By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 December 30th, 2009 Category: Deep Creek Lake Activities, Deep Creek Lake Area Things To Do, Wisp Ski Resort

If you are looking for some activities on New Year’s Eve in the Deep Creek area - the Wisp Ski Resort will once again display fireworks at midnight over the ski area that the whole family can enjoy. Much like the annual Fourth of July show, the fireworks will be viewable from most of McHenry Cove but from my experience the best viewing area is usually near the Bear Claw Snow Tubing Park. The Wisp is also having a New Year’s Eve Party inside the lodge that includes drinks and a live band. Advanced reservations are recommended!

For something  a little more relaxed, Pleasant Valley Dream Rides is once again offering horse drawn sleigh rides. Blankets are provided and the cold, crisp mountain air is sure to leave you rejuvenated. Reservations are required. Call (301) 334-1688 for more info and current conditions. Pleasant Valley is about 20 minutes south of Deep Creek.

With more snow predicted this weekend, if you are seeking a place to snow sled or toboggan in the Deep Creek and Garrett County areas I’ve found that Herrington Manor State Park usually is the best public spot and has some really good sledding hills and trails for kids and families to enjoy. The park’s concession stand does rent sleds along with cross country skis and snowshoes. The park’s concession will NOT be open on New Year’s Day but you can still bring your own sled and use the trails.

(Photo courtesy of Marcia Warnick of Four Wheels Photography - Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County Photography.)

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 December 29th, 2009 Category: Deep Creek Lake Area Things To Do, Garrett County News, News

Deep Creek Fitness is opening a new gym and fitness facility in January 2010.  It will be located in the Market Square Shopping Center next to Foodland Fresh and Perkins along Route 219 (Garrett Highway) in McHenry. Tourists on vacation will be able to buy memberships by the day or week - and full time residents will have year round membership options. The gym will feature;

• LifeFitness Cardio Machines with individual televisions
• LifeFitness Pro Series Strength Circuit
• A free weight area with Hammer Strength equipment
• A studio for various fitness classes and possibly spinning bikes
• Showers and Locker rooms
• Personal training options

Check out www.deepcreekfitness.com for more info and their special introductory offers.

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 December 24th, 2009 Category: Deep Creek Lake Area Things To Do, Deep Creek Lake Real Estate

If you want to take a break from skiing, snowboarding, or any other winter activity this week - please stop by one of our open houses between Christmas and the New Year. Railey Realty, Deep Creek Lake’s leading real estate brokerage, is hosting a few select open houses this upcoming holiday week.

Brand new Cedar Creek townhomes with views and just a minute drive to Wisp Ski Resort. These brand new 3 bedroom, 3 bath townhomes start at $339,900. Great for rentals or a weekend get-a-way for family and friends.

And if you are in the area of Uno’s, the Honi-Honi, or Garrett 8 Cinemas make sure you stop in our open house at Creekside - luxurious lakefront townhomes with 4 bedrooms and incredible frontage on the shore of Deep Creek Lake.

Both of these properties will be open everyday, all week long.

Here is a link to a Google Map for directions to these Deep Creek Lake Area Open Houses.

Here is a link to some additional details about these properties on our web site -dates, times, and property details.

If you are interested in any other real estate opportunities in the Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County area please stop by our main sales office at 2 Vacation Way in McHenry, MD and talk to one of our knowledgeable sales agents. We are located right on Rt. 219 in between the First United Bank and the Garrett County Visitor’s Center. We are open 7 days a week from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm - so stop by, warm up, and learn how you can realize the dream of owning a second home in a fabulous resort area!

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 December 8th, 2009 Category: Deep Creek Lake Activities, Deep Creek Lake Area Things To Do, Garrett County News, News, Wisp Ski Resort

Two bits of winter news in the Deep Creek Lake area this morning.

First, after 5 inches of snow last weekend and massive amounts of cold temps and artificial snowmaking, the Wisp is opening for the 2009-2010 snow ski season this Thursday, December 10^th, 2009. Only the Belly Flop trail will be open the first day. Limited terrain will be opening during the weekend. From the looks of it from my office and driving around, the slopes accessed from Chairs 2 and 3 - Squirrel Cage, Road Runner, and Wisp Trail will be open at some point this weekend.

More interestingly, the Wisp Ski Resort plans on opening a 50 x 85 oval ice skating rink this winter. The rink will operate the same hours as the Bear Claw Tubing Park and will feature benches, lighting, and a bon fire area to warm up. They’ll even have a mini Zamboni to clear the ice. Ice skates are available for rent as well as paid lessons. The projected opening of Garrett County’s only ice skating rink is December 21, 2009.

Any additional recreational amenity such as this ice skating rink just continues adding to the long list of things to do and activities in the Deep Creek area. And also in a small way, this ice skating rink also helps out real estate and property values in the Deep Creek Lake area as well - it adds intrinsic value you can’t actually measure with a statistic but when combined with all the other activities - boating, hiking, snow skiing, snowboarding just to name a few - makes this such a popular and one of a kind resort area to buy a vacation home.

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 December 2nd, 2009 Category: Deep Creek Lake Real Estate, Garrett County News, Garrett County Real Estate, News

The Garrett County Planning Commission is still deliberating the proposed changes to the Deep Creek Lake Zoning Ordinance, the Subdivision Ordinance, and the Sensitive Areas Ordinance.

After the last Planning Commission meeting on November 12^th, it appears the language for the standards in the proposed Scenic Protection Overlay Districts will be significantly relaxed. This should be extremely good news for current and future lot owners in those districts who have yet to build a house. This expected change in standards should allow lot owners in these districts the right to keep their entire view of Deep Creek Lake. The original language in this recent proposal had called for a certain amount of tree screening - up to 80% in some instances - in front of houses built in one of the 12 Scenic Protection Districts that overlook Deep Creek Lake. While the exact language has yet to be officially released, a majority of the Planning Commission members at their last meeting recommended that the only tree screening required should be on the sides and rear of these houses - no screening will be required in front of these houses, which would have essentially blocked the lake views from these properties if enacted.

Public hearings on the proposals are expected to occur sometime in early 2010. This proposal and the others could have a lasting impact on real estate in the Garrett County and Deep Creek Lake areas. We highly urge that all property owners get familiar with these proposals, ask questions, and register your comments with the Garrett County Maryland Department of Planning and Land Development.

Please subscribe to this blog (on the right hand side as you scroll down) as we will keep updating the progression of these zoning changes.