Oakland was featured on World Atlas’s list of the friendliest towns in Maryland! With just over 18,000 residents, Oakland was established as a town in 1862 and shows the natural beauty of the state in all four seasons. Outdoor lovers will surely love the surrounding areas which include the Wisp Ski Resort and the Swallow Falls State Park. In addition, the Oakland Historic District is a charming place to discover, where more than 200 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places can be found. These include the Garrett County Courthouse (1907), and of course with a number of cute local restaurants and shops, Oakland’s friendly hospitality is always on display in this most alluring town.
Will O’ The Wisp on Rt. 219, on Deep Creek Lake, Oakland, opened in late 1961 or early 1962. Mr. and Mrs. Helmuth Heise were the hosts.
The Four Seasons Dining Room had a grand opening on Saturday, May 26th 1962 at 3pm, at which time a beautiful 5′ by 9′ oil painting “Four Seasons” by artist Mr. Aza Stanton was unveiled. Charles Apostolou was the Chef.
Helmut died at age 82 in August, 2009. His nickname was “Ace.” He started ski area operations in 1955 in the Deep Creek Lake Area. Wisp Ski Resort was located on 3,080 foot Marsh Mountain. It had 23 slopes and trails totaling 14 miles. He sold his financial interest in Wisp Resort in 2001 yet remained as part of the management team. for more information visit (1) Western Maryland Historic | Facebook
On Saturday, June 10th from 11am-4pm the town of Oakland will be putting on a kickoff to summer event in the Arts & Entertainment District in downtown Oakland! The event will include live music, food vendors, family friendly competitions, a services auction, and a beer walk. Cost for the beer walk is 20 dollars per person and registration starts at 10am. Participants can sample 7 different craft brews from local breweries including Screech Owl Brewing, 1812 Brewing Company, High Ground Brewing, Black Flag Brewery, Olde Mother Brewing Co. and more!
The event will also feature a cornhole tournament that is open to players 12 and up and will be held on Second Street. Cornhole is a lawn game in which players take turns throwing beanbags at a raised platform with a hole in the far end. A bag in the hole scores 3 points, while one on the board scores 1 point. The entry cost is $10 per person and the tournament will be double elimination and bring your own partner. There will be a cash payout for winners.
The Farmer’s Market will be at the Mountain Fresh Pavilion until 1pm that day and local businesses will be having in store specials and sidewalk sales all day. D’s Eats Food Truck, Rotary Fries, 206 Alder, and Grantsville Lions Club Kettle Corn will be on hand with concessions.
DEEP CREEK LAKE — Three employees of Brenda’s Pizzeria at Deep Creek Lake recently spent some time learning more about pizza from Master Chef Gregorio Fierro.
“We are always trying to stay current and on top of trends and pizza,” explained owner Brenda McDonnell. “We have always made our dough, and we wanted to get into featuring different pizzas and toppings and different types of pizzas.”
A supplier from Pittsburgh invited Fierro to teach a class in Pittsburgh, and Todd McEnroe of Nappie’s Food Service invited several employees to attend.
“I am so happy with the three guys who took the class,” McDonnell said. “They were there for five days and learning in the classroom and then actually making the doughs with Chef Gregorio.”
She noted that what they learned will be applied this summer with different pizza types made in the restaurant’s new ovens.
Taking the class were Brenda’s manager Sydney Bauman, Julian Coluzzi and Brian Pessini.
McEnroe explained that he has been with Nappie’s Foods for over 20 years. Nappie’s currently serves family-style restaurants, pizzerias, country clubs and white tablecloth restaurants.
“My specialty has always been the Italian segment of our business specializing in pizza,” he said. “I have been selling to Brenda for five-plus years now. I had the opportunity to host and participate in a pizza school by the premiere Pizzaiolo certification school in the world, which took a lot of planning and having/getting it to be certified by Scuola Italiana Pizzaioli out of Northern Italy.”
McEnroe noted that up to this point, the school had never allowed the class to be taught outside its headquarters in Italy or its certification school in Chicago.
Frostburg State University will be hosting students from both Allegany and Garrett Counties in a Dual Enrollment Pilot program next fall. The Bobcat Academy will give students an immersive college experience and an opportunity to earn college credits while completing their senior year of high school. Dr. Kim Green-Kalbaugh, Chief Academic Officer for Allegany County, spoke about the academy at this month’s school board meeting. Garrett County schools will have open house events on May 19th and 30th for students and parents interested in the Bobcat Academy.
Arrowhead Cove, at Deep Creek Lake, has been selected as a priority area for a pilot dredging project, Garrett County Chamber of Commerce said.
The project will involve the removal of accumulated sediment from the lakebed, revitalizing the waterbody, providing greater boater access, and preserving its ecological integrity.
In this pilot dredging project, Garrett County, the State of Maryland, property owners, and stakeholders will evaluate the pros and cons of dredging within Deep Creek Lake and determine if dredging other sediment-impacted Deep Creek Lake coves is a viable and cost-effective strategy for improving water recreation, water quality, and fish habitat.
The State of Maryland has provided all the funding for the project costs thanks in part to the efforts of former Senator George Edwards and former Delegate Wendell Beitzel.
A request for bids has been released and construction is anticipated to begin in late September 2023.
A public meeting will be held to share the analysis, timeline, and details of the project on Wednesday, May 24, at Garrett College GIEC, beginning at 6pm.
The Department of Public Works – Roads Division advises the public that prefabricated bridge construction will be taking place on North Hill Road beginning June 1, 2023. From this date and for approximately four weeks, the roadway will be closed for the project. The closure area is located between the intersection of North American Road and Shallmar Road.
Alternate routes of traffic during the planned closure includes North American Road or Kitzmiller Road/Route 39.
As both sponsorships and awareness continue to grow for “A Walk for Recovery,” so does the momentum for the focus of the effort: plans for Reflection House, the first residential treatment facility in Garrett County for women suffering from substance use disorder.
The event is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at Deep Creek Lake State Park.
The two-mile walk will be open to all as a way to unify and strengthen the community. It is family, kid and pet friendly.
Looking for an inspiring day on the Celtic Way for the entire family? The 35th Garrett County Celtic Festival welcomes you to the beautiful highlands of Appalachian Maryland. Already filled with living history, clan representation, field exhibits, and Chautauqua style presentations about the Scots, Irish, and Welsh in Western Maryland, the Festival hosts the Highland Games, pipes and drums, 4 stages of musicians and dancers, and features whole family entertainment with all-day activities for all ages. NEW this year are arts workshops for adults: actual weaving along with the history of the Pittsburgh Tartan, Celtic design metal art in copper and silver, wheat weaving and mixed media designs in Celtic traditions, and traditions in quilting. For more information Jun 3 | Garrett County Celtic Festival | Pittsburgh, PA Patch
Get ready for a wild ride through the scenic wonders of the Deep Creek Lake area and mountain Maryland. The 12th annual Garrett County Gran Fondo is now accepting registrations and is proudly presented by the Garrett Trails Organization
MCHENRY, MD, May 05, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ — Whether you’re a casual cyclist or an experienced athlete, this challenging ride is guaranteed to offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience. From the stunning views of the mountains to the vibrant culture at each stop, riders will get to experience all that mountain Maryland has to offer. Not only that, riders can rest assured knowing that their efforts will be put to good use in supporting local trail initiatives led by the Garrett Trails Organization.
Garrett County, Maryland is renowned for its breathtaking scenery and unique outdoor experiences. On Saturday, June 17th, 2023, cyclists from all over the country will have a chance to take in the beauty and majesty of this region with the Garrett County Gran Fondo cycling event.
This challenging ride will take riders on a 25 -125-mile route through some of the most picturesque spots in mountain Maryland. Along the way, riders will get to experience some of Garrett County’s best attractions such as Deep Creek Lake and the scenic Youghiogheny River.
