By Chris Nichols – shared by Deep Creek Property Owner’s Association
Although much ink has been spilled on the history of Deep Creek Lake, it can be informative sometimes to take a new approach to presenting a story. As part of the Deep Creek Lake Centennial in 2025 (DCL100), we are preparing an interactive online timeline of the lake’s history.
During the development of the timeline and at the suggestion of committee members, it was apparent that there were some themes that fell out when we divided up the 100 year span into decades. It’s not a perfect categorization, but interesting trends did emerge.
Below is our attempt to look at Deep Creek Lake by the Decade, with our draft of major events in its history.
1924-35: Camps and Farms – the new lake attracts some to build, but the Great Depression and the remoteness of the area keeps growth at the lake low
● May 26, 1925 – hydroelectric plant becomes operational
● Unknown – first lakefront house (cabin). The still-standing (for now) cabin in the along the Meadow Mountain Run Cove off Laurel Lane is often mentioned as the first cabin built on the new lake
● 1926 – First Boy Scout (Troop 1 of Oakland) camp site on Deep Creek Lake
● 1928 – First reported meeting of a Property Owners’ Association of Deep Creek Lake
● 1928 – Water Carnival – first reported event on the lake
● 1930 – Holy Cross House property purchased
1936-45: Log Cabins & Outhouses – the first major wave of development came in the form of primitive log cabins and privies
● 1937 – Deep Creek Yacht Club chartered
● 1942 – lake purchased by Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec)
● 1945 – Fulcher Smith purchases excess land around the lake from Penelec 1946-55: Post War Doldrums – the post WWII boom that hits the cities and suburbs seems to have missed the lake.
● 1946 – Albert Einstein visits the lake
● 1955 – Wisp Resort opens
1956-65: Blue Collar Retreat – the heyday of blue-collar workers (mainly from the Pittsburgh area) who are able to afford a modest lake house
● 1957 – Garrett County Fair restarts at current site
● 1965 – Sky Valley, Inc chartered
1966-75: Best Kept Secret – a sweet spot of growing attractions like restaurants and recreation combined with the fact that the lake was still little known
● 1966 – Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Co chartered
● 1968 – FERC issues license to Penelec for operation of the dam
● 1968 – Deep Creek Lake State Park opens
● 1970 – Four Hooppole South condominiums start development
● 1972 – Deep Creek Lake Lions Club chartered
● 1975 – Deep Creek Zoning first implemented
● 1975 – Will O the Wisp condominiums built
1976-85: Primed for Growth – several large projects pave the way for strong growth in the real estate sector
● 1980 – State of MD agrees to manage recreation and public access to the lake
● 1984 – Deep Creek sewerage system begins operation
1986-95: Development Takes Off – multiple large property developments are launched during this decade which have become landmarks in the area
● 1986 – 219 bridge replaced
● 1987 – Blakeslee & Villages of Wisp development begins
● 1990 – Mountainside development begins
● 1991 – FERC releases dam permitting to MD
● 1991 – I-68 completed
● 1994 – MD Dept of Env issues surface water appropriations permit
1996 -2005: Under New Management – government begins to take a firmer hand in the management of the lake as strong growth continues
● 1997 – Glendale bridge replaced
● 1997 – First $1,000,000 residential sale at lake
● 2000 – MD purchases lake from PENELEC and establishes the Policy and Review Board
2006-15: Bust and Boom – the recession of 2007 impacts housing and several large projects at the lake, but growth takes off once the economy recovers
● 2011 – water appropriations permit renewed
● 2014 – Deep Creek Watershed Management plan adopted
2016-2025: Mt Top Safe Haven – growth was already steady prior to COVID, but during the pandemic, the lake and surrounding area became a safe haven (and investment)
● 2016 – Deep Creek Watershed Foundation established
● 2020 – water appropriations permit renewed
These dates are the initial group loaded into the DCL Timeline located here: https://www.chronoflotimeline.com/timeline/shared/15290/Deep-Creek-Lake/ Future features of the timeline will include restaurants and other businesses, notable people of the lake and other categories as they develop. Additions and corrections from those with stories, pictures and information to share are encouraged.
Please contact Chris Nichols at deepcreeklakepoa@gmail.com for more information on the centennial or to support the celebrations. More information on the planned projects and events during the centennial can be found at dcl100.com.
