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Mini marina ordinance update

From deepcreektimes.com:

The judge did not make a decision regarding the mini-marina ordinance as expected on June 1.  A public notice appeared in last week’s Republican stating that Deep Creek Marina has submitted an application to rent boats out of the Lakeside Club/Service Center location on Deep Creek Drive.  Written public comments will be accepted until Monday June 17 and can be sent to:  Deep Creek Lake Recreation Area, 898 State Park Road, Swanton, MD  21561.

Rocky Gap revenues top $700,000 in 10 days

Majority of money was from casino’s slot machine operation

Matthew Bieniek Cumberland Times-News

ROCKY GAP — Rocky Gap Casino Resort made $776,133 in revenue from slots and table games during the 10 days it was open in May, state gaming officials said.

The casino opened May 22. More than $600,000 of the revenue was from the slots side of the operation, which took in $648,365.59.

“Gross gaming revenue per unit per day was: $106.39 for slot machines and $1,161.52 for banking table games. Rocky Gap Casino Resort operates 554 slot machines and 10 banking table games,” according to a press release from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission.

Allegany County Commission President Michael McKay said it was too early to start thinking about the potential revenue to the county. McKay said he wants to see what happens over a two- to three-year period, at least, before making any judgments.

“With the projections and the May numbers it is too soon to forecast success or have apprehension,” McKay said. “I’m optimistic and excited by the early results.” McKay said he took it as a good sign that it was hard to find parking when he stopped at Rocky Gap on business. But he offered further words of caution.

“We need to be fiscally prudent. … It’s premature to start commenting and premature for the county to start talking about spending the revenue,” McKay said. The county and the casino company have a payment in lieu of taxes agreement in place that will pay the county at least $295,000 a year.

Slot machine revenue from Rocky Gap included a contribution of $272,315.55 to the state’s education trust fund and local impact grants of $17,830.05. Lakes Entertainment earned $324,128.81, according to commission records. Total table game revenue was $127,767.50.

Rocky Gap helped save the day, or month, for state gambling revenues.

“In a year-to-year comparison — excluding Maryland Live, which opened in June 2012 and Rocky Gap Casino Resort — May 2013 casino revenue decreased from May 2012 by $1,206,766 or 8.29 percent. The addition of Maryland Live and Rocky Gap Casino Resort, however, brought a year-to-year net benefit to the state of $36,599,254. May’s figures brought total fiscal year 2013 gross revenues to $511.1 million,” according to the press release. The Maryland Live Casino is in Anne Arundel County.

Lakes Entertainment controls subsidiary Evitts Resort LLC, which owns the casino.

Lakes also held its 2013 annual shareholders meeting June 5 at Rocky Gap. Shareholders elected a five-member board of directors consisting of Lyle Berman, Timothy Cope, Neil I. Sell, Ray Moberg and Larry C. Barenbaum. Berman is the chief executive officer of the company and Cope is the chief financial officer. The information was reported, as required, to the federal Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com.

More here.

Major price drop: 767 Harveys Peninsula Rd – Lakefront, Type A dock – ga7556485 – $579,000

767 HARVEYS PENINSULA RDGA7556485 – $579,000

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“BeDazzled” Lakefront Home nestled amongst the natural beauty of Deep Creek Lake. This home features 5 Bedrooms, 2 baths, spacious living areas, granite counters, fireplace, garage and large deck for entertaining. Level Lakefront with Type A Dock. Be – Dazzled! Call today to see this home. More here.

Road Trippin' – Plan a weekend away with our guide to summer road trips

Deep Creek Lake Area

Approximately 55 Miles from Morgantown

 

Pack your bags and head across the border (little more than one hour from Morgantown) to Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County. Maryland is known for its gorgeous bays and fresh seafood, but don’t forget about its freshwater. Deep Creek Lake is the largest inland body of water in Maryland. With 69 miles of shoreline, the lake is the centerpiece of a close-knit county that provides year-round recreation, lodging, dining, and attractions to more than one million visitors annually.

The area around Deep Creek Lake is getting a lot of buzz, and it isn’t hard to see why with water sports enthusiasts around every corner, four seasons of recreation at Wisp Resort, the Adventure Sports Center International (the world’s only mountaintop recirculating white water course), and 90,000 acres of public land to dig into. Boating, fishing, kayaking, tubing, wakeboarding, swimming, and canoeing are the lifeblood of the community—listed on Budget Travel as one of America’s Best Summer Lake Towns in 2010. Visitors can rent nearly any watercraft imaginable in one of the many marinas or bring their own. The area also boasts three golf courses, of which Lodestone Golf Course at Wisp was ranked seventh in Best New Courses in 2010 by Golf Magazine. Horseback riding, fishing, hiking, and biking are great ways to experience the countryside in Garrett County, or try the Mountain Coaster at Wisp Resort—a gravitational feat of engineering that rockets riders through trees at more than 25 miles per hour.

More here.

visitdeepcreek.com

Deep Creek's Got Talent at Honi Honi Bar

deep-creeks-got-talentBenefits HART for Animals

The Honi-Honi Bar is proud to present our 6th Annual Deep Creek’s Got Talent! fundraiser event on Saturday, June 15th, 2013 at the Honi-Honi Bar.  Last year, through the generosity and support of contestants, sponsors, and local businesses, we were able to raise over $13,000, for the Dove Center of Garrett County.  Over the past five years, through the generosity and support of contestants, sponsors, businesses and the community, Deep Creek’s Got Talent! has raised more than $68,000 for local charities and organizations.

This year, we are very excited to announce our support to HART for Animals.  HART for Animals’ mission is to save the lives of adoptable animals through rescue and transport to areas where they will have a better chance of being adopted; reducing pet overpopulation through low-cost spaying and neutering; and building a humane and friendly animal adoption center where adoptable animals will never have to be euthanized.  Since the Spay/Neuter clinic opened in 2009, HART has spayed and neutered 3,200 animals, and in 2012, 512 animals were rescued through transports.  HART recently opened “Pick of the Litter” Thrift Shop and added Wellness Packages at the Spay/Neuter Clinic.  HART for Animals Center will open this summer on Bumble Bee Road.

In Maryland, tiny houses that are a little bit Tolkien, a little bit Thoreau

Based in the wilds of western Maryland, bespoke tiny home specialist Hobbitat creates stunning, small-sized dwellings using primarily reclaimed and recycled materials.
Thu, May 30 2013 at 1:24 PM

Photos: Hobbitat

Today, here’s a quick look at an outfitter of custom tiny homes out of bucolic Garrett County, Maryland, that specializes in creating pint-sized structures that “speak to the art of the small building movement” while incorporating an impressive amount of reclaimed, recycled, and locally sourced building materials and architectural elements. And given that the design/build firm in question is named Hobbitat and its homes are referred to as “Waldens” — alternately known as “Hobs” — this is one company that clearly wears its literary inspirations on its sleeves.
A relative newbie on the tiny home building scene that’s already received props from tiny house demigod Jay Shafer, Baltimore refugee and historic restoration specialist Bill Thomas and his wife, Sue, established Cranesville-based Hobbitat in the beginning of 2012 as a spin-off of their “normal sized” custom home building business, Blue Sky Ventures. With the creation of Hobbitat, the duo decided to “shank the size of the ‘house’ and move the construction process inside” according to the company website.

Property Owners' Association of Deep Creek Lake – eblast

The Deep Creek Lake POA sent this eblast the other day:

Greetings,

The 2013 summer season is here.  We hope you and your friends have an enjoyable summer at DCL.  We want to remind you that the General Membership Meeting of the POA, which is open to the public will be held on Saturday, June 22 at the Garrett 8 Cinemas.  Coffee and refreshments will be available at 8:00 AM and the meeting will begin promptly at 8:30 AM.
Some of our members have returned to their homes to find that the Sandy left behind storm damage that now has to be cleared.  Some of that damage is in the buffer strip and even into the lake.  DNR has been working with property owners in permitting the removal of this storm damage.  It is important that you work with DNR and file a permit request to do any work in the buffer strip.  The POA website has a link to the DNR Buffer Strip Regulations and Permits .

The Policy Review Board (PRB) and the Lake Management Office have been made aware of a general mailing advertising a general aquatic herbicide for use on Sub Aquatic Vegetation (SAV). The PRB and DNR have discussed and continue to discuss the use of herbicides in the lake but at this time DNR does not plan to use any herbicide in DCL.  For more information about this, please see the PRB News at the POA website.  The leadership of both the PRB and the Lake Management office are concerned that people may think they can use this product in DCL.  PRB and DNR reminds everyone that it is illegal to use any chemicals in the lake without Lake Managment approval.

Within the next few days you will be receiving the Spring issue of the POA Dispatch filled with news about POA activities.  Past issues of the Dispatch can be found here.

We look forward to seeing you at the General Membership Meeting on June 22.

USACK Trials Put Olympian And GC Residents In Same Waters

The 2013 U.S. Canoe/Kayak Team Trials and Deep Creek Open were held at the ASCI whitewater course in McHenry this past weekend. The event hosted several of the best paddlers from around the world, including two-time Olympian Casey Eichfeld (above) and Garrett County resident Casey Beall (below). Eichfeld of Drums, Pa., grabbed a spot on the U.S. World Cup Team after seizing first place in men’s single canoe, and paired with Devin McEwan to grab the gold in men’s double canoe as well. Eichfeld’s penalty-free first run was 1.48 seconds faster than five-time Olympic medalist Michal Martikan of Slovakia. Beall is currently a student at Garrett College, and works at ASCI and Precision Rafting in Friendsville. His grandmother, Mary Walcek, has been a Garrett County resident of over 20 years. While Beall did not meet the standards to earn a spot on the Under-23 U.S. Team, he did qualify for the Under-23 World Championships. More here.

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Rocky Gap Casino Resort flush with visitors; 1,000 estimated on first day

Greg Larry Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — CUMBERLAND — Nearly 300 people were waiting outside and in the lobby Wednesday when Rocky Gap Casino Resort officials emerged at about 4 p.m. to announce they had received a call from the Maryland gaming commission that they were approved to open.

Those waiting were immediately let inside the casino where the crowd continued to grow through out the evening.

Officials estimated about 1,000 people visited Maryland’s newest casino on its first day.

Casino officials had been waiting for the final approval of a license after a test audit of the casino’s procedures and functions on Monday.

The crowd began to build early Wednesday as expectations of the opening of its doors grew.

Receiving the call from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency was Scott Just, the resort’s general manager, from Lakes Entertainment Inc., the operators of the casino.

“Our team is experienced in gaming and hospitality and is looking forward to providing a great gambling experience and exceptional guest services,” said Just.

A visit to the resort and casino Thursday afternoon found about 200 people playing at the 558 slots and 10 table games. Some players who spoke to the Times-News asked to remain anonymous, while others provided only their first names.

Rip Coulehan and his wife Shawn of Cumberland were among those who came out Thursday.

“It’s impressive. I just hope it brings people out and creates more positive attitudes in the area,” said Rip Coulehan. “It’s like a mini Las Vegas without the vulgarity.”

Another Cumberland resident, Denise, was asked for her impression when she walked through the door.

“I just said, ‘Wow!’ It’s very nice. I think it will do well. We need some excitement in the area,” she said.

Several of those at the casino were from towns throughout the tri-state region.

Husband and wife Tim and Chris Miller of Hagerstown spoke after Tim received $15 on a free spin and Chris receivied $7 as part of a current promotion for anyone who signs up for the resort’s Rewards Club. Upon signing up for the club, which is free, a member may win up to $500 as part of the casino’s Join, Spin and Win promotion.

“I think it’s nice. They have a lot of different machines and the people are very attentive,” said Chris Miller.

“I like that they have free coffee and soft drinks. Other places we’ve gone charge for that,” said Tim Miller.

Chris Miller said the couple’s goal was to “leave with a little more than we came with.”

Allegany County will receive 5.5 percent of casino profits, which officials laud as good news for the local economy. Increased income for the county is expected to help fund increased road improvements, health programs, education and more.

Rocky Gap Casino Resort, which is also constructing a new addition in the form of an events center, is expected to employ around 350 people.

Three women from the Bedford, Pa., area were enjoying playing the Pink Diamond video terminals.

“It’s fun and it’s close for us,” said one woman.

“They’ve done a nice job,” said another.

Another woman from Needmore, Pa., also had words of praise. “I think it’s nice and it’s a good thing for the area,” she said.

Lakes Entertainment officials stressed that gambling at the casino should be done in a responsible fashion.

In addition to the casino, the resort has four restaurants, a spa, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course with walking trails, fishing and other activities.

Greg Larry can be contacted at glarry@times-news.com.

More here.

Eco – Friendly Hobbitats at Blue Moon Rising

By LYNNE OCONNOR on May. 23, 2013

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Recently featured on Tiny House Talk, tiny home builder, Hobbitat, was started just over a year ago by Maryland custom home builder and historic restoration specialist, Bill Thomas.

Since 1995, Bill and his wife, Sue, had been designing and building homes as Blue Sky Ventures and, in 2011, they began constructing little buildings with reclaimed materials and decided to shift focus with Hobbitat when they began work on thirteen cabins for the Blue Moon Rising eco-tourism retreat on Maryland’s Deep Creek Lake.

Initially called “Hobs,” the rental cabins have been dubbed “Waldens” after Henry David Thoreau’s masterpiece. Prefabricated off-site using materials that are local and sustainable, reclaimed, or recycled, each Walden is distinct in personality and design.

More here.