Page 18 - Garrett County 2024/2025 Visitors Guide

PHOTOS BY PICSBYMICKEY
FLY DEEP CREEK TO PROVIDE A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE AREA’S SCENIC BEAUTY
Until now, aerial views of Garrett County’s landscape were reserved for those with access to a plane of their own. But starting in the spring of 2024, anyone will be able to take to the air above the Deep Creek Lake area.
Tours will take off from Garrett County Airport, said James Moon, owner of Fly Deep Creek and a veteran Army pilot who has also flown helicopters for police, medevac, search-and-rescue missions and aerial tours in Florida.
“I was in Florida for a season to get that tour experience, with the intent of opening the business,” Moon said. “I’m from Garrett County originally and I wanted to bring back my experience to showcase what a beautiful place it is.”
While Fly Deep Creek will only offer helicopter tours to start with, Moon hopes to add an airplane to the fleet in the future. Tours will range in length from approximately five to 35 minutes.
TIMBER ROCK VILLAGE: A VACATION EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER
Vacation rental homes are one of the most popular options for visitors to the Deep Creek Lake area, as they can provide privacy, comfort and a sense of home away from home.
But what if visitors want to pair that home experience with
the amenities generally associated with luxury hotels or resort communities? A unique new community, located 15 minutes from Wisp Resort and less than 10 minutes from Swallow Falls State Park, will provide just that.
Timber Rock Village will consist of 16 rental properties in total, all built from the ground up, “based on high-end luxury standards and very thought through as far as the guest experience,” said Jodi Refosco, who is developing the community along with her husband.
Each house will have three or four bedrooms, with varying amenities such as ramps for easier accessibility, electric or wood fireplaces and lake access. Some of the homes will also be pet-friendly.
Four of the properties are already renting, with more set to be open by Memorial Day 2024 and all 16 properties scheduled to be available by 2026.
Community amenities include a pool, a gym, wilderness trails and
a lodge that will host concierge services. The lodge, which has the largest circumference of any log house in the Northeast, will also serve as a community hub, Refosco said. “You can stop in for a cup of coffee before your morning walk. We’ll do happy hours, and we’ll do other events centered there, like bringing in a chef or doing retreats. We’re trying to make it a spot that will be enjoyable for everybody in the village.”
Refosco’s goal is to make Timber Rock Village a place people want to come back to. “We want them to return not just once a year but three or four times a year,” she said. “We want this to be a place that feels like it’s part of them and helps them realize how special Deep Creek Lake really is.”
Learn more at timberrockvillage.com.
“We may even offer a two- to three-minute ride just to help people get used to the experience if they’re hesitant or have a fear of heights,” Moon said. Fly Deep Creek will accept reservations, but may also have walkup flights available for spontaneous visitors. The flying season will range from May through October, to allow visitors to appreciate Deep Creek’s gorgeous scenery from spring blooms to colorful fall foliage.
For more information and to book a tour, go to flydeepcreek.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLY DEEP CREEK
16 The Deep Creek Experience