Betsy Spiker Holcomb Real Estate - 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.

Deep Creek Lake Ski Season Update

Deep Creek Lake Ski Season Update. What an amazing weekend we’ve just experienced at Deep Creek Lake! The skies were blue and the slopes were nothing but corduroy. We couldn’t have asked for better conditions. If you think you’ve had your fill of winter, the last 4 days of sunshine will make you appreciate the exhilaration of spring skiing.

A record snowfall of 262+ inches will easily carry us well into April (and probably even June!), but the one month alarm has just sounded. Wisp Resort will remain open through Easter weekend allowing us 4 more weekends of fun on the slopes. The fresh powder we’ve had has been a dream, but there’s also something to be said for skiing without all those layers. Then again, who’s to say we won’t see one more snowstorm! 🙂

Public Notice for Users of Deep Creek Lake

News Release…Record Snow Fall at Deep Creek Lake May Result in Unprecedented Spring Melt

Deep Creek Hydroelectric Station to Lower Lake Levels; Lake Users Encouraged to Take Extra Safety Precautions

March 3, 2010, Oakland, MD – Sooner or later the record snow fall at Deep Creek Lake must melt and that could cause a record spring runoff. To a limited extent, Deep Creek Lake levels can be controlled by the Deep Creek Hydroelectric Station which operates under a Water Appropriation and Use permit from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). Under the permit conditions, the Station, which is owned by Brookfield Renewable Power, uses water to generate hydropower, but keeps Lake levels within a defined “rule band” with upper and lower limits. This year’s unprecedented snow fall will likely result in an unprecedented snow melt, particularly if temperatures warm quickly.

To avoid serious and potentially damaging high water conditions at the dam and on the Lake, the Maryland Department of the Environment has approved Brookfield’s request to draw the Lake level down two feet below its permitted March lower limit. The draw down, which began on March 1, will take place gradually, with a maximum of 0.5 feet reduction per day. David Barnhart, General Manager for Brookfield’s Mid-America Operations said, “Together with MDE, we are doing what we can to anticipate and mitigate the impacts of the spring thaw. As this winter proves, you never know what Mother Nature will throw you and an early, sustained thaw may result in higher than usual water levels.”

The lowered water levels beneath the ice cover, combined with warming temperatures, pose unpredictable risks to recreational users of Deep Creek Lake. Carolyn Mathews, Manager of the Deep Creek Lake Recreation Area advises, “People should remember that there are always hazards to recreating on naturally-formed ice. Lowering the Lake to make additional storage space for the anticipated above normal spring runoff may destabilize the Lake’s ice and we urge everyone to take special care to stay safe.”

The MDE, Brookfield, and the Department of Natural Resources continue to monitor the Lake levels and weather conditions to determine whether additional actions for safety of recreational users may be required. Lake levels can be found at www.deepcreekhydro.com.

(Source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Brookfield Renewable Power Inc., Maryland Department of the Environment)

Public Notice for Users of Deep Creek Lake — melting ice deep creek lake

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.

Real estate market looking up at Deep Creek Lake

Real estate market looking up at Deep Creek Lake. YES, this statment is proving to be true! There have been 17 residential sales thus far in 2010, with sales prices ranging anywhere from $80,000-825,000. On top of that, there are 32 additional residential properties that are under contract or pending sale with asking prices of $42,900-2,250,000. This is potentially 49 sales for the 1st quarter of 2010. Nothing to shrug off considering the low consumer confidence we’ve seen over the last 18 months.

For comparison, there were 18 home sales during the same time last year ( 1/1/09-3/1/09), 32 sales in 2008, 49 sales in 2007 and 67 sales in 2006. Our average list price to sales price ratio is still 91%, which is considerably good when looking at the nation’s averages. (Source for # of units sold: Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, MRIS)

Deep Creek Lake’s real estate source

Real estate market looking up at Deep Creek Lake — Real Estate expert Betsy Spiker Holcomb

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.

Mali Mae Holcomb Deep Creek Lake

Well, if you haven’t noticed from past blogs, it’s obvious that I’m a dog lover! When we brought our first ever French Mastiff home in May 2008, we thought our lifestyle of living between Deep Creek Lake and the beach would suit her to a tee. What we discovered, after several trips to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, was that Mali didn’t care for the heat, the sand or the ocean water! In fact, it was all we could do to coax her onto the beach, which made it a long day for both her and us. As evidenced by the photo above, Mali would simply plop herself down by the sand fence in hopes we would take her back to the house.

However, when her first winter came around it was quite evident that she was a snow dog. The 2009/2010 winter at Deep Creek Lake, Maryland has given us a whopping 19′ of snow thus far. Our last big storm left Mali’s head barely above the snow when she went out to play. There was a time early this winter that she used to go off the back deck to do her business; now the steps leading off the deck are blocked by a 5′ barrier of white splendor. The photo below was taken just this weekend following her bath. Rather than dry off by the fireplace, like our terrier, she preferred to roll around in the snowdrift soaking wet!

A friend of mine sent me this poem today. Thought I would share…

If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him
and never say it’s not quite as good as his mother’s
..then adopt a dog.

If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour,
for as long and wherever you want …
..then adopt a dog.

If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn’t care
about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies
..then adopt a dog.

If you want someone who is content to get on your bed just to
warm your feet and whom you can push off if he snores
..then adopt a dog !

If you want someone who never criticizes what you do, doesn’t care
if you are pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if
every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves
you unconditionally, perpetually ..
..then adopt a dog.

BUT, on the other hand, if you want someone who will never come
when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair
all over the place, walks all over you, runs around all night and only
comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence
is solely to ensure his happiness …
..then adopt a cat!

Now be honest, you thought I was gonna say… marry a man, didn’t you?

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-Snowmobile Warnings

The Maryland Park Service reminds all snowmobilers of the potential for unseen safety hazards on Deep Creek Lake, particularly at night. Starting on Wednesday, February 20th, an area of ice will be removed near Uno Chicago Grill on Garrett Highway to create open water for the Special Olympics Deep Creek Dunk. This area will remain unsafe for quite some time and will be marked with reflective traffic cones. Also be aware that lake surface conditions under bridges where road salt and abrasives are plowed from the pavement are often particularly hazardous. Other conditions that may cause unpleasant situations are unseen snowdrifts or pressure ridges that can act as ramps and cause sleds to become airborne leading to a loss of control and accidents.

Deep Creek Lake is a part of the designated ORV trail system permitting use by registered snowmobiles only. Permits are available by mail or at any of the local State Park offices during normal business hours. Snowmobiles may operate at night if equipped with working head and taillights. Access to the lake may be made at Deep Creek Lake State Park or with permission from a private landowner with a permit site adjacent to the lake.

Ice fishermen, hikers and cross-country skiers traveling on the lake should also exercise caution. The wearing of or having readily accessible life preservers could prevent a tragedy. If you encounter people, pets or wildlife that have fallen through the ice, contact either 911 or the toll free DNR Communications number 1-800-628-9944 for assistance.

For further information on ice conditions at Deep Creek Lake, contact a ranger at the Park Headquarters office (301) 387-5563 or the Discovery Center on weekends at (301) 387-7067.

Category: Betsy Spiker Holcomb Real Estate