Appalachian Figures
Garrett County’s lake country is a long way from the coasts that usually make American sailing history. Yet in the late 1950s a small shop near Deep Creek Lake began turning out a 19-foot dinghy that families still race across the United States. Designer Gordon K. “Sandy” Douglass brought his know-how to Western Maryland; the Flying Scot, designed in 1956–57 (sources vary) and first built in 1958, was initially produced in Oakland and later in Deer Park, becoming an enduring Appalachian export.
From Thistle and Highlander to a family boat
Douglass had already made his name with quick, planing dinghies like the Thistle and Highlander when he set his sights on a more forgiving one-design that a couple or a family could handle. The National Sailing Hall of Fame summarizes his arc neatly—Thistle just after the war, Highlander in 1949, and Flying Scot first built in 1958, along with his reputation as both racer and builder.
Why Western Maryland
Deep Creek Lake had grown into a regional recreation hub by mid-century. Local and class histories place the Flying Scot’s design work in 1956–57 and tie the project to the locally formed Gordon Douglass Boat Co. in Oakland, Maryland, with production starting in 1958, situating the boat squarely within Garrett County’s tourism-and-outdoors economy.
Douglass did more than build boats. After moving to Oakland, he served on the town council and chaired a citizens’ committee to develop a community college, underscoring how rooted he became in the community.
Oakland and Deer Park, then and now
Production began in Oakland in 1958 and later moved a few miles south to Deer Park. Today the builder, Flying Scot, Inc., lists its shop at 157 Cemetery Street, Deer Park, MD 21550, and local business listings highlight more than sixty years of continuous Garrett County production.
For the design’s basic specs and current manufacturing site, the Flying Scot encyclopedia entry remains a handy snapshot: 19-ft LOA, first built 1958, and presently built in Deer Park.
A living class on a mountain lake
The Flying Scot did not just come from Appalachia. It stayed. Deep Creek fleets remain busy each summer, and the annual Sandy Douglass Memorial Regatta keeps the connection visible. This year (July 26–27, 2025) results show healthy participation across Gold, Silver, Masters, and Challenger divisions, a small-lake scene with national class depth.
Why this matters for Appalachian industrial history
The Flying Scot story fits a familiar regional pattern. Skilled makers set up small shops that turn out durable products, often for niche markets. Like instrument builders in the Blue Ridge or precision fabricators in Eastern Kentucky, the Douglass crew in Garrett County built something that lasts—something that moved far beyond the ridges where it began. The lake drew the people, the people drew the boats, and the boats carried the place’s name into sailing clubs across the country.
Sources and further reading
Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, “Death” notices, June 1992. Obituary for Gordon K. Douglass with details on Oakland civic life and the Flying Scot. archive.dartmouthalumnimagazine.com
Gordon K. Douglass, Sixty Years Behind the Mast: The Fox on the Water (1986), McClain Printing, Parsons, WV. (bibliographic ref.) AbeBooks
The Sailing Museum / National Sailing Hall of Fame, “Gordon K. Sandy Douglass.” Career overview and design timeline. thesailingmuseum.org
Flying Scot (dinghy) entry (overview of specs; 1958 first build; current production in Deer Park). Wikipedia
Sailboatdata: Flying Scot, Inc. builder page (current Deer Park address). sailboatdata
Garrett County Chamber of Commerce directory listing for Flying Scot, Inc. (address; continuous production note). Garrett County Chamber of Commerce
Mountain Discoveries, “Great Flying Scot,” regional history feature on the Oakland/Deer Park factory lineage. mountaindiscoveries.com
Deep Creek Yacht Racing Association, 2025 Sandy Douglass Memorial Regatta final results (Gold/Silver/Masters/Challenger). dcyra.com