The Deep Creek Lake area and Garrett County, Maryland will be featured in an upcoming reality TV series called “Getting Away Together” now beginning to air on PBS member stations nationwide. The Deep Creek Lake area and Garrett County, Maryland episode will begin airing as early as February on different PBS stations across the country. Check local listings for air times/dates. The series focuses on large groups vacationing together and the Garrett County episode will follow a military family Mike & Alexis Piet from Arlington, VA, their parents and family friends as they visit some of Garrett County’s most well-known attractions, and include Mike’s training for the SavageMan Triathlon. We will keep you posted as we become aware of airing dates for the Garrett County episode and watch your email for more news on “Getting Away Together”.

The episode filmed in Garrett County is made possible in part by Railey Mountain Lake Vacations, Bill’s Marine Service, Bill’s Outdoor Center, Honi-Honi Bar, Uno Chicago Grill Deep Creek Lake, Arrowhead Market, and Garrett 8 Cinemas.

The week of October 12-16^th at Deep Creek Lake celebrates Autumn Glory and there are many similarities to the German Oktoberfest. This is a week of celebrating the fall foliage. A beer tent, 2 parades, crafts and car shows, glassblowing and a Farmers Market give added excitement to our area.  Folks travel quite a distance to share in this celebration and to enjoy our beautiful foliage. This is one of my favorite times of the year. The air has fresh smells, the leaves are brilliant colors of red, yellow and orange and the temperature is perfect. The area offers a wide variety of things to do indoors or outdoors.

The ASCI whitewater course has my favorite event which is the Great Pumpkin Regatta, where numbered pumpkins are released to ride the rapids. Another favorite event is the Haunted Mountain Coaster at Wisp Ski Resort. This is simply a fun week for all ages.  I hope you will join us for a week of fun and celebrations.

Check out my Youtube video of the Great Pumpkin Regatta

Here is a link for more information for dates and events for this year’s Autumn Glory Festival.

I look forward to seeing you around the lake!

Carol Wills, Railey Realty

In August 2011, 14 residential Deep Creek Lake water oriented (lake front, lake view, or lake access) properties sold with an average sales price of $426,711 and spent 277 days on the market. There are currently 36 Deep Creek Lake water oriented pending sales (35 residential sales and 1 lot/land).

36 lakefront homes have sold thus far in 2011, already equaling the total number of lakefront homes sold in all of 2010. There are currently 11 lakefront homes under contract. Those 36 lakefronts homes sold had an average sales price of approximately $819,000 and spent 228 days on the market. The average list price to sales price ratio of those homes sold was 81%.

Away from the lake in other areas of Garrett County, 16 residential homes sold in August 2011 with an average sale price of $170,341 and spent 142 days on the market.  There are currently 47 non-lake area pending sales (40 residential sales and 7 lot/land).

Buyers take note that summer followed by fall is typically the strongest selling season in Garrett County.  Sellers are generally more motivated this time of year with the prospect of having to carry their property through winter.  There are some very good values out there right now with a good selection of inventory to choose from. Also helping are low interest rates which incredibly ended last week under 4%.

Garrett County is a very unique market.  It is a beautiful, centrally located four season resort area.  Six of the wealthiest counties in the country are located within less than a gas tank away.

Railey Realty continues to the leader in the Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County real estate market with 57% of total dollar market share in Garrett County and 64% of the Deep Creek Lake market.

As a full time salesperson at Railey Realty I can send you new listings as they hit the market that will show status changes from active listings to pending and closed sales in real time via email market updates.  This is a state-of-the industry computer technology that I offer free of charge to you to follow and immediately see buying opportunities as they hit our resort market. I will be happy to let you know about “must see” properties and “great values.”  Please contact me for all of your real estate needs as I promise to guide you through a smooth real estate transaction.

The world’s most savage triathlon! Bike, swim and run for a great cause: fighting skin cancer.

Deep Creek Lake and the pristine, rugged Allegheny Mountains of western Maryland, provide a venue of unmatched beauty and stunning scenery, and feature two courses that will certainly bring out the true “Savage” in all who come to conquer, from the competitive Ironman racer to the leisurely back-of-the-pack or novice participant. Whether swimming in the crystal clear Deep Creek Lake, riding the smooth, remote, and challenging roads of Garrett County, or running on Deep Creek State Park trails and the surrounding lakeside roads, the SavageMan Triathlon Festival races will challenge and awe participants.

6x Ironman Race Champion Dave Scott will be participating this year. Dave is a legend in the racing world. Railey Realty will also have numerous agents participating in the race this year as well. Those racing from Railey Realty are Jimmy Railey, Russell Bounds, Coelian Green, and Mike Kennedy. Railey Realty is also running the Aid Station atop Killer Miller Hill again this year passing out water and sports drinks to racers. Join us for food, drinks, and helping these athletes!

Date: September 17, 2011

Website: http://www.savagemantri.org/

Location: Deep Creek Lake State Park, MD

Fees/Admission: Registration is sold out. Free for spectators

Sep 2 - Sep 5 Wisp Outdoors Used Equipment Sale.

Date: September 2, 2011
Website: http://www.wispresort.com
EMail: info@wispresort.com

Sep 2 Little Yough Summer Music Festival
Concerts are free…..bring your lawn chair & enjoy the music. Food Vendors On Site 6:00pm - ?. Tonight - Remedy
Date: September 2, 2011
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: MountainFresh Pavilion, Second & Alder Streets, Oakland
Contact: Lillian Steele (301) 616-9790
EMail: steelebeatrice@gmail.com
Date/Time Details: September 2, 2011 - 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Fees/Admission: Free

Sep 4 Dogsledding Presentation and Kennel Visit
Enjoy an educational and entertaining dogsledding presentation. Grill mushers; see equipment; hug Huskies; watch films. No reservations needed today.

Date: September 4, 2011
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Website: http://www.HuskyPowerDogsledding.com
Location: Husky Power Dogsledding at Mountain MD Kennels, LLC
Address: 2008 Bumble Bee Road, Accident, MD 21520 — Three Miles from Wisp – near the Airport in McHenry
Contact: 301-746-7200
Date/Time Details: 10 am - noon
Fees/Admission: $20

Sep 4 Family LEGO SuGO Event
Come design, create, and build a LEGO robot that will push your opponent off the SuGO ring. All ages are welcome. The G-FORCE FTC team also demonstrates their robot. http://sugo.gearsinc.org/.

Date: September 4, 2011
Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Website: http://sugo.gearsinc.org/
Location: GEARS Center in Accident

Sep 10 Art & Wine Festival
Benefiting the American Red Cross, the festival includes wine, regional artists, children’s area, silent auction, live music and lots more!
Date: September 10, 2011
Website: http://www.deepcreekwinefest.com
Location: Garrett County Fairgrounds

Sep 11 Dogsledding Presentation and Kennel Visit
Enjoy an educational and entertaining dogsledding presentation. Grill mushers; see equipment; hug gorgeous and friendly HUSKIES; watch an exciting film of them working/pulling (or see a real team run if it’s cold enough) and learn a lot! No reservations required this day. It is a two hour program starting at 10 am. Price: $20 each.

Note: We offer this same tour (but by reservation only and with a minimum price) almost every day. Please see our website for more info: “Tours” page.

Date: September 11, 2011
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Website: http://www.HuskyPowerDogsledding.com
Location: Husky Power Dogsledding at Mountain MD Kennels, LLC
Address: 2008 Bumble Bee Road, Accident, MD 21520 — Three Miles from Wisp – near the Airport in McHenry
Contact: 301-746-7200
Date/Time Details: 10 am - noon
Fees/Admission: $20

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.

• All maintenance, bill payment and reservations are handled by professional management.
• You pay just your share of the budgeted expenses each quarter.
• Dedicated housekeepers ensure that your home is in pristine condition upon your arrival.
• Enjoy boating, water skiing, fishing, hiking, parks, waterfalls, white water rafting, snow skiing, snowboarding, tubing, cross-country skiing, and golfing at several available courses, including our Signature Hale Irwin course.
• Or just relax with a cup of coffee and a book on your lakefront deck or patio

Visit www.secondhomesatdcl.com to view the inventory of spectacular fractional homes at Deep Creek Lake, or give me a call at 301-616-4085.

Because of slightly lower than usual water levels on Deep Creek Lake the past few years, the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) has recently made modifications that will keep the lake at historically normal levels this summer boating season. The changes include;

• Extending the upper rule band to an elevation of 2461 for the full month of July and decreasing it at a rate of one foot per month for August, September, and October.
• Allowing water levels 0.3 feet above the rule band from May thru October (but not for more than 21 days). This will accommodate times of higher inflow into the lake.
• Eliminating certain temperature protocols on scheduled whitewater release days.
• Modifying the discharge rates for whitewater releases.
• Requiring Brookfield Power to monitor gate losses at the power generation station.

MDE has determined that higher than normal summer temperatures and lower stream inflow were the primary causes for the lower than normal lake levels experienced during the 2010 boating season. With slightly lower lake levels last year, some Deep Creek Lake property and real estate owners were forced to pull their docks and boats earlier than expected. These changes should improve conditions and the Deep Creek Lake Property Owners Association will continue to monitor the situation.