The Golden Mile

Early 1990s 

“The Golden Mile” is what Frederick Marylanders call a stretch of Route 40 beginning at the Holiday Inn and running straight west to the ascent up Braddock Heights Mountain.

The term “The Golden Mile” began about 20 years ago when farmers started selling land along this mile-length road for many times its agricultural worth.

Today, “The Golden Mile” has 11 shopping centers (five or more stores connected) including a mall, 18 “waitress-served” restaurants and 11 “fast food” places, 11 auto specialty shops, 10 movie houses, 4 groceries, 7 service stations, at least 4 video stores, 12 banks, 3 real estate offices, and 2 7-elevens, not to mention a State Police Barracks and 2 motels.

These and such specialty shops as Hawaiian Tan, Uniglobe Travel, Pet World, Temporary Tattoos, US Carpet Market, Rock Center Aquarium, Surf's Up, Party House, Frederick Golf Center, I Can’t Believe It Yogurt, and Jemy Craig Weight Loss Center can meet just about any need.

*****

This may seem good, but personally, I avoid “The Golden Mile” as much as possible because of the terrible traffic and the sense of crowdedness.  Cars can often be bumper to bumper for a mile in each of the four lanes going east and west.  For me, driving the “mile” is tortuous.  I never seem to be able to be in the correct lane or to make the next green light.

Although I usually head for “downtown” and Frederick’s historic city center to shop, some products and movies I can’t find anywhere but on the “mile” and I find myself there.

Also, Route 40 is the best route to points west of Frederick forcing me to the “mile”.

*****

The great number of retail establishments in a short distance is not the only reason for too many cars and people.  Several town and single-family housing and apartment complexes are on the land behind the stores, where just a few years ago corn, hay, and wheat grew.  We now have a Brookside, the Manor at Willowdale, Willow Crest, Little Brook, Lake Coventry, Crestwood Village, Mountain Village, the Overlook, Tasker’s Chance, Waverly Gardens, and a Waterford.

New streets (Willowdale Drive, Waverly Drive, McCain Drive, Hillcrest Drive, Hoke Place, Linden Avenue, and Baughman’s Lane to name a few) lead from the “mile” into the housing developments.  These streets steadily funnel residents into “The Golden Mile” to mix it up with the shopper and passing-through traffic.

​

*****

The car mess is not likely to go away soon.  Incredibly, “open” land is still left.  Housing starts continue and “coming soon” signs dot the shopping-strip landscape.

Buses could help by shuttling shoppers to satellite parking lots.  Shuttle bus systems are now in wide-spread use at airports and the flying public accepts them gladly.  Shuttle buses could also ferry shoppers up and down the “mile”.

But the system would have to be good.  The buses would have to run frequently, punctually, and quickly get customers to their destination.  Special shuttle bus lanes are a must.

I’m not optimistic that a good shuttle bus system will be in use soon.  For now, too many Americans are rooted to their old habits and their own four wheels.

No, I expect “The Golden Mile” will be an area I will continue to avoid for some time.