LAKE LURE — A 200-acre tract planned for purchase by the town of Lake Lure could form the first links in a 30-mile trail system.

The town plans to buy the land north of the lake from the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, using a $450,000 grant from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

The price is less than half the appraised value, and officials won't have to use any town money.

The 200 acres are part of the 1,527-acre Weed Patch Mountain Tract bought by the Hendersonville-based conservancy for $2.6 million after developers of Grey Rock at Lake Lure residential subdivision filed for bankruptcy.

Though surrounded by mountains, Lake Lure lacks protections from development that would come with government-own parkland, Town Manager Chris Braund said.

“Virtually all of the land in the mountains around Lake Lure has been in private ownership,” he said.

The town plans to leave the majority of the tract in its natural state but will develop trailhead parking and a picnicking area along with public trails that could form part of the proposed Summits Trail circumnavigating Lake Lure.

The proposed multiuse trail system for hiking, biking and horseback riding would connect with other recreational resources in the area, including Chimney Rock State Park. It would also provide access for mountain climbing and bouldering.

“We get a lot of requests and interest in town from visitors as well as residents for places to hike,” Braund said. “Obviously, there is Chimney Rock, and the state park is a fantastic option, but people are looking for additional options as well in other parts of town.”

While the sale of the 200 acres will help, the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy is still seeking both private and public funds to help repay loans used to buy the property.

It has requested $1.6 million from the state's Clean Water Management Trust Fund, which was funded at $50 million this fiscal year after having its funding stripped in 2009.

The conservancy hopes to see the entire Weed Patch Mountain tract permanently conserved for public recreation and natural resource protection. They are working with Chimney Rock to possibly sell the land to the state for inclusion in the state park.

“Once we've made ourselves whole, it will be time to find a long-term solution,” conservancy Executive Director Kieran Roe. “It might be the town or the state park or something we haven't thought of yet.”

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