Catoctin Hall at Musket Ridge Golf Club is a full service venue that offers unrivaled backdrops for photographs with gorgeous vistas from a ridge across hundreds of acres of lush, green golf course with mountains, lakes, and old-fashioned wooden bridges.
An Interview with Melody Wardak, Event Sales Manager.
What does Catoctin Hall offer?
Catoctin Hall specializes in weddings but welcome any and all celebrations such as banquets, holiday parties, retirement events, birthdays and more! Sunsets at Musket Ridge can be spectacular, and can be enjoyed on the newly renovated outdoor terrace. We are proud to be the first zero food waste venue in the United States which helps our guests celebrating lessen the environmental impact of their event.
Tell us Musket Ridge Golf Club and Catoctin Hall’s story.
Located on 341 acres on a high ridge in the Middletown Valley, Musket Ridge is sited on land that is remarkable not just for its beauty but also for its historic significance. During the Civil War, Musket Ridge’s property was traversed by the armies of the North and South during the Battle of South Mountain as well as during the Antietam and Gettysburg campaigns. Antietam Battlefield lies just beyond South Mountain, which is visible to the West. Camp David, the presidential retreat, only a few ridges away, lies to the North, and the presidential helicopters fly over Musket Ridge on the way to Camp David.
Musket Ridge opened in September, 2001, on the former site of a dairy farm that had occupied the land for 175 years. Designed by the late Joe Lee, as a 27 hole facility (currently only 18 holes), the routing plan plays along the existing ridge lines, with a 200 foot change in elevation throughout the course. During construction, great care was given to disturbing the land as little as possible (virtually all the original topography and viewsheds remain) and to preserving all the trees and environmentally sensitive areas on the site.
The historic and rural character of the area formed the theme for the Club’s buildings, with the clubhouse designed in the style of a colonial manor, while the banquet facility Catoctin Hall and the maintenance barn echo farm designs historically popular in the area. Two antique Civil War muskets serve as the focal point of the Grill Room, which overlooks the course and the Middletown Valley and mountains beyond. Catoctin Hall, with its vaulted ceiling and spectacular views, was designed to accommodate large golf events as well as weddings and banquets.
What makes Catoctin Hall unique?
We are committed to sustainability. All food scraps are composted on-site into fertilizer using a Japanese process called Bokashi, which adds valuable nutrients to the compost and helps improve the health of soil and plants. Completing the cycle, we spread the fertilizer on our organic vegetable and herb garden; our Executive Chef, Kyle, then uses these natural ingredients in featured menu options. It is estimated that our zero food waste initiative keeps up to 4,000 pounds of food waste out of landfills annually.
What do you wish people knew about Catoctin Hall?
We have a 250 guest capacity beautiful reception hall! It’s been a heavy couple years after COVID-19 devastated the world and permitted gathering together. We are eager to celebrate life’s special moments and are dedicated to do so safely!
Our service is what we do best! Each event is carefully curated and unique. Details matter to us!
Do you have any upcoming events you’d like the Chamber membership to know about?
We are inviting all engaged couples to visit us on Sunday, August 14, 2022 for our Fall Showing! We will tour the facility with you and your fiancé, our preferred vendors will be in attendance and we are offering a taste of our menu and signature cocktails! Appointments are required.
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.