Tucked away in the mountainous corner of Western Maryland, lies Wisp Resort. With 34 slopes for skiing and snowboarding, all levels of skiers and snowboarders will find something to challenge them. The Learning Center at Sundown Village caters to first-time and beginner skiers and snowboarders by making the process as easy and hassle-free as possible with everything located in one place. It’s also a unique place, made up of 8 50’ yurts, with 3 yurts dedicated to the adult learning center and 2 for the Wisp Kids learning program and Nordic Center for cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
A snow tubing park at Wisp is a must-try with 2 conveyor carpets that do all work to get you up the hill while you can focus on the fun of going down. The Mid-Atlantic’s only Mountain Coaster is next to the snow tubing park and operates year-round. Be sure to bundle up as the Mountain Coaster can reach speeds up to 29 mph but don’t worry, riders can control the level of fun with hand brakes on the side of each coaster cart.
Located just 14 miles off of I-68, Wisp is highly accessible to the Baltimore and DC Metro areas but the climate is worlds away from those cities. Garrett County receives an average of 100” of snow annually and, during a typical winter, neighboring Deep Creek Lake is frozen solid enough to welcome ice fisherman and snowmobilers.
A bustling base area at Wisp offers the McHenry Lodge with various restaurants and bars, shopping outlets and a day skier area with 30’ high windows looking up at the slopes. Connected to the main building is The Lodge at Wisp, a ski-in/ski-out hotel that just got better – $3.7 million better! A 3-year renovation project saw all 169 rooms redone, a new entrance with porté cochere, waterfall, landscaping, firepits, new lobby and front desk, renovated meeting and function space with new audio visual equipment and a new fitness center. (check out their lodging packages for great deals and the convenience of activities included) Last year the Wisp Escape Games were added and feature two distinctly different escape rooms. A great family and team building activity to try after hitting the slopes all day.
