South Laurel

Local news covering Laurel Lakes, Victoria Falls, Oakcrest, Montpelier, and the Route 197 corridor

Gude Mansion, now known as The Mansion at Laurel. (Photo: Loopnet)

It’s an exciting time in the Mezzanotte household as we prepare for our son’s wedding in October. Back when he and his fiancée were looking for venues, they didn’t find what they were looking for in the immediate area, so the wedding will be in Frederick. Since then, two special events venues have opened within walking distance of our house. I often see questions on the NextDoor app or the Laurel MD Connect Facebook group asking about local rental facilities, so here are two options!

The Mansion at Laurel is an 1850s-era farmhouse that sits off by itself just south of Laurel Lakes. You’ve likely seen it, and you might know it better as the Gude Mansion. The house and surrounding property passed through at least four owners—including William Gude, who lived there for over 50 years and owned 160 acres that eventually became the Laurel Lakes community. The City of Laurel purchased the house in 2018 and, after a few years of restoration and renovation, the mansion opened in May 2022. The property serves two purposes for the city. First, it is the new home of the Department of Parks and Recreation, which has offices on the third floor. Second, it generates income as a venue for special events, including weddings: a bridal suite, groom suite, two ballrooms, and a catering kitchen are features of the house. Several options are available for indoor/outdoor events of up to 75 people. For more information, email parks@laurel.md.us or call 301-725-7800.

If what you need is just an indoor space for up to 250 guests, look no further than just across Route 1. In a small shopping center off Cypress Street, Knoxora Venue is nestled between Red Wing Shoes and My Kabul restaurant. Knoxora provides furnishings, tableware, and linens if requested and offers three packages (standard, premium, and deluxe). Event managers help to “design your wow” by collaborating with established business partners for catering and decorating. More information can be found at knoxoravenue.com or by calling 240-755-1666.

Beltsville Fire Station Update

I’ve been following the saga of the Beltsville Fire Station for almost two years. Longtime readers will recall that former Prince George’s County Fire Chief Tiffany Green wanted to remove salaried firefighters who served alongside the volunteers at Station 831, citing building inspection failures and county-wide staffing shortages. After intense, prolonged outcry from the public and local elected officials, Green backed off the plan, opting instead to house staff in temporary buildings until the station could be renovated. (Notably, Green stepped down in July to become the Prince George’s County Assistant Administrative Officer for Public Safety. Shortly thereafter, she was placed on administrative leave while an investigation began into her hiring practices as fire chief.) Temporary facilities were placed at the corner of Sellman and Montgomery Roads, by Chestnut Hills Park. However, as of early September, nearby residents were unhappy that firetrucks were parked close to a playground and had become skeptical of promises to renovate the original station. Rick Bergmann of The Beltsville News told me this: “No one believes these buildings are temporary, because they laid down slabs of concrete under them. The corner they chose was already a traffic nightmare and will become an even bigger one. The new county Fire Chief supposedly is reviewing the situation, but as far as I know, no one has reached out to the volunteer firefighters and no work has been scheduled for the current fire station on Prince George’s Avenue.” I’ll continue to follow this story, which has public safety implications for Laurel—especially the southern neighborhoods, which fall within Beltsville’s first-responder area.

Federal Cuts Spell Uncertain Future for Patuxent Research Refuge

For over 90 years, the Patuxent Research Refuge between South Laurel and Bowie has served as the only national wildlife refuge created specifically for research. Its scientists made many crucial discoveries about birds, bees, soil, pesticides, and other topics of importance to farming and other industries. Its wildlife specialists helped save the whooping crane from certain extinction and rehabilitated countless other species. Almost as significantly, it became a popular spot for birdwatching, school field trips, and family outings, drawing up to 300,000 visitors a year. But under the Trump administration’s government-reduction plan, the facility could be shut down, according to a July 6 article in the Baltimore Banner, which noted that a fourth of the refuge’s staff has been cut since January, forcing it to drastically reduce public visiting hours and educational programs; further, it is slated to be totally defunded in 2026. As a government organization, the refuge depends solely on federal funding that, if withdrawn, would halt all research projects. Former Patuxent staffers have warned that this would wipe out decades of advancements and could have a devastating impact on native species. Many fear that the government is eyeing the refuge’s 13,000 acres for potential development, threatening the area’s wildlife and ecosystem and taking away one of the last remaining green spaces in the area. I have been making an effort to visit this national treasure more often, while it’s still here, and hope others will do the same.

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Diane Mezzanotte is a staff writer and member of the Board of Directors for The Laurel History Boys. In addition to covering Laurel city municipal news, she also reports on all things from South Laurel.