2023 Lake Lure Spring Classic Boat and Auto Show
by Tamyra Hyatt
The 2023 Lake Lure Spring Classic Boat and Auto Show held May 18-20 was more than our typical Lake Lure boat show for the Blue Ridge chapter. We also enjoyed a low country boil, shopping excursion, and a journey to our revolutionary war past with a visit to Russell’s Fort, aka the lake front home of member James Sciandra.
The Lake Lure event kicked off on Friday with our traditional boat parade (although it was a bit uncoordinated – note for next time – parade should be single file) followed by a catered low country boil open to the public on the lakeside pavilion area. There was music provided by a DJ, and dancing, and unlike last year’s atypical 90-degree heat, we had a perfect spring evening.
On Saturday, 28 boats from around the southeast lined up along the dock with the Hickory Nut Gorge as a scenic backdrop. The closest, Ashlee and Kyle Gonce, came from Hendersonville with their yet to be named 1961 Dorsett Catalina, and the furthest from Maine, were friends of Bill and Patty Lovejoy. Chris and Bill Braaf, who moved from Colorado to Tennessee, also joined us for the first time at Lake Lure with Chris’ Craft, a (1953?) Chris Craft Cavalier. The day called for spotty rain showers, but it held off, and we had a steady stream of visitors of all ages from 9am to 3pm.
For a change of pace on Saturday, Theresa McMullin organized a day of shopping and lunch in Hendersonville which kicked off with mimosas in the hotel lobby. The group had fun exploring the town’s quaint Main Street vintage and antique shops.
The Saturday evening dinner event was hosted by James Sciandra at his unique lakeside peninsula home that boasts 300 feet of waterfront and spectacular views. In addition to rebuilding the oldest standing 1938 cabin on Lake Lure, he recently undertook the rebuilding of Russell’s Fort, originally built in 1775, incorporating it as the top story of his new home.
The fort structure had been incorporated in the Whitesides family farmhouse for generations. The farm was also known as the “Pumpkin Center of the South.” The fort was disassembled and restored log by log. With the help of local craftsman, Harold Harper, James reached out to Barnwood Builders to preserve this important symbol of local history. The process was featured on the Discovery channel show, Restoring Russell’s Fort (Season 15, Episode 8). Learn more about Russell’s Fort.
After enjoying our BBQ dinner and tours of this incredible four-story home, Craig Miller handed out awards. James Sciandra shared the most original boat (having most of its parts still in place) award with Terry Fiest (the restorer) for Looking Back, and Walter and Jane Hardin received best non-wood boat award for Woody-Wanna-B.
As a light rain started, the group gathered on the large deck overlooking the lake to listen to the moving story of the battle at King’s Mountain, from October 7, 1780, a turning point in the Revolutionary War. Steve Reardon, a reenactment performer from the Overmountain Victory Trail Association (OVTA) of the National Park Service, dressed in authentic Carolina back country attire, presented a first-person narrative as one of the Overmountain Men. He ended the story with the shooting of British Major Patrick Ferguson, and a resounding musket shot boomed over our heads making us all jump – a dramatic conclusion to the evening.
