Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorSnowmobiling Deep Creek Lake
Snowmobiling Deep Creek Lake. I consistently discover new things to do, being a “newer” resident at Deep Creek Lake. In a very short time, this special place has offered me opportunities to snowboard, wakeboard, fish, kayak, golf, paddle board, play on a manmade whitewater course, and has even inspired me to pursue photography and painting because of the immense beauty that surrounds me daily. This winter, I have become a snowmobile junkie. My wife, Betsy, and I have looked at DCL and Garrett County through a new and exciting pair of glasses since being introduced to “sledding”. We explore the lake, ride to breakfast and dinner, or just race each other on these 4-stroke Yamaha hotrods across the frozen lake. I have had my sled torqued out to 100 MPH on the smooth icy lake which will start a floodgate of adrenaline senses streaming through your veins and leaving chills of excitement down the back of your neck.
Out of towners and second home residents always give you a raised eyebrow look when you mention that you actually ride across a frozen lake on these monsters, but we are much thicker than the 6” minimum at the moment. We are closer to the 24” mark now. Some nights you will see many huge groups of snowmobilers riding in what looks to be motor cycle gangs. Get up here and join an experienced club so you can safely enjoy a sport that puts you maximizing life! www.gcsnowdrifters.org
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorSteelers/Ravens Rivalry Deep Creek LakeSteelers/Ravens Rivalry Deep Creek Lake
Steelers/Ravens Rivalry Deep Creek Lake
I moved to Deep Creek Lake 4+ years ago from the Outer Banks to supervise the construction of the new Lodestone Golf Club at Wisp Resort. My football roots hailed from the great state of Texas, Dallas to be more specific. I grew up a diehard Cowboy fan in Redskin country and never really felt moved by any other football rivalries. Living here in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland has changed all that for me, as it is truly a unique football fan situation here at the lake. Okay, here is why…. Fans here live in the great state of Maryland…You would think this would be a shoe-in to be a Baltimore Raven fan, right?? Not so much. Remember, we are 3 hours West of Baltimore but only 2 hours south of Pittsburgh. Our primary TV station here is Pittsburgh’s own WTAE-4 coming straight from downtown P-town. Every morning and evening we hear about Pittsburgh’s weather, news and sports; this is where you hear about the black and gold year round. Sure, you hear about the Penguins and occasionally the Pirates but make no mistake about it, Steeler Nation’s head quarters hails from this three river steel town. But just as Steeler fans bleed black and gold, DCL is split in half by Raven fans that have purple blood running through their veins. The Ravens fans here at the lake take as much love and pride into every game just as their rivals do. I think to say that each team respects each other is just downright false! These teams and their fans have no love for each other!! As we step out of our beds and plant our feet on the floor of Super Bowl Sunday (which is playing in Dallas in the Cowboy stadium, Ouch!), there are still Ravens fans that feel like they didn’t get a fair shake on the last Ravens Steelers Brawl. Just as some baseball fans feel that the Red Sox/Yankees playoff duels ARE the World Series, the same sentiment is felt here at Maryland’s favorite lake/ski town. Ravens fans/players feel like they were cheated out of a victory at this year’s Ravens/Steelers “Super Bowl” and they are angry and hungry for the re-match next year. Until then some friendships and business relationships may be strained until the tables are turned next football season.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite Realtor
Betsy Spiker 301-616-5022
North Camp Development, Wisp Resort, Deep Creek Lake. Let me let you in on a little secret here in Deep Creek Lake. On the Northwestern side of Wisp Mountain there is an up and coming community that is destined to become a favorite among second homeowners here at the lake. Wisp Resort’s newer community, North Camp, has tremendous personality that day-time visitors and winter sports enthusiasts cannot fully appreciate unless you visit at dusk, when most are home cooking dinner with their families. You cannot believe the sunsets on this virtually undeveloped side of Wisp Resort. It is only a few minutes from my front door and I routinely put dinner on hold to buzz over to relax and absorb some tranquil sunsets.
Most people interested in mountain real estate visit during the day and have no comprehension of fiery calm sunsets that consistently grace Garrett County. Homes and homesites look 50+ miles across a maze of mountain ranges and spectacular views extending deep into West Virginia. Don’t forget that you are only a few strides from the new Wisp Resort ski slope expansions with great ski in/out opportunities right off the ski lift seconds from primetime runs. Take a little time next visit and give Betsy Spiker Holcomb a call; let her team show you around an amazing mountain that we are proud to call our home.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorWilly Wisp,Wisp Resort Ski Lessons
Willy Wisp,Wisp Resort Ski Lessons. I know we have a lot of young families that are choosing Deep Creek Lake as their second home get away. Young families need a special place they can count on to help instill confidence and love for winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding. The Willy Wisp program at Wisp Resort will provide your youngsters with professionally trained instructors teaching groups from 3-7 years old to 8-14 years old. Believe me, you will be amazed how quickly the young ones latch on and learn these sports. Even if your children are grown you should still drop by and become a spectator of some heartwarming moments.
My mother-in-law, wife and I brought down our niece who is a hair past 2 years old for her first attempt at skiing. It didn’t take long at all before she was cruising down the slope by herself! What a wonderful experience to be involved in. Check out the rates so you can be prepared on your next visit to DCL to start your child on a lifelong love for winter sports.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorMountaineer Log Homes Deep Creek Lake Maryland
Mountaineer Log Homes Deep Creek Lake Maryland
As a Real Estate professional and Buyer’s agent, it’s my job to represent all my clients’ interest to make sure they get the best deal possible when buying a home. It is also important to show them everything available within their criteria in and around the lake regardless of what Real Estate Broker is marketing the property. That being said, some folks who come up here to find their dream second home don’t find every piece of the puzzle no matter how many homes I show them. I often here, “Can you put this house on that home site?”, or I only wish the kitchen that we liked from the last home was in this home instead”. It’s understandable that we all have strict criteria for a home when spending a large amount of money and when all efforts to find that perfect home are exhausted…I suggest the obvious next step….Build your own home!!!
I recently had a large family that clocked 4 visits to the lake looking for a home and almost pulled the trigger on a few offers but really they were only 95% satisfied with their choices. There were a few desirable locations that the family felt like it was “it”, with one up-and-coming development in particular that stood above the rest. At that point I suggested they consider building with a reputable company. Considering their main concern was building a log home, it was easy leading them to the front door of Deep Creek Lake’s premier log home company, Mountaineer Log & Siding Company. After laying down their ideas on what would be the perfect log home for their family, it did not take long to understand that they were heading in a logical direction.
Don’t be intimidated by the construction process, which can go from 6-9 months depending on the size of the home. Most people want to find the perfect home, make a deal, and move right in, which I can totally understand. If you don’t find that special home and have a little time to wait, consider building from the ground up as it can really be a rewarding process with the right builder. Don’t think you can only build a little cabin the woods. These designs range from cabins to castles!
Mountaineer Log Homes Deep Creek Lake Maryland
My clients come up every couple of weeks to check on progress as well as to look ahead at design decisions that have to be made to make the house their home. Where to put beds, couches, and tables? How will the electrical outlets be affected? Where do you want the light switches? How many? How about the location of the wall mounted flat-screen TV’s? What kind of flooring – maple, oak, hickory? Don’t be intimidated! Enjoy it! Don’t forget this is your dream home.
Guess what? My clients are having the best experience building a home that they will enjoy with their grandchildren for decades. Do yourself a favor, whether you Buy or Build in Deep Creek Lake, do it sooner than later and begin building memories that will last a lifetime.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorSnowmobiling Deep Creek Lake At Night
Snowmobiling Deep Creek Lake At Night
Jim Morrison once sang; “Let’s swim to the moon, let’s climb through the tide, penetrate the evening that the city sleeps to hide.” Penetrate sleepy Deep Creek Lake evenings by snowmobile and be catapulted into enchanted nightscapes dominated by moonlight, feather-like snowflakes, and a carpet base of snow powder on top of an icy blue lake. Look through kinda spiritual glasses of Deep Creek Lake…from the center of the lake be captivated by surreal mountain silhouettes framing up mystical cloud formations highlighting a brilliant moon. I had the experience of shredding a drive belt on Saturday night to open my eyes to the brilliant silence that the night brings to the lake. My wife Betsy took off on a 30-minute trip to get me a replacement belt and as the roar of her sled faded into the darkness I was left in a tranquil state of peace and quiet, something I’ve never experienced in the winters on the lake. I instantly forgot that the Steelers/Ravens were starting the first quarter of a playoff brawl until cheers from rental houses across the lake echoed by me in a calm cool breeze and then in an instant subsided again to calm. The glow of the purple gray skies slowly eased to darkness giving me a gorgeous hazy wintertime sunset and the awakening low buzz of my wife’s sled chugging toward me breaking the still half-hour trance. I never get tired of discovering the many, many different facets of the lake that I discover through my searches or by fate. Come experience it for yourself on your next visit to Deep Creek Lake.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite Realtor
The Poker Run Deep Creek Lake
Saturday was a big day for the NFL playoffs and for the Garrett County Snowdrifters Club who sponsored the Poker Run this year on Deep Creek Lake. This is a snowmobile event where local and out-of-state riders map out a route covering the whole lake stopping at designated stops to pick up a “card”. After a good 6 hours of riding, everyone meets at a final destination to see who has the best poker hand. The fun started at the Honi Honi for registration and the event began! Riders screamed across the county going from JG’S to Pawn Run to Black Bear to the Honi Honi, to Boardwalk, and all the way back to Pawn Run to find out who the lucky winner was. It was an exciting ride and a heck of a lot of fun seeing new faces and meeting good people. It didn’t matter what brand sled you were on or how old it was, it was all about enjoying the beautiful scenery of Garrett County and enjoying a wonderfully planned event.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorIce Fishing Deep Creek Lake
Ice Fishing Deep Creek Lake
Now that we have come into the meat of winter and the ice has frozen to 8+ inches, the diehard ice fishing junkies are out in full swing reeling in the spoils of their efforts. It takes a special person to get up early in the morning (with sometimes negative temperatures) and go drill ten or so holes in the ice to prepare for some excellent fishing. Being from Virginia, I do not have a lot of experience on the ice…until today, when I went to check out some locals who had just set up their tip-ups over their fishing holes. As I gingerly stepped on the ice it felt firm under my feet, which gave me the courage to walk out to the fishermen. While talking to one of the gentleman, I heard a thunderous crack under my feet that shot like a laser beam toward the shoreline and sent a chill up my spine. I was sure I was going through the ice! The fisherman kinda chuckled a bit and reassured me that it was absolutely safe on the ice considering its current thickness. It’s so quiet on the lake you can hear the ice shifting, snapping and popping almost like it has a life of its own. In no time, the flags on the tip-ups are popping in the air signaling that there’s a fish-on. Yellow perch are the catch of the day, although walleye and some trout can be caught as well. On your next visit to Deep Creek Lake take some time to walk out on the ice and check in with some of the locals who are on their frozen paradise. Maybe you’ll be inspired to become a ice fishing junkie yourself!
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorDeep Creek Lake-Wisp Resorts 55th Birthday Party
Deep Creek Lake and Wisp Resorts 55th Birthday Party
Wisp Resort has reached another epic milestone this weekend as they celebrated their 55th Birthday as the go-to ski resort on the East Coast. What better way to celebrate than bringing in Food Network’s most popular cake artists, Charm City Cakes. Duff Goldman led the charge straight off the snowboard slope to christen and cut the cake with his crew. It was standing room only on Sunday in the Wisp Lodge to get a glimpse of the cake re-creation of the Wisp Mountain and the Ski & Golf Resort. The snow has been steadily pounding us here at Deep Creek Lake and skiing conditions are improving with every new inch we receive. Wisp has had their snowmaking efforts rolling around the clock for the last couple weeks to ensure that we had a full parking lot of skiers to celebrate their wonderful milestone Birthday party.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite Realtormainstreet wisp resort
Deep Creek Lake Wisp Resort Winter Sports. Okay folks; get your minds centered at the task at hand. Feel the cold winter, accept the cold winter, love the cold winter! After you get in the winter spirit, turn your focus toward Deep Creek Lake and Wisp Resort and get ready for the winter sports to begin. We have had steady flow of snowfall for the last week and conditions are improving at Wisp Resort. Wisp has had the snowmaking canons firing around the clock for the last couple of weeks to ensure that they have a solid base of snow to get the season started. As I look out my window from Long and Foster across the lake, my vision of the ski slopes is impaired because of the amount of snow we are getting at the moment. It is forecasted to keep coming down for the next few days, and then on and off for the next 10 days. Load up the car and the family, set your GPS for Wisp Resort and spend the next couple of weeks of the holiday season enjoying impressive powder. See you on the slopes.
