What’s New Around Town

Fantasy Valley Golf Course at Wisp Resort is now open for the season! The course offers challenging play with narrow fairways, strategic bunkers, and water hazards that require precision shots. The stunning views of the surrounding mountains and nature make it a truly unforgettable experience.

Last March 17, Wildom Farm’s Farm Store had its grand opening, and the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce organized a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the occasion. You can read the complete article by following this link.

The 2023 swim season is just around the corner! Here are some dates to mark on your calendar:

• Tryouts for new swimmers (returning swimmers do not need to try out) will be held on Friday, April 21, at 5:00 PM at the CARC. We will also have a parent meeting where registration forms + fees for new and returning swimmers will be collected.
• The first day of practice will be on Monday, April 24 at 4:30 PM at the CARC!

MoonShadow Cafè is a new coffee shop in town!

One new addition to Chestnut Ridge Park is striving to make people have a ‘tubular’ time. The Tubing Hill at Chestnut Ridge Park is hoping to provide an affordable, family-friendly, and fun experience. It is only $10 to rent a tube for each session, which runs Fridays through Sundays. Sessions run from 10:00 AM through 12:00 NN or 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The hill is also wheelchair accessible.

Espresso Alley is Deep Creek Lake’s FIRST DRIVE-THRU COFFEE SHOP! It’s at the intersection of Route 219 and Route 42 and open on weekdays from 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM and on weekends from 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM. You can order online, too!

Aaron and James Mullenax purchased Fox’s Pizza Den in Oakland, MD. Fox’s makes the freshest, most delicious pizza, specialty hoagies, and mouth-watering sides every day for customers. The menu will remain the same full of the favorites you know and love!

Morty would like to announce that the Discovery Center hours have changed. The Center will now be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

The Aviary is outdoors and opens every day.

The DCT link to Western Maryland Road Condition cameras was down for a few days but now they’re back! Check them out here: Garrett County State Highway Webcams

The Sewing Box Quilt Shop is now owned and operated by my friend April Hershberger. Congratulations to April and we look forward to seeing the new shop just across the Maryland border in Meyersdale, PA.

Mountain Maryland Mamas is a monthly podcast from two working Moms living in Western Maryland. Tune in for hot takes on the latest events, exciting happenings, insider tips, and adventures from Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County, Maryland.

The Mountain Magic Candle Company, located in the Appalachian region of Western Maryland, is dedicated to creating products featuring delicate and alluring scents. As the business grows, they take pride in maintaining its commitment to using organic soy, toxin-free wicks, and clean-burning fragrances. The company believes that what is good for customers must also be good for the environment.

Women Association of Mountain Maryland‘s mission is the professional, civic, social, and economic advancement of women through community.

A message from the owners:

January 23, 2023: “We regret to inform you that we have decided to close down our business. The decision to close down was not an easy one & we enjoyed the relationships with our customers over the last 46 years. We would like to thank all of our customers that we have done business with over the years. Loch Lynn Restaurant could not have been as successful as it was without your loyalty.Sincerely, Sheila & Bridgette”

As a 12-month, Level 2 residential recovery program, Reflection House provides addiction counseling services and linkages to health and behavioral health services to women with substance use disorder in Western Maryland.

• Four (4) complimentary lift tickets for the 2022-23 season (blackout dates apply)
• 50% off additional day tickets for passholders
• 25% off day tickets for accompanying guests of passholders
• 15% off lodging and Waterpark Vacation packages (restrictions apply)

A grand opening for the new Performing Arts Center at Garrett College has been scheduled for December 3^rd at 9:00 AM.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced the dedication of 219 to retiring Senator George C Edwards.

JTF is excited to share some big news with all its fans. This winter, JTF and The Town of Grantsville, Md will be bringing ice skating back to Western Maryland.

Check out the new Zine Zone at the Ruth Enlow Main Library – if you’re interested in self-publishing something to share with the community, feel free to add it here or take one of somebody else’s – support Garrett County’s indie author scene!

ALL Produce and Gelato Co.… that’s right ALL Produce is getting into the frozen dessert business!! What’s Gelato you might ask? It’s Italian ice cream with less fat and less air (overrun) than American-style ice cream. The result is a richer, more dense frozen dessert packed with flavor!! Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 8th at the Mountain Fresh Farmers Markets to get the first taste and take some home!!

Appalachian Crossroads has its new location at the Oakland Community Center (14 N 8th St., Oakland, MD 21550).

The Deep Creek Lake Lions is pleased to announce the formal opening of a new public disc golf course at the McHenry Community Park on BumbleBee Rd. The Glades at Meshach Run is a 9 hole, free-to-play disc golf course. Disc golf is similar to conventional golf, with throwing discs taking the place of balls and raised metal baskets taking the place of holes. The idea for the course began with Ryan Harlow and other local disc golf enthusiasts, who pitched the idea to the club as a fairly low-cost and maintenance new feature at the McHenry Community Park. The Club voted to fund the material side of the project, with the local group of disc golfers volunteering to build it. The Club and volunteer group also solicited sponsorships of $500 per hole in order to add high-quality tee pads to each hole.

Construction began on May 14th, and the volunteers were able to clear the tee pad areas and install all of the baskets. The course had a “soft opening” the next week, and over the course of the next 2 months, artificial turf tee pads were installed at each hole, and fairways were cleared and expanded during several more volunteer build days.

“The course has already been a big hit,” said project coordinator Chris Nichols,” even just by word-of-mouth and some social media postings, we are getting over 50 users during peak days. We’re delighted to see the public getting out and getting active at our park.”

The course has been a testing ground for use by the visually impaired, another of the Club’s primary service areas. Using a set of simple beepers activated by a remote, the Club has enabled the visually impaired to play a few of the holes of the course. The beepers are placed on both the target and a disc. The thrower activates the beeper on the target, allowing them to aim their throw. Once they have thrown the disc, another button on the remote activates a beeper on the disc, which allows the thrower to find it. The concept was successfully tested during the Club’s Blind Camper program this summer. The Club is investigating improving the system by adding a phone-based app and a pitch-changing beeper which allows the thrower to “see” the trajectory of their throw.

Volunteers who helped in the construction of the course included Ryan Harlow, Chrystal Stroud, Keith Raynor, Erika Raynor, Ethan Barney, Nichol Raynor, Samurai Scofield, Claudia Rieve, Derek Miller, Garrett Miller, Harrison Gold, Eric Gold, Pat Hamlin, and Paul Burkart.
Lions Club Members Chris Nichols, Mike O’Brien, and Jeff Pringle. Sponsors of the holes are the Family of Robert W Smith in his memory, the Allegany County Disc Golf Club, First Choice Barns, K&S Moulding, the Potensky Family, Keyer’s Ridge Self Storage, Zac Bietzel, and Jay Quiin – Real Estate Sales Agent, with a special acknowledgment to Ryan’s Disc Golf Stop.

The Club will be holding the Grand Opening of The Glades at Meshach Run Disc Golf Course on Wednesday, August 17th at 6 pm. An en-mass disc throw is planned to officially open the course to be captured by a drone video. Participants will be entered for door prizes, including Lions Club swag bags, Garrett County adventure maps, and discs.

The Club hopes to expand from 9 holes to 18 holes in the near future. We are looking for more sponsors to complete the additional 9 holes.

The Deep Creek lake Lions Club was chartered in 1972, and its mission is “To serve the community and visually impaired with a special emphasis on outdoor recreation” In addition to operating the McHenry Community Park, the Club holds the Blind Skier and Camper Programs in support of this mission. The Club will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Blind Skier program with a gala dinner on Feb 7, 2023. For more information on the Club, including how to donate, become a member, sponsor a disc golf hole or support a fundraiser, visit deepcreeklions.org or email DCLLIONS@gmail.com or call/txt 323 325-5466

During the Club’s Blind Camper program this year, Meredith, one of the visually impaired children, was able to play a hole of disc golf using the Club’s remote-and-beeper system. She was able to make the basket in two throws.

During one of the build days, volunteers clear and level the area for the tee pad box, which will then be filled with stone dust and covered with artificial turf.

Crews were able to complete the step of replacing the field lights on the Northern Garrett High School (NGHS) football field this past week. The lights were turned on for the first time Thursday, August 11, around 9:30 p.m. The lighting project upgrades the previous lighting on the field while being more energy efficient. The completion of the installation allows for the continuation of games as scheduled for the upcoming Fall ’22 season. This phase of the athletic field transition leaves the replacement of the fencing remaining to complete the project.

Additional photos are available in the full story on our website.

Let there be light! The much-anticipated step of installing lights on the Southern Garrett High School (SGHS) football field has been completed. Crews began setting up the light poles on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, culminating with the lights being turned on for the first time on Wednesday, July 27, at 9:30 PM. The lighting project is a critical piece needed to allow games to resume a regular schedule for the upcoming Fall ‘22 season. This phase of the athletic field transition leaves the fieldhouse and visitor bleachers remaining to complete the project.