Bob Holcomb - Deep Creek Lake Blog

Deep Creek Lake Cardboard Box Derby

Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite Realtor

With just under a month left to ski at Wisp Ski Resort, the Cardboard Box Derby is on everyone’s radar this coming weekend. I have been in attendance the last two years and I have been in awe of the creative design and the speed of the entries. I have seen fire engines, ambulances, motorcycles, bi-planes, and even the Flintstones car straight out of Bedrock. The fun really starts when the contestants saddle up on their cardboard, duct tape, and string creations. This year, Long and Foster Manager Bob Carney and I are trying to build an aero-dynamic speed demon to dominate the speed category. Win or lose, everyone competing or spectating understands that we are doing this to raise money for the Deep Creek Lake Lions Club Blind Skiers Program.

Deep Creek Lake Cardboard Box Derby — Cardboard Box Derby

There are three categories by which the entries will be judged: 1.) Design, 2.) Speed, 3.) Judges Choice. The fun starts at 1:00PM at the Bear Claw Tubing Park on Saturday March 20^th. Bring your family and friends and come experience a fun afternoon watching cardboard creations wrapped with miles of duct tape taking center stage for this gratifying cause. If you are interested in participating you still have time.

Here are the rules:

1. Boxes may be constructed only of cardboard, tape and string.
2. Decorations, painting and flags are permitted and encouraged.
3. Push-off at Start by non-rider is permitted.
4. No limit on number of passengers or size of box.
5. Participants are asked to remove boxes/remnants at finish of race.
6. Each entry will run individually against the clock.

Deep Creek Lake Springtime

Deep Creek Lake Springtime

There is something thing to be said for the changing of the seasons and the anticipation and excitement of things to come. After a fulfilling winter of activities there is an eagerness for spring to arrive so we can hear the birds chirping on a warm sunny morning, or to once again witness the familiar smells of the flowers and grass after months of snow on the ground. Then as we transition toward summer and the lake comes alive with activities and my mind becomes fixated on simple pleasures like summer tomatoes, Maryland blue crabs, or fresh silver queen corn. Each season has some familiar thing that pleasures one of your senses and the anticipation makes it all the more satisfying.

The last five days here in Deep Creek Lake we have seen crisp sunny blue skies and a slight rise in temperatures signaling the approach of brilliant springtime. As the snow levels subside and the streets and back wood paths begin to thaw, you can feel the energy level pulsing throughout the community. How exhilarating after a cold snowy winter it is to go for a jog, or take you dog for a walk or in warm sunshine. I have always believed that if you love and appreciate something in life you must let it go sometimes to see if it returns to you another day. My love for wintertime has always returned year-after-year. And I spend the rest of the time enjoying all the other seasons and the thrill of what they have to offer.

Sushi Night-Wisp Resort-DC’s

Sushi Night, Deep Creek Lake

Have an appetite for Sushi? If you do, then make plans to be at DC’s Restaurant at Wisp Resort on any Wednesday for Sushi Night and get ready for a mouth watering seafood treat. You’d never think of putting together a first class Sushi dinner with Maryland’s most successful ski resort, but it has quickly become a seafood match made with a winter wonderland heaven.

Sushi Night-Wisp Resort-DC's — DC’s Wisp Resort

Try my favorite, the Tiger Eyes Roll with calamari, spicy tuna, carrot, and cucumber to start off with. I like to add sesame seeds and tobiko with seaweed wrapped around the outside. This marriage of ingredients makes for the best flavors to have ever touched my taste buds. I always order my sushi with seaweed on the outside and DC’s doesn’t mind a special request from their patrons. The menu is extensive with many superb rolls like the Godzilla Roll, the Salmon Roll, the Spicy Tuna Roll and many more of my favorites. Start off with an Asian Salad with ginger dressing, or enjoy Edamames and Seaweed Salad. Whatever you choose will be a winner, guaranteed.

DC’s has three seasoned sushi chefs that have made Sushi Night the go-to place to enjoy a culinary art form that was referenced in Japanese history as early as 718. Order from the bar, or go inside DC’s and enjoy a calming atmosphere and a cozy table down by a warm fireplace. Manager Vicki Buckel has worked for years overseeing and training her accommodating staff to make sure every detail of your dining experience is a memorable one. Make sure the next Wednesday you are at Deep Creek Lake you get over to DC’s to enjoy a good atmosphere, meet some new friends, and enjoy some great food.

Deep Creek Lake Dunk

Taylor-Made Real Estate Betsy Spiker Holcomb-301-616-5022

Deep Creek Lake Dunk 2010

Although a surprise blizzard kept a few people from making it to the Deep Creek Lake Dunk, you could hardly tell by the huge crowd of people that came and showed support for the courageous 450+ dunkers, who braved the sub-freezing lake temperatures to raise money for the Special Olympics. Every parking spot within a mile radius was occupied by a pumped-up group of dunkers and supporters who were all there to show support for an exciting event, and a heartfelt cause. Some dunk supporters showed up on snowmobiles and even walked on snowshoes across a frozen snow covered lake.

Dunkers turned up the volume of craziness with wacky costumes from wrestler look-a-likes, gnomes, clowns, kings, wizards, vikings…..you name it. Of course, there were a lot of women in bikinis and unfortunately some men in Speedos! But at the end of the day, everyone involved had a fantastic time supporting all the dunkers who sacrificed a lot of goose bumps and, as the events sweatshirts advertised “shrinkage”, in icy cold muddy waters.

The fun carried over to The Black Bear Tavern through the afternoon and into evening with live music from the Davisson Brothers Band and Poison Whiskey. Everyone involved shared pride in participating in an event that traditionally kicks off the Special Olympics games at Wisp Resort. A total of $95,246 was raised for the cause. Good luck to all Special Olympians who start competition on Monday.

The Special Olympics and the Deep Creek Dunk

The Special Olympics and the Deep Creek Lake Dunk

The Special Olympics and the Deep Creek Dunk — Captain America dunking

As Garrett County’s traditional weekend kickoff party fundraiser, the Deep Creek Lake Dunk, edges closer let’s all keep in mind during our entertaining, fun-filled weekend what it is we are all raising money for.

In 1962, Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a summer day camp for children and adults with intellectual disabilities at her home in Maryland to explore their capabilities in a variety of sports and physical activities. In 1968, the 1st International Special Olympics Summer Games are held at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA. One thousand individuals with intellectual disabilities from 26 U.S. states and Canada compete in track and field and swimming. This one-woman crusade has bloomed into one of the most loved and respected organizations in the World.

I have heard stories about the athlete’s heartwarming camaraderie, their enduring enthusiasm, and the eternal spirit that burns deeply in the souls of everyone competing. After a guaranteed fun weekend at the Deep Creek Dunk with your family and friends, pick out a few hours early in the week and volunteer a little of your time to learn exactly what The Special Olympics spirit is all about. Share a hug, a smile, and encourage and cheer on these special Olympians as if they were your own. Volunteer Registration starts on Monday March 1st at the Wisp Resort Hotel in the Crawford Room 7:30-8:30 a.m.

Here is The Special Olympics Schedule at Wisp Resort.

Deep Creek Lake Reaching Out to Virginia

Deep Creek Lake Reaching Out To Virginia

People from Baltimore, Washington DC, Northern Virginia, Pittsburgh and many other areas that surround Deep Creek Lake all get what it is that makes this place special. After all, Deep Creek is within a three hour radius of 25 million people, many of whom know all too well what this part of the country has to offer. People who have time and money invested in Garrett County have been rewarded with something much more valuable than just that. They have been rewarded with endless, lifelong, family memories that are deeply embedded in their children.

Deep Creek’s reputation has extended its reach down to Hampton Roads, Virginia. Those who had never heard of Deep Creek Lake and Wisp Resort have found a heaven they will never forget. You have heard me over the last few months preaching the gospel of winter sports and an abundance of quality snowfall. Sure, people from Virginia have visited other resorts in Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania when a change of pace is needed. However, none on these ski resorts have a 3,000 acre lake that serves as the backbone to this four-season resort. The people of Virginia are being more and more enlightened to what millions of others have already discovered and call their home away from home for decades. Today at Wisp Resort, we have an icy blue sky that is radiating off a perfect carpet of snow onto smiling faces of a packed Wisp Resort. Some of these happy faces are friends in from Virginia Beach who are enjoying a perfect first visit that will certainly not be their last.

Deep Creek Lake hosts the Winter Olympics?

Well….maybe we are never destined to hold the Winter Olympics here in Deep Creek Lake, but we have had enough snow to contend some of the finest resorts in Canada. The world has their eyes set on center stage today as the 2010 Winter Olympics Games begin today. Some people have decided to forego the televised opening events so they can strap on their equipment of choice and compete against their family and friends on Wisp Mountain. As we speak, as far as the eye can see, there is a line of cars filing into Wisp Resort to enjoy a spectacular President’s Weekend.

I remember as a child being fascinated and excited by the start of the Winter Olympics and my heart warmed by the solidarity of the World’s spirit. I couldn’t wait for the start of the giant downhill ski events and I had tremendous respect for the men and women who put their faith in a tiny steel edge on their skis going in excess of 70 mph downhill. I would beg my parents to stay up past my bedtime to be able to watch the long jump skiers explode off the launching ramp and soar like birds over the distance of football fields landing with grace and precision on a groomed corduroy ski slope. My favorite of all, hands down, was and still is the four man bobsled competition. These fiberglass sleds are propelled by gravity on razor steel runners down a frozen ice track going speeds in excess of 90 mph. I was fortunate last year to man the brake-mans position in Salt Lake City and bomb the infamous Olympic run in a four man bobsled.

If you are not here with us on the slopes in Deep Creek Lake this weekend take some time to reflect and enjoy some of your favorite Olympic memories and tune in during the next two weeks to make some new ones.

Deep Creek Lake Winter Revisited

Deep Creek Lake Winter Revisited

I have heard a lot of chatter from people on the East Coast and a lot of the country who are voicing their desires for springtime to blossom tomorrow (if possible!) with the wave of a magic wand. Here in Deep Creek Lake we had 36 to 40 inches this past weekend with another 20 inches coming in the next couple of days. My love for winter activities segregates me to a different perception of cold snowy winters, and I could tell by the sea of smiles I encountered this weekend that I am not alone. The amount of snow we are receiving here in Deep Creek Lake and the quality of powder that we have seen makes it all too difficult to throw in the towel for the winter season. I know there are some “powder junkies” like myself that look at a big winter snow storm in the same light as a surfer sees a hurricane and its potential for bringing a large clean swell or in our case, some fresh powder.

You won’t be disappointed if you make it to Garrett County from your hometowns this weekend (some of who are still digging out from the last storm last weekend). Rest assured that the roads here are masterfully manicured and most of all safe to bring your family for a visit. I see the snow starting to fall this morning and I’m already getting excited about getting a couple of quick powder runs in tomorrow morning before work. Be one of the many who get out of the gates early and come chase the fresh snow during our self proclaimed “powder hour” and make sure you get your fill of fun before spring does officially take over.

Deep Creek Lake Winter Revisited — Deep Creek Lake powder run

Deep Creek Lake Winter Extension

Deep Creek Lakes Winter Extension

Deep Creek Lake Winter Extension. Well the groundhog has extended our winter season, which is fine by me considering I have not had my fill of snowboarding this year. Wisp Resort was jam-packed this weekend with happy skiers and snowboarders. The talk among the local winter sports enthusiasts is that it has been some of the best snow that we have had in decades. The recipe for that perfect champagne powder is cold temperatures, low humidity, and snow, snow, SNOW. This is something we have had plenty of. Bring your family to Deep Creek Lake and come join us and the winter extension. See you on the slopes!

The Davisson Brothers Deep Creek Lake

The Davisson Brother’s at Deep Creek Lake

The Davisson Brothers Deep Creek Lake — Black Bear Davisson Brothers

Ok…You just spent the day skiing in perfect powder at Wisp Resort in Deep Creek Lake. You just finished having the famous Wednesday night sushi dinner special at DC’s Bar and you are looking for something to capture your attention and enhance your already amazing vacation experience. Thankfully, you are already nearby to an incredibly entertaining musical experience that has become the place to be for many McHenry Locals. Nothing stirs up more enthusiasm for locals and visiting Wisp patrons then the one and only Davisson Brothers Band.

This Clarksburg, West Virginia band is a fusion of bluegrass, country, blues, and rock and roll that is fueled by the lead singer/guitarist Donnie Davisson, who stomps the crowd in the ground with his hardcore country boy personality. His facial interaction taunts the crowd while he slings and swings around the stage smiling and singing proudly of self-proclaimed Hillbilly Honky Tonkin. “ Are there any hillbilly’s out there” he laughs in-between songs. The rhythm section is led by the ear-to-ear smiling master bass player Sammy Davisson, whose country/rock funkadelic grooves are in perfect cadence with the solid drum beat of Aaron Regester.

The whole sound is pulled together by the soul-cleansing force of mellow Davisson Brother lead guitarist Chris Davisson, who is in command of the Allman Brothers-styled southern blues slide guitar licks that relax the crowd during one guitar riff and has them shaking their hips on the next. He stands as the “quiet Beatle” of the group whose stage maturity serves as the backbone to the Davisson Brothers sound.

Put the Davisson’s Brothers webpage in your favorites and be sure to schedule a visit to Deep Creek Lake to catch their next performance (February 17, 2010).

Author: Bob Holcomb