Long-Lost Treasures Emerge From Lake During Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts in North Carolina
Officials are draining the water from Lake Lure to remove sediment and debris, revealing historic objects embedded in the dry lakebed
/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/headshot/SarahKuta.png)
As Hurricane Helene recovery efforts continue across the southeastern United States, crews in western North Carolina are making some unexpected discoveries.
A 1920s Model T-style truck and a 32-foot wooden boat have emerged during a post-storm cleanup project at Lake Lure, an 800-acre, man-made reservoir on the Broad River roughly 45 miles from Asheville.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is removing tons of sediment and debris from Lake Lure, which got washed downstream when the powerful storm swept through last September. The project aims to “help restore Lake Lure’s natural beauty and ensure the waterway is safe and accessible again,” according to an announcement from the town of Lake Lure.
As part of this work, officials have drained much of the water out of the reservoir, which was created in the mid-1920s. Now, the dry lakebed is revealing unexpected artifacts that have been hidden for decades.
Quick fact: Hurricane Helene’s destruction
In September 2024, Hurricane Helene was classified as a category four hurricane with winds up to 140 miles per hour.
“This is the first time the lake has been this low since it was first filled nearly a century ago,” says Jake Mohl, owner of Lake Lure Dock Company, which is repairing docks and boathouses around the lake, to Fox Weather’s Andrew Wulfeck. “We’ve worked on this lake for decades, and we’re seeing things no one’s laid eyes on in generations.”
Lake Lure Dock Company has been sharing many of its finds on social media. On June 11, the company posted photos of a damaged wooden boat that appears to have been powered by a four-cylinder Ford flathead engine.
“It’s a hauntingly beautiful reminder of the lake’s hidden history,” the company wrote on Facebook.
The vessel was originally used as a water taxi. But when the water taxi company shut down after the Great Depression, the Tanner family—one of the region’s original developers—purchased the vessel and began using it as a personal boat called “Pooh Bear.”
“It sank before I was born,” says Kenneth Tanner, whose grandfather bought the vessel, to WLOS’ Ed DiOrio. “After a storm, it broke loose from our dock and disappeared. My father always encouraged me to dive and look for it.”
Tanner’s daughter saw the Lake Lure Dock Company’s post on Facebook and wondered if the vessel could be the family’s long-lost boat. Sure enough, they found the remains of letters spelling out “Pooh Bear” on the boat.
“I feel really good about it,” Tanner tells WLOS. “It makes me aware of the long history of the lake and my family’s connection to it.”
The company also found the remains of what appears to be a Ford Model T truck, resting on its side and coated in muck. Many of the vehicle’s parts seem to be missing, so Mohl suspects it was salvaged and abandoned after breaking down.
A fully intact set of concrete steps, which likely belonged to a now-demolished building or residence, has also emerged.
The lake is off-limits to keep members of the public safe. At least for now, those interested in the long-hidden artifacts will have to settle for Lake Lure Dock Company’s photos and updates.
Meanwhile, work on Lake Lure continues, with crews working 12 hours a day, seven days a week. As of June 13, they had removed more than 376,000 tons of silt and sediment and 46,744 cubic yards of debris, according to an update from the town.
Town officials do not have a definitive timeline for the project’s completion, but they say they expect work to continue through the summer and possibly into the fall.
