Foxrun Townhouses

Foxrun Townhouses in Lake Lure NC an ideal getaway in North Carolina near Ashville in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The town was incorporated in 1927 and gained the namesake lake in 1965. Known for its State Parks, amazing scenery, and access to nature. The small town invites thousands every year to a wonderful experience with mother nature.

A visit to the area is an opportunity to reconnect with nature and center yourself back on what is important. Lake Lure is one of the great small towns in America. At first, a forgotten location until you see the resort and wonderful parks in the area.

Day One Arrival at Foxrun Townhouses

I had driven to the area from my home in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The drive was not a long one. For most that are from outside the area to the North, you will travel in on Interstate 85 S and then on to Interstate 40 W once you reach Greensboro North Carolina. If you are driving up from the South, you may travel up Interstate 95 to Charlotte NC, and then travel in on local roads to the area from there.

For me, the trip was a little over 6 hours and a scenic drive. It is worth noting that this resort is exclusive. It has limited availability (space) and requires weekly rentals for access. The resort itself offers 140 2-bedroom villas. These are well-maintained and have a timeless feeling.

Here, as a guest, you find that the units are 2 levels or 3 levels in the design and layout. All with the goal of providing the best views of the surrounding foothills. This is one of the resorts where you check in at an office and then proceed from there to the resort itself at a separate location.

If you were to fly into the area, you would likely come to Charlotte. Then just rent a car and drive in from there. My guess is that most visitors to the area will be driving in their own cars from other parts of the country. The reason for this is this resort and area are the kind of location that calls to people regionally or locally who just want to get away from it all. The local State parks, lake, and overall scene are great but not a destination most would fly across the Nation for. You have to love the area, and this part of North Carolina to want to stay here. So the Lake Lure area is likely to pull you in if you already know what makes North Carolina amazing.

People who love the song “Gone to Carolina in my mind” will love Lake Lure. My love of North Carolina started at an early age visiting family in nearby Goldsboro, NC, and also visited the Outer Banks in summer. Years later I would travel as an adult to the mountains and the Blue Ridge for its natural beauty and amazing nature views.

After checking in and finding my villa, I stepped out to look around and get a feeling for the resort. First, I noted the features of the 2-bedroom villas, which were extensive. Then I stepped out to see the larger resort amenities.

Villa Amenities

Then the resort itself offers all of these options.

Resort Amenities

After taking it all in, it was time to get back on the road for a few minutes and do some grocery shopping, and also find a bite to eat. I had driven the 6 hours straight and not stopped for anything to eat on the way. I was excited to get here and see it all.

I found the Lake House at Lake Lure restaurant and stopped in trying their menu. It is a neat spot with a hometown rustic feel that sits on the water. I felt I needed a break after the drive. Not that it was such a long one, it was just one of those rare times when the drive seemed to get to me some. Driving around this little town and area, though, is a pleasure. No traffic, and really no distractions. Just get in the car and follow the nice local windy road to your chosen destination. It was a welcomed change of pace already.

It was already dinner time, so I started with a mixed drink and some soup before the entrée. They had She Crab Soup which if you have not had that properly prepared before I would order some. I also enjoyed their Key West drink. For the meal I ordered a Chimney Rock Burger which was a whopping 1lb burger. You read that correctly 1lb not a half pound, a full pound. Then they top it off with cheddar and Swiss cheeses. Enjoying that monster after the soup was all even my hungry self could handle.

A 1lb burger is giant by any measure. I recall when I was young the first time enjoyed a Fuddruckers’s half pound burger. Just how large I thought it was. This was literally twice that size. If they did a double of these, it would be for some food contest involving a t-shirt and your name on a plaque.

The meal was great and I would recommend a visit here on your stay. It is a great location with good service and food for sure. They have a limited menu but one that fans of burgers, BBQ, and fun will enjoy.

Near the Lake House you find a local grocery store chain called Ingles where anyone can stock up. These stores seem nice and remind me of local grocery stores that much of the nation has lost. It has a real hometown feeling. They had signs in the store of a concert series they were promoting for local food pantries, and other charity efforts, and the staff was very nice. To be the case much of the time in North Carolina. People say hi, and ask you “How you doing” smiling ear to ear. It really gives you a wonderful feeling. Something as simple as a trip to a local store can make you feel happy to be alive. Sounds like an exaggeration but people are that nice in North Carolina.

After the meal and the grocery trip, I was headed back to the resort to settle in for the night.

Day Two waking up in the Foothills

Waking up near the Blue Ridge Mountains just feels right. I could almost hear my grandfather’s voice saying, ‘This is God’s Country” by that he meant it was so beautiful, and full of nature that it had to be spiritual.

When I walked outside, I was happy to breathe in the fresh air. It was already about 73 degrees at 7 AM, so my shorts and shirt felt fine for a walk around the area.

I worked my way to the mini-golf area and checked it out, then walked past many of the other resort amenities. The site itself is large but not overwhelming. Yes, there are 140 units here but they are spread out enough to make the area feel spacious and more private than you would imagine.

When I walked back to my villa, I headed to the kitchen to make one of my omelets that I am at least famous in my own mind for. This time I would just make it simple with some ham and cheese and 3 eggs. That and a few pieces of toast and I would be good to go. I also had a glass of milk and a glass of Orange Juice. When you do toast in North Carolina, do not forget the Apple Butter. As far as a jam like spread for toast, it is hard to find anything better.

If you are old enough to remember the movie “Dirty Dancing” you may well recognize several of the scenes on and near the lake. Since the filming was done right here with almost all the movie filmed on location. The movie was out even before I graduated high school so many of you might not have watched it yet. But if you plan a trip to the area, watching it might be a fun thing to do.

I know I got a kick out of seeing several of the locations from the film. Granted being a bit of a alfa male I have to admit that it was cooler for me to have been to the location of some of the James Bond films but if you are coming here with your spouse, I would certainly rent the movie guys (just saying).

To take in all the locations in a short period you might want to see if the local lake boat tour is running while you are in town. It is seasonal and limited seating but is a bargain at less than $20 a person. You can get on the boat tour at 11AM but you will want to arrive earlier to make sure you get a ticket and a seat on the boat. If you have a large group of 10+ or that equivalent in funds you can book the entire boat. Which is a nice alternative if you have a family in town for a reunion or something like that.

You can also just rent your own boat for the lake and that is an affordable option as well. Depending on what I get into, I might rent a boat tomorrow for an hour or two. Motorboat rentals start at just $50hr.

After a few hours on and near the lake. I wanted to see one of the local State parks. Chimney Rock State Park covers much of the area and has a lot to offer visitors. There is a live webcam (using the term loosely as it was used in the 1990s) that shows a view of the area with the flag often in view that updates a few times a day.

The Park boasts a number of walking trails and even one that is wheelchair accessible. There is also an animal discovery den that allows you to get to know local snakes, frogs, and even the local groundhog. On my visit there was even a local box turtle visiting.

From the park’s website:

See the Park differently–stop by our Animal Discovery Den to learn about the wildlife that calls the Park home. In the Den, you’ll get the chance to see where some of our animal educators live when they aren’t busy teaching and be able to pick up some new animal facts you might not know. After you’re done exploring indoors, venture out back to see our resident opossum and groundhog in their exhibits. You’re also enjoying our beautiful Lepidoptera (butterfly & moth) garden with dozens of native plant species meant to support our pollinators.

Want a more personal experience? Join us for an Animal Encounters program. Meet the animals and hear how our ambassadors came to live with us and more about the habitat, adaptations, and natural history of their kind. These interactive programs are fun for the whole family and are offered various times throughout the year, including summers and holidays. Check out our events calendar for more details.

The Park also has live music from some locals most of the year and has an elevator on-site to help people enjoy the top of the area for whom the trek up might be too much.

After a full day on the water and then the trails of the State Park, I was ready to relax back at the resort.

I have some ready-made meals from the local grocery and that felt like the right thing to do how tired I was.

Day Three back to Nature

I woke well-rested. So well rested that even though I had been waking shortly after sunrise for about 1 month today I slept in until 9 AM. It felt later than that, and as far back as my memory served me this morning, I think it was the best night’s sleep I had in many months. It was likely the clean air, and good walking I did the day before.

This afternoon I wanted to visit a place that was on the bucket list of a loved one. My stepfather was a lover of toy trains, or model trains, as he would more likely refer to them. So this afternoon I was going to go to the local toy train museum. Unless you are in the area, this small museum would not likely draw you in, but when in the area it is a nice place to visit. The museum exists to raise funds for cancer research and to help make sure everyone who enjoys model trains can see this great setup. I love supporting a good cause and connecting with neat people so this was a good fit for me to visit later today. They are open on weekends mostly and in the afternoon hours only. Friday and Saturday 1-5 PM and on Sunday 2-5 PM EST.

There are not many toy or model train locations left. It seems like a vanishing park in Americana and it is nice to visit the good people here and donate to a good cause before it is gone.

They have a simple wall of framed photos ask the museum staff about it. One of those shown is Randy Pausch who was the amazing professor and creator of the last lecture. I have linked to it here on YouTube and if you have not watched this, make sometime one day and watch this moving and important lecture from one of our great American minds. The full lecture can be watched on YouTube and I hope they never take it down.

After the trains, I wanted to check out another mode of transportation, horses. So I headed to the local Cedar Creek Stables for a ride. I love horseback riding but rarely take the time or effort to find stables and go. It is like visiting a distant family member. It takes effort to make the time to visit, but you are always happy when you finally do.

Here you can book an hour-long ride for only $55, which is a great price compared to most areas of the country. They offer longer rides but it had been a while for me, and also, they do not have Clydesdales so being a larger guy these days I thought more than an hour of lugging me around would not be fair for the horse. (Think of Hoss Cartwright if he had gained some weight). Anyone under 50 will need to Google that reference. Those over 50 would still have had to likely see the reference in reruns, I know I did.

A trip to the stables and a nice horse ride make you so much more grateful for the modern convenience of the automobile even when you enjoy the ride. I had a great time, but I still felt a few muscles that I forgot I had. Somewhere my lower back was saying “hey you are not supposed to use this muscle group anymore, what are you doing?”

The ride was great, however. I could really see this area as a romantic getaway. Sure, there is a lot for kids in the family to enjoy, but the more time I spend in this amazing area of Lake Lure, I think that romance is in the air. If you and your special someone have not been on horseback, riding together a short ride from these stables might be what the doctor ordered.

PS: I am certain I exceeded the maximum weight for the ride here, which is 240 lbs. But I tipped well and called ahead to talk about things privately. You do need to have some athletic ability to get on and off of a horse, and you also do not want to hurt these amazing animals. It makes sense that they have a weight limit. If you have not been on a scale lately and think it might be an issue, call ahead and talk with the owner/manager. Things like that are so much better to talk about on the phone.

After the trains, and the horses, I wanted to go back to some local trails but this time try yet another mode of transportation. I had seen that there was a local ATV rental business that had a unique twist on things. They offer electric ATVs which sounded neat to me and something I wanted to check out. ATVs are fun but generally loud when you ride them. To be able to go on an electric and hear more around you during your ride interested me.

The cost was moderate at $90 for a 2-hour guided ride through 86 acres of trails. After arriving a little prior to my ride to complete an insurance waiver (likely the only way for a small business like this to survive) I headed out for two hours of fun in the sun and in the hills of the area. It was a blast. If you are more adrenaline based, you may prefer this to horseback riding, or at least if you exceed the weight limit with the horses this is a fun alternative for some.

This was how I ended my local visit. What will you do when you come?

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