The Deep Creek Blog

Picture of Squirrel Cage with Snow

Joe Miller from The News & Observer of Raleigh-Durham posted this picture of Squirrel Cage on his Get Out! Get Fit!  blog last week.   With yesterday's warm spell and a forecast today of sixty-four degrees with rain, I'm guessing that it might not look this way today.   In fact, here are the Wisp Cams, with Squirrel Cage sadly looking bare. 

New fireplace and patio store in Garrett County

Warner's Hearth & Patio, located in McHenry's Market Square, is a new location for the Cumberland based store selling fireplace and patio furnishings. 

Garrett County Brings in Bulk of the Bears

Maryland's third bear hunt is officially closed with the following stats report by the DNR:

The hunt by the numbers:

• 41 bears harvested
• 37 from Garrett County, 2 from Allegany
• 157 lbs. average weight
• 80% of the bears were taken on private land
• 65% of successful hunters live in the hunt area
• 451 hunters participated in the hunt and 2,402 hunters applied for a permit.

Snow at Deep Creek Lake

It looks like Wisp might be open for Thanksgiving, with two and a half inches of snow in Garrett County today. 

Garrett County Housing Projections

This past week, the Garrett County Department of Planning and Land Development reported on preliminary housing projections for Garrett County over the next twenty five years.  According to The Republican,

Growth projections will be used for a variety of planning purposes, including establishing additional land development policies for the county's new comprehensive plan,

The current number of building permits is in decline at this point of time in the county, according to Chief Jim Torrington, Permits and Inspection Division.

We are in somewhat of a decline by the number of permits," he said. "However, the value of square footage remains very high."

As of the end of September, he said, there were 551 permits issued for new construction. Last year for this same time period there were 557 issued, compared to 625 in '04, 595 in '03, and 615 in '02.

Torrington noted that single-family home permits are down in the Deep Creek Lake area. Of the total number of single-family home permits issued so far this year, 40.7 percent were for the lake area, compared to 43 percent last year, 47.4 percent in '04, 57.1 percent in '03, and 60.6 percent in '02.

He noted, however, that growth was occurring in other areas of the county.

Love it or hate it? More commercial growth may be coming

to the Deep Creek Lake area.  Red Orbit reports McHenry Looking for More Commercial Growth Near Deep Creek Lake.  The article focuses on a 40 acres piece of land that is currently up for sale along Rt. 219 in McHenry. 

Inquiries have poured in from prospective buyers as far away as California, Ohio, Florida and New York, Talley said. Developers have expressed interest in creating residential, retail and entertainment uses on the land.

County planners though hope the winning bidder will concentrate on commercial uses for the site. Much of the land around the lake has gone to housing projects in recent years as developers have attempted to cash in on a hot residential real estate market.

Deep Creek Delivers

Thanks to the Second Home Muse for pointing out this article in the International Herald Tribune.  If the author is on target, and I believe she is, then this bodes well for investors in the Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County real estate market. 

For many potential buyers interested in second homes in resort communities, it is no longer enough - and sometimes not even necessary or desirable - that the properties offer golf, tennis and a swimming pool. Many buyers these days want amenities involving outdoor pursuits that often involve naturalists and that are sometimes off the beaten track. In this, they are proving even more demanding than buyers of primary homes, many of whom now want jogging trails in their developments.

Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland has everything that this article mentions and more - starting with the the Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center,  run by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.   The Discovery Center is an "interpretive environmental center" with hands on exhibits highlighting the natural resources of Western Maryland. 

On-site naturalists, rangers and volunteers lead daily educational programs, from leisurely hikes that focus on birdwatching, tree identification and wildflowers, to more extensive educational programming that touches on such subjects as black bear management, endangered species of the Youghiogheny area, submerged aquatic vegetation, boating safety, and trail stewardship.

There are many working farms in the area and the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce has printed a brochure outlining farms that are open to the public.  Yellow Snow Dog Adventures lets visitors mingle with huskies and take snow dog rides.    Perhaps the granddaddy of all outdoor experiences will be the Adventure Sports Center International  (ASCI) complex, opening in the spring of 2007.  With its man made whitewater course, families can learn to kayak  under the eye of watchful instructors.    ASCI will include 550 acres of trails and open space for hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and more.  The Youghiogheny , Savage and Cheat rivers are all within close proximity as well and they all offer natural whitewater of varying levels.    And of course, don't forget the lake...with possibilities for sailing, kayaking, canoeing, power boating, fishing and so on. 

ASCI is part of the Deep Creek Mountain Resort development.  Dream Mountain Ranch, in nearby West Virginia, is another planned vacation community that will offer an on site naturalist, trails and activities.  If the home you purchase or rent at Deep Creek Lake is not in a planned community, however, there are many opportunities to get close to nature in this mountain resort.

 

MD Appeals Court Ruling on Rentals

The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled this week regarding a property dispute in the Stilwater Development.

The issue in this case is whether a restrictive covenant, which requires that building lots within a 59-lot subdivision along Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County,Maryland, be used for "single family residential purposes only," prohibits the owners of homes on those lots from renting their homes to residential tenants on a short-term basis. We shall hold that the restrictive covenant is unambiguous and that it does not prohibit the short-term rental to a single family of a home.

WTOP.com and Delaware Online report on the ruling. 

Most covenants at Deep Creek Lake are written so as to allow owners to rent out their properties.  Don't rely on the real estate agent to give you all of the details regarding the property. Home buyers should read and understand their covenants clearly before making a purchase. 

Welcome Autumn Glory

For those of you not familiar with Garrett County, the Autumn Glory Festival kicks off  today through Sunday.  This fall foliage festival includes two parades, one tonight and one Saturday morning, antique shows, an Oktoberfest celebration and many other festivities. 

For a complete schedule of events go to www.visitdeepcreek.com.

The man made whitewater course.

Dan Rodricks from the The Baltimore Sun writes about the man-made whitewater course being built at Deep Creek Mountain Resort as part of the Adventure Sports Center International complex.  He paints a good picture of what we can expect the course to look like and how the course will be used. You can take a look at the course for yourself on the ASCI's web cam. 

Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Amendments Approved

The Garrett County Commissioners adopted twelve of thirteen proposed Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Amendments last night reports the Cumberland Times-News. 

Welcome to The Deep Creek Blog

Our goal at the Deep Creek Blog is to provide up to date information regarding Deep Creek Lake, Maryland and the surrounding area.  This blog is a resource for frequent visitors to the area, include second home owners, as well as newcomers looking to find out what's buzzing at "the lake". 

Look at this picture - fall foliage

Look at this picture posted in the Cumberland Times-News today.  A beautiful fall scene from Garrett County. 

For Bluegrass and Country Music Lovers

You might want to check out the 39th Annual Official Maryland State Banjo and Fiddle Championship and Mandolin Contest coming up during the Autumn Glory Festival.  The Cumberland Times-News has more.

Article for outdoorsmen

The Capitol Online, from Annapolis, has a nice article for outdoorsmen in Western Maryland.