Tracks and Yaks

Twice the Fun in Frostburg & Cumberland

The Twin Cities of the Maryland Mountains, the only limit to adventure is your imagination.

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Tracks and Yaks

Cumberland, long known as “The Gateway to the West,” is famed for its historic charm, mountain flavored art and music scene, and remarkable outdoors opportunities. Just an eight mile bike ride up the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad trail, you’ll find Frostburg. Home of Frostburg State University, it combines the eclectic hipness of a college town with the rugged roots of Mountain Maryland. Cumberland and Frostburg are a can’t miss two-fer when it comes to finding the perfect vacation!

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Arts & Entertainment Districts
Allegany Arts Council building
Allegany Arts Council

Cumberland and Frostburg are both designated as official Arts & Entertainment Districts in Maryland. In Cumberland you’ll find multiple exhibition spaces—the Saville Gallery and the Schwab Mountain Maryland Gallery—as well as the Cumberland Theatre and the Graphicus Atelier printmaking studio. Frostburg boasts art galleries and studios, and The Palace Theatre. This vintage Frostburg landmark shows a mix of classic, indie, documentary and foreign films in addition to hosting music, plays and speakers.

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Hotels & Lodging
Rocky Gap patio overlooking lake

Whether you’re looking to stay in a historic hotel, a quaint B&B or a large resort—you’ll find something wonderful in Frostburg and Cumberland. Hotel and lodging options include:

  • Hotel Gunter: Built in 1896, the Hotel Gunter opened its doors on New Year's Day in 1897. Today the historic hotel and banquet facility is located in the heart of the vibrant Arts and Entertainment District of Frostburg and is home to Toasted Goat Winery, and Route 40 Brewing & Distillery.
  • Allegheny Trail House B&B: Registered as a historic property, the well-known Shaffer House has found a new identity as the Allegheny Trail House, Frostburg’s first and only farm-to-table bed and breakfast. The B&B is located in historic downtown Frostburg – within walking distance to the Frostburg State University campus, unique restaurants, shops and drinking establishments. Best of all, it is a short pedal from the Great Allegheny Passage, with the local trailhead situated just a half-mile or so from the B&B.
  • Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort: Discover a world of relaxation just eight miles from Cumberland. From lush views to lavish details, the Rocky Gap Casino Resort, overlooking Lake Habeeb and Rocky Gap State Park, turns weekend getaways into lasting memories. Recharge in your suite overlooking the breathtaking view of the mountains and lake then step onto casino floor and experience the excitement. Golfers of all skill levels are drawn to Rocky Gap's Jack Nicklaus Designed 18-hole Golf Course.
  • Savage River Lodge: Surrounded by more than 700 acres of State Forest lands, Savage River Lodge offer a rare blend of privacy, unparalleled relaxation and plenty of opportunities for fun. Perfect for romantic weekends, family getaways (some cabins are pet friendly so your "best friend" can come too), corporate retreats, reunions or just for random acts of escape. Savage River Lodge is an unforgettable experience.
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Thrasher Carriage Museum
Antique car and dress

View a top-notch collection of horse-drawn vehicles representing every walk of life from the milkman to the statesman. The collection—which includes everything from funeral wagons, to sleighs and carts—is presented in a 19th century warehouse.

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The Evergreen Heritage Center
Mansion and pond

Request a guided tour and step back in time at The Evergreen Heritage Center, a private family mansion built in the 1780s, turned historic museum and farm. Evergreen is recognized by the Maryland Historical Trust and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s situated on 130 acres adjacent to the Great Allegheny Passage and the Western Maryland Scenic Railway, approximately 10 minutes from Frostburg and 15 minutes from Cumberland. Private tours are available by calling 301-687-0664 or emailing [email protected].

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Great Allegheny Passage (GAP)
Train and couple on bikes

Enjoy all that Western Maryland has to offer including beautiful scenery, invigorating rides, and fresh air on these fabulous bike routes. From Pittsburgh to Cumberland, the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) connects with the 184.5-mile C&O Canal Towpath to create a 335-mile bike route between Pittsburgh and Washington, DC.

The Switchback Trail and Sculpture Garden connects the GAP Trail to the Frostburg downtown. The sculptures symbolize the consciousness of bicyclists who travel the GAP Trail and they also reflect the "creative place making" through public art found throughout Frostburg.

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Events & Festivals
music fest

Throughout the year, Frostburg and Cumberland host many events, including:

  • DelFest : The festival grew from the desire to create a family-friendly music festival celebrating the rich legacy of McCoury Music while creating a forum for musical collaborations and to showcase fresh new talent. The Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland is nestled along the Potomac River in the scenic Appalachian Mountains, and serves as the perfect location for DelFest.
  • Appalachian Festival (September): Every September this free, family-friendly event brings together artists and craftspeople to celebrate all that makes the region unique—its history, culture, music, food and more—with performances, workshops, displays, discussions and activities.
  • Storybook Holiday (December): On the first Saturday of December, this event kicks off with a breakfast with the elves, parade, and Elf Olympics. First-hand interaction with a featured author/illustrator is followed by writing letters to Santa, Secret Elves' Workshop, and much more. The event wraps up with the Tree Lighting Festival and a classic holiday movie at the Palace Theatre.
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Dans Mountain State Park
view from mountain

Perched high upon a 16-mile long mountain in Lonaconing, just outside of Frostburg, Dans Mountain State Park is the perfect place to chill-out on a hot summer day. The 481-acre park features an Olympic-sized swimming pool, four large group pavilions, a huge recycled-tire playground, and a tranquil pond for fishing. Nearby, Dan's Rock Overlook affords an epic view of the surrounding land from a height of 2,898 feet.

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Wineries, Breweries & Distilleries
Brewery

Raise your glass for a toast at Toasted Goat Winery in Frostburg. Located in the Hotel Gunter, the Toasted Goat features a tasting room where visitors can enjoy a variety of wines from fun and fruity to big bold reds. Over in Cumberland, try Charis Winery and Distillery. Located in the Canal Place Shops right downtown, Charis produces premium wines and Pomace Brandy. Also available for tasting and purchase are Elaia Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars.

For those who prefer a brew, 1812 Brewery will do! The brewery is located in a brick and wood barn, built in 1812, on a 190-acre farm nestled in the historic Evitts Creek Valley. The 1812 taproom offers six different beers on tap at a time. There is plenty of outdoor space to relax, enjoy the scenery and sample a flight or two. Try Dig Deep Brewing Co. in Cumberland or Locust Post Brewery in Little Orleans featuring a disc golf course and exceptional views.

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Frostburg University
Frostburg University sign

Frostburg's beautiful Western Maryland campus puts students in reach of outdoor recreational opportunities uncommon in a college setting. Founded in 1898 to train teachers, the institution today is a public university offering a wide array of affordable programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The University is distinguished by a scenic campus encircled by mountains, its excellent academic programs, its nationally-acclaimed community service programs, and its vital role in regional economic development initiatives.

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Dining
restaurant counter and booths

For burgers and milkshakes, you must try The Princess Restaurant—serving diner-style fare since 1939! In the 1950s President Harry Truman and his wife, Bess, dined here while traveling through the area. Today, guests can dine in the ‘Truman” booth while enjoying nostalgic decor like jukeboxes and historical images from years past all throughout the restaurant.

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Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
train

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad round trip excursion, originating in Downtown Cumberland and climbing high into the Allegheny Mountains to Downtown Frostburg, is an exciting mix of mountain scenery and rich transportation history.

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C&O Canal National Historical Park and Visitors Museum
credit Ricky Mower

The visitor center features a spacious exhibit area full of interactive and educational displays about the history of the C&O Canal and Cumberland. Pass through a model of the Paw Paw Tunnel and step back into the hey-day of the canal. The visitor center offers a life size section of a canal boat and fascinating exhibits on the canal's construction, cargo, mules, locks and crew.

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Allegany Museum
Exterior of museum

The museum collection reflects the culture of the people of the Allegany region, which is geographically isolated from the rest of Maryland by a range of ridges and valleys and is linked to the greater Appalachia region. The Museum embraces the past and present and includes objects, ordinary and extraordinary, whose stories and meanings are rich and complex.

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George Washington's Headquarters
log cabin

This one-room cabin, used by George Washington as a young aide to General Braddock, was built in 1754-55 and is the only remaining structure of Ft. Cumberland. Maintained and operated by the D.A.R. Cresap Chapter, the one-room cabin is not open to the public but has a window with an audio description.

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LaVale Toll House & the National Road
white house with green roof

The National Road, constructed in 1811, was the first federally-funded road. Home to mile marker one, Cumberland became known as "The Gateway to the West." Travelers enjoy the road as it cuts through the Narrows in LaVale, one of the most picturesque sites in Maryland. LaVale's seven-sided Toll Gate House is the only remaining toll gate on the National Road in Maryland. Historic plaque indicates fees for wagons, animals and pedestrians to use the road.

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Gordon-Roberts House
dining room of historic house

The house is one of a small group of Second Empire-style homes located in the Washington Street Historic District. Second Empire architecture is characterized by the mansard roof. The house is constructed of handmade bricks laid in American Common Bond and is three stories high and five bays wide.