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Through the tireless efforts of a small group of Thurmont citizens, the Cemetery was created in 1924 on a tract of land along Altamont Avenue in Thurmont. By the Articles of Incorporation filed on June 20, 1924, the Blue Ridge Cemetery Association, Incorporated [a 501(c) (13) nonprofit organization registered in the State of Maryland], was formed, in part, to “own, operate, manage and control a Cemetery or place of sepulture at Thurmont...” The Blue Ridge Cemetery Association, which consists of a Board of Directors of no less than five or more than nine individuals, is responsible for selling grave spaces and setting aside the proceeds in perpetual trust for the care of the Cemetery.
The initial plan in 1924 was to develop a cemetery not to exceed 10 acres and consisting of 347 burial lots (eight grave spaces per burial lot). Over the years, the Blue Ridge Cemetery Association has acquired several other contiguous tracts of land that have expanded the Cemetery to its current size of approximately 17.5 acres – 7.5 acres developed, 7.5 acres for future development, and 2.5 acres that cannot be developed. The approximately 17.5 acres comprising the Cemetery includes a contiguous property located at 105 Sandy Spring Lane, Thurmont. 3,000 burial lots are currently developed and an additional 3,000 lots are planned to be developed in the future. In addition to the 3,000 burial lots currently developed, a columbarium is located at the Cemetery that contains 48 cremation niches, along with 56 cremation burial spaces in the ground surrounding the columbarium. Currently, a total of approximately 2,000 individuals have been buried in the Cemetery, with an average rate of 20-30 burials per year. Currently, the Cemetery does not include a designated section for pet burials.
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