Betsy Spiker Holcomb - Deep Creek Lake Blog

Garrett County Celtic Festival 2021

The Garrett County Celtic Festival 2021 is happening! Organizers recently announced that they are moving forward with the event. There will be a few changes from past years, but it will still be a fun event for the entire family.

About the Garrett County Celtic Festival 2021

This year’s festival will once again be held in the Friendsville town park on the Youghiogheny River. It is a picturesque venue with lots of space to spread out. It will take place Saturday, June 5 from 10:30AM-6PM.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. They will not be sold on-site. Prices are reasonable for adults and kids. Adults $15, ages 11-18 $10, and $10 and under are free. Click here for ticket info.

If you have attended in the past, keep in mind that the festival will have a different look. It will be pared down but still lots of fun. The pipe and drum corps will play throughout the day. There will be three stage bands – Shanty Irish, Sean Heely Celtic Trio, and Aurora Celtic. Additionally, there will be a performance by the Teelin Irish Dance Company. Ruth Enlow Library will provide activities for the kids. Food and beverage vendors will be on-hand as well.

244 Moonrise Drive: New Listing at Deep Creek Lake

244 Moonrise Drive is a spectacular new listing at Deep Creek Lake! This stunning lakefront home has all the bells and whistles. Plus, it was designed with vacation rental success in mind.

About 244 Moonrise Drive

Offer six bedrooms and five and a half baths, this spacious chalet is located in the popular Waterfront Greens community. It has 150 feet of lakefront for your enjoyment. That includes a maintained path leading to the water and kayak racks.

The focal point of the outdoor living space is the private outdoor pool. It is easy to imagine splashing and playing with family and friends. There is also an expansive deck, a hot tub, a horseshoe pit, and a fire pit.

Inside, the spacious interior has an open floor plan on the main level. The great room is highlighted by a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and a wall of windows. The kitchen has recent updates that include granite counters. There is new LVT flooring throughout the main and lower level living areas as well.

Business Spotlight: Introducing Lawn Coach

Lawn Coach, LLC is a recent addition to the local business landscape. They have grown by leaps and bounds in a short time and are a popular choice for a variety of homeowner needs.

About Lawn Coach

The company is owned by Garrett County native Jeff Folk. He has a long history as a coach of a variety of local sports teams. During that time, he discovered his passion for lawn care. He stepped in and began maintaining the ball fields in the Friendsville sports complex. His efforts quickly received rave reviews from players.

From there, Jeff began helping his neighbors achieve enviable lawns. That lead to the start of Lawn Coach.

Lawn Coach, LLC brings your dreams of an outdoor living space to reality. Specializing in custom patios, walkways, retaining walls and fire pits, they also install low voltage landscape lighting to complete the visual impact on their designs.

Big Run State Park Quick Guide

Big Run State Park is made up of 300 acres in Savage River State Forest. Available activities include rustic camping, canoeing, fishing and miles of trails for cross country skiing and hiking.

It is well-known by fisherman for its smallmouth bass, walleye, crappie, channel catfish, yellow perch, brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. The popular hiking trail, Monroe Run, has its trailhead in the park as well. A variety of activities are available year-round. The changing scenery is both beautiful and rugged.

About Big Run State Park

Fisherman find a wide variety of both warmwater and coldwater species at Big Run State Park. It has access to Savage River Reservoir where fishing opportunities for species such as bluegill, black crappie, walleye, yellow perch, brown trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are abundant. Two tributaries, Monroe Run and Savage Run, are also good spots for fishing. Anglers may catch brown, brook or rainbow trout in Savage Run. Shoreline fishing is popular along the state forest roads where families can find easy access. Each spring the Maryland Department of Natural Resources stocks trout in both Savage Run and Savage River Reservoir.

Savage River Reservoir provides paddling opportunities. Offering two boat launches (located at Dry Run and near the Reservoir dam), only boats with electric motors are permitted on the reservoir. When exploring 350 acres reservoir, you might see grouse, ducks, great blue herons, king fishers and minks.

Tax Benefits for Second Home Owners

Tax benefits should be considered if you are thinking about buying a second home at Deep Creek Lake. I put together a list of a few tax breaks, but you should always consult a tax professional for verification of specific terms and tax benefits since every situation is unique.

1.) Mortgage Interest is deductible up to $750,000 in combined total mortgages.

2.) Home Improvements – you can deduct interest on a home equity or line of credit (there will be limits).

3.) You can deduct your second home property taxes up to $10,000/year for all state and local taxes.

4.) If you rent for 14 days or less over the course of the year, that rental income is tax free with no limit on what you can charge.

Winter 2021 at Deep Creek Lake

Winter 2021 has been absolutely incredible at Deep Creek Lake! Conditions for winter sports have been amazing. Lots of snowfall and cold temps have made our area an absolute winter wonderland.

Winter 2021 Weather

Nearly every week throughout January and February, we saw snowfall. There were storms right before MLK and President’s Day weekends that brought fresh powder for skiers. It was not unusual to have 8-10 inches dropped on the area several weeks in a row. Wisp Resort is reporting 109 inches for the season so far. Temperatures are warming up a bit as we head into March, but Garrett County winters shouldn’t be underestimated.

New Deep Creek Lake & Garrett County Businesses!

Garrett County businesses are surviving and thriving despite the pandemic. There are several recent additions to our community. It is so great to see new offerings. I encourage you to support these local spots when you have the chance.

New Garrett County Businesses

Firewater Kitchen & Bar
This new lakefront restaurant has amazing views! They offer fresh-made craft cocktails, craft beers, and exceptional dining. Firewater is part of the Ace’s Run, Brenda’s Pizzeria and Trader’s Coffee House family of businesses. It is located at 20128 Garrett Highway next to Will O the Wisp.

A Mountain Fix
Located at The Fort in McHenry, A Mountain Fix features fun gifts, items for pets, and fine sterling jewelry. The shop combines their love of the mountains and the beach.

Tips for Buying a Deep Creek Lake Home in a Seller’s Market

Right now, it is a seller’s market at Deep Creek Lake. What exactly does that mean? Here’s how Rocket Mortgage defines it: “A seller’s market arises when demand exceeds supply. In other words, there are many interested buyers, but the real estate inventory is low. Since there are fewer homes available, sellers are at an advantage. In a seller’s market, homes sell faster, and buyers must compete with each other in order to score a property.”

The pandemic created a surge in interest in the lake and mountain lifestyle. Our area is rural in nature with a lower population density. This makes social distancing easier. Also, more and more people are able to work remotely. Even after the pandemic subsides, remote will likely remain as a preferred work style.

This high demand is being met with historically low inventory. Right now, available lake area homes are very limited. Offers are being made sight unseen, and we are also seeing multiple offer situations.

If you are interested in Deep Creek Lake homes for sale, there are a few things you can do to better position yourself in a seller’s market.

Buyer Tips for a Seller’s Market

Get Pre-approved
Give the seller confidence that you are a qualified and motivated buyer. Getting pre-approved verifies your ability to afford a home loan for a specific amount. It shows financial security and gives the seller peace of mind that the sale will go smoothly.

Hire an Experienced Real Estate Agent
As your agent, I can give you a serious advantage when buying a home in a competitive market. With more than twenty years of experience, I have a proven track record in Deep Creek Lake real estate. I hear about listings as soon as they hit the market. In a seller’s market, things happen fast. I will keep you informed at all times.

Act Fast
In a seller’s market, a new listing can be snatched up within hours. That means you can’t always wait for a weekend showing. Whenever possible, make yourself available for showings. As your agent, I can also show you a listing via Facetime.

Timberline Mountain – Reopened Under New Ownership

Timberline Mountain is just a little over an hour from Deep Creek Lake. It recently reopened for the 20/21 ski season under new ownership. The resort was purchased in 2019 by Perfect North Slopes, Inc. of Indiana.

About Timberline Mountain

Previously known as Timberline Four Season Resort, Timberline Mountain is located at 254 Four Seasons Drive in Davis, West Virginia. It is located along the higher range of the Alleghany Mountainsa. The 4268-foot summit offers amazing views.

The resort is well known for wide slopes and varied terrain. It is also home to the southeast’s longest ski slope, Salamander. This is an easy two-mile beginner trail that winds down the mountain. There are plenty of intermediate trails as well. For the more advanced skier, there is dedicated tree skiing.

Recent Upgrades

A lot of exciting things have been happening at Timberline. Perfect North Slopes made $10-million of capital improvements. Most notable, are two new Doppelmayr chair lifts. One of which is a six person lift – the first in West Virginia – that can make it to the top of the mountain in just over four minutes. Additionally, they installed a new surface lift on a new beginners’ slope.

Wisp Resort Opens Up for the 20/21 Season!

Wisp Resort opens up for the 20/21 season! Opening day is Friday, December 11th. There will be some changes in protocol this year due to COVID-19, but there is still plenty of fun to be had on the slopes!

Changes for 2020/2021

Due to the pandemic, Wisp Resort has put a variety of protocols in place. This is for the safety of guests and staff.

Here are few things to keep in mind if you are planning a visit to Wisp:

Season pass holders and Mission: Four’dable ticket holders can ski anytime without a reservation. All other skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing products (tickets, rentals, lessons) need to be purchased in advance at wispresort.com.
Face coverings must be worn in any indoor space.
Face coverings are also required outside if you cannot remain 6 feet apart from others (waiting in lines, loading on/off the lift, etc.). They must also be worn while tubing.
The lodge is limited to 50% capacity.
Be sure you purchase lift tickets or make reservations for tubing and lessons as soon as you can. Holiday time periods may sell out.

Of course all of this is subject to change as the season goes on. You can visit Wisp’s guidelines page for full details and the latest updates.

Author: Betsy Spiker Holcomb