Lake Lure, North Carolina, was a scenic mountain town home to a real-life Rainbow Bridge surrounded by grassy fields and beautiful flowers - before Hurricane Helene hit.

The massive flooding caused by Helene destroyed the quaint town and washed away the beautiful bridge adorned with thousands of collars of pets that have passed. 

The bridge was built by artist Amy Wald after her beloved dog passed away. The tear-jerking Rainbow Bridge poem that comforts so many grieving pet owners inspired Wald to create one in a picturesque place - Lake Lure Flowering Bridge. 

No detail was spared as the bridge was meant to be not only a place to leave a pet's item but to envision the moment when according to the poem, "You and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. You look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together." 

Paw prints slowly faded on the multi-colored boards of the bridge. The dog-friendly area was visited by people near and far who were mourning a lost friend. The gardens and bridge brought comfort to so many and people are devastated that it is gone. 

The memories will live on and maybe one day a new Rainbow Bridge will be built. The treasured landmark posted photos of the destruction on Facebook and said, "We are almost certain that the Rainbow Bridge and thousands of collars of beloved pets are gone."