Wisp Ski Resort facts for kids

Wisp Resort is Maryland's only ski resort that's open all year round! It's a great place for skiing, snowboarding, and many other fun activities. You can find it near Deep Creek Lake in McHenry, Maryland. This area is in Garrett County, Maryland, close to the borders of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The ski slopes are on a place called Marsh Mountain. Wisp Resort was started by Mr. Helmuth M.G. Heise. Today, Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. owns it.

The Story of Wisp Resort

Wisp Resort first opened for skiing in the winter of 1955-1956. It was one of the first ski areas in the southern United States. In the winter of 1966-1967, Wisp started making its own snow. This helped the ski season last longer.

Between 1971 and 1979, the resort grew a lot. They added 16 new ski slopes, more lights for night skiing, and more snowmaking machines. A hotel was also built right at the bottom of the slopes.

In 2001, a company called Deep Creek Development bought Wisp Resort. That same year, they added the Bear Claw Snow Tubing Park. In 2003, the main lodge building was made bigger and better. A fun white water rafting course was added in 2007. Since 2001, over $30 million has been spent to improve the resort.

The hotel at Wisp was updated in 2016. It has 102 suites and 67 guest rooms. The resort is also close to several state parks and forests. These include Deep Creek Lake, Swallow Falls, and Big Run State Parks.

Fun All Year Round

Wisp Resort is special because it offers activities in every season. It's Maryland's only resort that's open all year.

Summer Adventures

In the summer, you can try exciting activities like zip lines. There are three canopy tour zip lines to choose from. You can also rent kayaks and paddleboards for fun on the water. Other activities include mountain biking, Segway tours, and archery.

Wisp also has a Mountain Coaster. This is like a mix of an alpine slide and a roller coaster. The coaster cars travel 3,500 feet downhill. It's a thrilling ride on the eastern side of Wisp Mountain.

Exploring the Mountain

Wisp Resort usually gets about 100 inches of natural snow each year. But they also make a lot of their own snow. This helps them keep the slopes open for a longer time.

Skiing and Snowboarding Trails

Wisp has trails for all skill levels. So, whether you're a beginner or an expert, there's a slope for you. They even offer lessons if you're new to skiing or snowboarding.

You can also go night skiing on most of the mountain. This is available from Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Types of Slopes

Wisp Resort has a total of 34 slopes and trails.

• Front Side Trails: These include five "easy" trails, ten "more difficult" trails, and five "most difficult" trails.
• East Ridge Trails: You'll find one "more difficult" trail and five "most difficult" trails here.
• North Camp Trails: This area has five "easy" trails, three "more difficult" trails, and one "most difficult" trail.

Besides skiing, the resort has a tubing park, an ice skating rink, and the mountain coaster.

How Wisp Gets Its Snow

Wisp Resort gets a good amount of natural snow during the winter. In recent years, the heaviest snow has often started around January. It usually lasts until mid-March.

Snow machines help create the base of the slopes. They also add more snow throughout the season. This makes sure the slopes are always ready for skiers and snowboarders. Websites like Onthesnow.com share details about Wisp's snowfall. You can see how much snow falls each day and the depth of the snow on the mountain.

Special Ski Runs

Wisp has one special area called Bobcat Bowl. This bowl opens up for skiing when there's enough natural snowfall.