GARRETT COUNTY, MD
County Offices
313 East Alder Street
Oakland MD 301-334-1928
www.garrettcounty.org
Garrett County Chamber of Commerce
15 Visitors Center Drive
McHenry MD 301-387-4386
www.visitdeepcreek.com
Situated in the extreme western section of Maryland, Garrett County is bordered on the north by Pennsylvania, and on the west and south by West Virginia. The natural southern boundary of this triangular county is formed by the Potomac River that plays so prominently in the recreational amenities of the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. However, even the springtime roar of the mighty Potomac pales in comparison to the raging rivers and whitewater rapids you’ll discover in panoramic Garrett County.
If Allegany County is embodied in the title, “The Mountain Side of Maryland,” then Garrett County reaches the very pinnacle of that fame. An alpine terrain with five major mountain ridges, Garrett County boats a high point of 3,360 feet at the crest of Backbone Mountain. Home of Deep Creek Lake, the focal point of recreational activity, the county represents a paradise of unspoiled beauty and premier recreational opportunities for the entire Mid-Atlantic region. A full one-fifth of the county consists of parks, lakes and publicly owned forestland.
Economy and Transportation
With a strong and growing economy, Garrett County is more than a collection of resorts, vacation homes, parks, lakes, rivers and forests. Eight incorporated towns have emerged and flourished in this crisp mountain air: Accident, Deer Park, Friendsville, Grantsville, Kitzmiller, Loch Lynn Heights, Mountain Lake Park and Oakland. Oakland is the center for government, business and commerce for the county, although McHenry is notable as the site of Wisp Ski and Golf Resort, Deep Creek Lake, Garrett Community College and the Garrett County Fairgrounds.
Industries based on natural resources thrive in Garrett County, from mining and timber to farming and water-resource operations. Dramatic growth in tourist-related business has positioned this sector as an integral part of the local economy. Interstate 68 serves as the main artery for surface transportation, although a strong network of state routes provides an efficient link to Interstates 81 and 79.
Education and Healthcare
Garrett County residents have access to a full range of educational advantages, from the dedicated staff and well-equipped classrooms of its neighborhood schools to the close proximity of major colleges and universities in Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. In addition to the degrees, programs, courses and certifications available through Garrett County Community College, both of the county’s secondary schools offer a full complement of career and technical programs.
Quality healthcare is available close to home at Garrett County Hospital in Oakland, providing a full complement of medical and surgical specialties as well as 24-hour emergency service. Outstanding hospitals and medical centers are scattered throughout the region, crowned by institutions of national and international renown in nearby Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Washington, DC.
Lifestyle
Scenic and serene, Garrett County offers a vacation lifestyle 365 days of the year. A region flowing with significant rivers, you’ll find the confluence of waters that form the Potomac River on its route to the Atlantic Ocean, and the rushing Youghiogheny River, destined for waters that reach the Gulf of Mexico. Many of the abundant state park trails that are ideal for hiking and biking become snowmobile or cross-country ski trails in the winter months.
Adjacent to Deep Creek Lake is Maryland’s only ski resort, boasting 14 miles of ski trails and halfpipe for snowboards. In the summertime, the Penn Alps Summer Concert Series and Garrett Lakes Art Festival ensures a full calendar of musical concerts and stage productions that feature local and professional talent. In a region that caters to tourism, quality entertainment is easy to find every night of the week.
Few locales offer a more bicycle-friendly atmosphere, with hundreds of miles of easy to moderate rolling hills for beginning and intermediate cyclists. The Maryland State Highway Administration has provided shoulders along most routes for safe biking, and a number of organizations offer tours for the summer and fall seasons. The sport of mountain biking is extremely popular, fueled by a practice area at Wisp Ski and Golf Resort.
Boating enthusiasts will find beautiful marinas that accommodate every type of craft, from speedsters and sailboats to personal watercraft. Campsites are available in private properties or state parks and forest, ranging from KOA convenience to completely primitive areas. Over 70,000 acres of public land ensures a seemingly endless network of hiking trails through the region’s massive state forests and parks.
Garrett County is home to two premier golf courses: The Oakland Golf Club just ten miles from Deep Creek Lake, and the Golf Club at Wisp Resort in McHenry, ranked among Maryland’s finest. With its Class IV and V rapids, the area promises some of the most exciting rafting in the eastern United States. Scuba diving in Deep Creek Lake, picnicking, in-line skating, guided nature walks, large and small game hunting, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, sports leagues – Garrett County has an activity and facility to meet every age group and interest.
One of the area’s most exciting and rewarding sports is fishing in Deep Creek Lake, distinguished as Maryland’s largest freshwater lake. Exceptional fishing for brown, rainbow and brook trout is available in 320 miles of streams and rivers throughout this vast expanse, in addition to skimming over 5,000 acres of placid lake surface.
Housing options in Garrett County are as diverse, abundant and attractive as the scenic alpine and valley views. Within the small municipalities are older homes that line quiet, shaded streets and offer a variety of architectural styles and price ranges. Scattered throughout the county are spectacular sites, planned communities and subdivisions filled with attractive homes.
Newcomers will find treasures like handsome log homes in private woodland settings, lakefront estates graced with abundant glass and decking, cozy cottages, or luxury chalets surrounded by pinetop ridges. While the Garrett County lifestyle invites you to relax beneath a canopy of stars or listen to the rustle of the wind through the pines, the bright lights and urban advantages of a major metropolis are waiting just a short commute from home.
