A trail enhancement and maintenance project will temporarily close the Fork Run Recreation Area from August 17 through August 25, 2023. This brief interruption is necessary to ensure the safety of all visitors during construction and maintenance activities.
A new beginner loop will be created utilizing sections of the Red and Yellow Trails near the parking area and will expand access to a wider range of outdoor enthusiasts. Also, rock armoring and realignment of the Silver Trail will improve drainage and prevent erosion.
During this temporary closure of Fork Run, the Garrett Trails organization invites visitors to explore other fantastic outdoor destinations in the area:
For hiking, the Meshach Browning Trail System located at 1249 Bumble Bee Rd, Accident, MD 21520 is recommended. The suggested trails are the blue, green, and red trails totaling a distance of 2.5 miles.
For hiking and mountain biking, Deep Creek State Park located at 898 State Park Rd, Swanton, MD 21561 is an alternative trail system. Signed interpretive walks are available from the Discovery Center and on the Brant Mine Trail. Plus, longer, rocky loop trails ascend to the top of Meadow Mountain, providing an excellent bike adventure with a view of Deep Creek Lake.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this temporary closure but we look forward to welcoming you back to Fork Run Recreation Area on Saturday, August 26 when the new and updated trails will be ready to explore.
For further updates and information, please contact Siera Wigfield, Senior Planner, at swigfield@garrettcounty.org or 301-334-7477.
Glendale Road is estimated to be reopened to traffic by Sept. 1. This schedule is subject to potential weather and equipment delays and updates at any time.
The realignment project has had the southern end of Glendale Road closed to traffic since June 14. The closure has allowed drainage and resurfacing work on the road from Route 219 and the entrance to Zeddock Miller Road.
To access the south end of Glendale Road, motorists should follow the detour signs: Sand Flat Road, to Paradise Point Road, to Zeddock Miller Road. All restaurants and businesses on Glendale Road are accessible with the detour.
Readers can view the detour here https://bit.ly/3OWRke6
Upon the reopening of Glendale Road, Zeddock Miller Road will be closed for approximately three weeks for an update to the tie-in entrance from Glendale Road.
August 10, 2023 – In an effort to ensure the safety and quality of Maryland’s transportation infrastructure, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will initiate a significant right lane closure on the westbound stretch of I-68, commonly known as the National Freeway. This lane closure, scheduled to commence on Thursday, August 10, will span from Midlothian Road in Allegany County to MD 546, also known as Finzel Road, in Garrett County.
While the MDOT SHA and its appointed contractors strive to adhere to a stringent schedule, completion dates can be influenced by external factors such as weather conditions. As such, the comprehensive resurfacing project is projected to conclude by December of 2023, provided that weather conditions remain favorable.
for more information visit the MHA on maryland.gov
Nine incredible bands are taking the Outdoor stage of the Garrett County fairgrounds this upcoming weekend. Inside the AG Hall will feature tons of crafters and artisans. Back Outdoors within close proximity to the outdoor stage will include Axe Throwing, Glass Blowing, Blacksmithing, a HUGE kids Zone, and much more! A wide array of Food, Beverage, and mouthwatering Desserts of all kinds, including Liberated Libations! Tickets are on sale and available now through MDTix. Tickets can be purchased through the event website below. This event is brought to you by OMG RELAX and in partnership with Camp Caring of Garrett County. This will benefit school aged children of Garrett County that are cognitively and physically challenged. One very special event not to be missed! For tickets, Go to www.BigFunkyBluesFest.com Schedule is as follows 10:50-11:00- Announcements and National Anthem by Kim Sweitzer
If you’re looking for a last-minute Labor Day getaway, we’ve got some suggestions. The following Airbnbs—some with water views and docks, others close to cute towns or beaches or good restaurants—are ideal for a long weekend that’s an easy drive from DC—and they currently have rental availability.
Ready to get away? Check out these 10 Labor Day-ready vacation rentals in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia.
A Four-Bedroom House in Rehoboth
This family-friendly Airbnb in Rehoboth Beach offers four bedrooms and three-and-half bathrooms and is located in a quiet neighborhood on the south end of Rehoboth, making it walking distance to Dewey Beach restaurants and nightlife, and a short Jolly Trolley ride to the Rehoboth Boardwalk. It’s also walking distance to both the ocean and the Rehoboth Bay. The home includes an outdoor shower and a driveway large enough to accommodate four cars.
A Boutique Hotel Room in Oxford’s Historic District
Walk to pubs, shops, and restaurants from a room at the Sandaway Suites & Beach hotel in Oxford. The hotel offers access to a private beach on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay, as well as water views from many of the rooms. It’s an easy drive to St. Michaels, Easton, or Cambridge.
This four-bedroom house overlooking the Chesapeake Bay accommodates 14 guests and offers water views from most rooms. The property includes a grill, covered balconies, and a hot tub, while community amenities include fishing piers, a beach, and picnic areas. It’s a 10- to 15-minute drive to downtown Annapolis and Quiet Waters Park, where you can enjoy a hike or a picnic.
“Honeysuckle Hideout:” A Four-Bedroom Home on Lake Anna
This newly renovated Lake Anna home caters to groups, kids, and pets, with lake and sunset views from the expansive deck, and a bocce-, frisbee- and soccer-equipped lawn. The backyard slopes down to a dock in a secluded cove. Getting away with a larger group? There is a one-bedroom guest house with a kitchenette that can be added to the reservation for an additional fee. Though you might not want to leave, there is a grocery store and two restaurants within five miles.
This three-bedroom (plus a loft) home on Deep Creek Lake offers water views and a boat slip. Fun fact, says the host: The home was featured on HGTV’s Lakefront Bargain Hunt show. Guests can swim and fish right off the dock in the backyard, or enjoy the hot tub. The home is minutes from shopping and restaurants but note, it’s right off the highway which means you can hear the buzz of traffic throughout the day and night.
A Private, Four-Bedroom Waterfront Estate in Onancock, Virginia
This serene, expansive estate offers 550 feet of Chesapeake Bay waterfront on more than nine acres of lawn and woodland on a peninsula—complete with a .8-mile walking path around the property. Ideal for groups, the home has four bedrooms, an exercise room, and an outdoor patio, plus a fire pit and lawn games including croquet, volleyball, and badminton. Guests can also fish or crab from the private dock, or kayak. Nearby historic Onancock is a walkable town with art galleries, restaurants, and shops, plus a movie theater and playhouse.
This historic three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bathroom home is located in the historic West End area of Cambridge near the water on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The quaint property includes a hot tub, a back deck with a grill, a fire pit, and a front porch with rocking chairs, and it’s a short walk from Long Wharf Park, the Choptank River Lighthouse, and the shops and restaurants in downtown Cambridge.
Newer to Airbnb—meaning, as the host says, you’d be among the first to stay (though it does have four five-star reviews at present), this two-bedroom condo in Dewey Beach accommodates up to six guests on the “quieter side” of the resort-like community of the Residences Lighthouse Cove. The home offers ocean and bay views from its private terrace, is walking distance to Dewey restaurants and nightlife, and offers a shared community rooftop deck and pool with fire pits and grills.
This five-bedroom home, built in 1894, is located in the historic district of Cambridge, on the Eastern Shore. With an updated interior that includes three floors of living space, plus a front porch and backyard, the home can accommodate up to 10 guests, who can explore the small town’s shops, bars, and restaurants just two blocks away.
The very first Garrett County Fair was held in 1917 in the Naylor Building on Third Street in Oakland, and the lot between that building and Center Street. Later, sheds were constructed near Center Street on the Sweeney lot to house part of the exhibits, and successful fairs were held at this location until the early twenties.
As interest in the Fair increased, it became necessary to have more space, so the Bradley property west of Oakland was purchased. Some of the exhibits were housed in the Bradley house. A shed was erected for the livestock and poultry entries. The last of the fairs held at the Bradley farm location was in 1931. Most of the earlier Garrett County fairs were held in late September, because more farm products were available for showing at that time of the year. However, many people who had experience with these fairs said that attendance and general support were in direct relation to the weather, and the weather here in late September is often less than ideal for going to the fair.
Several years of bad weather during fair week resulted in financial losses and the Fifteenth Annual Garrett County Fair, September 15, 16, 17 and 18, 1932, was the last until 1957.
Meetings were held early in 1954 to again organize a Garrett County Fair.
H.G. Gortner, Allen S. Paugh, Sr. Walter DeBerry, Baity Ridder, and then County Extension Agent, John Carter, were among those instrumental in working out details for the first Garrett County Agriculture Fair, Inc. held August 13-17, 1957, on the property of Charles H. Bowman, near Deep Creek, McHenry, Maryland, where the present Fair is held. Officers elected were H.G. Gortner, President; John J. Brenneman, Vice President; Charles A. Wilt, Secretary; Allen S. Paugh, Sr., Treasurer; and Claude W. Wagner, Sr., Manager. The Board of Directors was composed of sixteen men and four women to serve for four-year terms.
The property had one Quonset hut for the first fair. Other tents and temporary buildings were used to house the exhibits and animals. Many improvements have been made to the fairgrounds through the years. Today Garrett County Fair stands as one of the true remaining agriculturally based fairs in the state.
The Garrett County Agriculture Fair is a annual event that transcends the bounds of a typical carnival. From showcasing the finest local produce, animals, Tractor pulls, games, and more to fostering a sense of community and togetherness in our wonderful small community. As we prepare for this year’s extravaganza, here is the schedule that awaits us during the dates of Saturday, July 29th to Saturday, August 6th, with the thrilling carnival rides opening on Monday, August 1st.
Nestled along the North Branch Potomac River lies the ghost town of Kempton, a historic site that straddles both Garrett County in Maryland and Tucker County in West Virginia. Steeped in history since its inception in 1913, Kempton was born as a company town to serve the thriving coal industry, much like its counterparts on the list of forgotten settlements.
The town thrived in the early years, reaching its peak in the 1930s with a population of around 900 residents, the majority of whom were employed by the Kempton Mine Company. With life bustling in the community, it seemed as though Kempton had secured its place in the annals of industrial prosperity.
However, fate had different plans for Kempton, and a somber chapter began to unfold in the 1950s. The once-vibrant town suffered a devastating blow with the abrupt closure of Mine No. 42, sending shockwaves through the local economy. As the lifeblood of the town ceased to flow, its vitality dwindled, and the decline set in.
In the years that followed, Kempton saw a steady exodus of its inhabitants seeking livelihoods elsewhere. Today, only a handful of residents remain in the area, testament to the resilience of those who chose to cling to their roots despite the adversities.
Visitors to Kempton will be met with a haunting scene of remnants from a bygone era. Among the overgrown landscape, one can find traces of its former glory, such as an aging marker and crumbling brick buildings that stand as stoic witnesses to the passage of time. Particularly poignant is the Buxton and Landstreet company store, a once-thriving establishment now succumbing to the elements.
As nature slowly reclaims the land, Kempton’s allure lies in its poignant charm and the bittersweet nostalgia it evokes. Exploring the ghost town allows one to reflect on the fleeting nature of prosperity and the indomitable spirit of those who forged a life amidst the rugged beauty of the region.
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) has kicked off a crucial cleaning and painting project on the US 219 bridge over I-68 (National Freeway) (exit 14) on July 12. This project aims to enhance the bridge’s structural integrity and overall appearance. Barring any adverse weather conditions, the project is anticipated to be completed by the end of August.
To facilitate the project’s smooth execution, motorists should be aware of the following lane closures on I-68:
Single-lane closures will be implemented daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., including some weekend work.
Double-lane closures will occur on Sunday through Thursday, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning, in an effort to minimize traffic delays on I-68.
Furthermore, shoulder closures will be in effect in both east and westbound directions on I-68 throughout the duration of the project. To ensure safety and provide guidance to drivers, portable message boards, construction cones, and barrels will be strategically placed within the work zone.
MDOT SHA has appointed Klicos Painting Company Inc., based in Tarpon Springs, Fla., as the contractor responsible for executing the cleaning and painting tasks. While lane closures and temporary detours may cause inconvenience to drivers, they are essential to preserving a safe and reliable transportation system for everyone.
As the warm weather arrives, MDOT SHA urges all motorists to remain attentive and cautious, especially when sharing the road with pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. Given that motorcycles can sometimes be hidden in vehicle blind spots, a simple act of looking twice can save lives on the road. For any motorists in need, roadside assistance can be accessed by dialing #77 on their mobile devices.
For more information about other significant projects managed by the State Highway Administration, you can visit the project portal or the homepage at roads.maryland.gov. Additionally, for real-time traffic updates and conditions, please refer to md511.maryland.gov. Stay informed and stay safe on the roads!
