Page 58 - Garrett County 2022/2023 Visitors Guide

Community Profile: TOWNS Outdoor Experiences
HISTORIC, SCENIC
AND FRIENDLY:
Get to Know Garrett County’s Towns
Accident
This quaint town north of McHenry got its unusual name in the 1700s. Around 1751, George Deakins received a land grand from King George II, for 600 acres of land anywhere in Western Maryland. Deakins sent out two different groups of engineers to look for the best land. When the two groups returned with their maps, they found they had each surveyed the same tract of land by accident. Hence, Deakins chose the area for settlement and it became known as “The Accident Tract.”
Drane House, the oldest known structure in Garrett County, is on the National Register of Historic Places. There is a Memorial Garden on the property, where the local Garden Society plants heirloom vegetables and flowers.
Accident’s biggest annual event is the Fourth of July Homecoming. A parade, concerts, games and good food draw residents and visitors to the town.
Two major employers — Phenix Technologies Inc. and Garrett Container Systems Inc. — are located in Accident.
Population: 335 Elevation: 2,415 Incorporated: 1916
Deer Park
During the 1800s, this small town east of Oakland was a favorite resort for the wealthy and famous in the Baltimore-Washington area. Three presidents (Grant, Harrison
and Cleveland) vacationed at the Deer Park Hotel, and a fourth (McKinley) visited before he ascended to the presidency. While the hotel was razed in 1942, a marker commemorates its former site.
Deer Park is experiencing a rebirth in
other ways, with new water and sewer lines being installed and new construction being planned. Historic homes and buildings are undergoing restoration. Deer Park is the source of Deer Park Natural Spring Water and is home to the Flying Scot Sailboat Company, which manufactures state-of-the- art fiberglass boats.
The area’s elegant vacation tradition remains alive at the Deer Park Inn. Housed in a Victorian cottage, the inn and restaurant contain many period furnishings, including some from the Deer Park Hotel.
Population: 429 Elevation: 2,441 feet Incorporated: 1884
Friendsville
Garrett County’s oldest settlement was named for its founder, John Friend Sr. Following the establishment of the Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad, the town became an important shipping point for lumber. Today, Friendsville is conveniently located along I-68.
Vacationers flock to Friendsville for adventure sports, including great opportunities for whitewater rafting along the Youghiogheny River. The Youghiogheny, as well as Bear Creek, are two of the most significant trout waters in Maryland, and the Kendall Trail along the Youghiogheny River is a great destination for scenic hiking.
Local businesses include Precision Rafting, Wilderness Voyageurs and Demaree Inflatable Boats. Those interested in genealogical research will find records at the Friend Family Association of America’s headquarters, at First and Maple Streets.
Population: 438 Elevation: 1,549 feet Incorporated: 1902
56 The Deep Creek Experience
PHOTO BY SARAH DUCK