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: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 March 13th, 2009 Category: Deep Creek Lake Area Things To Do, Deep Creek Lake Events, News, Wisp Ski Resort

This past weekend marked the 21^st annual Governor’s Cup Ski & Snowboard race at Wisp Resort, sponsored by the Deep Creek Winter Sports Team.  60 local and regional skiers and snowboarder’s competed for the coveted Governor’s Cup in a 2 day event.   To be eligible for the Cup racers were required to complete 4 race runs, starting with 2 slalom runs down the Squirrel cage slope on Saturday and 2 Giant Slalom runs down the Main Street slope on Sunday.  Winners of the cup posted the fastest 4 run times.  A junior cup was also awarded for the fastest JR racers (under 16).

Fastest Male & Female and winner of the 2009 Governor’s Cup

Derek Berger

Elizabeth Green

Elizabeth Green competing at 2009 Governor's Cup at Wisp Ski Resort in Maryland

Junior Governor’s Cup

Jack Havens

Cara Stough

Snowboard Governor’s Cup

Colin Lynch

Jessica Harvey

Junior Snowboard Governor’s Cup

Kyle Beard

Kesina Woodfield

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 November 25th, 2008 Category: Garrett County News, News, Wisp Ski Resort

Below are some pictures taken last weekend from what is believed to be the first avalanche ever recorded at Wisp Ski Resort. While it’s certainly not on the same scale as other avalanches out west it is certainly bizarre to believe that one can happen here in western Maryland of all places. But for those of you that don’t own real estate or live here full time the weather in Garrett County can be quite different compared to other nearby areas. When it’s raining in Pittsburgh or Washington D.C. it’s usually snowing here at Deep Creek Lake. Our temperatures usually run 5-8 degrees cooler than neighboring areas. The previous week this area got about 18 inches of natural snowfall and the Wisp was continually making snow because the temperatures never climbed out of the 20’s. Don’t worry though; there really isn’t an avalanche danger at Wisp. This one was probably caused when a large pile of artificial snow broke loose when a few unauthorized backpackers/skiers were taking advantage of the winter like weather. The Wisp does officially open the season this Friday, November 28^th.

Credit for these pictures must go to a user named FlyinGuitar08 from the Teton Gravity Research Forums.

And here is a video of the Wisp avalanche that was recently uploaded to YouTube. For those of you not aware, the Face ski slope is on the left in this video and the slope on the right is Squirrel Cage.

 

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By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 November 11th, 2008 Category: News, Wisp Ski Resort

Here is a picture I took this morning of the Squirrel Cage slope at Wisp Ski Resort. As you can see the Wisp fired up their snow guns last night- the low last night in Garrett County was 18 degrees! That’s pretty cold for this time of year even by western Maryland and Deep Creek Lake standards.

The Wisp usually tries to have a handful of ski slopes open by Thanksgiving weekend each year. The weather forecast for McHenry, MD looks like they may be able to make snow here and there for the next few weeks. From what I know the Wisp can make snow when the temperature dips in to the low 30’s or high 20’s.

The long term weather forecast is calling for a much colder month of December than normal. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and the Wisp can have nearly all the ski slopes open by Christmas week. Railey Mountain Lake Vacations still has some choice homes, condos, and town homes available to rent for the week between Xmas and New Years at Wisp and in the nearby Deep Creek Lake area. The winter ski season is just around the corner!

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 March 1st, 2008 Category: Deep Creek Lake Real Estate, Wisp Ski Resort

Some more quality exposure for Deep Creek Lake and Wisp Ski Resort. It’s nice to see the area getting the attention of a national publication and a Baltimore television station as of late. Here is a link to an article about the area that appeared in the Spring 2008 issue of Luxury Living Magazine.

It is interesting to note that the author of the article lives in Park City, Utah - which is another resort area with a much larger ski area than the Wisp. The author really has nothing but good things to say about the area and favorably compares the lifestyle and activities offered at Deep Creek Lake to those found at the larger western resorts. 

The author does touch on a few real estate items in the article. She notes that a brand new home at Deep Creek Lake that costs $1.3 million would be considered a “steal” in Park City - where $1.3 million would only you buy a 2 bedroom fixer upper. Sure Park City and some of the other bigger resorts are larger than the Wisp - but Deep Creek Lake is much more accessible and easy to get to for someone from Baltimore, Washington D.C., or Pittsburgh.

We have many clients who own vacation homes here and in other resort areas - and speaking with them they always tell us they spend more time here at their Deep Creek Lake house than at their other vacation homes in other resort areas. When you factor in ease of accessibility, the lifestyle offered, and what you can get for the money - there is no doubt buying a second home at Deep Creek Lake is a great value compared to other resort areas.

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 12th, 2008 Category: Wisp Real Estate, Wisp Ski Resort

We had a meeting with one of the main real estate developers at Wisp Ski Resort this morning. Here are some of the notes from that meeting and what we can expect to take shape over the next few years;

Signature Hale Irwin Lodestone Golf Course

Construction is underway on the golf course and a projected finish date is late 2008 or mid-2009.

• After completion they are also planning on building an outdoor swimming pool and indoor fitness center.
• For a limited time existing Villages of Wisp owners and property owners in the other subdivisions atop Wisp - like Boulder Ridge, Deep Creek Highlands, and North Camp - can purchase a Lodestone Golf Membership. It’s not cheap….a full Lodestone Golf Membership is $40,000 - one half is due now and the other half will be due when the facilities are complete. However, there are options should someone want to transfer their membership in the future.

Why should think about buying one if you already own a property at Wisp? Well, in a nutshell, at some point in the future they will stop offering these memberships AND their will be options to transfer these memberships to a future purchaser. It may make your property more appealing should you ever decide to sell.

Wisp Mountain Village

• In late 2008 or early 2009 they plan to start their next residential building phase. It was reported it will consist of about 130 single family units - probably town homes of some sort.
• In 2009 they also plan to start construction on an Alpine Club and Skier Services building.
• This will be followed by additional residential buildings, a spa, general store, boutique retail, and other restaurants.

Ridge Run Town Homes

• These units are nearly identical to the Kendall Camp town homes.
• Two units per building - all are end units.
• They will be located next to Chair #7 right beside the new slopes in North Camp.
• Non-binding reservations are being accepted now and they will probably release the units for sale at the end of March, 2008.

Skiing in 2007/08

• The new Polecat snowmaking machines were placed on Squirrel Cage which allows them to make snow at a higher temperature than in years past.
• There is a 5 year plan to replace all snowmaking equipment on the mountain.
• Wisp Resort is officially “green” now. Recycling bins are everywhere.
• Inter-connecting trails will be built after the golf courses are completed.

For how warm this winter has been thus far, the Wisp has done an incredible job making snow and keeping their entire mountain open. While other eastern resorts such as 7-Springs and even Killington have had trouble holding events their have been no such problems at Wisp. This is due primarily to the Wisp’s ability to draw water out of Deep Creek Lake to make snow and also investing in the latest and greatest snowmaking equipment.

Remember we can assist you with any property currently for sale at Wisp - whether it’s one of their new projects and releases like the ones mentioned above or a resale property. Please don’t hesitate to contact us about any property for sale at Wisp. We invest quite a bit of time staying abreast of the current happenings atop the mountain to better assist our clients.

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 February 8th, 2008 Category: Deep Creek Lake Area Things To Do, Wisp Ski Resort

Check this out…here is a video from YouTube that takes you down the new Mountain Coaster attraction at Wisp Ski Resort. The ride is about 1 minute and a half long.  This roller coaster type ride is actually open year round and it costs $9.50 for a single rider or $15 if you have two riders. Kids must be 3 years or older to ride. Kids under 7 years old and under must ride with an adult. This is another example how the Wisp continues to improve and add things to do in the Deep Creek Lake area. All vacationers and second home owners continue to benefit as Wisp Ski Resort improves the area amenities.

By: Mike Kennedy mkennedy@railey.com 301-616-6106 January 11th, 2008 Category: Deep Creek Lake Events

This upcoming weekend the Deep Creek Winter Sports Team will host the first annual CBIZ Classic Giant Slalom race for kids 14 and under at the Wisp Ski Resort in western Maryland. The race will start at 9:30 am on Sunday January 13, 2008 and will be held on Wisp’s Squirel Cage slope. There are 90 junior skiers registered thus far, over one half of them are from other ski resorts in the mid-Atlantic and will be traveling to the Deep Creek Lake area to participate. This race is one of USSA’s regional qualifiers. If you are at Wisp this weekend be sure to check this race out. Not only will see you many local Deep Creek skiers participating you will also many other top level junior skiers from other area resorts such as 7 Springs, Snowshoe WV, and Whitetail.