By: coeliangreen cgreen@railey.com 301-501-4122 June 3rd, 2009 Category: Deep Creek Lake Activities, News, Wisp Ski Resort

Yes - you heard correctly, the Wisp Ski Resort in western Maryland hosted its 3rd annual ski and snowboard Tom Wallisch Rail Jam on Saturday, May 23rd 2009.

Wisp Ski Area - May 23, 2009

Despite 80 degree weather, the Wisp was able to maintain a strip of snow for this awesome event.  With over 50 competitors, a live band, and plenty of food and drink a great time was had by spectators and competitors alike.  Competitors were each given three runs to show off their skills on a course set with plenty of jumps, rails and boxes.  Judges scored the competitors, and age group awards were given to the top competitors.

Local competitor, Colin Lynch, winner of the male under 18 snowboard category

Local competitor, Elizabeth Green, winner of the female under 18 ski category

The event is named for local freestyle competitor Tom Wallisch who grew up skiing at Wisp and was a member of the local Deep Creek Winter Sports Team.  Tom has gone on to successfully compete on the national and international level.  This past winter Tom won the  Tahoe Winter Mountain Dew Tour Slopestyle event - an incredible feat for a seasoned pro much less an up and comer!   Tom has also been featured in numerous videos and magazines.  The event’s name sake was on hand to help set up, judge the event and support our local freestyle skiers and boarders.

For more information on Tom Wallisch check out one of his many video clips on Youtube.   See why Tom is considered one of the best slopestyle skiers in the world!   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oceLxuO8fLc

Tom Wallisch doing what he does best!

In conjunction with Wisp Ski Area and the Deep Creek Winter Sports Team, Tom Wallisch announced this week that he will be sponsoring a scholarship program.  The scholarship will provide an upcoming junior freestyle skier or snowboarder an opportunity to train and compete as a member of the local Deep Creek Winter Sports Team.    The scholarship will include a ski pass at Wisp and membership in the local Deep Creek Winter Sports Team Freestyle training program.  For information on the Deep Creek Winter Sports team, or to apply for the scholarship, contact Kellyann Green cgreen@railey.com or 301-501-4122.

By: Al Rohrbaugh arohrbaugh@railey.com 301-616-9748 April 15th, 2009 Category: Deep Creek Lake Activities, Deep Creek Lake Area Things To Do

Exploring Deep Creek Lake in the Spring!

Many buyers who choose to purchase real estate in Garrett County and at Deep Creek Lake often base their decision on the amount of activities and recreational opportunities in the area - but sometimes there are too many to choose from! Those of us that live here full time certainly take advantage of the amount of things to do here at Deep Creek.

Every Spring I am always confronted with the same problem here at Deep Creek Lake - What to Do?

It’s time to go fishing The ice has melted, perch and walleye are spawning early spring, (bass should start early to mid-may). The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is stocking the coveted rainbow trout in Deep Creek Lake and nearby streams. It’s time to get out and fish. Get your supplies and a fishing report at Bill’s Outdoor Center or Deep Creek Hardware - in the Southern end of the county try Backbone Mountain Sports Shop.  Area favorites for lake fishing are Deep Creek Lake (of course),

(fishing deep creek lake near ski harbor)

Broadford Lake near Oakland, Herrington Manor, the Yough Dam, and Jennings Randolph Lake.  For stream fishing try Bear Creek, the Cassel man, the Yough, the little Yough, or the Potomac, to name a few, all are within 30 minutes of Deep Creek Lake.  If you want an experience with fly fishing, you may want to book a trip with Spring Creek Outfitters or Streams and Dreams.   If you have younger ones, take them on a nice day and don’t worry about catching fish - you will have your hands full keeping lines untangled and baiting hooks.  Once they get tired of fishing you will enjoy watching them  have just as much fun playing in the water, skipping stones, etc,  And remember when they say it’s time to go it’s time to go.

Spring Gobbler season in Garrett County– I never really got out in the woods much this time of year until I started hunting for the Spring Gobbler.  Around mid April hunters that partake in this activity, will be dragging out of bed at an ungodly hour in the morning to try there luck at scoring a mature gobbler.  Many times coming home empty handed, but feeling alive and blessed just to have witnessed such a beautiful sunrise, view, or maybe just hearing a gobbler on a distant ridge.  It’s amazing how the sound of a faint gobble can stop a hunter in his tracks and bring joy to his soul. Whether you’re a hunter or not I highly recommend getting up early on a spring morning, take a walk in the woods and enjoy nature in Garrett County.

Golfing- Then of course there is golf in Garrett County and Deep Creek Lake, the game that keeps me away from doing all of the things I should be doing.  As soon as the weather breaks, I’m trying to get out to either Oakland Country Club or the Wisp Resort course to hit some balls and enjoy the game. With the new golf courses planned at Thousand Acres and the Hale Irwin designed Lodestone course on top of Wisp Mountain - coming in the near future Deep Creek Lake is fast becoming a destination spot for avid golfers.

Other Popular Spring activities here at Deep Creek and in Garrett County Maryland include, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, ATV, Motorcycle Riding, and just plain  Get Out and  Enjoy a Spring Day! In the Deep Creek Lake area you can rent or buy mountain bikes and kayaks at High Mountain Sports.

So you can plainly see my dilemma. With the limited number of hours in a spring day what do I do?  Fitting all of our Spring activities, along with some necessary work is somewhat of a challenge here at Deep Creek Lake.  I guess I’ll stick with what has worked for me in the past, Sleep Less! and Enjoy Springtime at Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County more!

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 June 4th, 2008 Category: Deep Creek Lake Activities, Deep Creek Lake Area Things To Do

There is no doubt many people buy real estate here at Deep Creek Lake and in Garrett County, Maryland for the activities and lifestyle this four season resort area offers. Recently, Becky Sciullo, who is the author of The Deep Creek Lake Blog, wrote a great post a few weeks ago that compiled a “Deep Creek Lake Bucket List” after soliciting ideas from readers and from her own experiences. For those of you that don’t know - the movie titled “The Bucket List” was about two terminally ill men who leave their hospital and head off to do a list of activities they’ve always wanted to do before they die.

After discussing her post with some other real estate agents and realtors in our office we came up with a few other activities and things to add to this list. 

• Mountain biking the Margroff Plantation near Accident, Maryland. Mostly single-track trails. It’s not too hard - but not too easy either. Margroff Plantation is part of the Savage River State Forest.
• Riding ATV’s and four wheeling in Yough Mountain Resort. Of course you must do so with an owner in this neighborhood.
• Snowmobiling between the Oakland County Club and either Pawn Run Saloon for a Friday night steak or JG’s Pub for some really good bar food.
• Wake surfing on Deep Creek Lake. The newest water-sport fad. You gotta have a big boat with a big wake to do this activity - but wake surfing isn’t that strenuous on the body, is a lot of fun, and can be done on the most busiest of weekends - unlike waterskiing or wakeboarding where flat water is usually required. ** Please note you must use a straight Inboard boat to do this activity. The propellor on an Inboard boat is beneath the boat and not sticking out the back like an I/O or Outboard drive boat. Also, be aware that their is a slight carbon monoxide danger as well - as you are sometimes surfing the boat’s wake right behind where the exhaust of the boat is coming out.
• Attending the Fireman’s Parade and Oktoberfest celebration in downtown Oakland, Maryland the Thursday of Autumn Glory Weekend. Great food, an Oompah Band, and great party.
• Going to the Little Yough Music Festival, also in Oakland, which is held every Friday night in the summer. They have really good bands and it’s free admission.
• Drinking a specialty coffee and eating lunch on the deck at Canoe on The Run in the summer.
• Shopping the Labor Day Weekend ski specials at Rudy’s at Wisp and High Mountain Sports.

While we are not suggesting you have to be terminally ill to do these activities - above are just a few more things and activities that make this area such a great place to buy a vacation home.

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 February 28th, 2008 Category: Deep Creek Lake Activities, Deep Creek Lake Area Things To Do, Wisp Ski Resort

Deep Creek Lake and Wisp Ski Resort were featured this morning in this short video segment that aired on WBAL Channel 11’s newscast. WBAL is Baltimore’s NBC affiliate.

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 February 25th, 2008 Category: Deep Creek Lake Activities, Wisp Ski Resort

In what was probably the narrowest margin of victory in the history of this race, Eric Recker, a local real estate agent here in our office at Railey Realty, won the 2008 Maryland Men’s Governors Cup Ski Race held this past weekend at held at the Wisp Ski Resort. Eric, who has won the past two Governor Cup races as well, edged out runner-up Derick Berger by just .03 seconds overall in this years race. The Deep Creek Lake Winter Sports Team coordinates and runs this annual race which consists of two timed Slalom runs on Saturday on the Wisp’s Squirrel Cage slope and then two timed Giant Slalom runs the following day on the Main Street slope. All four timed runs are then added up and the lowest total time determines who wins the Governors Cup.

In the women’s division, Danielle White (pictured above with Eric Recker), a local skier won the Women’s Governors Cup. In the Junior Divisions (racers under 15 years old), local skiers Jake Vernon won the Junior Boy’s Governors Cup and Kara Stough won the Junior Girl’s Governors Cup.

Another Railey Realty agent, Kellyann Green finished in first place in both the Women’s (over 20 years old) Slalom and Giant Slalom Events.

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 February 20th, 2008 Category: Deep Creek Lake Activities, Deep Creek Lake Area Things To Do

Because of last weekend’s snowmobile incident on Deep Creek Lake and in anticipation of this weekend’s Deep Creek Dunk event, Patty Manown Mash of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources wanted to distribute this warning from her office.

DATELINE - Swanton, MD

The Maryland Park Service alerts snowmobilers of the potential for unseen safety hazards on the lake, particularly at night.  Starting on Wednesday, February 20th, an area of ice will be removed near Uno’s Restaurant to create open water for the Special Olympics Deep Creek Dunk. This area will remain unsafe for quite some time and will be marked with reflective traffic cones. Also be aware that lake surface conditions under bridges where road salt and abrasives are plowed from the pavement are often particularly hazardous. Other conditions that may cause unpleasant situations are unseen snowdrifts or pressure ridges that can act as ramps and cause sleds to become airborne leading to a loss of control and accidents.

 Deep Creek Lake is a part of the designated ORV trail system permitting use by registered snowmobiles only. Permits are available by mail or at any of the local State Park offices during normal business hours. Snowmobiles may operate at night if equipped with working head and taillights. Access to the lake may be made at Deep Creek Lake State Park or with permission from a private landowner with a permit site adjacent to the lake.

Ice fishermen, hikers and cross-country skiers traveling on the lake should also exercise caution.  The wearing of or having a readily accessible personal floatation device could prevent a tragedy.  If you encounter people, pets or wildlife that have fallen through the ice, contact either 911 or the toll free DNR Communications number 1-800-628-9944 for assistance.

For further information on ice conditions at Deep Creek Lake, contact a ranger at the Park Headquarters office (301) 387-5563 or the Discovery Center on weekends at 301-387-7067.