Author Archives: Narrows Hill

Ferris Wheels and Freemason Gold – a History of Swallow Falls State Park

Swallow Falls State Park is one of the “crown jewels” of the MD State Park system (at least in my mind) and you kind of assume that since it’s such an amazing natural wonder that it has been protected for a long time, but really only became fully under state control in the past 80Continue reading “Ferris Wheels and Freemason Gold – a History of Swallow Falls State Park”

Garrett County Gazette, May 2023

Garrett County Gazette, May 2023 🌦️ View in browser Welcome to the current issue of the Garrett County Gazette. I’m Chris Nichols, your guide to helping you find out what’s going on, what’s coming up and interesting tidbits from the area. Let’s jump right in! County Commissioners propose to increase tax revenue I try toContinue reading “Garrett County Gazette, May 2023”

The “low-down” on Deep Creek Lake water levels

The waters of Deep Creek Lake have a number of uses including electricity generation, lake recreation, whitewater boating and trout habitat enhancement. The level of Deep Creek Lake is governed by a permit issued by the Maryland Department of the Environment which attempts to balance these uses. In this presentation, I go through the usesContinue reading “The “low-down” on Deep Creek Lake water levels”

The First Visitor’s Map of Deep Creek Lake?

A friend of mine recently gave me this map that he purchased at an auction. What a find! It’s a 1936 map of Deep Creek Lake made by Frank Corliss, who was in charge of the surveying for the original land acquisition of the lake. Labeled with roads, the businesses along the “strip” on 219Continue reading “The First Visitor’s Map of Deep Creek Lake?”

Where to swim in Garrett County, MD

Summer is coming and a common question is “Where can I go swimming?” Deep Creek Lake of course comes to many people’s minds, but with so many streams, rivers and lakes and so much public land, there are lots of other places to go swimming, from sandy beaches to river plunges. Check out the narratedContinue reading “Where to swim in Garrett County, MD”

Garrett County Gazette, April 2023

View in browser Welcome to the current issue of the Garrett County Gazette. I’m Chris Nichols, your guide to helping you find out what’s going on, what’s coming up and interesting tidbits from the area. Let’s jump right in! No school closures(for another year at least) Over the past few months, the Garrett County BoardContinue reading “Garrett County Gazette, April 2023”

Garrett County Gazette, March 2023

View in browser Welcome to the current issue of the Garrett County Gazette. I’m Chris Nichols, your guide to helping you find out what’s going on, what’s coming up and interesting tidbits from the area. Let’s jump right in!Special Olympics of Maryland returns to Garrett County for Winter Games After nearly a decade, the Special OlympicsContinue reading “Garrett County Gazette, March 2023”

Introducing the ULTIMATE Deep Creek Lake map!

Hopefully, you’ve already seen my ULTIMATE Garrett County and DCL + 8 town wall maps, and my ULTIMATE Garrett County Adventure Map. By far, the most common requests are for maps specifically of Deep Creek Lake (you can get the DCL + 9 towns map and cut off the bottom, but who wants to defaceContinue reading “Introducing the ULTIMATE Deep Creek Lake map!”