Page 66 - Garrett County 2021-2022 Visitors Guide

Community Profile: COUNTY INFORMATION
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: 29,014
Elevation: Average – 2,300 feet above sea level
Land Area: 647.10 square miles
Average Temperatures: Summer – 75°F, Winter – 29°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. See the Accommodations Grid on page 52 for details.
Sources: Temperatures and precipitation data are based on the most recent state figures from the Maryland State Archives, http://msa.maryland.gov and www.usclimatedata.com. Population data is taken from U.S. Census Bureau data at www.census. gov/quickfacts/fact/table/garrettcountymaryland/ pst045216.
64 The Deep Creek Experience
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 page 10).
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.
Group Tours/Trips – Explore sample itineraries, including history and heritage, behind the scenes and one- and two-day Garrett County experiences, to plan your group’s Deep Creek experience.
Destination Weddings/Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties – Get all the details from venues to vendors to plan your dream wedding or bachelor/bachelorette party.
Hot Deals – Specialty discounts and promotions from area businesses.
Garrett County & Area Snow & Ski Report – Up-to-date information for area skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and other winter activities.
Calendar of Events – Monthly, featured and annual events, including everything from festivals to musical performances.
TripBuilder – Add daily activities, events and attractions to create the perfect itinerary for your Garrett County stay.
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. The Savage River State Forest and Potomac-Garrett State Forest allow pets in designated areas, including some campgrounds and on hiking trails (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 Republican, a local, weekly newspaper that lists events.
The Lake-Front, 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.
Popular radio stations include 104.5 FM (easy listening), 92.3 (country), Z 95.9 (classic hits) and 1050 AM (gospel/oldies).
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:
800.628.9944
Garrett Regional Medical Center (Oakland): 301.533.4000
UPMC Urgent Care McHenry: 240.488.4139 Urgent Care (Grantsville): 301.895.8750 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
Shuttle/Limousine: Garrett Transit Service (garrettcac.org/index.php/service- area/28-garrett-transit-service) is Garrett County’s public transportation provider, available Monday through Friday. Call 301.533.9010 or 301.334.9431, ext. 6300 for service 24 hours in advance for local trips and three business days ahead for out-of- county trips.
Go to visitdeepcreek.com/list/ category/limousine-services-airport- transportation-181 for a list of other available services.