Rocky Gap casino license awarded

State hopes slots will revitalize money-losing resort

By Michael Dresser and Hanah Cho, The Baltimore Sun

8:38 p.m. EDT, April 26, 2012
Hoping to turn around the struggling resort, Maryland's slots location committee awarded a license Thursday for a casino at Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort in Allegany County.

The Video Lottery Facility Location Commission voted unanimously to issue the license to Evitts Resort LLC, the sole remaining applicant after the panel eliminated a group led by former Democratic Party Chairman Nathan Landow in January. The license is contingent on Evitts getting construction financing, but company officials do not expect that to be a problem.

The commission's action came the same day the Cordish Cos. announced that the Maryland Live! Casino at Arundel Mills will open to the public at 10 p.m. June 6, bringing the number of operating slots facilities in the state to three.

More here.

Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!

877-563-5350 - toll free

Rocky Gap improvements part of O’Malley budget

Funds also going to Garrett trail project

From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — Im-provements at Rocky Gap State Park and on Garrett County trails are part of nearly $23 million that Gov. Martin O’Malley has proposed in the fiscal 2013 capital budget for state park and other public land projects.

The draft budget includes $773,000 for office improvements at Rocky Gap; $150,000 for trail construction in Garrett state parks; and $1.9 million for Washington County’s Western Maryland Rail Trail Project.

Other statewide estimates include $1.4 million for new, natural playgrounds in state parks; $900,000 for green cabin renovations; and $540,000 for removal of impermeable surfaces.

O’Malley made the announcement at Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis and said that the projects will support nearly 300 jobs, help restore the environment, reduce energy usage and improve services to visitors.

“Our state parks are tremendous economic engines in our state with a $650 million annual impact on our local economies, a great resource for Maryland families, and a big part of why our tourism industry remains so strong even in tough times,” O’Malley said.

The funding includes more than $14 million from the governor’s capital budget in addition to $8.7 million derived from the Department of Natural Re-sources annual transfer tax allocation.

“I applaud Gov. O’Malley for making this critical investment in our public lands during these difficult financial times,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. The Maryland Park Service has committed to “green” its 66 state parks by focusing on energy improvements, state-of-the-art building design and construction, sustainable trails and recycling, as well as reforestation and stormwater management improvements to help the Chesapeake Bay.

More here.

Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!

877-563-5350 - toll free

Bald eagle killed in Western Maryland

Natural Resources Police investigating shooting of protected bird

By Candus Thomson, The Baltimore Sun

4:17 p.m. EDT, September 19, 2011
Maryland Natural Resources Police is investigating the shooting death of a bald eagle that was found Friday in Allegany County near the Pennsylvania line.

The mature eagle was found by a farm caretaker along the banks of Evitts Creek, just west of Rocky Gap State Park.

"It was probably sitting in a tree when it was shot in the chest," said NRP Sgt. Art Windemuth. "It couldn't have been mistaken for anything else. It had the white head and tail and golden beak and talons. It was the American symbol in full plumage."

A preliminary investigation indicated that it was shot with a rifle and that it had been dead less than a week, Windemuth said.

More here.

Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!

877-563-5350 - toll free

Holiday Light Show Canceled At Md. State Park

Oct 27, 2010 11:20 am US/Eastern

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) ― The American Red Cross says it is canceling its drive-through holiday light show at Rocky Gap State Park near Cumberland due to a lack of volunteers.

Bill Crawford of the group's Western Potomac Chapter told the Cumberland Times-News on Tuesday that after nine years, it's just too much work to manage the more than 60 displays known collectively as Mountain Reflections.

Crawford says the colorful display netted the group $20,000 last season. He says the number of vehicles has dropped from a peak of 7,800 in 2004 to about 4,000 last year.

Crawford says the group's wine-tasting fundraiser in Garrett County has equaled or exceeded net proceeds from the light show in recent years with far less effort.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Deep Creek Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website - competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!