Had a fun BBQ at Otter Valley Lodge, Thurmont

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

  • No ad networks!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • marko

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    Jan 28, 2009
    7,048
    A friend of ours bought what was an old fishing camp on Little Owens Creek.
    They have about a mile of stream, and it has been 'dammed' to make many pools - I saw about 12 dams / pools over 200 yards.
    They did this way back in the 1920's. It's near Camp David. Eisenhower fished there, and one of his brook trout is on the wall
    There is a main building with kitchen great room, bathroom.
    3 other cabins are attached to this main hall.
    [Other cabins are obviously on the property. I did not see them]
    Really picturesque - you note stream dynamics-
    above all these stone 'dams' (2' or 3' high?)
    the silting went nearly to the top of the dam.
    Below were nice pools, and you could see lots of trout.
    THEN THAT would silt up before the dam, and below a pool - then silt.
    - NO ONE fishes there now, and it built as an anglers' club. All Catch and release anyway.

    Pretty neat spot. The owner would rent it out - could be great for a Church or Boy Scout or multi family back to nature retreat.
    The part we were in is basically in a shallow gorge, so I don't know much about what to do except hike along the stream.
    I only saw a tiny portion of the land, 200 yards or so, and all of that was shallow gorge.

    My only beef about fishing an area like that is - "well, I see that trout, I'll cast a little above". I prefer figuring out the currents and guessing where that trout is.
    At Otter Valley you can see 5, 10 trout, more in some pools.
    Not really fishing.

    Overall, really cool spot.
    Here's the realtors' vid, I guess from 2015.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29D2qfVXk58

    sorry michaeljfox took some of the video... sheesh.
     

    marko

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    Jan 28, 2009
    7,048
    AT LEAST it's it Frederick County.
    Caretaker says there's a Momma Black bear and 3 pretty big cubs.
     

    marko

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    Jan 28, 2009
    7,048
    That looks like an awesome place thanks for sharing
    No problem I probably have an inside scoop on people staying at the cabins.
    One issue I'm very sensitive about -
    mildew smell - the caretaker said we were the first people there since like April.
    Just like an outboard motor, you gotta run it - or use it it to get it running fine.
    Not opening the places is not helpful.
    Not a deal breaker.
     

    Speed3

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 19, 2011
    7,807
    MD
    I've ridden by that place more than a few places. Thanks for the video, never knew that room cantilevered over the stream. Its an awesome spot
     

    marko

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    Jan 28, 2009
    7,048
    Thanks for the video, never knew that room cantilevered over the stream. Its an awesome spot
    Neither did I - I never went in that cabin - the caretaker opened up all the cabins, but no one went in them.
    She mentioned Air BNB ing the place - but knowing her, she is super duper rich,
    she bought the place to keep it as it is... it will be used 4 or 5 times a year.
     

    marko

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    Jan 28, 2009
    7,048
    You could host a MDS meetup if you could get keys.
    I am brainstorming. I have plenty of kids who could benefit from this.
    It's basically going unused, and if we offered to help clean the cottages, or something as a trade.
    She mentions she wants to air bnb, but she is so wealthy that would
    just not happen. SHe bought it wanting to keep it as it was.
    If she keeps it up, it will rot out from lack of use.
     

    Antarctica

    YEEEEEHAWWW!!!!
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 29, 2012
    1,722
    Southern Anne Arundel
    I drove by that place a few years ago and thought it was super cool - I had to look it up on the web.

    Not trying to be critical but honest. Fix the web site. No address listed and almost all the gallery pictures are not right side up.

    If you can't list an address, who's gonna believe its real?
     

    Silverlode

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 16, 2010
    4,797
    Frederick
    Hey Marko

    I believe I know where that is and have driven by it a few times the last couple of years. Close to Emmitsburg? Gravel road that literally looks down on the place from high above? If it is the place I am thinking of, it's a really cool looking place and I have wondered what the story was. Never seen anyone there.
     

    Speed3

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 19, 2011
    7,807
    MD
    Hey Marko

    I believe I know where that is and have driven by it a few times the last couple of years. Close to Emmitsburg? Gravel road that literally looks down on the place from high above? If it is the place I am thinking of, it's a really cool looking place and I have wondered what the story was. Never seen anyone there.

    Catoctin hollow road, yea that's it.
     

    marko

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    Jan 28, 2009
    7,048
    Yuppers, that's it.

    Not trying to be critical but honest. Fix the web site.
    To be very honest, I agree, but the woman bought it just to preserve it doesn't know or care about a website.
    I won't say more, but I think the place SHOULD be used more. No one's been there except the caretaker since March.
    When I called her today to thank her I said those words exactly, she was NON COMMITTAL.

    We'll see.
     

    rgramjet

    Ultimate Member
    Jan 25, 2009
    2,943
    Howard County
    AirBnBing it to any shlub off the street is a bad idea.

    Tell her you are part of a group of Super Trustworthy individuals that would treat the place as their own and will be happy to pay a fair price, without any AirBnB fees.

    I call first dibs!
     

    marko

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    Jan 28, 2009
    7,048
    Tell her you are part of a group of Super Trustworthy individuals that would treat the place as their own and will be happy to pay a fair price, without any AirBnB fees.

    I call first dibs!

    It's really my wife's client, and honestly she has FU to FU inherited money, has zero business sense.
    If I can finagle a weekend out there, I will certainly let you know.
    Honestly, the fishing is embarrassing, throw to a trout in a pool, not cool.
    They meant well in the 1920's, because this was a very small stream and the way to keep the water (and fish) was to dam it in a series of pools along their property.
    THAT would never be allowed today.
     

    marko

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    Jan 28, 2009
    7,048
    I told my wife some Boy Scouts, etc. could use it for a weekend.
    If you have never run into them, people like this
    are wishy washy, and I have to run very timid with her.
    They can change in a second. The genes run out.
     

    Philliesfan

    Member
    Apr 1, 2022
    2
    Available to rent?

    By any chance, anyone know if this place is still available to rent for a weekend? Or a week? Or a day?
    Thanks
     

    Philliesfan

    Member
    Apr 1, 2022
    2
    A friend of ours bought what was an old fishing camp on Little Owens Creek.
    They have about a mile of stream, and it has been 'dammed' to make many pools - I saw about 12 dams / pools over 200 yards.
    They did this way back in the 1920's. It's near Camp David. Eisenhower fished there, and one of his brook trout is on the wall
    There is a main building with kitchen great room, bathroom.
    3 other cabins are attached to this main hall.
    [Other cabins are obviously on the property. I did not see them]
    Really picturesque - you note stream dynamics-
    above all these stone 'dams' (2' or 3' high?)
    the silting went nearly to the top of the dam.
    Below were nice pools, and you could see lots of trout.
    THEN THAT would silt up before the dam, and below a pool - then silt.
    - NO ONE fishes there now, and it built as an anglers' club. All Catch and release anyway.

    Pretty neat spot. The owner would rent it out - could be great for a Church or Boy Scout or multi family back to nature retreat.
    The part we were in is basically in a shallow gorge, so I don't know much about what to do except hike along the stream.
    I only saw a tiny portion of the land, 200 yards or so, and all of that was shallow gorge.

    My only beef about fishing an area like that is - "well, I see that trout, I'll cast a little above". I prefer figuring out the currents and guessing where that trout is.
    At Otter Valley you can see 5, 10 trout, more in some pools.
    Not really fishing.

    Overall, really cool spot.
    Here's the realtors' vid, I guess from 2015.



    sorry michaeljfox took some of the video... sheesh.

    Do you happen to know if they still own it and if they would still be willing to rent it? Thanks??
     

    Users who are viewing this thread

    Latest posts

    Forum statistics

    Threads
    274,701
    Messages
    7,248,948
    Members
    33,309
    Latest member
    Andre

    Latest threads

    Top Bottom