Let the Fun Begin

Wisp Resort in Western Maryland

by Sandra Scott

With the warming climate and rising cost I knew that ski resorts could not survive by offering only snow fun so many have added summertime activities but few resorts have embraced the multi-season concept so completely as Wisp Resort in Maryland.

Wisp is located in the westernmost county of Maryland near McHenry on top of Marsh Mountain overlooking Deep Creek Lake, the largest inland lake in Maryland. It is just south of the town named Accident.

The place is an amazing one-stop destination with something for everyone in the family to do in every season. There are 132 acres of skiable terrain, a championship golf course, the Sewickley Spa, and the Adventure Sports Center, along with a hotel and convention center.

When John and I arrived we were given a list of things to do at the resort. It was hard to decide what to do first. We decided to start at the top. We love river rafting and have done so in many places but nothing compares to rafting at the Adventure Sports Center, called ASCI. All the things I found most daunting about river rafting have been eliminated. They have created a whitewater course that is accessed from the pond to the rapids by an automatic ramp – no more carrying the awkward raft down a gravely path to the river. The one thing that terrified me during the usual rafting instructions had to do with how to avoid foot entrapment if I was bounced out. ASCI has eliminated all the typical river hazards such as downed trees and undercut rocks that are places for foot entrapment but left the thrills. They offer rafting from Class 1 to 4. The course is not only for rafting but also for kayaking. They offer traditional kayaking and also one-person inflatable kayaks called duckies. Lessons are available.

After lunch at the top of the mountain we returned to the main part of the resort and decided that the best way to get an overview of the entire area was from the chair lift. The view of the resort and lake on the way down was beautiful and the 25-minute trip giving us plenty of time to enjoy the scenery. On the way up we watched people zip over the coaster track that curved in and out of the woods and under the chair lift.

John and I decided that we would give the coaster a try. I was a bit nervous because I could hear the screams of the passengers while we were on the chair lift. “You are in complete control. Just use the brake. You can go as slow as you want,” explained the attendant. Control. I like to be in control so off I went. Going up to the top made me realize that the hill was a lot higher than I realized. At the top John just took off and was gone. I however inched my way along. In the curve I felt like I was going to fall out and was thankful for the seatbelt. Then I realized that going real slow meant I did not have centrifugal force working in my favor in the curves so I went faster, then faster. When it was over I was ready to go again now that I had learned a few little tricks to make the trip more fun. But John was eyeing the climbing wall.

Once again wall climbing includes all the thrills and skills but with excellent safety measures. When John reached the top on the first try the attendant said, “You can climb down or just push off and the pulley will let you down slowly.” John was surprised at how much trust it took to push off, but push off he did and the lowering mechanism worked perfectly as it slowly lowered him to the ground.

On the way back to the lodge we watched the mountain bikers training for an upcoming race and listened to instructions given to first time mountain boarders. There are some activities that were beyond my ability, but hiking and mountain buggies were a perfect fit. Truly there is something for everyone. There is even a children’s camp making it a popular destination for families.

Deep Creek Lake is a beautiful lake and perfect for sunset pontoon boat rides and jet skiing. There was so much to do and not enough time. We never had time to enjoy the indoor swimming pool and the spa. Besides traditional golf there is disc golf and paint ball.

One day we decided to explore the area and learn a bit about the local history. We visited the log and frame Drane House built in 1800 by the first permanent settlers in the Accident area. At the Garrett County Historical Society I was impressed with how they turned the side of the building into the of Deer Park Hotel façade, one of the many hotels that hosted guests decades ago seeking relief from the summer heat of the city. The museum offered a glimpse into the diverse past of the Deep Creek Lake area.

At nearby Mountain Lake, once a Chautauqua, is a wonderful collection of well-preserved Victorian homes and a small museum. It was such a peaceful and charming corner of the world I would have loved to linger for days. We ended the day at the Spruce Forest Artisan Village. Permanent artist villages are a wonderful concept. Artists are grouped together so people can watch the artists make the items they are interested in buying. At Spruce Forest all the artists are housed in real log cabins. I watched the Gary Yoder carve a delicate feather for one of his birds and Peggy Smith paint on slate.

Once again we learned that no matter where we go there are wonderful things to do and great adventures waiting to be experienced. This was a part of Maryland, that arrow point between Virginia and West Virginia, that we didn’t even know existed. Before we headed home we took one more ride on the chair lift for one last look at the beautiful scenery.

For more information check www.wispresort.com, www.adventuresportscenter.com, www.spruceforest.org, and www.mtnlakepark.com.