Make Frostburg's 
Main Street Your Next Stop

Tell someone from the Baltimore / Washington Corridor you were heading to a town named Frostburg, Maryland a few years ago and you may get a puzzled look, followed by "where???"

Today, Frostburg (population 8,075) is a pretty well known place. Of course there is Frostburg State University, it’s been here since 1898 when Frostburg wasn’t much more than a stage coach stop and coal mining community. The four-year university, with an enrollment of 5,199 students, offers one of the best Education curriculums in the state as well as Arts & Sciences, and Business Administration.

The town has gained a lot of publicity in the last few years. For starters, it is the summer home of the Washington Redskins training camp. This means throughout the month of August, the Washington, D.C. media is broadcasting live from the FSU Campus and fans swarm into the town to see their favorite players.

Frostburg can also claim a natural disaster when, in 1998, a tornado took a destructive path through its neighborhoods, the storm traveled only few blocks away from Main Street. Uprooted trees can still be seen on Route 40 just east of town.

Most recently the town has become know as too nice for its own good. When a telemarketing firm open a call center here, they realized the folks in this little town well, are polite and nice and really don’t like to call and sell to people while they’re sitting down to supper. The Associated Press picked up the story and ran with it and, before you knew it Frostburg was known around the world as a really nice place.

My travels in this mountain top community have been overwhelmingly positive. If you get the chance to make the journey, here you will find Main Street mostly still intact with shops, bars, and a wide variety of restaurants even the old theater "The Palace" has been renovated and reopened.

For a great day, start off with a visit to the Thrasher Carriage Museum and shops by the restored train depot just down the hill from Main Street on Depot Street.

If you want to go outdoor gear shopping, then check out Adventure Sports, 113 E. Main Street, (301) 689-0345. You will find bikes, skis, snowboards, camping, climbing, and scuba gear in this cool rustic shop, repairs and tune-ups are available, too.

The Tombstone Cafe, 60 E. Main Street (301) 689-5254, is a unique undertaking - the building was once home to a memorial company. The cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you can get fine coffee, cappuccino, espresso and enjoy sitting outside watching the people wander by or read a good regional book or magazine that you can pick up at Main Street Books at 10 East Main Street.

If nostalgia is what you are seeking, walk across the street to the Princess Restaurant (301) 689-1680 where the Pappas family has been serving great homestyle breakfast, lunch, and dinner since 1939 in this soda fountain-style restaurant.

For more exotic dinner cuisine, go two doors up to Gandalf’s, 16 W. Main Street, (301) 689-2010. Their menu features a wide variety of international foods and they specialize in vegetarian and organic foods and homemade bread and pitas. Dinner is served 5 pm - 10 pm, Mon-Sat. The pub is open ‘til 2 am and has one of the best selections of microbrewed & imported beers, many of which are on draft. Live music is featured most weekends.

The Hurry Back Inn on Frostburg’s westside (220 W. Main Street) features domestic beers, pizza, chili, sandwiches, and subs. You can play pool, foosball, and skillpool. It’s open until 2 am daily. Adjacent to the Hurry Back is Charlie’s Motel (301) 689-6557, with "the lowest priced motel rooms in the area."

Failinger’s Hotel Gunther, 11 W. Main Street, claims there is "Nothing like it anywhere else." This 1890’s historically-renovated building has rooms available for weary travelers. For reservations or information, call (301) 689-6511.

The Castle Bed & Breakfast is just a short drive away in Mt. Savage. Call (301) 264-4645.

This is just a short list of some great places to experience while visiting Frostburg. The town is special, the people are great, and you can’t beat the mountain air. Take exit 34 off I-68 and make Frostburg’s Main Street your next stop. It’s well... a nice place.