Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorSnowmobile Drag Races Deep Creek Lake
Snowmobile Drag Races Deep Creek Lake
Let’s get ready to RUMBLE! Leave the boxing gloves at home this weekend, fuel up your snowmobile and head on down to the big drag races this Saturday February 12th, 2011. This weekend the crowd will be at Harvey’s Farm, 2482 Sandflat Road watching the bold and brave flex their ego’s and horsepower at this classic Garrett County event. I am bursting with excitement because this is my first sled drag race other than racing my husband Bob for bragging rights on the lake. I’m still on the fence whether I will suit up and represent the ladies in this all day event. Watching my new husband race may be about all the excitement I can stand in one day, personally. I can’t wait to watch the thunder in all the different classes which go from Stock, Super Stock, and Pro Modified. Word is that the big dogs are bringing in their super hot rods that will be thrilling to watch as they can reach some rally insane speeds. Bring your family, and tell your friends about this supercharged winter event.
Betsy Spiker Holcomb Deep Creek Lakes Favorite RealtorGarrett County Special Olympics Dunk
Garrett County Special Olympics Dunk. This year’s winter season is far from over and in my mind we have a few more annual events left that help define what a special place we have here in Deep Creek Lake. It’s early February and we have snow flurries coming down at the moment. Tuesdays are always a great time on the slopes considering that the traffic has thinned out from the weekend. As we look ahead at the must-see events calendar, we have in our crosshairs the Deep Creek Dunk. This event takes place at DCL’s party hub, The Honi Honi Bar, and you can be sure that it will be standing room only, as always. People make their way by car, truck, snowmobiles, snowshoes, cross country skis, and I’ve even seen a lady pulling her children on a sled across the frozen lake. The event sponsors come in weeks ahead of time with chainsaws and other implements of destruction to cut out a huge area along the shoreline through the 1-2 foot lake ice to set the stage for the insanity. Dunk (not drunk as you may suspect!) participants get people to sponsor them ($50 per sponsor) and they literally bare all and jump into icy Deep Creek Lake to raise money for Maryland’s Special Olympics. Well, not bare all, but last year I did see a guy in Speedos with swim fins and a snorkel mask on, as painful as that may sound. That’s where this gets even more interesting…Aside from the body bearers, some people come dressed up in all kinds of unique, wacky, fun costumes which add even more enjoyment for spectators. Make the decision now; are you a dunker or a watcher? No matter what you do, don’t miss this exciting and fun event that revolves around raising money for a first class charity organization.
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 RealtorFour Season-Deep Creek Lake
Four Season Deep Creek Lake
Imagine with me for a minute a beautiful lake nuzzled into majestic mountain ranges that boasts four spectacular seasons with literally hundreds of different activities to quench your thirst for living. Close your eyes and spin an imaginary wheel with the four seasons on it, and wherever it lands you will be rewarded with a special time to visit us here at the lake. Deep Creek Lake is truly an amazing four season area to come explore with your family and friends. It will not take long for Garrett County to feel like home as you experience year-after-year perfect mountain conditions, one season at a time.
Winter time here at the “Little Tahoe of the East” can be more fun and excitement than you can take. There is plenty of snow to provide a picturesque background to many winter activities. I suggest after getting your fill of skiing or snowboarding that you go take a hike in one of Garrett County’s 7 State Parks. Swallow Falls State Park is my personal favorite in the wintertime because of the partially frozen falls that are covered with hundreds of little icicles. Bring a camera and some snowshoes after a big snow and be prepared to enter a winter wonderland.
Four Season-Deep Creek Lake
As spring starts to slowly melt the snow, again the waterfalls and Youghiogheny River swell dramatically and you will witness some of the most spectacular waterfalls the East Coast has to offer at Swallow Falls State Park. Listen to the sound of water flowing that rivals that of thunder and feel the freight train power of the Yough exploding all around you. Spring is also a good time to get your boat tuned up and head to the lake to begin capitalizing on some productive fishing.
As summer arrives, you are in the heart of my favorite time of the year here. Enjoy low humidity, warm air and lake temperatures, and a zillion things to do. Every day here during the summer season is sacred to me and I count my blessings every car ride to work. Summers here possess a positive, beautiful aura for being alive. Activities? Hmmm…it would take days to list all the things I enjoy doing here during the summer. For a start, go on a hike, go Kayaking, go wakeboarding, go fishing, those are the obvious. Go chase every day with the eyes of an explorer and you’ll be amazed at what you uncover.
Fall here brings people from all over the East Coast to enjoy the stunning fall foliage as the trees prepare to shed their leaving and turn into the most amazing kaleidoscope of colors. Find a spot on Wisp Mountain that has mountain views and you’ll be in awe of colorful mountainscapes. It is also a prime time to go fishing on the lake and in the rivers so don’t forget your fishing gear.
Come visit the only home I’ve ever known and see the brilliance of all four seasons.
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 RealtorDeep Creek Lake Bear Safety Facts
Deep Creek Lake Bear Safety Facts
Although we are experiencing another wonderful snow-filled winter in Deep Creek Lake, it will not be long before spring is here and our friend the ‘Black Bear’ is coming out of hibernation! I thought it would be a good idea to talk about some bear safety and do’s and don’ts from what I have read, and from personal experience living here on Wisp Mountain.
Hiking or Camping: First of all, most attacks are mother bears defending their cubs. I know that baby bear cubs are very cute, but if you see a cub you need to distance yourself calmly and immediately because the mother cub is always close by. Mother bears are very defensive of their cubs so be respectful of their family; do not underestimate the mother’s fury. The old saying, “you attract what you fear”, comes to play when dealing with any wild animal. Remain calm! Slowly back away from a bear confrontation until the bear ignores you. At your campsite, bang pots and pans & yell and clap loudly to try to keep the bear moving away from you. Wave your hands as high as possible to appear larger. Never turn your back on a bear and never run. Running attracts any animal to pursue you. Always cook and store your food at least 100 feet from your camp. Store your food in Tupperware and keep it in a tree 30 feet off the ground and 15 feet from the tree trunk. Remember, bears are very agile tree climbers. My husband and I witnessed a mother and cub grazing through our front yard a few summers back and the playful cub climbed every other 60 foot tree in seconds. The mother occasionally will do the same. It’s hard to comprehend the lightning speed that the bears possess.
Vacationers at Deep Creek Lake- The Department of Natural Resources were called in to help us a few summers back to deal with a bear problem in our neighborhood. Reason being….food in trash cans. People have to understand the importance of keeping trash cans away in their garages or securing them tightly in outside containers. Bears can be huge scavengers if there is a steady food source. Too many mornings going to work or driving around the lake I see trash heaped up improperly outside and you can bet you will find trash littered from dozens of homes all the way up and down the roads of DCL when this happens. First of all, it becomes a huge littering problem for the lake but more importantly it could put your family and children in harms way. Also, some locals think it’s nice to set out food so they can witness the bears eating it. It’s never a good idea to feed the bears; they will become reliant on humans to supply their food source and it quickly becomes habit-forming, creating bear problems within our neighborhood. Lets all be respectful of the bear’s natural habitat and the safety of local and out-of-state residents. Deep Creek Lake is a very special place where we are lucky to interact with a massive amount of wildlife so let’s take a few precautions to respect and enjoy the bears presence in our lives.
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 RealtorSnow Tubing at Deep Creek Lake
No other Deep Creek Lake activity screams family fun like Snow Tubing at Wisp Resort. Take a little time away from skiing or snowboarding and head down to Wisp Outdoors Adventure Park and get the family signed up for a fun afternoon of snow tubing. This takes very little effort, other than bringing your enthusiasm with you, and a smile on your face. Just grab a tube (the firmer, the faster) and head up the magic carpet to the top of the park. Stop and look around at the top because you get an amazing view of McHenry Cove from that vantage point. Don’t be intimidated in any way shape or form. Plant your bottom in a tube and get ready to slide and spin your way up and down the dump-dee-dumps to the bottom. Try it on your belly on your next run if you want to mix up the excitement. Don’t put it off another minute on your next visit to Deep Creek Lake. Watch the kids’ smiles, on both young and adult, at the end of every run and see how they scurry with excitement to their next turn down the mountain.
