2025 Cascade Update
Geraldine Otremba, Cascade Resident, on Behalf of the Committee to Protect Our Mountain
My husband, Stan Turesky, and I have lived in Cascade since 1990. For more than 15 years, Cascade was a beloved weekend and summer respite from Washington, D.C. For the last decade, we have shared our time between Cascade and Washington, but Cascade has become our spiritual home. The rural beauty, the mountain weather, and the distinct seasons have all become our touchstones. Over that long period, however, Cascade was the Sleeping Beauty of the local landscape, outshined by the attractions of Frederick, Middleton, and Hagerstown on the very eastern edge of Washington County. Well, my friends, Sleeping Beauty has awakened and discovered a local, walkable, beautiful, and historic treasure: the riches of Fort Ritchie and the expertly led Ritchie Revival. The prime mover of success is John Krumpotich: “The Fort fell down long enough; our vision is if it’s standing, we’re going to fix it.”
On one spectacularly beautiful campus, surrounding shimmering Lake Royer, Cascade residents can enjoy and benefit from an exquisite lakeside event/wedding venue, a pub with local craft beers and ales, casual dining, an old fashioned ice cream parlor, primary medical care, organic fruits and vegetables, locally sourced dairy and meat, arts and crafts, a museum, exercise, spa experiences and wellness products, pet grooming, summer camp, farmers’ market, and auto and HVAC repair.
Ritchie Rations, an old-time general store, is the latest business to open. The store stocks an array of organic produce, specialty products, and locally sourced dairy and meat. The store will also be featuring a number of vendors from the monthly Farmers’ Market, including Catoctin Mountain Farm, South Mountain Creamery, and Painted Pastures.
A complete listing of on-site businesses may be found at RitchieRevival.com.
Fort Ritchie has many exciting upcoming June events you won’t want to miss, including the Bass Fishing Tournament on Lake Royer on June 16 and the Bill Coyle Memorial Vehicle Cruiseon June 21.
A Community Gala Fundraiser & Auction, organized by the Committee to Protect Our Mountain and Stop Dollar General, will be held on June 29 at the Secret Tap Room. Enjoy an ideal opportunity to explore the many unique businesses at Fort Ritchie and help raise funds to support the continuing legal fight to protect Cascade’s rural zoning. The event will feature a silent auction of goods and services from local vendors, as well as food, music, and a fun afternoon. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors and discover how the Ritchie Revival has transformed Cascade from a sleepy hamlet to the envy of the county!
Check the Community Calendar in this issue for more Fort Ritchie event dates and times.
Please see our advertisement on page 22 to purchase tickets and support the cause. See you at the Fort!
