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State parks ban on alcohol hurting tourism? – Baltimore Sun blog

Baltimore Sun Photo of Deep Creek State Park

Tourism officials in Allegany County, home of Dans Mountain and Rocky Gap state parks, are saying that Maryland’s recent ban on alcohol at state parks could be keeping tourists away from the area. As of last November, “the consumption, or possession of an open container, of an alcoholic beverage is prohibited” in all state park areas, including campgrounds. Ouch. Full-service cabins are exempt as are motor homes. However, park-goers can apply for a $35 alcohol permit from the park manager for special events. So, that’s that. And I’m guessing that could put a little damper on day trips to the park. Still, I can legally drink a beer at Assateague Island National Seashore, a national park, but if I go next door to the state park area, I’ll be in trouble. Hmmm. That’s…troubling.

Read the rest here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Pets in parks – Deep Creek Lake, New Germany State Park

They’ll now be welcome in more places
Cumberland Times-News

— You might not be able to drink a beer or something stronger in Maryland’s state parks and forests, but beginning today you will be able to take your pets for a visit to the outdoors.

Maryland’s Park Service has revised its pet policy for visitors at parks that include Dan’s Mountain, Deep Creek Lake and New Germany.

With the exception of swimming beaches, they already were allowed in most areas of Rocky Gap, Big Run, Swallow Falls and Casselman River Bridge state parks.

The changes involve:

• Dan’s Mountain — Pets allowed with exception of weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

• Deep Creek Lake — Pets allowed in boat ramp area to board vessels; in Discovery Center parking areas to access trails; to swim from shoreline in all areas except swimming beach, docks or fishing piers. From Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend, pets allowed in day-use areas and lake except for swimming beach.

• New Germany — Pets allowed in Pines camp loop and on trails except during ski season. From Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend, pets allowed in day-use areas and lake except for swimming beach.

The changes came about because of comments the park service began accepting from the public last October.

We sometimes believe that of our government and its agencies aren’t responsive to our wishes, but here’s an example that they do listen to us now and then.

For more information, log on to http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pets2.asp

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

State’s decision to ban booze comes as surprise

March 24, 2010

State’s decision to ban booze comes as surprise
Michael A. Sawyers
Cumberland Times-News

— CUMBERLAND — Local alcoholic beverage officials, merchants and recreationists agree that they had no idea the Maryland Department of Natural Resources had banned the possession and consumption of beer, wine and liquor in state forests until they read about it in Wednesday’s Times-News.

Maryland State Forester Steve Koehn said Tuesday that the policy was adopted because rowdy imbibers at times had ruined the camping experiences for others.

“We realize that some people will be annoyed with this regulation, but we believe that the greater good is being served,” Koehn said.

Contacted again on Wednesday, Koehn said his agency has ongoing authority to restrict alcohol use, thus a public hearing process was not needed for that action.

“We are informing people about the ban on a one-by-one basis when they call in to reserve a campsite,” Koehn said. “For those who use a self reservation system at the forest, we have posted signs at the camping pads.”

Koehn said information about the ban may also be put on the DNR Web site.

A similar ban has been in effect at state parks since last year and one is being drafted for wildlife management areas.

John Stakem, owner of Broadway Liquors in Frostburg and the president of the Allegany County Liquor Dealers Association, said Wednesday that the forest ban was news to him.

“I live in Frostburg and I know that 3 percent of the university students cause problems and 97 percent of the kids are good. It isn’t a 100-percent perfect world. Why regulate the people who do things the right way?” he said.

Stakem, who often attends Maryland General Assembly sessions in Annapolis to represent the alcoholic beverage industry, said he will study the new ban before deciding about any action he may take.

John Boal, sales manager for Western Maryland Distributing Co., said the forest service ban is likely to have a widespread local impact.

“We have four stores we distribute to near Green Ridge State Forest, including Bill’s Place,” Boal said. “This ban will hurt those stores and in turn hurt our business. That means it will hurt our drivers and sales representatives, all local people who spend their money locally.”

Bill’s Place owner Bill Schoenadel said the ban will ruin business at his Little Orleans establishment, tucked between the Potomac River and Green Ridge State Forest. Schoenadel operates a tavern there and sells take-out beer.

Schoenadel contends that there is nothing wrong with hunters or anglers drinking beer at their public campsites at the end of a day of recreation, something that has recently become illegal.

Sen. George Edwards said Wednesday from Annapolis that he considers the alcohol ban to be a major change.

“You would think with a big change in policy that the DNR would call some kind of public gathering and say ‘hey, this is what we’re doing and this is why we’re doing it,’ ” Edwards said. “At least people would have been on notice instead of learning about it after the fact. I didn’t know about it until now. If they want to be a transparent agency, this would have been a good opportunity for them to show it.

“I haven’t heard anything from the state forest people up home about this being a big problem. I guess now if you want to have a family picnic on the state grounds and you have a certain kind of cold drink you are breaking the law,” Edwards said.

Sid Turner, who owns Chestnut Ridge Liquor Store at Grantsville, said Wednesday that he showed the newspaper article to numerous customers.

“I got the same reaction from everybody,” Turner said. “They said ‘that’s (expletive deleted).’ ”

Turner said that the ban on alcohol at New Germany and Big Run state parks has already cut into his sales and he expects the ban at nearby Savage River State Forest to further decrease business.

Turner is also the vice president of the Citizens Rights and Heritage Group, a formalized organization that acts as a watchdog of state government actions that affect Garrett County.

“We will be bringing this up at our next meeting,” Turner said.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350