Betsy Spiker Holcomb, Deep Creek Lake’s Favorite RealtorTaylor-Made Real Estate Betsy Spiker Holcomb-301-616-5022
49th Annual Autumn Glory Festival – This event reigns king here at the lake celebrating the Fall season. LINK
Pumpkin Race and Festival– Bring the kiddos and family out to this fun event which entails a pumpkin race through the white water course. LINK
Springs Folk Festival– The Springs Folk Festival invites you to join in the celebration of the arts, skills and labors of our forefathers. Watch the men and women baking bread and weaving, the men hewing logs and threshing grain and the children enjoying themselves on an old-time hayride. LINK
Go Hiking-Take your pick on hundreds of trails throughout Garrett County. LINK
Paddleboard– There is not a better way to see the fall season. A spiritual vantage point. LINK
Take a relaxing drive- Deep Creek lake and the surrounding rural areas come to life with color in the fall. A nice “Sunday drive” is enjoyable any day.
Go fishing- Fishing in the fall can be productive and soothing as you basically have the lake to yourself most mornings.
Visit one of seven State Parks- We have no shortage of state parks here in Garrett County. It’s a wonderful time of the year to enjoy them.LINK
Relax around the fire- Night time is so relaxing when the temps have cooled to sweatshirt weather and the fire’s crackling.
Pontoon boat ride- Take a deep breather and relax to a nice chill pontoon ride around the lake to observe the beauty.
Deep Creek fall events are popping up all over the lake area. This quieter season brings us warm days, crisp nights, and lots of fun activities. When you’re not attending an event, be sure to get outside and enjoy the brilliant foliage that our area is famous for. Continue reading Deep Creek Fall Events
From the data below, collected from our MLS system for Garrett County, you can see that August showed signs of a very healthy market. Our year-over-year and month-over-month figures were up in almost every category. Fall has always been a good time to look at Deep Creek real estate. The properties are easier to get access to and you get to enjoy the splendor of autumn with a colorful landscape. There are also great vacation rental specials now so you can spend more on dining & entertainment and less on accommodations.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb, Deep Creek Lake’s Favorite Realtor
Taylor-Made Real Estate Betsy Spiker Holcomb-301-616-5022
Throughout the last couple of years as the focus shifts to the upcoming fall foliage season, I have found the most spectacular and soothing way to experience this sought after season via paddleboard. The visitors have slimmed down to next to nothing and the lake shifts from being a physical playground for activities to a visual backdrop for nature’s art. The season also brings calm days mixed in with traditional windy fall days. It is on these calm days that you can witness a spectacular visual ever-lasting gumdrop of emotions that will take you from pure elation to a centered mental calm. It is experiences like these that elevate the lake to spiritual status.
To see the mountains gleaming with fire and glowing with rich hues of the fall season is only magnified when you see a double image reflection mirroring off the lake. These powerful reflections bring the water alive as they transform into a three-dimensional bouquet of seasonal colors. The paddleboard becomes your soul mobile as Deep Creek Lake takes you down a peaceful highway that will recharge your faith in nature. Each quiet dip of the paddle propels you across an amazing and colorful glass-lake, virgin of ripples. The horizon slowly inches toward you like an out-of-reach oasis which gives you plenty of time to enjoy the dreamy conveyor belt that only a few have experienced.
Our nationally respected and loved Fall spectacle is an event here at the lake that a lot of folks have been lucky enough to experience year after year. This year I encourage and challenge you to try it from a different cockpit vantage point. The end of summer does not mean the end of paddleboarding or enjoying an intimate relationship with the lake. Set sail this autumn with your favorite non-powered watercraft and experience the hallowed ground at Deep Creek Lake that is worshiped by only a handful.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb, Deep Creek Lake’s Favorite RealtorTaylor-Made Real Estate Betsy Spiker Holcomb-301-616-5022
Betsy Spiker Holcomb, Deep Creek Lake’s Favorite RealtorTaylor-Made Real Estate Betsy Spiker Holcomb-301-616-5022
134 Quiet Quail Way-Deep Creek Lake Real Estate. Log home living at its best on the exclusive mountaintop community of Sandy Shores Vista. This home offers amazing mix of rustic/modern log home architecture with beautiful views of Deep Creek Lake. This property is nestled perfectly on 2.3 private acres.
The main level has a spacious and open kitchen/dining area with granite countertops and modern appliances. The kitchen stretches into a beautiful great room with elevated log fireplace and many windows to enjoy your own secluded and scenic view of the lake. The great room adjoins a wonderfully laid out master bedroom with both stand up shower and sit down tub. Outside the Master Bedroom, enjoy your own private deck that also has an outdoor fireplace.
Upstairs you’ll find a charming sitting room that has a large bathroom that services too large sized bedrooms. Downstairs you’ll find an amazing entertaining area. It has a pub size bar with a sink and plenty of counter/cabinet space. Entertaining family and friends will never be as easy and fun! There also is a mud room downstairs to enter during the snowy winter season that help protect the plush carpet downstairs. This home has plenty of outdoor space with nice wood decking off the main level and brick veranda off the lower level.
It has a very special feel and has a personal place in my heart because it’s right down the road from our house. Give a call at 301-616-5022 or email me at betsy@deepcreekvacations.com to schedule a showing.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb, Deep Creek Lake’s Favorite Realtor
Taylor-Made Vacations and Sales
It’s mid-September and we are transitioning into an absolutely gorgeous time of the year here at the lake. Temperatures are comfortably maxing out to the mid 70’s during the day and cooling down to the mid 50’s at night with very low humidity. It’s not quite feeling completely like fall but you can feel a subtle transition towards the season.
On the way to work this morning, I noticed the lake was free of any activity, be it boating or water sports. The winds, like most days this time of year, were very calm and the aura the lake gave off was both peaceful and soothing. It’s amazing how this affects everyone who lives and visits at the lake. Everyone I’ve run into today has been all smiles with a common discussion about the beautiful weather we are so fortunate to enjoy. I have mentioned this in the past many times, but if you can get here this time of year with your family you will experience a different and special personality of Deep Creek Lake. Maybe you need to unwind with your loved one and have a romantic get-away. This is the time of year where your focus can be crisp and clear like the weather surrounding you.
It’s also a great time to preview real estate since the crowds have thinned down and the rental homes are a little more accessible. Book a long weekend here at the lake and let Betsy Holcomb show you homes within your criteria. Start planting the seed now for your home here at the lake so you can enjoy these special surges in the season. Call Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales @ 866-351-1119 to find a great rental property to help enjoy your stay.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb, Deep Creek Lake’s Favorite RealtorTaylor-Made Real Estate Betsy Spiker Holcomb-301-616-5022
I love all the great summer sports here at Deep Creek Lake to enjoy! Wakeboarding and paddleboarding have always been my favorite. Having a beach/surfing background, I always wondered what it would be like to try the up and coming wake surfing sport that has been the rage over the last few years. My lucky day came the other day when my brother-in-law, who owns Deep Creek Marina, called me to see if I wanted to try Malibu Boat’s top-of-the-line wake surfing boat. For years I have heard of people trying to use weights, extra people and cargo to make this sought after wave that is big enough to propel a surfer-fabricated wave. Most efforts seemed in vain and the one time I tried there just wasn’t enough juice to keep me gliding.
Fast forward to yesterday when I was lucky enough to go out on the state-of-the-art Malibu M235 wakeboard/wake surf boat. This boat was easily the most impressive boat I have ever laid eyes on. Looks are only a small piece to the puzzle though. I wondered as it was being gently launched in the water how it would perform, specifically how big and powerful of a wave it made. I consider myself the ultimate test for this engineer created wave because I am 6’ 7” 270 lbs, which is far heavier than riders it was designed. I brought one of my personal surfboards to try out because I was sure that technology in this sport was not up to par for someone my size. I would need considerable power to propel me on this normally calm lake.
The ballasts were filled and the gates that make the wave were deployed and the first rider took his place in the water. You basically put your heels on the rails of this mini surfboard/skimboard as the boat is slowly clicked into gear. The pressure of the water moving at idle speed plants the board to your feet. Holding on to a short wakesurf rope, you give the signal that you are ready and the boat guns the throttle. You pull up similar to a wakeboard take off until you stabilize waiting for the wave to take shape. This only takes a few seconds and it’s amazing to feel this fabricated wave swell behind you. It actually curled/tubed for portions of the session.
As a new rider, the first thing you have to do is find the vein of the wave. This vein is where the most power is located. There is a speed slot, I’m guessing six inches from the rear platform to about four feet away that provides the best power to surf in. As you are finding this power zone you are still holding on to the rope basically free surfing some and being pulled by the boat. After you find the power, then you throw the rope back to the boat and start surfing! Yeeewwww! Carving up and down the wave and cutting back give you a real and strange sense of surfing. You are connected to the boat by the vacuum of this wave peeling behind you. It feels like you are racing down the wave but it also feels like you are barely moving as you notice the shoreline.
It’s very hard to explain so you’ll have to try for yourself! The adrenaline is at full RPM’s and you immediately feel your legs fatiguing. Most surfers in the ocean crave long waves but when you finally get some you find your legs are not in good enough shape to handle it. Behind a boat this wave becomes perpetual and challenges the most experienced rider’s endurance.
I tried my personal shortboard and had a blast screaming behind the boat. Although it was a little large for the wave it was an amazing experience just cruising behind the boat and getting some pumps down the line. There are many different sizes to find the ultimate board to shred on for your body type. I would highly recommend everyone trying this unique and challenging sport the next time you are hear at the lake. Call Deep Creek Marina at 301-387-6977 for information about boats for sale that are capable of creating this tremendous wave! You’ll be hooked!
Betsy Spiker Holcomb, Deep Creek Lake’s Favorite Realtor
Taylor-Made Vacations and Sales
A Thirst For Art- Jenny Vitez Wampler
^^^^Wisdom^^^^
Awesome class and instructor!Same painting- 13 different masterpieces…
I would like to highlight a local business that has excelled tremendously over the last couple of years here at Deep Creek Lake and surrounding counties. Nationwide “Paint Nights” have become a very popular way for novice art enthusiasts to spend time with their friends and family, have a few beverages and attempt to create a masterpiece under the direction of an instructor. Unfortunately, I see photos from other paint nights across the country that border on mediocre to kids finger-painting. I guess I have been spoiled by our amazing local paint gathering here at Deep Creek Lake.
Garrett Counties own “A Thirst For Art”, created by Jenny Vitez Wampler, soars above the ordinary paint classes across the country. It has the local reputation as the most amazing art experience for beginners and experienced alike. These classes have all its students coming home with masterpieces. Repeat painters, including myself, have filled entire houses with many amazing pieces of art. After all, Jenny has her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art. She attended Accademia Italiana in Florence, Italy where she took an Intensive Fashion Design/Illustration Course in which she earned a Certificate of Completion, and then went back to earn her Masters Degree in Art Education. Jenny has 11 years of teaching behind her and has taught children at many different ages the fundamentals of great art. She has bartended at Black Bear Tavern and Ken’s Irish Pub for over a decade (11 years), as well as taught Continuing Ed art classes at Garrett College, did Photography presentations for Ruth Enlow Libraries, and stood in as a Lighting Assistant for Karlo Photography (Karlo Gesner). You can feel the art flowing through the veins of the master jedi art guru. In all, you will meet a sweet, well-grounded, even keeled wonderful human being.
Family time-Jenny Vitez Wampler
She stands apart from the other classes with her pre-sketched canvases that give you the solid foundation to get your work of art started. Jenny takes as much time as needed to show each student with clarity every step towards your personal best painting. After all, this lady has taught hundreds, maybe thousands of kids and adults to paint! You learn a crash course in the color wheel and how to mix primary and secondary colors to best compliment your project. The subject matter is always very colorful and balanced with a focus on our very own Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County. Classes run three hours and Jenny has been known to stay late when necessary to help her students finish something they can be proud of. She started doing a couple classes a month but her business has escalated enormously due to its success/demand. Your senses will be inspired as you find an inner art ambiance that will propel you through life looking through more creative glasses. You will see twenty people paint the same painting and come up with completely different stroke styles and color variations. The end result is always twenty different and unique masterpieces.
I asked Jenny what inspired her to come up with such a wonderful and successful class and here was her response, “I came up with the idea for A Thirst For Art by seeing photos on Facebook of my college friends attending ‘paint and sip’ parties/classes in the DC and Baltimore areas. I knew that Garrett County didn’t have anything like this and thought it would be something fun and exciting to host. I was pregnant at the time (when I thought of the idea of starting the business) and kept the idea to myself until Jase was 8 months old. Then, in August of 2014, I launched the company via Facebook and hosted my first paint party on September 24th, 2014. From there I expanded to doing not only public paint parties, but also private events and fundraisers.”
So you don’t think you can paint? Yes, you can!!! Follow Jenny’s,A Thirst For Art on Facebook and message her with any questions about upcoming classes. This is something very close to me that I recommend whole hearted to your friends and family! Get online and review upcoming events and set aside time to get started on your first quality work of art.
Enjoy beautiful Deep Creek lakefront living at Marsh Hill Road. As you walk into the main level, you’ll notice a good view of the lake from a perched kitchen and dining living area. Just down the hall is a wonderfully cozy sitting room with a huge stone fireplace that also overlooks the lake. On the opposite end of the main level, you’ll find a huge master bedroom with plenty of closet space and a washer/dryer area with an enormous folding space. This joins a massive and gorgeous master bathroom which gives a mini-suite feel. You’ll notice beautiful wood floors throughout the entire main level as a class accent. Upstairs you will find three additional master bedrooms that have plenty of space and that are laid out perfectly. Downstairs you have a great sized recreation area with a pool table next to a nice wet bar. You also have an additional laundry room downstairs which has plenty of room for ping pong tables and bumper pool style games. There’s also a spacious bedroom that walks out onto a stone terrace and hot tub. This property is perched perfectly above Deep Creek Lake across from the 219 Bridge. The landscaping throughout the entire property is gorgeous. There’s plenty of room here with 180′ of lakefront. The house almost has a park-like feel to it. Take some time on your next visit to come visit this gorgeous property. You will not be disappointed.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb, Deep Creek Lake’s Favorite Realtor
Taylor-Made Real Estate Betsy Spiker Holcomb-301-616-5022
Savage-fierce, ferocious, wild, rugged…For the men and women who are brave enough to conquer the many different levels of this grueling event, I salute you! I realize that you are cut out of a different cloth than the rest of us. A cloth that has qualities that are both mental and physically superior. The raw grit it takes to train for years overcoming the thousands of pangs and punishment to your mind and soul is staggering to imagine for us mortals. It takes a ferocious commitment and deep down motivation to conquer this remarkable event.
This event has many different levels you can challenge yourself with. You will bike, run and swim pushing your abilities to the threshold of physical and mental exhaustion. A breakdown of the event is as follows:
SavageMan 70.0- Swim 1.2 miles, Bike 55.7 miles, Run 13.1 miles
SavageMan 30.0- Swim .90miles, Bike 22.9 miles, Run 6.2 miles
SavageMan 20.0- Swim .45 miles, Bike 15.5 miles, Run 3.1 miles
SavageMan 90.0, 100.0 and 120.0 combines Sundays 70.0 with one or both of Saturday’s 20.0 or 30.0 races.
The race has lots of highlights that are exciting to watch as a spectator. The swimming event is always a blast to watch. It’s hard to imagine swimming so close to what seems like thousands of people. It’s like a sea of arms chopping and digging through the water in a chaotic symphony. Nothing like swimming 1.2 miles and getting out of the water soaking wet and jumping on a bike for a 55.7-mile ride!
The beast of the event is THE WALL!! Going through the Westernport leg of the race you will find the infamous WALL that is the epitome of blood, sweat and tears. This is one steep biking challenge for someone who has fresh legs. It is gruelish for someone who has a mile plus swim and miles of biking behind them. Spectators line up to cheer on these machines of fitness. You will see some riders motor through the steep incline while others literally fall/crash on the famous rough stone base from sheer exhaustion. If you are here for the event, spend some time at The Wall and gain even more respect for these amazing athletes.
Of course the underlining star of the event is the breathtaking scenery. Garrett County has a fabulous reputation for some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Some triathlon events have zero personality but the SavageMan boasts lovely views mixed with challenging elevation changes.
If you are competing, good luck for a safe and successful race! If you are not, I suggest you get out and find your favorite event from your favorite vantage point and enjoy this successful event!
Betsy Spiker Holcomb, Deep Creek Lake’s Favorite RealtorTaylor-Made Real Estate Betsy Spiker Holcomb-301-616-5022
