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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Rocky Gap State Park
Rocky Gap State Park is a public recreation area with resort features located on Interstate 68 (exit 50), seven miles (11 km) east of Cumberland in Allegany County, Maryland. The state park's 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) include Lake Habeeb, Evitts Mountain, and the privately owned and operated Rocky Gap Casino Resort. The park offers water recreation, camping facilities, and hiking trails. The park is managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the resort by Century Casinos.

History

The park originated with the donation of land by Edward Habeeb and others for the creation of a state park at Rocky Gap. Initial state purchases began in 1963 with land acquisition continuing until 1966. In 1970, the Army Corps of Engineers dammed Rocky Gap Run to create Lake Habeeb. The park opened in 1974.

Resort

The Rocky Gap Resort and Golf Course was developed in 1998 by the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO), an agency created in 1984 that allows the State of Maryland to directly own or develop property for economic benefit. The facility opened in April 1998 at a cost of $53.9 million. The resort failed to sustain its early success, began posting losses, and became dependent on MEDCO subsidies to stay in operation.

Casino

In 2009, the state's initial effort to open a casino in the park failed when the only bidder, Empire Resorts, did not pay the required $4.5 million licensing fee. Empire's contingent bid was based on Maryland altering its 67 percent tax on casinos—one of the highest in the United States. In 2011, legislators lowered the state’s share of slots revenue at Rocky Gap from 67 percent to 50 percent. A casino license was awarded in April 2012 to a subsidiary of Lakes Entertainment of Minnetonka, Minnesota, who completed purchase of the existing resort, including the 200-room lakeside lodge, the Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole golf course, and other features, from the state in August 2012. The sale price was reported at less than $7 million. The renamed Rocky Gap Casino Resort opened on May 22, 2013, with 558 slot machines and 10 live table games. In 2015, Rocky Gap Casino-Resort was acquired by Golden Entertainment when the company merged with Lakes Entertainment. In 2023, Golden Entertainment sold the property’s operations to Century Casinos and its land and buildings to Vici Properties. The casino operates 665 gaming devices and 17 table games. The hotel has 198 rooms and suites.

Activities and amenities

Lake Habeeb

The park's man-made Lake Habeeb covers 243 acres (98 ha) and sports white sand beaches. It sits below Evitts Mountain and is fed by Rocky Gap Run. Boats (electric motors only) are allowed on Lake Habeeb 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and a fee is assessed. The park offers paddle boats, kayaks, and canoes for rent. Fish most commonly caught by anglers at Lake Habeeb include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, rainbow trout, brown trout, channel catfish, bluegill, redear sunfish, and pumpkinseed.

Trails

Hiking trails include the four-mile (6 km) Lakeside Trail and the five-mile (8 km) Evitt's Homesite Trail, which climbs Evitts Mountain amid streams with hemlock, mountain laurel and rhododendron growing nearby. The quarter-mile Touch of Nature Trail is a paved route to an accessible fishing dock.

Amphitheater

The park's amphitheater and concert stage can be rented. Its seating capacity is 3,000, and the stage area is 42 feet (13 m) by 60 feet (18 m). The stage was built as a permanent home for the Rocky Gap Country Bluegrass Festival (1988-2001) but was never used for those shows.

  • Lake Habeeb frozen over
    Lake Habeeb frozen over
  • Casino entrance
    Casino entrance
  • Ice fisherman on Lake Habeeb
    Ice fisherman on Lake Habeeb
  • Aerial photo
    Aerial photo

References

  1. ^ "Lake Habeeb". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ "DNR Lands Acreage Report" (PDF). Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "Maryland State Park History". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  4. ^ "Rocky Gap State Park". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  5. ^ Kraft, Randy (April 12, 1998). "First state park hotel in Maryland is open for business". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pa. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  6. ^ Dresser, Michael; Cho, Hanah (April 26, 2012). "Rocky Gap casino license awarded". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  7. ^ Spradlin, Kevin (February 13, 2009). "State rejects New York group's Rocky Gap slots proposal". Cumberland Times-News. Archived from the original on February 14, 2009. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  8. ^ Leaderman, Daniel (June 20, 2012). "Sale of Rocky Gap resort approved". The Gazette. Gaithersburg, Md. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  9. ^ "Rocky Gap Casino Resort". Lakes Entertainment, Inc. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  10. ^ Dresser, Michael (June 19, 2012). "State poised to cut Rocky Gap losses". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  11. ^ Secret, Katie (June 27, 2013). "Rocky Gap Casino blames weather on slow start". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
  12. ^ Stutz, Howard (January 26, 2015). "Golden Gaming to merge with Lakes Entertainment, acquire Maryland casino". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  13. ^ Wargo, Buck (July 25, 2023). "Century Casinos acquires Rocky Gap operations from Golden Entertainment". CDC Gaming Reports. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  14. ^ "Rocky Gap Music Pavilion". DNC Architects. Archived from the original on February 16, 2001.
  15. ^ "Rocky Gap amphitheater could see some use in the future". Cumberland, Md.: WCBC Radio. July 22, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
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