Caroline is Retiring

Breaking News at Lake Pointe Inn

After 14 years as the Innkeeper of the Lake Pointe Inn, Caroline is retiring.  Yes, it is true! After cooking many breakfasts, adding her style to many of the physical additions to the Inn, and the constant tweaking of amenities--- she deserves to finally take time to relax at Deep Creek Lake at her own pace and also take time to travel and visit friends and family around the country.

We welcome Ed Spak as our new Innkeeper/General Manager.  Ed comes to us with 25 years' experience in the food & hospitality industry and brings his passion for food and will continue the Lake Pointe Inn tradition of genuine hospitality.

Originally from the west coast, Ed has found home in the mountains of Maryland where his wife was born. He lives in McHenry with his wife and two young children. Most recently, Ed was the General Manager of Cornish Manor Restaurant in Oakland.

Kudos to Caroline for a job well done and the Lake Pointe Inn staff are enthusiastic about Ed’s arrival at the Inn!

Da Bears

 Lately, there has been an effort at the state park to build a canopy for elevated walking tours and bird watching. This year, a new fundraiser has come to light, bears. A local artist, who does chain saw pieces carved in wood, is carving huge bears. These aren’t just any bears though. They will be sponsored by local businesses, and will be painted by local artists with their unique ideas, many of which are inspired by the county itself. These are then going to be placed around the park for people to go on “bear hunts”. When you go to the park, maps will be available to find the bears.  Some sponsors are even offering discounts and special sales for those who go on the hunt and find their bear. The bears will be all over the park all summer, and hen a little longer than that. During autumn glory, these bears will be auctioned off to raise even more money, bringing the canopy closer to reality for everyone working on this project. The lake pointe inn is sponsoring a bear, so come on up. Go on the bear hunt and have fun at the state parks here in Garrett County. Who knows what you might find.

The Ducks

Every business has their little traditions. At the Lake Pointe Inn, there is one that stands out: the traveling ducks. Originally the ducks were a gift from the company who installed the tubs at the inn. After a while it was noticed a few were missing. This is when they decided that the ducks would be a bigger part of the inn. Since then, the ducks have been taken and have been traveling, much like the character from flat Stanley. Every once and a while a picture will be sent to us here and here are a few recent ones from the cherry blossom festival in Washington D.C. The ducks have become part of the inn that people remember, our own little mascot, next to Wanda the goldfish of course. They change from season to season, a new design every year, and many regular visitors collect them. So wherever you go, be on the look out for a Lake Pointe Inn duck.

Special Deal!

Here’s a relaxing TAX BREAK!  Lake Pointe Inn is offering a ‘stress less’ rate of $185 per night (dbl occ) Sunday through Thursday during the month of April.  REALLY surprise someone and come celebrate their Birthday or Anniversary early (or late);  Relax now that taxes are filed!  Can’t take that week- long vacation- so do a mid-week retreat instead!  Book early because you will get the best room available at the time you make your reservation! A savings of 20-30% off the regular room rate!

Accident

Most people think Accident is an interesting name for a town. Just yesterday I was asked about it by a CBP officer on my way home. Not too many residents know the story of the name though. As what many could call a suburb of the lake, Accident is a small town with its own history to it. The Drane family received this land as part of a grant program that dates back to right after the Revolutionary War. They wanted to find the best tract of land in all of Western Maryland. So, they sent out two different surveyors. When the surveyors returned to have Drane choose his tract, they discovered they had surveyed the same exact tract of land, from the same tree to rock. This land was chosen and named the Accident Tract. Their original log cabin remains standing on the edge of the current town, and is open on holidays and during special historical society events. Now accident is just a quaint main street town. The homecoming is on the Fourth of July, and a parade and town social is held with contributions from local businesses and churches. For further reading on Accident, and the area known to some as Flowery Vale, look for Flowery Vale: a History of Accident, Maryland  by Mary Miller Strauss.

Goodbye winter...Hello Spring!

When the winter draws to a close, and spring is on its way, the county wakes up from hibernation the only way we know how: saying goodbye to winter with a bang! The wisp has its own tradition for this time of year. The Beachin Weekend is a celebration at the end of every ski season as its last hurrah. With crazy competitions and the theme spread throughout the resort, this is one weekend packed full of fun. From music to the staff being dressed in attire seemingly straight from Hawaii, you will feel like the beach has come to the ski slopes for a weekend. The biggest event of the weekend is the cardboard box derby. Every year teams get together and build a creative derby car from cardboard. These designs range from the standard box all the way to crazy works of art. These are then raced down the bear claw tubing park lanes. While waiting for the craziness of the races, the lodge has a dj all weekend to spin some beachin music, and activities throughout the weekend. So if you are looking for snow at the beach, a crazy weekend of fun, or just an escape, maybe Garrett County is the place for you.

Photography © Nicholas McIntosh. All rights reserved. 
Photography © randi voss photography. All rights reserved. 
Photography © Lance C. Bell. All rights reserved. 
Photography © Ryan Smith. All rights reserved. 

Our Recipes: Part 2

With maple syrup season in full swing, you are bound to have cravings for it. What better to pair it with than pancakes. so from us to you, our Pumpkin Walnut Flapjacks.

Ingredients:
1 ¼ cups buttermilk
¾ cup canned pure pumpkin
4 large eggs, separated, room temperature
¼ cup sugar
¾ tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 1/3 cups cake flour
1 ¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice (or allspice)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ cup ground walnuts (optional)

Method
Whisk buttermilk, pumpkin, egg yolks, sugar and vanilla in medium bowl to blend; whisk in melted butter.  Whisk flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in large bowl to blend.  Add dry ingredients to buttermilk mixture and whisk to combine.
Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in medium bowl until soft peaks form.  Fold whites into batter.
Lightly oil or butter heavy large skillet set over medium heat.  Working in batches, pour batter in 1/3 cupfuls onto skillet; cook until bubbles from on top, about 1 ½ minutes. Turn flapjacks over and cook until second sides brown, about 1 minute. Transfer flapjacks to plates. (sprinkle with  finely chopped walnuts) serve Syrup