LAKE LURE, N.C. — On the night Hurricane Helene struck, Lake Lure lost more than landmarks. It also took away one of the town’s jewels, Lake Lure's Flowering Bridge .

"It really was the gateway between Lake Lure and Chimney Rock," Kathy Tanner, the garden's chairman, said.

Lake Lure’s Flowering Bridge was normally bursting with color, but now a giant hole sits in its place. A hole not just in the bridge, but also in the heart of the community.

"I never envisioned something that could take all of that land out in six hours," Tanner said.

Helene also wiped out nine other gardens surrounding it, including the Rainbow Bridge. It was a spot where people left collars honoring pets they loved and lost.

"It was a feeling of peace and connection," Tanner said. "We had the story of the rainbow

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