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Thirteen years of art and wine: The history of the Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival

MCHENRY — The 13th annual Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Garrett County Fairgrounds in McHenry. Proceeds will benefit HART for Animals and the Garrett Lakes Arts Festival (GLAF)

The fundraiser began 13 years ago when the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce’s newly formed Marketing Roundtable was given the task of developing an attraction that would increase county visitation, sales, and accommodations after Labor Day, according to HART executive director Paula Yudelevit, festival co-founder.

“After debating several possibilities, the committee began researching wine festivals as a vehicle to achieve our mission of putting ‘heads on beds,’” she said. “Because of the success of these events in other regions, the Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival was born.”

Roundtable members knew that numerous volunteers and many resources would be needed in order to bring the concept to fruition, so they solicited nonprofit organizations to be the event’s beneficiary and provide support where needed.

The Marketing Roundtable then organized a second committee for the specific purpose of managing and coordinating the festival.

“In its first two years, the chamber was instrumental in providing monetary and marketing support to the event,” Yudelevit said. “After the second year, the committee became self-supporting by retaining a small amount of the profits before presenting the beneficiary with their donation.”

She noted, however, that the first year was challenging. The location of the festival was originally planned to be held at Fantasy Valley restaurant, leased at the time by Ruth and Wendell Beitzel.

“After submitting our application for the one wine festival license granted each year in Garrett County, a group of us from the committee went to the liquor board hearing at the county courthouse, ready to receive the license,” Yudelevit said. “We anticipated a 30 minute conversation at the maximum. It turned out to be almost two hours.”

What the festival committee members did not know was that, while the applicant must have a liquor license, the actual event cannot be held on his or her property.

“After months of planning, and with the advertising materials ready to print, the committee stood outside the courthouse to find a new venue,” Yudelevit said. “I remember one of our members calling a person on the fair board to see if the fairground was available. It was. The next question was if the festival could serve and sell alcohol. Fortunately, that was a ‘yes,’ too.”

With a committee of business leaders and a group of volunteers, the Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival gates opened as scheduled in September 2005.

“We had hoped for 500 people the first year,” said Vianne Bell, festival co-founder. “We ended up with 800. There was so much we didn’t anticipate or even think of. Wine buckets had to be emptied, water pitchers constantly refilled, crackers replenished. We had to leave the event to buy more crackers, and beg for ice from Wisp Resort and Burger King.”

The wine is now sold during the festival at a “wine store,” conveniently located in the Ag Heritage Hall. The first year, however, the wine was sold out of the window of the fair board’s original office.

“We had wine stacked around us, with a cash box and an old-fashioned credit card machine,” Bell said. “Paula and I swore we wouldn’t do it again.”

However, the event netted $11,000 and was such a success that Bell signed on for another nine years. Yudelevit still co-chairs the event, along with Mary Callis, executive director of GLAF.

“For the first eight years, the beneficiary of the festival was a national nonprofit organization,” Callis said. “In its ninth year, the committee opted to change the beneficiary due to a major reorganization of the original charity.”

When the opportunity came along, HART and GLAF submitted a joint proposal to become the beneficiaries.

“As two local nonprofits, the proceeds now stay in the county,” Callis said. “We also have booths available for five or six local nonprofits so they too have the opportunity to benefit from the large crowds.”

Over the past four years, the festival has raised more than $200,000 for HART and GLAF, according to Callis.

The Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival has come a long way in the last 12 years. According to Yudelevit, it is one of the top events in the county. Approximately 2,800 people come each year to taste over 200 regional, national, and international wines, peruse the 40-plus artisan booths, listen to live entertainment, purchase wines to take home, bid on silent auction items, and have a fun time with friends.

“More people mean more volunteers,” said Judy Carbone, volunteer chair. “In addition to Garrett College’s 80-plus athletes, we have about 70 guest pourers and another 50 or so at the front gate, as cashiers, and general helpers.”

“The festival could not be successful without an amazing committee,” Yudelevit said.

Callis concurred.

“These volunteers put hundreds of hours into this event; a few have worked on this since its inception,” she said.

In addition to co-chairs Yudelevit and Callis, the 2017 festival committee members are Sam Housley, Andy McKenzie, Michael Pellet, Ken Carbone, Judy Carbone, Ken Korando, Betty Ellington, Erin Croake, Tom Hertz, Lori Zagola, Sue Arnson, Jimmy Flanigan, Joe Refosco, Lilian Steele, and Debbie Archer.

“A few changes have occurred over the years, keeping the festival fun and appealing to the wine lovers,” Yudelevit said.

For example, a “Premium Wine” area was added several years ago to accommodate those looking for high-end varieties. The wine tasting glasses have taken a “colorful twist,” she added, with the stem color changing year-to-year, making them a “must-have” collectible.

The Friday night wine pairing dinners at local restaurants have also evolved to include winery representatives introducing wines paired with specially prepared dinner courses.

Tickets for this year’s festival are $35 each for adults age 21 and older. Those who purchase advance tickets online (http://www.deepcreekwinefest.com) will receive $5 off each ticket. A ticket includes the entry fee, a commemorative wine glass, and unlimited wine tasting. An admittance-only ticket is $12, and children 12 and under are admitted for free. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more. Persons can call 866-635-3560 for prices.

Festival lodging packages are available at participating resort rental agencies, including Taylor Made Vacation Rentals, Coldwell Banker Resort Rentals, and Railey Mountain Lake Vacations.

This year’s festival is sponsored, in part, by numerous area businesses, including the McHenry Beverage Shop, Taylor Made Vacations and Real Estate, BB&T, Taco Bell, Arrowhead Deli, the Mountain State Brewing Company, Vacation Surfing, Railey Mountain Lake Vacations, Shop ‘n Save, Schoolhouse Earth, First United Bank & Trust, RBC Wealth Management, Pepsi Cola, American Metro, Little Mountain Promotions, DeepCreekTimes.com, NuWay Interiors, Piet and Rosie Versteegen, the Lake-Front Magazine, and Archie’s Barbeque.

Staff writer Renée Shreve can be reached at 301-501-8394 or by email at rshreve@therepublicannews.com.

For more infromation click here.

Maryland Heritage Area Grants to Boost Cultural Heritage Tourism in Garrett County: Projects Receive Funds from Maryland Historical Trust Heritage Program

Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA), a state heritage organization, awarded 50 matching grants totaling nearly $2.7 million to Maryland nonprofit organizations, local jurisdictions and tourism groups. The grants fund historic preservation, natural resource protection and educational programs in 13 state-designated Heritage Areas. By supporting capital projects and educational activities, the grants spawn renewed interest in Maryland culture from residents and visitors, boosting tourism-related jobs.
Three grant applications submitted by The Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area received funds. Jen Durben, Heritage Area & Groups Director said, “We had diverse applications from throughout our heritage area this year and we are excited to have three projects awarded in another round of very tough competition. More than 100 applications were submitted totaling over $5.6 million in requested funds. Garrett County received a total of $195,000 of the $2.7 million awarded. These grants will allow the recipients to create new resources and expand awareness of heritage here in Garrett County.”

Garrett County Chamber of Commerce is the official Management Entity for the Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area and provides the 1 to 1 match for the Management Grant. The Garrett County Heritage Area & Groups Director administers the Heritage Area Program and works with stakeholders by offering technical and grant assistance for heritage related initiatives that preserve valuable heritage resources and enhance tourism in the County.

Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area projects funded were:
· Highland Festival of Garrett County, Maryland, Inc. (Garrett County Celtic Festival) ($5,000) – PILOT Chautauqua Event: Celtic Roots
· Mayor and Town Council of Oakland, Maryland ($90,000) – Pedestrian Gateway
· Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area ($100,000) – Management Grant for management services of the certified heritage area with a goal to promote heritage tourism.

The Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area is a program of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce which supports heritage tourism in Garrett County through technical assistance and grant opportunities with a focus on heritage related initiatives that preserve valuable heritage resources and enhance tourism in the County. As a state certified heritage area, effort is made to create public and private partnerships to preserve historical, cultural and natural resources focusing on under-utilized resources fostering a greater sense of community pride.

The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce is the largest professional business association in the region with 600 members representing every industry in the community. The mission of the Chamber is to organize, support and represent Garrett County’s business community in advancing common interests and additionally to promote Garrett County’s hospitality and recreation industry by attracting visitors to the county through comprehensive marketing. The Garrett County Chamber also serves as the Destination Marketing Organization and Heritage Area Management entity for the County.

For more information click here 

Smiley’s Fun Zone

Looking for a great place to take the kids on your Deep Creek Lake vacation? Check out Smiley’s Fun Zone in McHenry, Maryland!

Not only do they have a bar and grill but they also have a whole area to entertain you and your kids!

From batting cages to go-karts to laser tag to bowling, Smiley’s has something to do- rain or shine!

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For more information, click on the photo or call (301) 387-0059.

10 Things To Do in the Summer at Deep Creek Lake

1. Ride the Mountain Coaster at the Wisp! Consisting of a 1,300 foot uphill track, the coaster allows one to experience the panoramic views of Western Maryland while having the time of their life!

2. Spend the evenings at Smiley’s Fun Zone playing mini golf, laser tag, goat carting and more!

3. Kick off your vacation with a drink at the iconic Honi Honi Bar! Located right next to Uno’s, the Honi Honi is the perfect place to grab a crisp, cold beer and watch your kids play on the back lawn. The pirate ship playground and the large gray elephant statue located in the back yard have become a Deep Creek favorite!

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4. Grab an ice cream from the Lakeside Creamery. Located along Garrett Highway (right next to the lake), it’s easy to get to and delicious!

5. Spend an afternoon checking out Adventure Sports Center International. They offer an artificial whitewater rafting course that spans over 1/3 mile. This course offers I-IV whitewater rafting in a controlled environment. If you’ve mastered the artificial course, you may be ready for Garrett County’s own whitewater course: the Upper Yough (Class IV-V). ASCI also offers guided hikes and geocaching.

6. Go hiking at Swallow Falls. Who said Deep Creek Lake is the only attraction in Garrett County? Located near Oakland, Swallow Falls is a beautiful state park with bubbling falls. It is perfect for a morning hike or afternoon picnic.

7. Enjoy live music and a yummy meal at Black Bear Tavern! Located in McHenry, the restaurant and bar have become a local favorite.

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8. Do some shopping! Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County offer a very unique shopping experience. From Schoolhouse Earth to Sacred Ground South West Jewelry to Englander’s Antique Mall, our local residents provide you with unique pieces to take home or to decorate your lake house.

9. Head over to Mountain State Brewing Company for a locally brewed beer and a slice of Fire on the Mountain pizza!

10. Finally, RELAX! Deep Creek Lake is all about letting go and having a great time. You can do a million different things but the most important is to enjoy where you are and live easy!

 

 

Deep Creek Lake at it’s best: Some of our favorite pictures!

In honor of Deep Creek Lake’s 91st Birthday, here are some of our favorite photos of our beloved lake!

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If these photos convinced you that you need some relaxation and Deep Creek Lake in your life, click here to set up a vacation!

 

 

 

6 Things You Might Not Have Known About Deep Creek Lake & Garrett County

Garrett County, Maryland has a rich history far past Deep Creek Lake.

Here are 6 facts you might have not known about Garrett County!

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  1. Even before Deep Creek Lake, the county has been a tourist destination. Towns like Deer Park, Mountain Lake Park, and Loch Lynn Heights were popular resort towns in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s. In fact, President Grover Cleveland honeymooned in Deer Park in 1886.

  2. Garrett County was originally part of Allegany County, Maryland. It was not until 83 years later, in 1872, that it chartered as a new, separate county.  It was also the last county to form in the state of Maryland.

  3. Garrett County is the second largest county in the state of Maryland. It has 662 square miles of beautiful, mountainous landscape.

  4. There are a total of 7 lakes in the county: Deep Creek Lake, Broadford Lake, Youghiogheny River Lake, Jennings Randolph Lake, Herrington Manor Lake, Savage River Reservoir, and New Germany Lake.

  5. The highest point in the state of Maryland is right here in Garrett County. The point is on Backbone Mountain, 3,360 feet above sea level.

  6. Deep Creek Lake is the largest inland body of water in the whole state! The lake covers over 3,900 acres and has 65 miles of shoreline.

Spruce Forest Artisan Village Family Day

Spruce Forest Artisan Village, located in Grantsville, Maryland near Casselman River Bridge State Park, is inviting anyone and everyone to Family Day! On June 11, the village will be filled with fun, crafts, and hands-on-experience for your family.

Not only will local artisan vendors be set up but the event offers free admission to everyone!

spruce village family day

Show up and learn a little more about the interesting history of Garrett County, Maryland!
Click on the flyer for more information.

 

 

Deep Creek Lake State Park

Spanning over 1,800 acres near McHenry, Maryland is Deep Creek Lake State Park. Located on the east side of the lake, Deep Creek Lake State Park offers one mile of shoreline for swimmers and water enthusiasts. Deep Creek Lake State Park offers fun for all four seasons. In the summer, this is a perfect place to swim at the lake. In the spring and fall, there is no better place to talk a walk in the woods. In the winter, these walking paths are perfect for some snowmobile fun. The possibilities are endless!

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For more information, click here

or call 301-387-5563.

 

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Deep Creek Lake Named 1 of the 11 Great Places to Rent a Summer Lake House

TripAdvisor released a list of the 11 greatest places to rent a summer lake house and guess what???

Deep Creek Lake was the first one listed!

Check out the article here.

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To rent your summer lake house, click here.

One of Deep Creek Lake’s Favorite Tourists: Albert Einstein

In September of 1946, Deep Creek Lake received a very special visitor:

Albert Einstein.

At this point in time, Einstein had created the basis for the atomic bomb (that he did not want to be used to hurt anyone) and the bombs had landed in Japan. He was quoted as saying, “The war was won but peace was not.” In such a hard time in his life, where did Einstein choose to find that peace?

That’s right, Deep Creek Lake.

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Einstein stayed with a local doctor who was treating him- Dr. Tom Wilson. Throughout his two week vacation, the famous scientist was seen walking his dog, fishing, bird watching, and sailing. With such a heavy heart and mind, Einstein was able to acquire some comfort here at Deep Creek.

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A man, Blair Thompson, was hired to assist Einstein during his vacation. Einstein gave the man an envelope with $50 inside and his signature in the corner. Thompson planned on keeping the envelope as a heirloom but unfortunately he lost it and it was never found.

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For more information about Einstein’s trip to Deep Creek Lake, please click  here.

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