Deep Creek Lake – Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales Blog

Wolf Den Run State Park is Deep Creek’s Newest Attraction

Wolf Den Run State Park opened in mid-July of 2019! It is Garrett County’s eighth state park. It is a great addition to our public lands. Totaling over 2,000 acres, it will give you lots more scenery to explore. When it was privately owned, it was used for off-road vehicles (ORVs). The existing trails are being improved when possible and new trails are being developed too. As a state park, it will be open for ORVs, hiking, hunting and fishing.

The park is named after a stream within the park boundaries named Wolf Den Run. It goes back to a 1901 Maryland Geological Survey Map of Garrett County dated. The stream flows through the northern section and into the Potomac River.

Huckleberry Rocks Area

This is the first section of Wolf Den Run State Park to open. Trail improvements have been made, and visitors are welcome with reservations. There are 12.5 miles of trails. Of that, 6.5 miles can be used for full-sized vehicles.

There is a limit of 50 machines per day. You can contact Herrington Manor State Park to reserve your spot. Keep in mind that you do need to have an ORV sticker to ride.

wolf den run state park

Continue reading Wolf Den Run State Park is Deep Creek’s Newest Attraction

Deep Creek Lake Summer Road Trip – Less Than 3 Hours from Baltimore & DC!

A Deep Creek Lake summer road trip is the perfect opportunity to escape to the mountains for a little R&R. It is a getaway that is less than 3 hours from Baltimore and Washington, DC and less than 2 hours from Pittsburgh. The convenient location, natural beauty and abundant recreation make it the ideal destination for a long weekend away.

Deep Creek Lake Summer Road Trip

Deep Creek Lake Summer Road Trip Savings

We are offering a FREE summer night when you plan a trip arriving now through August 23, 2019. You can use the money you save to treat your family to fun activities or great food at local restaurants.

The offer includes:

– Stay 3 nights, get the 4th night FREE*

– A $25 gift card for Smiley’s Pizzeria will be at the home when you arrive

– Get 1 FREE Deep Creek Adventure Package per child Continue reading Deep Creek Lake Summer Road Trip – Less Than 3 Hours from Baltimore & DC!

The Perfect Deep Creek Lake Memorial Day Getaway

Plan the perfect Deep Creek Lake Memorial Day getaway for your crew! The holiday weekend is the ideal time to enjoy a little R&R at the lake. You can kick-off the unofficial start to summer making fun memories with family and friends.

Relaxation Starts at DCL

Treat yourself to some rest and relaxation with your feet up as you enjoy views of Deep Creek Lake. We have the best selection of homes with top-of-the-line amenities and convenient locations. It is easy to de-stress at one of our beautiful Deep Creek Lake vacation rentals.

Smaller groups might want to consider staying in a townhome community. Many of them have shared amenities like indoor pools, tennis courts and lake access areas.

deep creek lake memorial day getaway

If you are looking for something on a larger scale, we have that too. Our homes range from 1-10 bedrooms. There are options that meet just about every need so that you are completely comfortable. Continue reading The Perfect Deep Creek Lake Memorial Day Getaway

Southern Garrett Boys Basketball Team Plays in State Championship

Southern Garrett Boys Basketball team finished second in the Maryland 1A state championship, but according to much of Garrett County, they will be forever #1. Our community in Garrett County always bands together and it was very evident at the State playoffs in College Park, MD with the sea of red and white in the stands. Also, the Southern Garrett Wrestling Squad won the State Championship again this year going undefeated! Continue reading Southern Garrett Boys Basketball Team Plays in State Championship

Jodi Taylor Refosco Named President of the VRMA

We are thrilled to announce that Taylor-Made owner, Jodi Taylor Refosco, was named President of the Board of Directors for the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA). The gavel was officially passed at the International Conference that was held in Las Vegas.

About VRMA

The Vacation Rental Management Association is an organization of vacation rental professionals and vendors. Members have educational and networking opportunities that strengthen their businesses and the industry as a whole. VRMA is the voice for vacation rental managers with thousands of members around the world.

Jodi was first introduced to VRMA by her parents over twenty years ago. She has held leadership roles that include serving as Secretary and Vice President of the board. Additionally, she was part of the conference planning and education committees.

Taylor-Made employees regularly attend VRMA events in order to connect with their peers and stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends. By taking advantage of these opportunities, both the company and the staff are elevated in their ability to assist travelers and home owners. It keeps them on top of the latest trends, products and processes.

About Jodi

Jodi started Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales, in 2008 with her husband, Joe, and her brother, Chad Taylor. Their inventory numbers over 400 vacation rental homes along with property services for 150 non-renting homes. For over a decade, their employees have provided exceptional service to guests and owners. A growing real estate division caters to Deep Creek Lake area buyers and sellers as well.

VRMA Photo

“I am honored to serve as President of this incredible organization that has been instrumental in the growth of our industry,” said Jodi Taylor Refosco. “I have great respect for those who have held this seat before me and look forward to upholding their legacy.”

Snowshoeing at Deep Creek Lake

If you like to hike, you’ll love snowshoeing at Deep Creek Lake! When the newscasters are frantically reporting the latest “blizzard of the century,” that’s the perfect time to strap on some snowshoes and head outside. Whether your goal is to get out for a leisurely walk in the snow or go for a more physically challenging adventure, you’ll find this traditional mode of travel easy to learn—and effective at getting you where you want to go. With miles of hiking trails available to snowshoe enthusiasts in area state parks, Garrett County is home to endless opportunities for winter backcountry travel.

Snowshoeing at Deep Creek Lake

History of Snowshoeing

The origin and age of snowshoes are not precisely known. Historians believe they were invented from 4,000 to 6,000 years ago, probably starting in Central Asia. Before humans built snowshoes, nature provided examples. Several animals, most notably the snowshoe hare, had evolved over the years with oversized feet enabling them to move more quickly through deep snow. Continue reading Snowshoeing at Deep Creek Lake

Deep Creek Lake Hiking Trails that You Can Explore

There are so many Deep Creek Lake hiking trails that you can explore! We are giving you an overview because we can hardly cover all of them here. Garrett Trails is a great resource for more detailed info on Deep Creek Lake hiking trails.

Deep Creek Lake Hiking Trails Overview

The statistics don’t tell the whole story, but they’re enough to entice hikers of all experience levels: over 80,000 acres dedicated to public parks, forests and open space areas, abundant wildlife populations and scenic beauty unlike what is found anywhere else in Maryland. The state forests and parks of Garrett County offer an immense, challenging and easily accessible hiking paradise.

Savage River State Forest

Savage River State Forest comprises 54,000 acres along the Savage River and the reservoir. It is the largest of Maryland’s state forests and features miles of rugged trails. Avid backpackers will enjoy the lengthy and picturesque trails found in this area. Big Savage Trail is the longest, following a 17 mile path along the ridge of Big Savage Mountain. Travel through upland forests of oak and hickory and reap the reward of the breathtaking view at High Rock. Before you lace up your boots, be sure to stop by forest headquarters to pick up a backcountry permit. Continue reading Deep Creek Lake Hiking Trails that You Can Explore

Tips for Your First Deep Creek Summer Vacation

If you are planning your first Deep Creek summer vacation, it can be a little overwhelming. There are tons of fun activities and adventures to enjoy! We put together a list of some absolute “musts” for first-timers.

see the sights

No Deep Creek summer vacation is complete without a little sightseeing! One of the most popular attractions is Muddy Creek Falls at Swallow Falls State Park. This towering waterfall is the tallest in the state of Maryland. It is surrounded by pristine forests and amazing scenery. Plus, hiking trails lead you to two more picturesque waterfalls. This is a great selfie spot!

If you have kids in your group, you cannot pass up a visit to the Discovery Center at Deep Creek Lake State Park. Hands-on displays highlight the environment of Western Maryland. During the summer, they have daily events that include seeing the birds in the aviary, arts & crafts, guided hikes, fishing with a naturalist and more!

Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center — See the Birds in the Aviary at the Discovery Center

Continue reading Tips for Your First Deep Creek Summer Vacation

HART for Animals at Deep Creek Lake

HART for Animals is an important part of the Deep Creek Lake community. They use 85% of all revenues to support charitable programs, including adoptions, spay/neuters, rescue and transports and sheltering. Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales has supported their work for years through donations, volunteering and event sponsorship. HART for Animals is tireless in their endeavor to improve the condition of animals in Western Maryland.

HART is more than adoption center. They are also home to Bredel Veterinary Clinic, Bed ‘N Bark Inn pet hotel and Muttworks grooming.

Fast & Furriest 5K Run/1K Walk

In 2017, we sponsored the very first Fast & Furriest 5K Run/1K walk in conjunction with HART for Animals. It was a big success, and we are continuing the sponsorship. On Saturday, June 29, 2019, you can bring your pup join us in supporting HART.

Registration for this dog friendly fun run/walk starts at 7:30AM at HART – 1265 Bumble Bee Rd., Accident, MD 21520. It is a fun outing for the entire family! Get more information and make plans to attend the 2018 Fast & Furriest 5K Run/1K Walk!

HART for Animals guest bartender challenge

Every spring, the Taylor-Made team looks forward to HART’s Guest Bartender Challenge. Local companies “compete” to raise the most money. Each one hosts a night where they bartend at an establishment. All tips and funds raised from silent auction items are donated to HART for Animals. Continue reading HART for Animals at Deep Creek Lake

Budget Design Tips for Vacation Rental Owners

This blog post on budget design tips was written by a special guest contributor. Kristina Dorville and her family recently purchased The Quarterdeck. They gave this lake access chalet a complete makeover with stunning results. She offered some great budget design tips for making updates that are easy on your wallet.

Kristina’s Tips

If I could start over in my professional career, I’d like to decorate homes. But not the normal way. Anyone can go to a store, spend a ton of money and have a good looking house. MY favorite part of decorating… finding the ‘treasure’ – you know, that one chair, pillow, or rug that fits with your design idea but doesn’t break the bank. I love a treasure hunt. I love a good sale. But best of all, I love making my house feel like a well-decorated, stylish home for as little money as possible!

If you’re looking for a refresh of your space, there are some easy ways to find the treasures that work for you without the hefty price tag.

Shop Around & Wait for Sales

First and foremost, you must be patient. Don’t buy the first thing you see that you like. Look around and shop around. Wait for sales, if you know they are coming (around the holidays is a great time). I got some great, after Christmas deals on things that had nothing to do with the holiday. Swing through the same store multiple times and also go to the nearby, same stores. Every store – even the same ones in various locations around town – have different stuff and different prices. Continue reading Budget Design Tips for Vacation Rental Owners