Page 66 - Garrett County 2023/2024 Visitors Guide

PHOTO BY KRISTEN FISCHETTI - HIGHER FOCUS STUDIOS
Getting to Know Garrett County
Garrett County’s neighborly, friendly communities make for a great way of life, whether you’re settling here or just visiting for a while. Here’s some more information to help make your stay as comfortable as possible.
County Seat: Oakland
Government: Three county commissioners
elected to four-year terms Population: 28,702
Elevation: Average – 2,300 feet above sea level
Land Area: 647.10 square miles Average Temperatures: Summer – 73°F,
Winter – 37°F
Yearly Average Snowfall: 110 inches (the highest of any Maryland county). Keysers Ridge holds the state record for the most snowfall ever recorded in a single winter: 262.5 inches.
Duration of Freeze-Free Period: 130 days Wi-Fi Availability: The Visitors Center and
some area businesses offer free Wi-Fi.
Sources: Temperatures and precipitation data are based on the most recent figures from www. usclimatedata.com and the Maryland State Archives at msa.maryland.gov. Population
data is taken from U.S. Census Bureau data
at www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ garrettcountymaryland/pst045216.
COMMUNITY PROFILE: COUNTY INFORMATION
On the Web
Your best source for all things Garrett County is online at visitdeepcreek.com. Start your exploration on the home page by taking the Virtual Reality Tour (see p. 12).
Here’s a list of what else you’ll find on the site:
Lodging – Rental properties, B&Bs, cabins and lodges, campgrounds, motels and hotels listed by category.
Dining – Restaurants, specialty shops, catering and nightlife listed by type.
Hot Deals – Specialty discounts and promotions from area businesses.
Destination Weddings/Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties – Get all the details from venues to vendors to plan your dream wedding or bachelor/bachelorette party.
Relocation Information – Links and tips on how to make Garrett County your new home.
Garrett County Small Town Trail – Garrett County is home to eight incorporated small towns, each of which are well worth a visit for their unique attractions, businesses and beautiful scenery. Follow the Small Town Trail (visitdeepcreek.com/smalltowntrail) to discover them.
Calendar of Events – Monthly, featured and annual events, including everything from festivals to musical performances and ribbon cuttings.
Meetings & Events
Garrett County, with its scenic location and more than 4,000 rooms for lodging, which can accommodate approximately 10,000 people per night, is a dynamic destination to hold a conference, meeting or event. For assistance, contact Kim Folk at 301.387.5238 or kim@garrettchamber.com.
Visitor Assistance
Tourism specialists are available at the Visitors Center in McHenry. 888.387.5237
Dog Friendly
Many hotels and B&Bs and almost a third of Garrett County’s rental homes allow dogs.
State parks and forests vary in their rules. Some parks and forests allow pets in designated areas or seasonally, but always with a leash.
Businesses require patrons to adhere
to proper dog etiquette at all times.
You can view dog-friendly options at visitdeepcreek.com or obtain a detailed list of dog-friendly sites at the Visitors Center.
Media Resources
The Garrett County Republican, a local, weekly newspaper that lists events.
Lake Front Magazine, a monthly guide for information about Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County.
DeepCreekTimes.com is your free local source for news, upcoming events, movies, entertainment, restaurants, shopping and more.
Emergency Numbers
Fire, Ambulance, Police: 911
Emergency Operations: 1.866.254.6184 or
301.334.7609
Maryland State Police: 301.387.1101
Garrett County Sheriff: 301.334.1911
Maryland Natural Resources Police:
1.877.620.8367
Garrett Regional Medical Center (Oakland): 301.533.4000
WVU Medicine Urgent Care: 301.387.8718 UPMC Outpatient Center McHenry:
240.488.4139
Poison Control Center: 1.800.222.1222
Transportation
Auto Rental: Contact the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce for information on local auto rentals. 301.387.4386
Air: The local airport in McHenry welcomes private planes. 301.746.8599
From the Oakland area, the Baltimore/ Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is about 180 miles away, the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is 175 miles away, and the Pittsburgh International Airport is just about 100 miles away.
Train: The nearest Amtrak train station is in Cumberland. 1.800.872.7245
Driving Services: Western Maryland Private Sedan Service, LLC (westernmarylandprivatesedanservice. com) provides private transportation and limo services, including rides to regional airports.
County Caravan (countycaravan.com) offers transportation services for anything from weddings and other large group events to grocery runs. Rent a vintage convertible for special occasions.
64 The Deep Creek Experience