By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 August 25th, 2011 Category: Garrett County News, News, Wisp Real Estate, Wisp Ski Resort

Here is a link to the latest article released to the public on the potential sale of Wisp Ski Resort.  The owners of nearby Seven Springs Ski Resort appear to be the most likely candidate to purchase the Wisp. The family that owns Seven Springs also own a majority of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team.

Contrary to any rumors the Wisp Ski Resort is NOT bankrupt and in NO danger of shutting down or closing. In fact, in recent years the Wisp has experienced a record number of skier visits. The current ownership group has actually made the Wisp a year round profitable venture with the addition of new attractions like the mountain coaster and zip line canopy tour. It’s very likely that any new ownership group or the current ownership group will continue to add new attractions and expand the ski slopes at the resort.

The article is a little misleading in blaming “low nearby home sales.” The number of nearby Deep Creek Lake home sales are actually trending upwards - they have been since the end of 2009.  More likely to blame for this potential sale are lower than anticipated building lot sales around the new Lodestone Golf Course atop Wisp Mountain and the high cost to build such a high end 18 hole golf course.

Many people think of the Wisp as one entity but it’s actually comprised of two separate companies - Recreational Industries and DC Development.  Both companies are owned by the same group of people. Recreational Industries is the Wisp Ski Resort and all it’s attractions - ski slopes, lodge, tubing park, and mountain coaster. DC Development is the real estate development company that builds and develops neighborhoods atop Wisp Mountain.

Since 2001, DC Development has been very successful in developing and selling out such neighborhoods and subdivisions atop Wisp Mountain like Boulder Ridge, North Camp, Highline, and Deep Creek Highlands. Those neighborhoods continue to be popular with vacation home buyers in the area.

Wisp Ski Resort will continue to be a huge draw for the Deep Creek Lake area regardless of who owns it. The ski area is a big part and reason why families purchase vacation and second homes in this area. The Deep Creek area is a true four season resort with endless activities and attractions for vacationers and second home owners alike.

If you are interested in pursuing real estate opportunities in the Deep Creek Lake area or at the Wisp Ski Resort please give us a call or stop in our office. We are the local experts and have the largest selection of properties for sale in the area.

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 January 14th, 2011 Category: Deep Creek Lake Buyer Info, Deep Creek Lake Market Update, Deep Creek Lake Real Estate, Garrett County Real Estate, News, Wisp Real Estate

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that vacation home markets are on the rise. While the article does not mention the Deep Creek Lake real estate market, it does mention other resort markets and reports some similar things that have recently happened in our market.

• Sales are up slightly
• A few record sales - Deep Creek experienced a record lakefront house sale at Holy Cross for $3.5 in 2010.
• Cash buyers who are getting good deals
• More accurate pricing by sellers

Now is still a great time to purchase a second or vacation home in the Deep Creek Lake area. Interest rates are still low, good deals can be had with plenty of properties to choose from, and unlike other resorts we do have year round activities with the lake and Wisp Ski area.  Contact us for a complete list of all available properties - or a list of the current “best buys” in our market.

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 April 23rd, 2010 Category: Deep Creek Lake Activities, Deep Creek Lake Area Things To Do, Deep Creek Lake Real Estate, Garrett County News, News, Wisp Real Estate, Wisp Ski Resort

The Wisp Ski Resort at Deep Creek Lake recently announced a new attraction. Construction of a Zip-line ride near the Bear Claw Tubing Park is expected to begin shortly and should be open to the public in the summer of 2010. The new attraction is going to be named the Flying Squirrel Canopy Tour.  A Zip-line is basically a pulley on a cable that allows a rider to traverse down an incline using gravity while holding on to a pulley. The riders are attached to the pulley and cable with a safety harness. The new Zip-line, which is very popular in other resort areas, will add to the area’s many other diverse activities and continue to make Wisp a popular year round destination.

Hale Irwin Lodestone Golf Course & Wisp Real Estate Update

All 18 holes are now complete. The front 9 opened last fall to play and will re-open again May 1^st of this year. The back 9 holes are scheduled to open in June 2010.  Reviews from golfers who have played the course say its “spectacular”.  The scenery is incredible as some holes feature breathtaking views of Deep Creek Lake. A temporary clubhouse will be set up this summer and Hale Irwin himself will be here on July 10^th for a reception and to play the course. Lodestone is also offering a Trial Use Membership for 2010 (pdf).

All roads are now complete in the Greenbrier subdivisions at Lodestone.  Construction of two new residential houses fronting the golf course is expected to begin shortly.

Including the new golf course home sites, DC Development has developed 540 building lots atop Wisp Mountain since 1994. There is a potential for a total of 2,301 home sites atop Wisp.

Other recent Wisp news and updates;

• The 2009/2010 ski season was very good. The Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County area received record amounts of natural snow. The Wisp reported that skier visits were up about 2% over of the previous winter season. The ski area closed for the season on April 4^th of this year.
• The Mountain Coaster continues to be very popular with tourists and visitors.
• The Wisp plans to continue its annual Easter Sunrise Service. Visitors can ride the chair lifts to the top of the mountain for free and watch the sunrise as Easter services are conducted.

Please contact us if you would like to explore any real estate opportunities at Wisp and the new Lodestone Golf Course - including home sites, building lots, townhomes, or existing houses for sale.

Click Here for all Railey Realty listed Home Sites, Building Lots, Real Estate, and Houses for Sale at Wisp Ski Resort.

(Photo courtesy of D. A. Horchner/Design Workshop)

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 January 29th, 2010 Category: Community Profiles, Wisp Real Estate, Wisp Ski Resort

If you are just starting your property search in the Deep Creek Lake area, Wisp Ski Resort can be a little confusing with its many subdivisions and neighborhoods - each with different features and amenities. Some of the communities have ski-in/ski-out slope access - some don’t, some have lake access - some don’t, some have lake views - some don’t, some have slope access, lake access, and lake views - or a combination of the three. Confusing to say the least! Below is a quick summary for those of you considering buying home or building lot atop Wisp Mountain.

BOULDER RIDGE

A small gated community of single family residential homes adjacent to the Eye Opener ski slope, Main Street slope, and Chair lift #4. Great ski slope access from this community! Plus most of the building sites and homes have stunning views of Deep Creek Lake and the mountains of Garrett County. Easy walk to the ASCI Whitewater Course and Wisp Mountain Village.

• Ski-In/Ski-Out - Yes
• Lake Access - No
• Lake Views - Yes, most with stunning views!

Click here for real estate and homes for sale in Boulder Ridge at Wisp

KENDALL CAMP

A small gated community of duplex style residential townhomes that also have easy ski slope access. Each unit features 4 bedrooms, 1 car garage, and a log home architectural appearance.  Located very close to the top of the Main Street ski slope and Chair lift #4. Easy walk to ASCI and Wisp Mountain Village.

• Ski-in/Ski-Out - Yes
• Lake Access - No
• Lake Views - Generally No

Click here for real estate and town homes for sale in Kendall Camp at Wisp

NORTH CAMP AT WISP

A larger ski-in/ski-out community of single family homes and building lots located adjacent to Wisp’s North Camp ski slope expansion. From North Camp it’s a pretty easy walk to ASCI and Wisp Mountain Village. Most home sites and homes have expansive mountain views.  Neighborhood also includes the smaller community of Ridge Run - duplex style townhomes similar to Kendall Camp.

• Ski-in/Ski-Out - Yes
• Lake Access - No
• Lake Views - No, but expansive mountain views that go on forever!

Click here for real estate and homes for sale in North Camp atop Wisp

HIGHLINE AND HIGHLINE II

Smaller, non-gated communities of residential single family homes with ski slope access. Highline is located adjacent to the Main Street ski slope. Most of the homes in Highline have stunning views of Deep Creek Lake and McHenry Cove! Highline II is located across Wisp Mountain Road but still has slope access. A few homes in Highline II have lake views - most of have pretty good mountain views. A little farther walk to ASCI and Wisp Mountain from Highline. ASCI is probably too far of a walk from Highline II.

• Ski-In/Ski-Out - Yes
• Lake Access - No
• Lake Views - Some with really good lake views!

Click here for real estate and homes for sale in Highline and Highline II atop Wisp

DEEP CREEK HIGHLANDS

A larger, gated premier community of single family homes - many with stunning views of Deep Creek Lake. Community features an outdoor swimming pool, tennis court, pavilion, lockers, paths, trails, and unique rock outcroppings.

• Ski-in/Ski-Out - No, you’ll have to get in your car and drive to the lodge at Wisp.
• Lake Access - Yes, a dedicated area on Marsh Hill Road - some boat slips available
• Lake Views - A good many of the homes and lots have great views of Deep Creek!

Click here for real estate and homes for sale in Deep Creek Highlands atop Wisp

OVERLOOK MOUNTAIN VILLAS

A town home development that is part of the Deep Creek Highlands association but not located within its neighborhood boundaries. Owners at Overlook Villas can use the outdoor swimming pool in the Highlands but are not allowed to use the lake access area. Many of the townhomes have great views of Deep Creek Lake.

• Ski-in/Ski-Out - No, you’ll have to get in your car and drive to the lodge at Wisp
• Lake Access - No
• Lake Views - Most have really good views of Deep Creek Lake!

Click here for real estate and town homes for sale in Overlook Mountain Villas atop Wisp

VILLAGES OF WISP

The original and first ski-in/ski-out development at Wisp Ski Resort. Most of the buildings were built in the late 80’s and early 90’s. All units have slope access, some have year round lake views, and all have lake access at a lakeside park along Marsh Hill Road. Some transient boat docks are available.

• Ski-in/Ski-Out - Yes
• Lake Access - Yes
• Lake Views - Some with year round views

Click here for real estate and town homes for sale at Villages of Wisp

You are probably still confused! That’s ok. That’s why we are here - to help you! If you would like to see any real estate, townhome, or building site for sale atop Wisp Ski Resort - give us a call or drop us an e-mail. We are experts on these communities and neighborhoods atop the mountain. We’ll help you find that perfect vacation home, townhome, or condo. Remember, we can show you any listed property for sale in the Deep Creek Lake area - even those listed with other real estate companies.

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 November 13th, 2009 Category: Community Profiles, Wisp Real Estate, Wisp Ski Resort

Villages of Wisp is a 135 unit townhome complex that sits atop Wisp Ski Resort and overlooks Deep Creek Lake. All townhomes at Villages of Wisp are ski-in/ski-out with slope access. This development was built in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Beside ski slope access, other amenities include a lakefront area on Deep Creek Lake in McHenry Cove that owners can use, a community boat dock with 10 permanent slips and 2 boat slips for day use only. This lakeside family park has a gazebo and sun deck and can be accessed off of Marsh Hill Road.

There are 2 different floor plans at Villages of Wisp (VOW) - a smaller, 3 level, 2 bedroom unit commonly referred to as a 16 foot unit (because it’s 16 feet wide) - and a larger, 4 level, 2 bedroom loft unit commonly referred to as a 20 foot unit. Each building at Villages of Wisp (VOW) has 5 units - two (2) of the smaller units and three (3) of the larger 4 level loft units.  Clusters of these buildings can be found in various locations around the slopes of Wisp Ski Resort and can be accessed from the smaller private roads and courts known as Bright Passage, Winding Way, Slopeside Terrace, Lakeview Court, and Liftside Drive.

Villages of Wisp is a home owners association (HOA) - not a condominium association - and thus each unit is individually owned in fee simple.  All interior and exterior maintenance is the responsibility of the individual homeowner - not the HOA. The association dues go towards snowplowing, grass cutting, trash removal, the boat docks, and common area maintenance.

Click here for all Railey Realty listed townhomes and real estate currently for sale at Villages of Wisp.

Give us a call or shoot as e-mail if you would like to explore real estate opportunities at Villages of Wisp. We’ll be more than happy to send you a free list of available properties or schedule a time to see these properties for sale - or any others you wish to see.

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 October 5th, 2009 Category: Deep Creek Lake Buyer Info, Deep Creek Lake Real Estate, Garrett County News, Garrett County Real Estate, News, Wisp Real Estate

Garrett County Officials recently unveiled a number of zoning and subdivision ordinance proposals representing some of the most significant changes in county history. A Public Information Meeting is planned for the evening of October 14 - 7:00 pm at Garrett College - where county officials will roll out the draft ordinances for public review. Further details on the proposed zoning and land use changes can be found on the county’s web site by clicking here.

Scenic Protection Overlay District

The county is proposing sweeping new restrictions in the Deep Creek lake watershed zoning area designed to minimize the visibility of hillside homes from the lake. A “Scenic Protection District” will be applied to twelve areas that exhibit certain slope and view characteristics. People who build homes in these areas may need to plant trees to obscure the visibility of the home from the lake and restricting the view from the new home by up to 80%. The Deep Creek Lake Scenic Protection Overlay District map can be found here.

Expansion of Rural Agricultural and Resource Areas

The county will reclassify a large part of the land in Garrett County into these two categories and provide additional subdivision standards that foster agricultural and natural resource preservation. Some of the more controversial provisions are a mandatory 66% to 80% open space set aside and mandatory clustering of new housing development. According to county officials, provisions will also be made to facilitate estate planning and to assist landowners to do some minor subdivision for economic reasons.

New Commercial Building Design Standards

New standards regarding materials, roof styles and other aspects of building design will be codified and applied to new commercial construction in the lake watershed. Questions have been posed as to the applicability of these standards to other non-residential buildings and there may be action to extend the standards to all non- residential buildings. New home construction will not be affected by this change.

Reclassification of the LR-Lake Residential District

The existing LR district will be split into LR-1 and LR-2. The LR-1 will retain the existing Lake Residential standards and includes all areas bordering the lake or which will be served by county sewer service. The LR-2 will have the minimum lot size increased to two acres with septic systems. A map of the affected areas is available through the county’s web site.

The proposed changes will have a lasting impact on real estate in the Deep Creek Lake area and throughout Garrett County including unzoned areas. Some of these changes will restrict property owner’s rights and potentially impact values. We highly recommend that property owners familiarize themselves with the changes, ask questions, and register your comments!

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 August 21st, 2009 Category: Deep Creek Lake Real Estate, Garrett County News, Garrett County Real Estate, News, Wisp Real Estate

The recent update to the Garrett County Comprehensive Plan calls for proposed changes and revisions to various land use, zoning, and the Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Ordinances. The biggest changes that could affect real estate, property owners, and ultimately property values in the Deep Creek Lake and Wisp Ski Resort areas are as follows:

Scenic Vistas - the proposals include establishing several scenic protection areas around Deep Creek Lake. This may include future setback requirements that would push construction of new houses farther back from the edge of the slope atop certain mountains surrounding the lake that would essentially decrease views of the lake from that new house.

Architectural Standards - will try to establish building design standards for commercial developers in the lake area to ensure character compatibility for new commercial buildings.

New Land Classification Map - it includes the new Lake Residential 1 (LR1) and Lake Residential 2 (LR2) categories and also the new Agricultural Resource (AR) and Rural Resource (RR) zones. The preliminary draft of the new Deep Creek Lake Watershed Zoning Map can be found here.

Amendments the Garrett County Subdivision Ordinance that would require clustering in AR and RR zones with a minimum of 1.5 acre lot sizes and open space requirements.

The county will conduct public hearings on these proposed changes in the near future. Many current landowners in Garrett County and Deep Creek Lake watershed will be affected by these changes!! - please give us a call or shoot us an e-mail if you would like more information about how your property may be affected by these changes.

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 July 24th, 2009 Category: Deep Creek Lake Buyer Info, Deep Creek Lake Market Update, Deep Creek Lake Real Estate, Garrett County Real Estate, Wisp Real Estate

As we pass the mid point of 2009, the Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County real estate market continues to feel the impact of the national economy and global recession. Not because we have an abundance of short sales and foreclosures - because we really don’t - the biggest impact right now is the national media and the negative perception of real estate in general.

This perception continues to widen the gap between what buyers are willing to pay and what sellers are willing to accept for their properties in our market. This fact along with tightening credit standards has resulted in less sales - a trend that started about mid-way thru 2006 in our market.

Almost every buyer today wants a “good deal” or is waiting for the bottom - and who can blame them after listening to the national media? However, most of the current real estate listings in Garrett County could be characterized as being “non-distressed” - i.e. the owners would like to sell but they aren’t willing to dramatically take less than what they are asking for in price.  There are some desperate sellers out there right now that need to sell - and they very well may have a property match for what you’re looking for. However, in general,  this is not a market like Las Vegas, or in other parts of the country like Florida, where 50-75% of all current sales are distress sales.

Real Estate Market Snapshot - Deep Creek Lake

June 30 ,2008                   June 30,2009

#               $ Vol                     #         $ Vol

Res              72         $44.4M                   54         $27.4M

Lots             33          $6.3M                    25          $5.7M

Comml          1           $0.5M                      2          $0.7M

Clearly, the number of sales and transactions continues to decline. The only bright spot continues to be the average sold price. According our MLS, the average sold price for a residential property thru the first 6 months of 2009 in the Deep Creek area was $507,942. The average sold price at the end of 2008 was  $583,230 - or a correction of about 13% - not bad considering most other areas of the country - primary home and resort areas - have seen corrections between 25-50% and have seen property values revert back to pre-boom days! In fact this is the first time the average residential sold price in the Deep Creek Lake area has recently declined - even in our softer real estate markets of 2007 and 2008.

However, please take these numbers with a grain of salt - this number includes a wide variety of different types of residential homes sold - from million dollar lakefront homes with a private boat docks - to less expensive lake access condos and town homes - to a modest cabin in the woods with no lake access. If more less expensive property types sell the average sold price will decline. This does not mean the value of a newer lakefront home with Type A dock went down 13%. It just means on average, the different properties that did sell, sold for 13% less than at the end of 2008.

What’s a Seller To Do?

Right now the best thing you can do is realistically price your property to sell based on the last comparable sold and make sure the condition of the property is in tip-top shape. Realistically priced properties in good condition are currently selling - unrealistically priced properties are not! By pricing your property correctly up front you can avoid all the small price reductions later which help keep the buyers on the sidelines waiting for the next price drop.

As a seller the value of your home is NOT based on what you paid for the house, NOT based on how much you have it insured for, NOT based on how much your neighbor’s house is currently sitting on the market for, and NOT based on how much you mortgage balance is - pure and simple your current value is based on what a ready, willing, and able buyer is willing to pay for it - and most buyers right now aren’t going to pay more than what the last comparable sold for.

What’s a Buyer to Do?

Quite simply now is a great time to buy!! A few communities and subdivisions in the lake area have seen values come down making some properties now within reach. Plus interest rates on second homes and investment properties are still low and their is an abundance of properties on the market right now. Now is a great time to negotiate an excellent deal. This situation along with low interest rates won’t last forever.

Overall the Deep Creek Lake real estate market has generally been a safe harbor to weather economic pressures like these throughout the years. Why? Owning property here is more than just a financial investment - it’s an investment in lifestyle as well. We have four seasons of recreation and activities - including Deep Creek Lake and the Wisp Ski Resort - we  have a comfortable year round climate suitable for numerous outdoor activities - including boating, hiking, snow skiing, biking, fishing, golf, and the Garrett Lakes Arts Festival - just to name a few. Along with our close proximity to Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Washinton D.C. - Garrett County is a great area to reconnect with friends, family, and loved ones.  All markets go up and down - this opportunity may not last very long - give us a call or shoot us an e-mail - we’ll help you seize the opportunity and buy a property today!

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 July 2nd, 2009 Category: Deep Creek Lake Buyer Info, Deep Creek Lake Market Update, Deep Creek Lake Real Estate, Garrett County Real Estate, Uncategorized, Wisp Real Estate

If you are thinking about buying or selling a house at Deep Creek Lake or in Garrett County Maryland - one real estate statistic you may want to pay attention to now is known as the Absorption Rate - a market indicator that hasn’t been used much locally but should get some consideration to get a better feel for current conditions.

Absorption Rates at Deep Creek Lake and Wisp

What is the Absorption Rate? Basically, it’s the amount of time it will take the current inventory of homes on the market to sell based on the most recent pace of sales. For example, if 5 lakefront homes sold on average per month for the past year - and the current inventory of lake front homes for sale is 100 - then the current absorption rate would be 100/5 - or 20 months. In other words it would take about 20 months to deplete the current inventory based on the recent sales pace. Since we have many specialized segments of real estate in the Deep Creek market - here are the current absorption rates for the most popular segments;

Lakefront homes with private Type A boat docks - 89 currently on the market divided 2.5 average sold per month (30 sold in the past 12 months) = 35.6 months of inventory…or in other words there is around 3 years of inventory on the market at this current pace.

Lakefront homes with single slips -  38 currently on the market divided by .4 average sold per month (5 sold in the past 12 months) = 95 months of inventory.

Lake Access homes with single boat slips - 72 currently on the market divided by 1.33 average sold per month (16 sold in the past 12 months) = 54 months of inventory.

Lake Access homes without boat slips - 39 currently on the market divided by .58 average sold per month (7 sold in the past 12 months) = about 78 month of inventory.

Wisp Real Estate (residential atop Wisp Mountain) - 37 currently on the market divided by 1.25 average sold per month (15 sold in the past 12 months) = 30 months of inventory. Includes Villages of Wisp town homes.

Lake Area homes (meaning not “water oriented” - just homes in the general Deep Creek Lake area) - 71 homes currently on the market divided by 1.66 average sold per month (20 sold in the past 12 months) = 42 months of inventory.

Please keep in mind the absorption rate statistic is somewhat flawed by it’s own nature - it only takes into consideration recent past performance - it only looks backwards. It tends to underestimate the market going forward and the quickness of how fast things can turn around. Use this statistic carefully when evaluating your real estate opportunities.

However, this number does have some significant meaning for both potential buyers and sellers.

For buyers - a higher number means inventory is up and serious sellers will be competing for your business - thus your chances of getting a “better deal” increases.

For sellers - a higher number usually means more competition and you better make sure both the price and condition of your house compare favorably to your competition! - especially if you want to sell your house to sell in a normal marketing time frame.

Selling a house is both science and art. It’s part science because numbers and statistics are used to come up with a value based on recent selling prices of comparable homes, days on market, absorption rates, number of homes currently on the market, etc. It’s partly an art  because in a specialized resort market like Deep Creek each vacation property is unique in it’s own way - whether it’s the topography (steep vs. flat), orientation (northwest for late afternoon sun or east for morning sun), views (filtered lake views or wide open expansive lake views), boat dock (private Type A vs. single slip), condition of the house (newer vs older), etc…the list can go on and on. It’s extremely hard in this market to find two properties that are nearly identical so rarely can your compare apples to apples - except for town homes and condos.

Whether you are buying or selling Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake real estate - give us a call or drop us an e-mail - we are the experts on the local resort and vacation home market - we can guide you thru the entire process. Nobody has helped more buyers and sellers than us over the past 30 years!

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 June 24th, 2009 Category: Deep Creek Lake Market Update, Deep Creek Lake Real Estate, Garrett County News, Garrett County Real Estate, News, Wisp Real Estate, Wisp Ski Resort

Yesterday we had a meeting with Karen Myers, one of the owners and developers of the Wisp Ski Resort. She gave us an update on the Wisp Ski Resort, the new Hale Irwin Lodestone Golf Course, and other real estate developments atop Wisp mountain. Here are the highlights of the meeting;

Contrary to any rumors the Wisp Ski Resort is NOT in any type of financial trouble! And they don’t intend to get in any financial trouble in the future by utilizing a plan to be fiscally responsible going forward. This plan includes delaying some of the proposed projects until economic conditions improve and expansion is feasible. The Wisp finished this past ski season (2008-2009) with about 185,000 skier visits - which was slightly ahead of the previous winter season - even with a slumping economy and an unusually warm March which forced them to close earlier than normal for the season. Some in the ski industry have heard reports that most of the other mid-Atlantic ski areas were down significantly in skier visits - if that is true this once again shows the overall strength of the Deep Creek Lake area as four season resort area that can still draw people and tourists even in tough economic times!

Hale Irwin Lodestone Golf Course

First and foremost the Wisp plans on finishing the Hale Irwin Lodestone Golf Club. The first 10 holes have already been “plated” and their is some additional rock blasting to be done on the final 8 holes. Hale Irwin toured the site last week and the course is on target to be done and playable by September 2009. The Wisp is currently pre-selling memberships - full memberships are $40,000 for non-lot owners and $20,000 for a sport membership for those who plan on playing less golf. This golf course will be a private, membership only course and won’t be open to public play.

Wisp Lakeside Club

Second on the priority list is to complete and open the Lakeside Club on Deep Creek Drive with a temporary building. The permanent $7 million building has been put on hold until the economy improves. The location is 1077 Deep Creek Drive which is the site of the old S&H Marina on Deep Creek Lake. The temporary location will have a bar, lounge, pool, TV’s locker rooms, and game rooms.  This club is targeted for property owners in some of the neighborhoods atop Wisp Ski Resort - such as Kendall Camp, North Camp, or Highline - that don’t have access to Deep Creek Lake. The target date for opening the Lakeside Club is July of 2009.

North Camp Ski Slope Expansion

Eventually, as economic conditions improve, the Wisp plans on constructing another Chair Lift and increasing the number of ski trails and ski-able terrain in the North Camp area of the ski slopes. The new Chair will be #8 and will meet at the top of North Camp near Chair #7.

Wisp Mountaintop Village

Lastly, the proposed Mountain Top Village near the ASCI White Water course will be developed. Proposed is a 100 unit residential building that will be ski-in/ski-out along with various retail and food shops. The mountaintop village already has ASCI (Adventure Sports Center International), The Pumphouse Cafe, and the Wisp Outdoors Center.

If you are interested in any real estate opportunities at Wisp Ski Resort or in the Deep Creek Lake area please give us a call or drop us an e-mail. We’ll be more than happy to show you any building lots, residential homes, or townhomes atop Wisp mountain and provide more details about all the happenings at Wisp.