ABOUT
 Deep
Creek Lake, Maryland's largest freshwater lake, was built in 1925 as a hydro-electric plant. With 65 miles of shoreline nestled in the mountains of Garrett
County, the lake has become the mid-Atlantic's premiere four-season resort area. Located in western Maryland, the lake is only a short 2-3 hour drive from the Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Pittsburgh areas. With Deep Creek's incredible scenery and peaceful setting, many people have nicknamed it the "Lake Tahoe of the East" - due to its numerous climatic similarities to the popular resort out west.
Because Deep Creek Lake is naturally spring fed, it has
some of the best water clarity in the eastern United States. Popular summer
activities on the lake include boating, swimming, water-skiing, wakeboarding,
tubing, sailing, and fishing. In fact, great fishing can be found throughout
the year. Ice fishing is becoming increasingly popular when the
lake freezes over in the winter.
 Nearly
every type of boat can be found on the lake - from power boats to sailboats and
everything in between, including personal watercraft, jet skis, canoes, and
kayaks. The lake, stretching nearly 12 miles in length with excellent water
depths, is a boater's paradise.
The Wisp Ski Resort, Maryland's only alpine ski area, sits
on the northern shores of Deep Creek Lake. With its 22 trails and nearly 100
acres of ski-able terrain, it truly makes Deep Creek an area with year-round
activities. The Wisp has made many improvements over the past several years and
now boasts an award-winning snow making system - the best in the mid-Atlantic.
Over the years, Deep Creek Lake has grown in popularity as a resort area. An increasing number of people have bought or built second homes in the area. Today, the lake is owned by the state of Maryland and currently managed by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
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| DETAILS
& FACTS |
| Size |
The lake has approximately 3,900 acres of surface area, measures 12 miles in length, and has 65 miles of shoreline |
Avg Summer Lake
Surface Temperature
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73 F |
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| Ice Cover in Mid Winter |
18 inches approx. |
| Maximum Depth |
75 feet |
| Avg Depth |
25 feet |
| Elevation |
2,462 feet above sea level |
Avg Outside High
Summer Temperature |
High 70's to low 80's |
| Avg Yearly Snowfall |
85.7 inches |
| Avg Yearly Precipitation |
47.6 inches |
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Location |
Lies west of the Eastern Continental Divide, meaning that the lake's water eventually drains into the Gulf of Mexico through the Mississippi River basin |
| Number of Homes |
About 2,500 in the Deep Creek Lake watershed |
| Recreation/Activities |
Boating, swimming, fishing (year-round), water-skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, sailing |
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| LOCAL TRADITIONS |
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| . Watching the 4th of July fireworks by boat
in McHenry cove |
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| . Celebrating the end of the summer season
at the Honi-Honi bar on Labor Day Monday |
| . Enjoying a hearty breakfast on Saturday
mornings at Little Sandy's restaurant |
| . Water-skiing at sunrise with glass-calm
water in Cherry Creek Cove before going by boat to Traders Coffee House |
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. Taking the kids to Smiley's Fun Zone for go-cart racing and mini golf
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| . Snowmobiling around the lake before
stopping for refreshments at JG's Pub on a Friday night |
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. Fishing at "Stump Point" near the dam of the lake at sunrise
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| FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
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| (click the sentences below for answers)
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| 1. |
How big is Deep Creek Lake and what is the lake really like?
The
lake is approximately 12 miles long with 65 miles of shoreline. The deepest point is approximately 75 feet, with an average depth of 25 feet. Surface temperatures generally top out in the low 70's in the summer. |
| 2. |
Who actually owns and manages Deep Creek Lake?
The
state
of Maryland actually owns the lake bed, the water, and the Buffer Strip of land around the entire lake. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages and patrols the lake. Brookfield Power owns the dam and hydro-electric facility. The Maryland Department of Environment regulates how much water Brookfield Power can release from the lake -ensuring proper lake levels throughout the boating season.
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| 3. |
 What are the boating restrictions on Deep Creek Lake?
Boating restrictions are numerous but the main ones are as follows:
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No boats longer than 26 feet are permitted (excluding pontoons)
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No speed restrictions except in designated areas
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No Personal Water Craft (PVC's) or Jet Skis are permitted on the lake between
the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays between the 4th of
July and Labor Day weekend.
Anyone born after 1972 must complete a ½ day Boater Safety Course to be eligible to operate any type of watercraft. |
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| 4. |
How many houses are around Deep Creek Lake?
While
the number of houses fluctuates, there are
approximately 1,800 homes around the 65 miles of
shoreline and another 700 homes with access to the lake and in the general watershed vicinity. In all, there are currently 6,574 properties in tax district 18, also known as the Deep Creek Lake District..
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| 5. |
 What are the temperatures and climate really like there? Since Garrett County and Deep Creek Lake are at an elevation between 2,400-3,000 feet above sea level, the outside air temperature is usually 5-10 degrees cooler than the surrounding metropolitan areas. If it's 90 in Baltimore - it usually is in the low 80's here. This allows people to escape the heat and humidity of the city in the summer. In the winter this results in more snow with an annual average of approximately 90 inches, since they started keeping records. Some winters result in more snow than others. In fact, two of the past three winters have produced more than 200 inches of snow!
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| 6. |
 What activities are available?
The easier question to answer would be "what isn't there to do?" The activities available in Garrett County and Deep Creek are numerous - much more than other resort areas in the east. Activities include, but are not limited to, the following - Alpine (Downhill) Skiing, ATV (Four Wheeler) Riding, Backpacking, Biking, Bird Watching, Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Cross County Skiing, Dogsledding, Fishing/Ice Fishing, Fly Fishing, Kayaking, Golf, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting, Ice Climbing, Mountain Biking, Orienteering, Rappelling, Rock Climbing, Rollerblading, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Sledding & Tubing, Snowboarding, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing, Skateboarding, Swimming, Tennis, Wakeboarding, Water-skiing, Whitewater Rafting, and Windsurfing.
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| 7. |
What are the restaurants and night life like?
There
are nearly 50 restaurants in the Deep Creek Lake area, ranging from franchises to fine cuisine to good old fashioned family restaurants. The nightlife revolves around the various bars, taverns, and night clubs around the lake. If you are looking for more family-friendly things to do, the area boasts a state-of-the-art eight-screen movie theatre in addition to a few family arcades with go-karts, mini golf, and laser tag.
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| 8. |
Are there any arts and cultural activities?
There's plenty of that stuff, too. Not only does the Garrett Lakes Arts Festival run throughout the summer, but the town of Oakland has the weekly Little Yough Summer Music Festival that's held every Friday. And Our Town Theatre puts on various plays and productions throughout the year as well.
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| 9. |
I really like the creature comforts of my primary residence: what services are available to me? Don't worry, your cell phone will work up here in the mountains. Other than a few dead spots in the county, you should be able to get good signals wherever you are. Also, while not available everywhere yet, many communities and homes now have access to high speed internet - whether it's a DSL line or a cable modem.
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| 10. |
What plans are in the works for improvements to the Wisp Ski Resort and additional public sewer service around the lake? Most of the improvements are planned to take place at Wisp Ski Resort on the northern end of Deep Creek Lake. The Wisp Ski Resort continues to add new trails, ski-able terrain, and higher capacity chair lifts. This has resulted in less wait time and overall better skiing conditions. In addition, atop Marsh Mountain and adjacent to the Wisp Ski Resort will be the eventual construction of the new Adventure
Sports Center. This facility will better organize and allow more people to participate in various adventure sports - like mountain bike riding and cross county skiing.
As for public sewer, the officials of Garrett County have set a goal to have the entire Deep Creek Lake watershed on public sewer by the year 2030. While the current system is currently at full capacity, the expansion is in the early planning stages. |
| 11. |
Is Deep Creek Lake turning into Ocean City?
No. Even though
Deep Creek Lake has grown over the years, it is still a peaceful mountain getaway. With the current zoning regulations and a scarcity of available commercial property, it's hard to ever imagine Deep Creek Lake turning into a highly commercialized resort.
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