By Brian Proctor
During the January town council meeting, The Town of Lake Lure, North Carolina issued a proclamation commemorating the anniversary date of the finale lift from the 1987 Blockbuster film “Dirty Dancing”. For nearly forty years the anniversary date of what many consider to be the defining moment in dance movie history has remained a mystery. Through extensive research involving cast, crew and property owner interviews, this iconic scene is now known to have occurred on October 17, 1986. Production of Dirty Dancing was split between Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke, Virginia and Lure Woods in Lake Lure, North Carolina. Set designer extraordinaire, David Chapman seamlessly blended and transformed these two Blue Ridge mountain locales into the one and only Kellerman’s Mountain Lodge of the Catskills of New York. Scenes including the resort’s stone exterior, dining, gazebo, and lake are products of Virginia. Scenes involving choreographed dancing, cabins, golf and log-balancing were filmed in North Carolina. Most filming occurred within the confines of the three-hundred-and-fifty-acre Camp Chimney Rock. The historic camp gym was transformed into the ballrooms of both The Sheldrake and Kellerman’s Resort. It was here that “Nobody puts Baby in the corner” became vernacular and the Oscar winning song “I’ve Had The Time of My Life” was heard for the first time. Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey became international stars largely due to their performance in this iconic scene filmed in the beautiful town of Lake Lure on October 17th, 1986. Lake Lure a scenic, manmade lake was created in 1926 to accentuate the unspoiled natural beauty of the area including granite cliffs, a towering monolith and 400-foot waterfall. In addition to Dirty Dancing, the area has provided the perfect setting for several other hit films such as “The Last of The Mohicans” (1992) and “Firestarter” (1983). In fall of 1986, the makers of Dirty Dancing were in a race against time to record the ultimate summer romance. They chose to film in Lake Lure due to its reputation for extended summers because of the thermal-belt effect created by the Blue Ridge mountains. The resort communities of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, long popular with movie makers and fans, have been heavily impacted by 2024’s Hurricane Helene. Through a multi-year restoration effort, the lake is returning and the communities are welcoming visitors. Tourists seeking natural, scenic beauty and rich history will be sure to enjoy all Lake Lure and Chimney Rock have to offer. This formal proclamation recognizes the enduring link between the film, the Town of Lake Lure and the people who enjoy them both.
