite. Living room & kitchen
combo, king-size bedroom, 2 person Jacuzzi. Covered front
porch and balcony.
$180
1491 Memorial Highway (Hwy. 64/74A) • PO Box 228 • Lake Lure, NC 28746
828.625.0093 [email protected]
1579862
1570874
EExperience the Old World charm of our bed and breakfast
aaccommodations (and unbelievable homemade breakfast
with Austrian pastries!), the unique and fully-equipped cabins,
w
sswimming pool, hot tub, sauna, gardens, and our fantastic
G
German restaurant. The service, great food, privacy and ease
will create memories to last a lifetime!
w
stay away long. He wanted to change
career paths, too, so a move made
sense. He convinced her they should
be together and followed her to North
Carolina. It turned out their time apart
made them realize the deep friendship
they had and common goals, desires
and outlook on life they shared. The
distance did not overcome the relationship.
“It was a real leap of faith for both of
us,” she said.
Choosing a site
When they decided to get married
at Chimney Rock State Park, the couple contacted Jeff Graack, group sales
manager. “Jeff provided us with a lot of
information,” Joe said. “On the wed>> See WEDDING/Page 12
10
Welcome to Lake Lure
Receiving at
The Inn
Attending a ceremony atop
Chimney Rock wasn’t the only
unique experience for Todd and
Melinda Morse’s wedding guests
11
Welcome to Lake Lure
Photos by Jeff Melton
By Jackie Bridges
T
he history and charm
of the Esmeralda Inn
was the natural choice
for a reception after
the Chimney Rock
wedding of Todd and
Melinda Morse.
“It was an easy decision,” said Todd,
who is the great-grand nephew of Dr.
Lucius B. Morse, founder of Chimney
Rock Park.
“We wanted our guests to have a
unique experience at our wedding.”
The Morses were married Aug. 2,
1986, at the top of Chimney Rock. The
winds were blowing between 20-30
miles per hour, so after the ceremony,
the couple and guests welcomed the
calm, rustic beauty of the Esmeralda.
In addition to the inn’s amenities,
guests experience the sound of the
nearby Rocky Broad River as it tumbles over rocks and boulders.
“The Esmeralda is a very important
part of this community,” Todd said. “It
adds to the wedding experience when
you are hosted by a family.”
At home in Chimney Rock
When Todd was a little boy, he always enjoyed visiting the park owned
Todd and Melinda Morse selected The Esmeralda, an inn filled with history and rustic beauty, as the site
for their wedding reception in 1986. The couple is shown far left, above, seated in the inn’s front-porch
rocking chairs. Shown far left is the couple’s wedding ceremony atop Chimney Rock. Shown above are
interior and exterior shots of the inn.
by his uncle.
“I always thought of it as fun and not
business,” he said.
In the ’80s, he took a more active role
and in 1992 he became president and
general manager. During his tenure,
many improvement were made to
the park, including safer and more
convenient trails, adding scenic view
points, refurbishing the buildings and
elevator, creating the 5-acre Meadows
to meet the needs of large groups and
>> See ESMERALDA/Page 13
12
Welcome to Lake Lure
<< Wedding
The Cafe String Quartet — Eric Scheider on
cello and Monique Pinelli on violin — are
shown performing during the wedding.
Continued from Page 9
he was constantly moving
back and forth making sure
the guests knew where they
were going.”
Another reason they
chose the waterfall setting
was it allowed for an intimate ceremony.
“We liked having contact
with our guests,” Joe said.
“We wanted them to be
close to us. We love how
everything worked out.”
Sue said her relatives and
friends didn’t mind the hike
to the waterfall.
“They’ve known me for
so many years,” she said.
“They expected something
different.”
The big day
Sue planned for everything. She bought a pop-up
changing booth and hung
tapestries on clothesline so
she and the wedding party
could change clothes after
the hike up. Because passing summer showers are
also common, she purchased umbrellas imprinted
with the wedding date as
gifts for her guests.
“And it rained — a brief
passing shower — but it
cooled off the day,” she
said.
The only people who had
chairs were the two musicians, Eric Scheider on cello
and Monique Pinelli on
violin; everyone else stood
for the ceremony. To keep
their instruments out of the
rain, they sat underneath an
outcropping of rocks.
“It sounded like the
music was coming off the
rocks,” Sue said.
“They were real excited to
play and Monique was so
helpful by asking me things
I hadn’t even thought of.”
Everyone else who had a
part in the wedding was also
excited about the setting. “As
we were explaining our wedding to the florists, minister
and musicians, they were
excited as well,” Joe said. “It
wasn’t a hardship on them.
It was a great joy.”
Find out more
The staff at Chimney
Rock State Park can help
plan your wedding or other
event. Choose from a variety
of locations and a full range
of catering options is also
available.
According to Jeff Graack,
group sales manager, quite
a few dates are still available
for this year and couples
are already inquiring about
dates in 2012. For more
information, fill out the con-
tact form under the wedding
section on the park’s website
(www.chimneyrockpark.
com/visit/groups/weddings.
php) or email [email protected].
The park’s phone number
is 1-800-277-9611.
13
Welcome to Lake Lure
<< Esmeralda
Continued from Page 11
adding a Nature Center.
After the Park was sold to
the state of North Carolina
in 2007, the couple stayed in
Hickory Nut Gorge and now
live in one of the original
homes built on Lake Lure.
“This is really home for us
now,” Todd said.
“This is such a precious,
precious place — this area
— it’s really important,”
added Melinda, who is
originally from Memphis.
She had never seen
mountains when Todd
brought her to Chimney
Rock for the first time.
“I was so scared of the
winding road,” she said. “I
loved it. I am so into the elements — water, earth and
sun — I find a lot of inspiration, gratitude and connectedness here.”
Weddings at the inn
And the Esmeralda Inn
has always been a Morse
family favorite for dinner
and special occasions.
“Whenever Todd’s dad
came to town, this was the
first place he wanted to
visit,” Melinda said. “We
always came to the Esmeralda for Thanksgiving. They
serve family style, with 10-12
at each table, with platters
on the table.”
Food is served the same
way for wedding receptions,
said Doug Kelly, who is
co-owner of the Esmeralda
with his wife, Aileen.
The Kellys recommend
couples consider renting
the entire inn — which can
accommodate 80-90 guests
 The Esmeralda Inn
The Esmeralda Inn
910 Main St., Chimney Rock
Call 828-625-2999 or visit
www.theesmeralda.com
Originally built by Colonel Tom Turner in
1891 and opened in 1892. Turner named the
Inn for the screenplay Esmeralda by Frances
Hodges Burnett, written while the author was
staying at a nearby inn.
Motion picture makers discovered The
Esmeralda and the Hickory Nut Gorge area
in 1915. It was a favorite spot of silent movie
stars and several silent films were actually
filmed at The Esmeralda. Notables such
as Mary Pickford, Gloria Swanson, Douglas
Fairbanks, Clark Gable and others used The
Esmeralda as a hideout.
In 1997 flood waters from the Broad river
— for their special celebration. Wedding guests are
pampered with complimentary gourmet coffee
and tea, evening wine
and chef-prepared hors
d’oeuvre and goodies, Bose
Wave radios in each guest
room, 32-inch high definition flat screen televisions,
environmentally friendly
spa toiletries, luxurious
Anichini linens and bathrobes and other comforts.
A new 1,800 square foot
spa patio area will feature a
free formed 20-person inground Jacuzzi tub.
“It’s about the whole
weekend,” Doug said.
“People come for three
days and say, ‘I don’t have
to leave.’ You can have the
rehearsal, dinner, wedding
and reception here. You
have plenty of time to enjoy
the weekend.”
Families also have time to
visit and reconnect.
“One weekend in the
game room, there was a 1
damaged many of the businesses and homes
in Chimney Rock. The Esmeralda Inn opened
its doors to the community as a place where
people affected by the floods could stay, get
fresh water or just grab a shower. For months
the Inn opened it arms to help.
Shortly after the flood, a fire burned the inn
to the ground. The Esmeralda was rebuilt from
the ground up, while maintaining its original
historic character, in 1997-98. The inn is registered with Preservation North Carolina.
Many components of the new inn were
donated from residents and friends from the
area. The lobby floor of the Inn was donated
and came from the gymnasium of the “Dirty
Dancing” set where Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey danced. The timbers that warm
the lobby and entrance area are locust trees
recovered from the Broad River during the
flood of 1997.
a.m. competition between
the kids and the grandparents,” he said. “We have
a pantry and a kitchen, so
folks can bring their own
food or we can serve them.”
14
Welcome to Lake Lure
RESORTS
REAL ESTATE
HOSPITAL
Rumbling Bald Resort
122 Mountains Boulevard
Lake Lure, NC 28746
828/694-3000
www.RumblingBald.com
Mr. Lake Lure, Greg Balk
6852 U.S. Highway 64/74A
Lake Lure, NC 28746
828/429-7166
www.MrLakeLure.com
Rutherford Regional Health System
228 South Ridgecrest Avenue
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
828/286-5000
www.MyRutherfordtonRegional.com
Quarters Real Estate
718 Buffalo Creek Road
Lake Lure, NC 28746
828/625-2020
www.ColdwellBankerLakeLure.com
BED AND BREAKFAST
Apple Valley Golf Shop:
877/628-9727
Bald Mountain Golf Shop:
877/628-9728
Green River Plantation
6333 Coxe Road
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
828/286-1461
www.greenriverplantation.net
Fox Run Townhouses &
Fairways of The Mountains
866-469-8222
www.8664myvacation.com
Gaestehaus Salzburg
14912 Memorial Highway, 74-A
Lake Lure, NC 28746
828/625-0093
www.GaestehausSalzburg.com
ARCHITECT
David H. Wulff, Architect
167 Trails End
Lake Lure, NC 28746
828/625-5537
WEDDING FACILITY
Green River Plantation
6333 Coxe Road
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
828/286-1461
www.greenriverplantation.net
Welcome to Lake Lure
15
AROXS^XOON]^YLO=ZOMSKV
it needs to be lakeview restaurant
a lake lure tradition since 1962. lakeview restaurant
offers beautiful mountain and lake views for dining,
weddings, business meetings and private banquets.
open to the public. serving lunch and dinner tuesday to saturday and
sunday brunch. call (828) 694-3045 for hours, information and reservations.
9LVLWRQOLQHDW5XPEOLQJ%DOGFRPRU)DFHERRNFRP5XPEOLQJ%DOG5HVRUW