Saturday, August 11, 2012
Wisp Gets One-Month Reprieve, Not Two
By First Tracks!! Online Media
Deep Creek Lake, MD - A bankruptcy court has given the owners of Maryland’s only ski and snowboard resort a one-month extension on its deadline to submit a financial reorganization plan.
D.C. Development LLC, the owners of Wisp Resort near McHenry, had asked the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Greenbelt, Md., for a two-month extension to today’s deadline to submit its reorganization plan, arguing that it needed more time to negotiate with two unidentified potential buyers of the resort. The court on Thursday agreed instead to extend the deadline to September 10.
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!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Md. ski resort owner talks with prospective buyers
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — The owners of Wisp, Maryland's only ski resort, have met with a number of potential buyers in their efforts to stave off financial failure, one of the partners said Thursday.
But selling the western Maryland resort is not inevitable, as one of the group's major creditors claimed in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court filing this week, said co-owner Karen Myers....
...Myers said Thursday that Wisp ended the winter in better shape than many other ski resorts by trimming expenses.
"We are, and will continue to do, business as usual," she 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! Sunday, March 18, 2012
Seven injured in Wisp Resort race
Last Updated: 6 hours and 11 minutes ago
MCHENRY, Md. - Seven people were injured in a sledding race at Wisp Resort in Garrett County on Saturday.
The accident happened during Wisp’s annual ‘Beachin Weekend' during which the Cardboard Box Derby serves as a fundraiser for a blind skier program. The event which is open to adults and children involves racing a decorated cardboard box down Wisp's tubing lanes. According to derby rules, the contestants’ “vehicles” must be constructed with cardboard boxes, tape and string.
A Wisp spokesperson said a derby participant called the “Dragon Wagon" was carrying fourteen people down a steep snow covered tubing lane. Halfway down, the box lost control and collided with metal pipes that support a snowmaking machine.
Read more: http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/state/accident-at-wisp-resort#ixzz1pa6M0HlK
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! Thursday, March 8, 2012
Grown-Ups Welcome in Wisp's Cardboard Box Derby
| Wednesday, Mar 7, 2012 | Updated 3:16 PM EST
Who ever said that box car derbies were just for kids? Indulge in your childhood fantasy at the annual Cardboard Box Derby at Wisp Resort (296 Marsh Hill Road, Deep Creek Lake, Md.), which is option to all ages.
The event is open to all ages and part of a full weekend of fun at the resort from March 16-18. The derby is Saturday, March 17. Registration begins at 1 p.m and judging runs until 1:30 p.m. Categories for prizes include design, speed and judge’s choice.
"People really go all out for these things," said event coordinator Rick Schiff. "Some of the designs are fantastic." In the past, he's seen a firetruck, a pirate ship and a limo.
Not too shabby, considering participants are limited in building materials to cardboard, tape and string.
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! Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Pittsburgh native Wallisch is savoring his X Games gold in slopestyle event Read more: Pittsburgh native Wallisch is savoring his X Games gold in slo
Friday, February 3, 2012
Tom Wallisch scored the highest marks in the history of the slopestyle event to win gold at the X Games in Aspen, Colo., last week, but he took his first jumps ever as a pint-sized skier at Wisp Resort in Garrett County, Md.
The Pittsburgh native graduated from Chartiers Valley in 2006 and headed west for the University of Utah and, of course, more snow. In the nearly six years since, Wallisch has become one of the best slopestyle skiers in the world.
It's a distinction he admits isn't typical of someone who grew up in Western Pennsylvania. But the 24-year-old resident of Salt Lake City said that's the beauty of slopestyle, a discipline that involves performing tricks on terrain park features such as rails, walls and jumps. You don't need to have access to the biggest, steepest mountains to do it.
Read more: Pittsburgh native Wallisch is savoring his X Games gold in slopestyle event - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/lifestyles/fitness/s_779727.html#ixzz1loJPpaf2
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! Monday, January 2, 2012
HAPPY JANUARY - WISP
$29 DEAL DAY MONDAYS
Beginning Janaury 2 the $29 Deal Day Mondays include Lift Ticket, Ski or Snowboard Rental & 1-hr Clinic. View details here.
HERO'S DAY
Wisp is honoring our nation's heros with a complimentary 1-day lift ticket. Find all the details here.
SUBARU MASTER THE MOUNTAIN
Hang with Team Subaru & sign up for beginner lessons, great prizes & more. Discover more, go here.
WINTER TRAILS DAY
Wisp Outdoors Nordic Center is offering complimentary rentals, lessons & information on cross country skiing and snowshoeing, based on availability. More info here.
FRIDAY NIGHT RAIL JAM #1
Open style rail jam under the lights in the Pro Park at the base of Face. Best trick wins the show. Open to skiers & boarders.
NSAA NATIONAL SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK
This week is dedicated to teaching and practicing safe winter sport habits! Learn the Skier / Boarder Responsibility Code here.
MIDWEEK MADNESS LODGING PKG STARTING AT $59*
Enjoy 1-night's lodging at the slopeside Wisp Resort Hotel & a 1-day lift ticket. Find more lodging packages here.
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! Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Best Places to Ski Near DC, VA, & MD
Fun Day on the Slopes
Often called the “skiing White House reporter,” Connie Lawn, BBC and USA Radio freelancer, has been hitting the slopes for nearly 40 years.
Lawn, who’s done ski reports for WTOP radio and Snowcountry.com, steals away when she can to Whitetail Resort in Pennsylvania. “When I was in New Zealand skiing at resorts used for summer training by the US Olympic ski and snowboard teams, I noticed that these have the same feel, the same conditions, and the same altitude as Whitetail,” she says.
Lawn isn’t the only White House reporter who likes Whitetail. Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier heads there with his wife.
“You can get there easily on a Saturday morning for a day of skiing,” he says. “The snow can be as good as out west. We like moguls, and they have trails with bumps. I’ve had a few wipeouts at Whitetail, so they definitely have some difficult terrain.”
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! Friday, November 18, 2011
Wisp Winter White Sale
There have been snow flurries throughout the day here in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. Mother Nature & Old Man Winter are helping prep the stage for the Wisp Winter White Sale, only two days away!
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! Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Winter adventures in Maryland's mountains
For a festive holiday that will take your breath away, a trip to the ‘Mountain Side of Maryland’ may be just the ticket. Rollercoaster through mountains, sledge with beautiful huskies, snowmobile across snow-capped terrain, or enjoy the stunning views from a private lakeside cabin there is something for everyone.
Maryland’s western region boasts plenty of outdoor activities, panoramic views and the historic and charming mountain towns of Cumberland, Frostburg, Grantsville, Hagerstown, Oakland and Sharpsburg. The perfect place to recharge for the New Year, Deep Creek Lake boasts stunning views and activities including ice fishing, skiing, snowtubing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing and ice skating. With a variety of lodges, cabins and chalets around the lake this is the perfect retreat for couples families and large groups.
The Mountain Coaster at Maryland’s Wisp Resort is the only one of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region. It is a real adrenaline rush and combines breathtaking views from the top of Wisp Mountain with the thrill of a rollercoaster ride. You’ll dip, roll and twist through 350 vertical feet of stunning mountain and forest landscape, reaching speeds up of to 26mhp. A perfect alterative way to take in the views you can even slow the speed of the cart with individual braking systems.
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! Monday, November 14, 2011
Skiers will discover new terrain, equipment at many regional resorts
By Lawrence Walsh, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Daniel Marsula/Post-Gazette illustration
New is the word for the 2011-12 snow-sports season at local and regional resorts.
A new owner at Peek'n Peak; new concessionaire at Ski Denton; new restructuring at Wisp; new terrain at Seven Springs and Hidden Valley; new lifts at Holiday Valley, Kissing Bridge and Ski Sawmill; and new snow-grooming machines at Blue Knob, Snowshoe, Wisp, Holiday Valley and Kissing Bridge.
New restaurants at Snowshoe; new benefits for season passholders at Blue Knob, Hidden Valley, Seven Springs, Snowshoe, Whitetail and Wisp.
And new prices -- slightly higher at most resorts and, at some places lower, such as the all-inclusive weekday packages at Hidden Valley and Wisp. You can get a lift ticket, lesson and rental equipment for $28 on Mondays and Tuesdays at Hidden Valley and $29 on Mondays at Wisp.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11317/1189041-287.stm#ixzz1e4CCHVum
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! Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Wisp Resort owners file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
Comments 2Share84
By Hanah Cho, The Baltimore Sun
6:51 p.m. EDT, October 17, 2011
The owners of a ski resort near Deep Creek Lake have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy-law protection while they try to resolve financial difficulties related to another business.
DC Development LLC, which owns Wisp Resort in Garrett County, announced the filing Sunday.
The company has been unable to renegotiate the repayment of a $28.5 million loan with BB&T Corp. The loan was tied to the construction of an 18-hole golf course and community called Lodestone Golf Club. The golf club property, which is near the ski resort, has experienced lackluster sales of home sites.
DC Development — which filed for bankruptcy-law protection on Saturday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Greenbelt — said Chapter 11 protection would allow it to work out its loan restructuring and provide "breathing room needed to continue to seek new investors for the companies."
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! Wisp Resort’s fortunes have gone downhill
by Lindsey Robbins, Staff Writer
Maryland’s only ski resort has fallen victim to the collapse of the real estate market, as its owners filed for bankruptcy on Saturday after defaulting on a $23.5 million loan.
D.C. Development of McHenry, owner of Wisp Resort in Garrett County, and related companies filed the Chapter 11 petition in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Greenbelt, citing $50 million to $100 million in assets and $10 million to $50 million in debts.
“Wisp Resort continues to perform exceptionally well and will continue to be the region’s premiere skiing resort,” Karen F. Myers, an executive with Wisp Resort Development, wrote in an affidavit with the filing. “However, as a result of the [Branch Banking & Trust] confessed judgment, the companies must restructure their debt and their relationship with BBT.”
Myers is a prominent businesswoman in the state; last year, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce inducted her into its Business Hall of Fame.
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! Monday, August 29, 2011
Snow Will Blow
Snow will blow once again this winter at the Wisp Ski Resort, a guarantee expressed this week by Karen Myers, a co-owner of the resort and president of Recreational Industries Inc. She made that promise in spite of the fact that the land development corporation that is responsible for the Lodestone Golf Course and home sites atop Marsh Mountain has been slapped with a judgment from BB&T, the provider of the loan for the project. Myers and the other owners are working with attorneys and consultants to persuade the financial institution to agree to a loan restructuring, but in the meantime she says that it will be business as usual at the Wisp this winter. "We plan to be making snow in less than 90 days," Myers said, "and hope to open the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 25)." She added that the resort has already sold a record number of season passes for the 2011-12 season and is "enjoying its best summer ever." See story for details. Photo by John McEwen.
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! Friday, August 26, 2011
Wisp Ski Operation Intact, Despite Filing Against Development Group
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Aug. 25, 2011
If Mother Nature cooperates, snowmaking at the Wisp Resort in McHenry will commence in less than 90 days, and skiers and snowboarders will be back on the slopes beginning the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 25.
That is according to Karen Myers, president of Recreational Industries Inc., who met with reporters this week after it was learned that Branch Banking & Trust (BB&T) Corporation has entered judgments against the Wisp's land development company, called Wisp Resort Development Inc., and various loan guarantors because of lagging payments on loans of over $28 million to fund the new Lodestone Golf Course and home sites atop Marsh Mountain.
The guarantors of the loan, all of which are named in the judgment, are Recreational Industries Inc., DC Development Inc., and Clubs at Wisp Corporation, as well as Myers, Gary Daum, and Steven Richards, owners.
Since the filing in Garrett County Circuit Court last month, rumors have abounded that the Wisp Resort either has been or will be sold because of the current financial situation.
"This is probably the same story that is being told by a lot of other developers around the country," Myers said, noting the continuing lag in the housing market, adding, "The 'illness' [in our operation] is just related to the land development segment of the business."
Meanwhile, Myers described the Wisp Resort as "a vibrant and profitable business" that will begin its 56th season of skiing this fall.
It was in February 2007 that BB&T provided a loan of $23.5 million as a revolving line of credit to fund the construction of the golf course and the Lodestone home sites. Because this type of loan is predicated on sales of home sites to pay down the loan balance and because the lot sales were sluggish, as construction on the golf course neared its end in 2008, an additional $5 million was borrowed "because we believed it was better to have a finished golf course than a partially finished golf course," Myers explained.
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!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wisp owners mull sale of western Md. ski resort; low nearby home sales to blame
MCHENRY, Md. — The owners of Maryland’s only ski resort say they’re considering selling the landmark property to resolve financial problems linked to a slide in home construction around nearby Deep Creek Lake.
Karen Myers says selling the Wisp Resort is the last option she and her partners in DC Development LLC would pursue to repay more than $23 million to BB&T Corp. of Winston-Salem, N.C. They’re also seeking new investors in their businesses. But in an interview this week at the base of 3,100-foot Marsh Mountain, Myers said everything is on the table if they can’t buy more time.
The owners of Maryland’s only ski resort say they’re considering selling the landmark as the last option in repaying a loan that was used to build the nearby Lodestone golf course community. But only about 20 of the 197 planned home sites have been sold and the bank is demanding payment.
“One of my goals really was to be a part of Wisp in the next stage of development,” said Myers, whose group has owned the resort since 2001. “I hope that I’m a part of the team that does it.”
She said Wisp is in no danger of closing.
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! Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wisp's 20% Season Pass Discount Ends Today
Summer is here so save on Winter now!
Purchase your pass here!
*Excludes certain products.
Plus, Season Passes purchased by today will receive a Summer Savings Card loaded with discounts on many of Wisp's summer offerings including:
Golf, Off-road Mountain Buggy Tours, the NEW Chipmunk Challenge Course,
Segway & Kayak Tours, DC's Bar & Restaurant & More!
More details here.
If you or someone you know is considering 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! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wisp ski season to end Sunday Mar 27, 2011
*The 2010 - 11 ski season will officially end at the end of the day on Sunday, March 27, 2011*. The Mountain Coaster, Flying Squirrel Canopy Tour, and Seqway Tours will be available beginning the weekend of April 2nd and 3rd and on a weekend basis until our regular operating schedule closer to Memorial Day.
If you or someone you know is considering 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! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.Monday, February 7, 2011
Wisp Has $29 Monday Special That's Great For Valentine's Day
Feb 7, 2011 Roger Leo, Eastern Seaboard Editor
Wisp offers a $29 package Mondays.
Where: Wisp Resort, 296 Marsh Hill Road, McHenry, MD, 21541
Cost: $29, obviously
Info: More Information
Wisp Resort in McHenry, Md., has a Monday Special that includes an all-day lift good 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., ski or snowboard rental equipment, and a 60-minute clinic.
The Mondays $29 Deal Day special costs - obviously -- $29.
"It's a perfect way to spend Valentine's Day," said Wisp's Lori Epp. "You can't beat the price, and the clinics are geared for skiers of every ability, from never-evers to experts."
The clinics include learning to ski or snowboard, maneuvering through the bumps, carving elegant turns on skis or board, and navigating terrain parks, she said. There are more.
The Mondays $29 Deal Day special is not valid during Presidents Week vacation.
Wisp has received bountiful snowfall this winter. The total now stands at 128 inches, more than the area's traditional seasonal average of 100 inches, or its newly devised average of 120 inches.
Read the full article here.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Need more snow? Go west
By this date last year, BWI-Marshall Airport had already recorded 21.9 inches of snow, beating the annual average for Baltimore. This year we've seen just 3.5 inches. What a difference a year, and maybe a La Nina can make.
If that's a disappointment to you, you can fix things simply by hopping in your car and driving out to Garrett County. After 10 or 12 feet of snow last winter, those hardy folks are looking at an unbroken line of snowflake icons on their 7-day forecast. Moisture off Lakes Michigan and Erie, coupled with persistent winds from the northwest, are producing a more or less steady fall of snow this week.
The WISP Resort in McHenry has measured 102 inches of snow so far this season, including the 30 inches they've received this week. All the trails are open and there's plenty of winter to go around out there. Garrett County was under a Winter Storm Warning until 11 a.m. today, with another 1 to 3 inches of snow due, and sub-zero wind chills. Snow showers and flurries are likely to continue.
Pretty much the same forecast - snow chances and sub-freezing cold - will hold for Pittsburgh, too, as the Ravens head out there Saturday for the divisional playoff game.
Read the full article here.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Slopes cure cabin fever
Three area ski resorts just a short drive away
December 27, 2010 - By Edward Marshall, Journal Staff Writer
MARTINSBURG - With schools closed and students home for holiday break, families may be getting a little cabin fever now that the Christmas holiday is officially over....
...Those up for a slightly longer drive also can hit the slopes at the Wisp Resort, tucked away in the mountains of Western Maryland near Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County.
Located at 296 Marsh Hill Road in McHenry, Md., Wisp Resort is about a two-hour drive from Martinsburg.
With more than 100 inches of annual snowfall in Garrett County, Wisp's 132 acres of ski terrain provide snowsport enthusiasts the perfect winter playground. The resort's trail system features 32 slopes and trails totaling 10.5 miles on 132 acres of skiable terrain. The resort also features Bear Claw Adventure Park, which includes snowtubing lanes, a mountain coaster and an ice skating rink.
Through Jan. 2, the resort will be operating under peak holiday hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Daily rates for skiing and boarding range from $36 to $65 depending on age and the amount of time you want to spend on the slopes. Snow tubing rates for holidays are $25 per person for two-hour sessions. When traveling from Martinsburg, take I-81 North toward Hagerstown, crossing into Maryland. From I-81 North, take I-70 West's Exit 4 toward Hancock. Once in Hancock, merge onto I-68 West via Exit 1A on the left toward Cumberland. From I-68 West, merge onto U.S. 219 South via Exit 14A toward Oakland. Turn right onto Sang Run Road. Take the third left onto Marsh Hill Road. The resort will be on your right.
For more detailed information about Wisp Resort, visit www.wispresort.com
Read the full article here.


