Deep Creek Lake, MD - Wisp Resort in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland’s only ski area, has expanded its summer activities with the opening of the new Flying Squirrel Canopy Tour, located above the Wisp Outdoors Adventure Park.
This new participatory guided tour is a combination of a challenge course and zip line. Phoenix Experiential Designs of Linville, N.C., was contracted to engineer and construct the guided canopy tour. Construction began on April 26, and after two months of construction, testing and training, the tour opened at the end of June.
Wisp Resort’s General Manager, Tim Prather, was among the first to try the newly constructed guided tour.
“I thought it was going to be fairly tame but, oh man, it is not! I felt like an eagle landing on a postage stamp,” said Prather.
The Flying Squirrel Canopy Tour begins with gear preparation at the Wisp Outdoors Adventure Building. Two Wisp Outdoors Adventure Guides outfit up to eight guests per tour each with a climbing harness, two safety tethers, a micro-trolley, safety helmet and gloves. The Adventure Guides then escort participants up the Bear Claw Conveyor Carpet to the practice area where guests learn how to brake, steer and zip along the cables.
The canopy tour starts with a scurry up the cargo net feature to the first platform. Once secured onto the 12 foot-high platform, a 160-foot zip transports guests to the next challenge – a Burma Bridge - where participants navigate the three-point rope bridge carefully to the next platform and prepare for the second zip over 150 feet of cable. A Plank Bridge, with a few strategically missing planks, must be crossed carefully to set up for the third zip of 180 feet to the “Eagle’s Nest” platform, at over 40 feet the highest point of the canopy tour with a view of McHenry Cove on Deep Creek Lake. Guests then face the tour’s longest zip of 400 feet across the Bear Claw Tubing Hill onto the seventh platform, known as “Mallard’s Landing,” before a final zip of 400 feet back across the tubing hill to the “Leap of Faith” platform where the only place to go is down from 30 feet back to the ground.
The new guided canopy tour costs $39 per person and reservations are recommended. The Flying Squirrel Canopy Tour is open daily during summer season from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Garrett Lakes Arts Festival (GLAF) has announced the return of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to the Wisp Resort for a fourth summer. Conductor Lawrence Loh (pictured) will also return, leading the orchestra on Friday, July 16, in a pops presentation, and on Saturday, July 17, in a classical concert. Both will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Lodge at Wisp.
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has been a vital part of the city of Pittsburgh’s heritage for more than 100 years, a spokesperson said.
“Beginning in the early 1900s, the PSO confirmed its ranking as a world-class orchestra, earning critical acclaim for its fine conductors and musicians, and its strong commitment to artistic quality and excellence,” the spokesperson said.
Loh was promoted to resident conductor of the PSO in the 2007-2008 season. An open rehearsal will be offered Saturday morning for Garrett Mentors and other children accompanied by parents or chaperones. (Persons who wish to attend this event may call the GLAF office at 301-387-3082 to reserve a seat.)
Tickets for these evening concerts are $35 for adults, $5 for students, and free for children 5 years and younger (tickets are required). Tickets may be purchased by calling the GLAF office at 301-387-3082, or through the GLAF web site, located at http://www.artsandentertainment.org/
Read the full article here.
WOW. I have seen almost every display of fireworks at Deep Creek Lake & Broadford Park for the last 25 years or so - and last night’s fireworks may have been the best ever. The grand finale was amazing. I shot a video of it (and lots of photos):
The setting is always amazing. McHenry Cove starts to fill up with boats at about 7pm or so. I arrived at Ski Harbor on my boat, guests of some clients whom I have worked with for years and from my time owning property there. You see all kinds of picnics, bonfires and party tents set up all along the shorelines of the lake; thousands of people enjoying the 4th of July and the festivities.
The water was really calm in the no-wake cove, and there were kids fishing off the docks and launching kayaks. We setup a picnic blanket and some lawn chairs and settled in for the show. The fireworks typically start at 9:30, so we had some time to kill and to enjoy the atmosphere.
My daughter Kayleah and her friend were fishing off the boat, Noah and his little buddy Wyatt were running around chasing ducks, throwing sticks and exploring the waterfront. We had packed a simple picnic basket with some snacks, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (YUM!) and birthday cake (Happy Birthday Jerry!). The food and company were great and before we knew it, the cove had filled with hundreds of boats and it was showtime…
The fireworks lasted about 30 minutes or so, and the smell of sulphur was drifting through the air. One of the most impressive things for me was the way the sound echoes through the valley and reverberates through the lake. You can hear LOUD echoes on a 1-2 second delay that ring all the way to Sky Valley (a client of mine reports that her dogs are NOT firework fans).
My son, Noah, is turning 3 next month and these are his 3rd set of fireworks he has seen from the lake, but this was by far his most interactive. He spent the first 5 or 10 minutes with his hands over his ears and then seemed to adjust well. You may be able to tell from the video, he was ‘helping’ me adjust the camera
When the fireworks were finished, we waited for the boat traffic to clear up, and the kids rode home safely in the car - it is a bit scary on the return trip on a boat with all of the traffic, etc. But, as far as I know, everyone made it home safe and happy - thrilled with the most impressive fireworks display Deep Creek Lake has seen in quite a while...thanks to Hugh Umbel for the show!!
WOW. I have seen almost every display of fireworks at Deep Creek Lake & Broadford Park for the last 25 years or so - and last night’s fireworks may have been the best ever. The grand finale was amazing. I shot a video of it (and lots of photos):
The setting is always amazing. McHenry Cove starts to fill up with boats at about 7pm or so. I arrived at Ski Harbor on my boat, guests of some clients whom I have worked with for years and from my time owning property there. You see all kinds of picnics, bonfires and party tents set up all along the shorelines of the lake; thousands of people enjoying the 4th of July and the festivities.
The water was really calm in the no-wake cove, and there were kids fishing off the docks and launching kayaks. We setup a picnic blanket and some lawn chairs and settled in for the show. The fireworks typically start at 9:30, so we had some time to kill and to enjoy the atmosphere.
My daughter Kayleah and her friend were fishing off the boat, Noah and his little buddy Wyatt were running around chasing ducks, throwing sticks and exploring the waterfront. We had packed a simple picnic basket with some snacks, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (YUM!) and birthday cake (Happy Birthday Jerry!). The food and company were great and before we knew it, the cove had filled with hundreds of boats and it was showtime…
The fireworks lasted about 30 minutes or so, and the smell of sulphur was drifting through the air. One of the most impressive things for me was the way the sound echoes through the valley and reverberates through the lake. You can hear LOUD echoes on a 1-2 second delay that ring all the way to Sky Valley (a client of mine reports that her dogs are NOT firework fans).
My son, Noah, is turning 3 next month and these were his 3rd set of fireworks he has seen from the lake, but this was by far his most interactive. He spent the first 5 or 10 minutes with his hands over his ears and then seemed to adjust well. You may be able to tell from the video, he was ‘helping’ me adjust the camera
When the fireworks were finished, we waited for the boat traffic to clear up, and the kids rode home safely in the car - it is a bit scary on the return trip on a boat with all of the traffic, etc. But, as far as I know, everyone made it home safe and happy - thrilled with the most impressive fireworks display Deep Creek Lake has seen in quite a while...thanks to Hugh Umbel for the show!!
I was asked to pass this along re: the Lodestone Golf Course & the trial use benefit package. The plan is to keep it private long term, so this is a great way for the public to play it now. Check it out!
Lodestone Golf Course at Wisp Resort - Deep Creek Lake
Second homes: Live along some famed fairways
Updated 5/14/2010 10:59 AM
By Larry Olmsted Special for USA TODAY
When W.G. Tarrant purchased nearly 1,000 acres outside London in 1911, he changed real estate history. His invention? What claims to be the first golf community, St. George’s Hill, with a course by designer Harry Colt. It was immediately successful — and still is, with houses running about $5 million. By using golf to sell residences, Tarrant let a genie out of the bottle.
A century later, there are thousands of residential courses. In China, they can’t be built fast enough. Mission Hills near Hong Kong has 12 courses and thousands of members. Second-home golf communities are around the globe, but the majority of North American buyers looking beyond the Caribbean and Mexico choose Western Europe.
The biggest appeal is high-quality golf.
“For decades, the U.S. residential golf market has followed a model of name-brand designers commanding higher prices, and now that model is being marketed abroad,” says Michael Patrick Shiels, author of Secrets of the Great Golf Course Architects.
Wisp New Canopy Tour and Zip Line - Facebook Photos
Wisp Resort is adding to its Adventure Park - with a new Canopy Tour & zipline attraction that I blogged about last month when Karen Myers came to tell us about their newest attractions and summer plans. Here are some photos from their Facebook page:
Cost of the event is $25 per person and will entitle each guest
10 tickets to “spend” on food at vendors of their choice.
Cost for children age 12 and under will be $15 (also for 10 tickets).
Additional food tickets will also be available for sale at the event.
There will be no pre-sales of tickets this year. A cash bar will be available
and DJ Jonny Rock will provide entertainment.
The last of the snow has melted at Wisp Ski Resort Deep Creek Lake
Every year, there is a large patch of brown, muddy snow that is the leftover of the largest whaleback on the mountain. This year was no different. My friend Larry Smith @ Railey Realty informed me today that the snow at Wisp has finally melted! He tells me that he has been watching out his office window for the last few days and today was the day it finally melted. 76 and sunny will do it, that’s for sure.
Colin Lynch is headed to the USA Snowboarding National Championships
Colin Lynch, a freshman honors student at Southern High School, is headed to the USA Snowboarding National Championships at Copper Mountain, Colo., April 1-10. With nearly 2,000 competitors, the championship is the largest snowboarding and freeskiing competition in the world. Every U.S. Olympic Team athlete got a start in the United States Snowboarding Association (USASA).
Lynch is currently ranked fourth overall in the nation in his age group (the largest age group in the competition). Additionally, he is one of only six youths who have qualified for and been invited to compete in all five disciplines: giant slalom, slalom, boardercross, slopestyle, and halfpipe. To qualify, Lynch competed in 20 events during the regular season in Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia. This is his third appearance at the national competition, but the first time he has been invited to compete in all five events.
Lynch is a member of the Deep Creek Winter Sports Team and competes in the Appalachian region of USASA. He is sponsored locally by High Mountain Sports. His national sponsors are Nitro Snowboards and Bern Helmets. At Southern, Lynch is also a member of the boys’ soccer team and the boys’ track team.
Wisp, Bear Creek All Set For Warm Weather Recreation
OntheSnow.com talks about the Wisp & the warmer weather activities available:
Mar 29, 2010 Mary Jo Tarallo, Associate Editor
Fly fishing is among many summer recreations at Wisp and Bear Creek.
At A Glance
Where: Wisp Resort;
Info: More Information
Wisp Resort in Western Maryland and Bear Creek in Pennsylvania are two mid-Atlantic resorts that have a strong line-up during the summer months.
The man-made white water facility at the top of Wisp is unique in the region. Beginners and experienced paddlers can enjoy white water rafting and kayaking on the re-circulating water course. The venue hosts the Open Canoe Slalom Nationals and North American Championships will take place Aug. 6 - 8.
The Adventure Sports Center International runs the water facility. The group also offers rock climbing, bouldering, mountain biking, hiking, and geo-caching on a 550 - acre forested reserve.
The Wisp Resort features a championship 18-hole golf course, fly fishing, paintball, disc golf, and boating on nearby Deep Creek Lake.
Lodestone Golf Course Wisp Resort - Deer teeing off
I doubt these guys had memberships, but they were on the course anyway today. Soon, the Hale Irwin designed private golf course will be playable, but these deer were checking out the tee box on #8 when I drove by today:
All down hill from here - Special Olympics 2010 Winter Games Wisp
From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News
times news — Chad Stallman, Garrett County resident, competes in the Advanced Giant Slalom race at the Special Olympics Maryland 2010 Winter Games at Wisp Monday. The games will end today.
DEEP CREEK LAKE — Wisp Resort continues to expand its winter amenities to go beyond skiing and snowboarding. This winter an ice skating rink will be installed near the Bear Claw Snow Tubing Park to offer guests another family-friendly activity.
The 50- by 85-foot oval rink will operate by running cooling pipes under a floor that are powered by a 100-ton chiller to keep approximately two to three inches of water frozen. A mini-Zamboni® ice resurfacing machine will groom the surface daily for skaters. The Zamboni® was named after its inventor Frank J. Zamboni in California in 1953.
The ice skating rink at Wisp will feature benches for rest, hanging twinkle lights, a nearby bonfire area and warm beverages. It will be the only ice rink in Garrett County and has a tentative opening date of Dec. 19.
The rink will operate in conjunction with the Bear Claw Snow Tubing Park and Mountain Coaster hours of operation.
Regional Resorts Collaborate for Season Pass Holders
Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands ski resorts Seven Springs Mountain Resort and Hidden Valley Resort with Maryland’s Wisp Resort are proud to announce an exciting new offering that will provide each resort’s Unlimited Season Passholders more value, more options, and more reason to experience great Mid-Atlantic skiing for the 2009/2010 ski season.
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