Why The Casselman Inn is the Perfect Destination for a Holiday Getaway
The magic of the season comes alive every year at The Casselman! From charming decorative lights and delicious home-cooked meals by a cozy fire to relaxing accommodations and top-notch customer service, continue reading to learn why The Casselman is a perfect destination for your holiday getaway.
A MAGICAL ESCAPE
Built in 1842, The Casselman was one of the numerous inns along the National Trail to serve the stagecoaches, covered wagons, drovers and riders that made the Old Pike the busiest thoroughfare crossing the mountains. The Casselman continues today as a second-generation family-owned business, and is considered an important historic landmark in western Maryland. The legendary hospitality and service offered to our guests in 1842 are still provided today.
Travelers will feel immediately welcomed by the charming holiday lights adorning our historic inn's main building and windows and can relax with either a nostalgic stay in our historic inn or one of our affordable motel rooms. Visitors can also enjoy a delicious country meal served in our famous restaurant's warm and cozy atmosphere with the fireplace lit during the winter months. And while you are there, don't forget to check out our Christmas tree located in the main dining room!
One of our favorite parts of The Casselman Inn is its charming, two-room Dorsey Suite with its newly decorated bedroom and sitting room areas. The classic beauty of the antique furnishings and oversized double bed combined with the sofa's comfort that can open into an additional bed and the luxury of a private bath with a clawfoot tub and a soaking tub make this suite exquisite. Please read our blog, The Historic Dorsey Suite, to learn more about this charming suite.
PLENTY OF SMALL BUSINESS HOLIDAY SHOPPING
Grantsville, Maryland, is home to approximately 1,000 people and contains several small businesses ranging from retail and specialty shops to restaurants and lodging, including The Casselman Inn and Restaurant! So the next time you visit us here at The Casselman, we encourage you to consider supporting these local businesses if you are looking for souvenirs or gifts in Grantsville.
Four Seasons Stitchery
Located in a renovated school building, Four Seasons Stitchery is a stitcher's dream come true. Their knowledgeable and attentive staff are always ready to help you coordinate colors for a quilt or give input on a crochet or cross-stitch project. Four Seasons Stitchery offers more than 3,500 bolts of fabric, including wide backing, seasonal prints, batiks, solids, novelties, flannels and homespuns. If you are not crafty, they also offer a lovely selection of beautiful handmade items, quilts and wall hangings that make excellent souvenirs or gifts!
High Country Creamery and Market
High Country Creamery and Market is a locally-owned creamery that specializes in various artisan cow's milk cheeses. They sell many delicious kinds of cheese such as The Casselman X-Sharp Aged Cheddar, Creamery Feta, Big Savage Stout Cheddar, The Rev Reserve Coffee Cheddar and others. Their cheeses would make excellent gifts or a yummy treat to take home and enjoy later. High Country Creamery and Market pride themselves in sourcing local farm-to-table products as much as possible!
Spruce Forest Artisan Village
Spruce Forest Artisan Village serves a unique purpose in the Allegheny region. Today, this venue has become a place for artists to showcase their designs, genres and media specific to the area. Artisans work in various media like wood carving, basket making, bird carving, hand-loom weaving and hand-thrown pottery. Visitors to Spruce Forest Artisan Village have the chance to purchase these items and interact with the artisans in their studios.
Little Crossing Pantry
Little Crossings Pantry offers local, regional and international products for those who love cooking and entertaining. They opened in April 2018 with the inspiration to make everyday gourmet. Little Crossings Pantry provides its customers with a quaint shopping experience by offering a wide range of gourmet ingredients, various wines and more.
Hilltop Fruit Market
Located at the intersection of Route 40 and 219, Hill Top Fruit Market was established in 1958 by Chester and Shirley McFarland as a produce market. Today, Hill Top Fruit Market provides its customers with the freshest fruits and vegetables. They also offer an extensive selection of nuts, dried fruits, honey, buckwheat flour, trail and snack mixes and more. However, Hill Top Fruit Market may be best-known for its huge candy selection -- also known as Candyland USA, the market offers over 900 varieties of candy, making it a must-stop destination during the holidays.
The Casselman
We cannot mention local businesses in the Grantsville area without highlighting The Casselman! If you are looking for some souvenirs or gifts to take home with you, we offer t-shirts, candles, soaps, honey, maple syrup, our famous apple butter and much more!
EXPERIENCE A WINTER SEASON QUITE LIKE NO OTHER
Celebrate this special season in Grantsville, Maryland, with some of the holiday events and activities taking place, such as:
- Take a ride on the Polar Express
- Enjoy the Joy of Christmas Light Show
- Visit A Great Small Town Christmas in downtown Oakland
- Meet and take pictures with Santa
Read or blog Christmas Events and Activities Happening Around Grantsville, Maryland, to learn more about these exciting events.
ENJOY OUTDOOR WINTER RECREATION
If adventurous activities are what thrills you, you will be excited to learn that Garrett County averages over 100 inches of snowfall per year, so there are no limits on the outdoor recreation options to be had in our winter wonderland! Located near Deep Creek Lake in McHenry, Maryland, Wisp offers snow sport enthusiasts a wide range of activities including, snowboarding, skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, snow tubing and a thrilling mountain coaster. For fun off the beaten path, check out the guided snowshoeing or winter hiking tours from All Earth Eco Tours. These tours allow you an opportunity to venture into forests and backcountry areas to explore hidden gems and learn about the plants, animals, the local ecosystem and the history of the area.
COZY UP WITH YOUR FAVORITE MEAL | THE CASSELMAN INN AND RESTAURANT
This holiday season, we invite you to come and eat in our restaurant's original dining room with its wooden floor and historic decor or in the "new" dining room, which was added in 1973 and comfortably seats 125 people. The cuisine of our restaurant is simple, country food with a variety of favorite recipes reminiscent of the Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish background of the owners. Some favorites include The Hot Turkey Sandwich, The Creamy Chicken and Dumplings, The Colossal Cinnamon Roll, and more! To learn more about the food offered at The Casselman Restaurant, read our blog, 8 Delicious Comfort Foods and Treats to Enjoy at The Casselman.
Our bakers have been whipping up a delicious variety of desserts for decades -- including some baked with recipes from when the bakery initially opened its doors! Our bakery even has a window to watch the bakers make the bread. We still make each loaf by hand, which ties into our restaurant's heritage.
Expect the restaurant to smell just like Christmas during the holiday season, as our bakers are hard at work whipping up our famous holiday cookie trays. Choose from either three and a half or six dozen cookie trays with an assortment of cookies ranging from six to 10 different types. For more information about cookie trays or booking a room at the inn, please contact us at 301-895-5055. Warm Wishes and Happy Holidays from all of us at The Casselman!