A Bucket of Fun!!

Last week we were blessed with a family gathering of my father-in-law and nephews. Bright sunny days and warm temperatures made our decision to spend several days cooling off by swimming in the lake an easy one. Now, where would one go to entertain 4 extra- rambunctious little boys? Easy! Deep Creek State Park, of course. With over a mile of shoreline surrounding the park, guests can swim, fish, or launch their boat. Offering a host of amenities such as picnic tables, charcoal grills, pavilions, and bathroom facilities make the park a great place to spend the entire day. The beach area is sandy with a small pebble bottom, perfect for swimming. They also have a volleyball/ basketball court and some playground equipment that the boys loved playing on.

Interesting fact about the park is that it is also the site of the historic Brant coal mine and homesite, where a restored mine entrance preserves a typical drift or adit mine. The mine was worked for several years by the Brant family and supplied bituminous coal for heating and blacksmithing in the local community. The mine was started as a dream by two local pioneers, Delphia White & George Beckman. It was in the early 1920’s when Deep Creek Lake was still in its planning stages. Delphia purchased 40 acres of land which he believed to be perfect for mining. In 1925, the dam was plugged and the terrain changed drastically. Unfortunately, by 1926, the mining had taken its toll on both men and they fell ill and passed away due to chronic lung disease. Their legend still lives on, however, as visitors, hikers, and history lovers can visit “Old Brant Mine” and learn more details of the history of the mine.

Pack up the cooler, gather the kids, and head to the state park for full day of fun activities. (Our boys had so much fun that they crashed out quite early, an added bonus for the adults!) We are still offering some fantastic last minute deals on our vacation rentals, so call Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations (1-866-351-1119) or go online (www.deepcreekvacations.com) to view all of our homes. Mountain memories are waiting to be made and we can’t wait to see you @ the lake!