Deep Creek Lake Archives

Dive Into Deep Creek: A Maryland Transitional Lake Home

Posted on July 22, 2022December 15, 2022 Jeanne Delathouder

A couple’s request for a sizable lake home poised along the shores of Deep Creek Lake in Oakland, Maryland, materialized into a dream come true for themselves and their extended family. Designed by Pennsylvania architect Chad Chalmers, a principal at Wildman Chalmers Design in Pittsburgh, this ground-up residential project features a spectacular double-height living area that opens up to a deck overlooking the lake. Considered a traditional home with modern interior detailing, the house boasts seven bedrooms and eight and a half bathrooms. Luxurious amenities include a hot tub, a full gym with a sauna, a golf simulator room, four massive fireplaces, and a spacious covered porch.

“Nestled lakeside in the woods, this house truly becomes one with nature because of its expansive windows, natural materials, and earthy tones,” says Chad. “Four large stone fireplaces provide additional warmth during the cool mountain nights—one in the great room that is mirrored by a fireplace at the opposite end of the house by the pool table, one in the basement seating area, and one on the porch,” he adds.

Deep Creek Lake is the largest inland body of water in Maryland, offering 69 miles of shoreline and covering approximately 3,900 acres. The lake is well known for its seasonal outdoor recreation, including boating, swimming, tubing, biking, rafting, snow skiing, and snowboarding. It’s also home to a wide variety of freshwater fish and aquatic birds. This four-season getaway has it all, from blissful summers in the sun on the lake to brilliant autumn foliage to lots of fluffy snow for downhill skiing.

Lavish Lake Views

Chad intentionally designed the home with a sloped roof to accommodate the region’s heavy snow during the winter season. The extra-long deck is perfect for soaking in the sun and taking in gorgeous views of the lake.

“The size of the lot was one of the biggest challenges we faced due to the architectural program the owner requested,” Chad explains. “We were working near a lake that has a buffer zone governed by the Department of Natural Resources that you cannot build on. We managed to site the home accordingly yet capture the best views and enable easy access to the lake for the homeowners,” he notes.

Optional Open-Air

A large expanse of sliding glass doors opens up to the balcony overlooking the lake, lending a seamless flow and a breezy alfresco feel to the living spaces when the weather permits. The soaring double-height living area provides magnificent views from top to bottom.

“The owners’ friends and family gather at the house often for holidays, weekends, and extended stays to ski at the local resort,” says Chad. “The family gravitates here for water sports on the lake, to work remotely, and simply enjoy each other’s company.”

Free-Flowing Floorplan

The remarkable absence of walls creates an effortless flow and offers beautiful sightlines from any vantage point. Perfect for entertaining, guests can mingle and move about with ease while constantly feeling part of the group. Swivel seating near all the windows allows intimate fireside gatherings and sunrise gazing across the lake with a cup of coffee by a simple twist of the chair.

“The soft seating in all areas of the home balances the solidity of the wooden beams and stone fireplaces, producing a relaxing effect,” says the architect. “The simple lines and patterns throughout the house keep distraction from the architecture and views to a minimum,” he notes.

Design Drama

The living area flows gracefully into the dining area, allowing unobstructed views of the grand floor-to-ceiling stacked-stone fireplace and the landscape outside. A striking circular chandelier with a double ring of candelabras creates a soft glow and accentuates the dramatic beamed ceiling. The airy open staircase brings yet another visually appealing architectural element to the space.

“The home was elegantly designed in a transitional architectural style—not modern, not contemporary,” says Chad. “Natural, authentic materials and a palette of browns, grays, and soft whites create visual continuity between the interior of the house and the cloud-dotted sky and oak-studded hillside,” he sums.

Gather & Game

Adjacent to the game room area, a wonderfully roomy kitchen with a central island and generous counter space offers multiple options for convenient food prep, group cooking, and family gatherings. This hotspot is the home’s entertaining hub and connects visually to the scenic surroundings of Deep Creek Lake. Beamed ceilings align with the home’s rustic yet refined aesthetic, and a lowered ceiling height lends a cozy feel to the space.

Soothing & Serene

Framing an idyllic view of the lake, one of the primary bedrooms offers a relaxing retreat for anyone lucky enough to sleep here. Fling open the French doors at night to enjoy a glimpse of the moon and stars, and you’ll quickly be lulled to sleep by the gentle sounds of water lapping against the shore. Simple and understated furniture and décor let the lake landscape take center stage.

Party on the Porch

Perfect for game day celebrations or evening cocktails at sunset, this blissful covered porch features a vaulted ceiling with a rich red patina and an inviting outdoor fireplace. Oversize seating with plump cushioning welcomes guests to kick back, relax, and enjoy the moment. A ceiling fan keeps it cool in the summer, and stylish hanging lanterns create a cozy ambiance at night.

“The key objective for this project was making sure all the spaces in the home have a great view of either the lake or the woods,” says Chad. “It was an absolute pleasure working with these homeowners to bring their vision to life.”

Lucky Lake Living: St. Patrick’s Day Events In Our Lake Areas

Posted on March 11, 2020March 5, 2020 Camille Smith

For lake homeowners, day-to-day life is already overflowing with greenery from the amazing views of nature that surround us. However, there’s a day once a year where things at the lake are especially green. That’s right — we’re talking about St. Patrick’s Day. A religious and cultural celebration honoring St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, this holiday is recognized throughout the U.S. For some, it’s a peaceful time of introspection, honoring Lent, and attending religious services. For others, it’s a day to wear as much green as possible, find the nearest parade, and hit the Irish pubs. Whatever your intention on this holiday, these St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in our lake areas are certainly worth checking out.

Sham ‘Rock the Block’ — Lake George, NY

Man in keg tossing contest — Photo courtesy of The Sun.

In upstate New York, just a few hours north of the city, the community at Lake George will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a two-day event centered around Duffy’s Tavern called Sham ‘Rock’ the Block. Duffy’s, a traditional Irish pub, is a beloved landmark of the area for both residents and visitors. At this festival, you can expect to enjoy traditional Irish music, amazing food (think corned beef and Reuben sandwiches), and arts and crafts activities that will be fun for the family. On Saturday, March 14th, from the upper deck of the tavern, you can get views of both the St. Patrick’s Day parade and the amazing Lake George in the background.

Live Music Weekend — Deep Creek, MD

Live music bag pipes — Photo courtesy of Deep Creek Blog.

In the Deep Creek Lake area, there’s no shortage of activities going on over St. Patrick’s Day weekend. A major highlight of the festivities is the number of live music shows that you can discover in the area. If you head over to the Honi-Honi Bar on Saturday March 14th, you can join the St Patrick’s Day Party featuring cover tunes from the band Time Flies. While you’re out on the town, find out who’s playing at other bars and breweries in the area. Also on March 14th, E May is playing at Moonshadow at 8pm, and Ronnie Boroughs is performing at the Black Bear Tavern at 6pm. No matter where you end up, don’t miss an opportunity to see live music in Deep Creek.

St. Pat’s Booze Cruise — Lake Michigan, IL

If your vision of St. Patrick’s Day involves lots of dancing, drinking, and proximity to a major city, Chicago’s Booze Cruise is the event for you. If you book a ticket for this two hour cruise, on March 14th, you’ll find yourself aboard a luxury yacht on the great Lake Michigan. Whether you’ll opt to stay on the interior deck or check out the open-aired top deck of the boat, you’ll be able to enjoy amazing lakeside views while dancing to the DJ’s party playlist on one of the dance floors.

Parade and Shamrock Festival — Smith Mountain Lake, VA

st patrick's day parade handing out candy — Photo courtesy of Virginia’s Blue Ridge.

Smith Mountain Lake is a popular vacation spot for Virginians and out-of-state visitors alike. Resting in a valley near the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Roanoke region, this lake is primarily known for water sports and fishing (especially for striped bass). As if Smith Mountain Lake doesn’t have enough going on, the region is abuzz over St. Patrick’s Day weekend. They host the Freedom First St Patrick’s Day Parade on March 14th at 11:00am, at which the Budweiser Clydesdales are scheduled to make an appearance. Throughout the day from 10:00am-5:00pm, you can check out the exciting music festival called the Shamrock Festival featuring bands such as Jive Mother Mary and Strung Like a Horse.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade — Lake of the Ozarks, MO

st patrick's day parade hanging out beads — Photo courtesy of Lake News Online.

If you find yourself in the Lake of the Ozarks region in Central Missouri, you won’t want to miss the 30th Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade on March 14th at 1:00pm. Sponsored by the Bagnell Dam Strip Association, this historic area of the region is where the parade takes place. Between marching bands and decorative floats, you can check out the local restaurants and stop in for corned beef sandwiches.

No matter which event you attend, whether it’s one of these five or in your nearby lake area, be sure to wear your green this St. Patrick’s Day and celebrate!

States with the Most and Fewest Lakes

Posted on January 22, 2020March 15, 2022 Alexander Lee

*Reflection Lake, Alaska, is living up to its name.*

Chances are, you’ve probably spent a fair amount of time in and around a lake. After all, these large bodies of water are ubiquitous; everyone’s at least seen a lake before, and there are lakes to be found everywhere in the United States— right? Not quite. Let’s learn more about the U.S. states with the fewest and most natural lakes.

States with the Fewest Lakes

Believe it or not, there’s one state without a single naturally occurring body of water large enough to be classified as a lake — Maryland. Though the Old Line State boasts thousands of ponds, its only lakes are man-made, including Lake Habeeb in Allegany County and Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County (Maryland’s largest inland body of water).

Deep Creek Lake, Maryland — *Deep Creek Lake is Maryland’s largest inland body of water. Photo courtesy of Maryland Office of Tourism.*

That isn’t to say there were never any natural lakes in Maryland. There is documented evidence that a body of water now known as Buckel’s Bog existed in Maryland during the late Pleistocene Epoch, but it has since dried up. One cause for the lack of lakes in Maryland is the fact that glaciers never passed through the region; 74% of all lakes originated as pools gouged out by glaciers, but in Maryland, they were never given the chance.

Maryland isn’t the only low-scoring state when it comes to natural lakes. Its neighbor, Delaware, features only one natural lake— the serenely brackish Silver Lake in Milford. Similar to Maryland, Delaware was an area of relatively low glacial action during the Ice Age.

Like Delaware, Texas has only one natural lake, Caddo Lake. And Caddo isn’t even entirely Texan—it occupies the border between Texas and Louisiana. Unlike the glacial lakes mentioned above, Caddo was formed after a natural logjam called the Great Raft dammed the Red River. A few lakes were created as a result of the Raft, which includes Caddo, Cross, Wallace, Bistineau, and Black Bayou lakes.

States with the Most Lakes

The states with the most lakes in America are the states that featured the most active glacial movement, so it’s no surprise that they’re all located in the northern United States.

You might think that the big winner is Minnesota—after all, it is the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”—but you’d be mistaken. In fact, Alaska is the state with the most lakes, with an estimated 3 million, although most of them don’t have names. Alaska’s size is also a considerable advantage; though it has the most lakes from a numerical standpoint, it may not boast the most lakes per capita.

Lake Superior, Minnesota lake — *Lake Superior is Minnesota’s largest lake. Photo courtesy of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.*

The state with the most named lakes is undoubtedly Minnesota, which boasts 11,842 lakes greater than 10 acres in size (the state’s grand total is 15,291). In total, Minnesota has about 2.6 million acres of lakes.

Close at Minnesota’s heels is Wisconsin, which has 15,074 lakes, spread over about 1 million acres of space. (Only 6,044 are named.)

Whether in a state with lots of lakes or almost none, Lake Homes Realty has you covered for top-of-the-line lake home properties. Lake Homes has thousands of properties for sale in Minnesota and Wisconsin. (Alaska is still in the works). And even though there’s not a single natural lake in Maryland, Lake Homes features over a hundred properties in the state—all located near beautiful man-made bodies of water.