By Liz Farmer
Daily Record Business Writer

Coming off a season in which visitor numbers grew over the prior year, Maryland’s only ski resort expects a steady season and another visitation increase, thanks to predictions of a snowy winter.

Wisp Resort in Garrett County does not release its specific visitor totals, but Director of Marketing Lori Epp said the Appalachian Mountain resort saw a 7.9 percent increase in skier and snowboarder visits during the 2008-09 season over the prior year.

And Wisp isn’t alone — despite a lagging economy that’s taking a toll on luxury purchases and discretionary spending, many resorts across the mid-Atlantic and Southeast saw an uptick in visitation numbers last year, according to the National Ski Areas Association.