About us

• Winter 1955-1956      A cow pasture owned by a local farmer becomes a makeshift ski area as Mr. Heise forms Wisp by offering skiing on Marsh Mountain.  A one-room hut with a pot-bellied stove serves as the first Lodge and the bed of a pick-up truck operates as the first Rental Shop.  The Face is the only slope serviced by a rope tow.
• Winter 1956-1957      Wisp first attempts to make snow by using equipment resembling

lawn sprinklers which emit frozen pellets of water.

1965                              The first double chairlift, Chair 1, is installed.  For the first

time, skiers are able to ski from the top of Marsh Mountain.

1969                               The addition of lights on the slopes allows Wisp to offer night

skiing.

1971 – 1979                Wisp expands to 16 trails and adds snowmakers, more lights, and two additional chairlifts.  The first motel, The Village Inn, opens at the base of the ski mountain.  The snowmaking system is converted to an airless system, increasing power and efficiency.

1981                            Wisp opens its 18-hole golf course, and is now officially recognized as the only four-season resort in the State of Maryland.

1985 – 1986                The Village Inn Motel is renovated. Now transformed into a Condo Hotel, it is renamed the Wisp Resort Hotel.

Winter 1987-1988      The East Ridge Trail & Lift System is added featuring five new

trails and two new triple chairs.

2001                            DC Development, LLC purchases Wisp from Mr. Heise and begins a major capital improvement project.  Chair 5 is extended, Chair 4 is relocated, and Highline Trail is added.  Bear Claw Snow Tubing Park opens.  Wisp launches a summer activities program known as Outdoor Adventures featuring a skate park, paintball and mountain biking program.

2003                            The Lodge undergoes renovation and is expanded by 11,000 sq. ft.  Triple chairs replace the double chairs of Chairs 2 & 3 and a conveyor carpet replaces the rope tow on Belly Flop to enhance the beginner skier / boarder experience.

2004                            A state-of-the-art $3 million dollar snowmaking system housed in The Pumphouse begins operation. The fully automated pumphouse increases snowmaking capacity by 18%. Wisp assumes management of the slopeside Wisp Resort Hotel.  Summer operations continue to grow adding guided ATV tours, and a disc golf course.

2005                            Wisp Resort celebrates 50 years of skiing in Maryland.  North Camp, a $9.1 million terrain expanse, opens adding over 30% more skiable terrain including 10 new trails, 2 fixed Quad chairlifts and 126 new snowmaking guns. Wisp Outdoors Nordic Center opens offering guided snowmobile tours, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

2006                            The Outdoor Adventure summer program is re-branded and expanded to include an Orvis endorsed Fly Fishing Outfitter operation and water sports such as waterskiing/wakeboarding.

2007                                                        Wisp installs the Mid Atlantic’s only Mountain Coaster which operates year-round.  The Bear Claw Snow Tubing Park receives a conveyor carpet and 5,000 sq. ft. Sprung Structure for ticketing, retail and dining.  Ground is broken on the signature Hale Irwin Lodestone Golf Club.

2008                                                        Bear Claw Snow Tubing Park receives second conveyor carpet to carry tubers up the hill.  A loading carpet is added to Chair 2 to enhance the beginner experience.  Wisp partners with Burton Snowboards to offer four Learn-to Ride Programs.  Wisp Outdoors summer operations adds off-road Mountain Buggy Tours, Pontoon Boat Tours, flat-water kayak rentals and delivery.  Wisp Resort Golf Course goes through renovations by removing 4 holes from the original routing and adding 4 new holes in Fantasy Valley.