LAKE LIFE,
ELEVATED

There’s a special, enticing kind of hush that falls over Deep Creek Lake in the winter months — a hush that makes the world feel private yet open to adventure. At the newly reimagined Cove Creek Lodge, that hush becomes a kind of invitation. An invitation to slow down, to breathe in pine-scented air, and to the cacophony of city life for the gentle rhythm of water lapping a frozen shoreline. Cove Creek Lodge is an elegant lakeside retreat tucked into Arrowhead Cove at Deep Creek Lake, and it’s fast becoming the spot people name when they want the comforts of a boutique hotel with the effortlessly elegant vibes of a classic mountain getaway.

From the moment you arrive, Cove Creek Lodge feels curated without being fussy. The architecture — a modern take on rustic lodge design — frames wide, glassed-in panoramic views of the lake and surrounding forest. An expensive, terraced patio offers guests a gathering place for crafted cocktails and conversation in summer, for brisk morning walks in autumn, and for drinking in the icy landscapes of winter. Inside, rooms beckon – not notably, the comfortably appointed lakeside suites with fireplaces. There’s the signature Black Antler lounge where a morning latte helps begin your days with a dusting of cocoa, and evening cocktails offer a welcome warm-up after a day of exploring. For those traveling with a group or planning a small meeting, the property offers conference space and flexible room types that make it feel more like a private club than a hotel. There’s an art to a good lodge day in winter; a morning ski, a late afternoon gathering in the lodge’s warm common spaces, an evening at the Black Antler that is nothing if not decidedly cozy.

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What sets Cove Creek apart, though, is how it feels like home for everyone who chooses to visit - including the beloved four-legged members of your family. The lodge warmly welcomes dogs in designated “Dog Friendly” rooms (up to two per room). Designed to offer easy access to grassy, walkable areas and trees right outside your door, you and your loyal companion will find yourself happily discovering nature or easily settling into relaxation.

If you like get aways to be spent deep in adrenaline-driven activity, Deep Creek Lake offers a veritable playlist of options. Wisp Resort is just minutes away and delivers classic mountain action all year-round. Indulge in some alpine skiing and snowboarding in winter, a mountain coaster that launches laughs and adrenaline in the warmer months, or aerial adventure courses, scenic chairlift rides, and a gamut of summer attractions from tee-times to zip-lines. It’s worth noting that Wisp’s well-groomed slopes and plentiful mountain activities make it a reliable, accessible destination for beginner and seasoned skiers alike.

If sans-adrenaline activities are your preference, the surrounding state parks are quietly spectacular. Swallow Falls State Park is home to Maryland’s Muddy Creek Falls; the state’s highest free-falling waterfall is a short, gentle hike that moves you through stands of ancient hemlock along the Youghiogheny River. In winter the falls take on a crystalline beauty with plunging water fringed with ice, deep forest shadows, and a delicious hush that seems almost sacred. Hikers and snowshoers will find both short loops and longer trails that delight.

Despite the vast, snow loving offerings the area serves up, it’s not only for winter athletes. The area’s charm is found within its broad, seasonless versatility. In spring the glorious blooms begin their show. Summer brings the area alive as a water wonderland and in the fall, the landscape becomes an artist’s palette of trees ablaze with vivid orange and crimson. Cove Creek’s Arrowhead Cove placement on the lake gives guests peaceful access to both quiet coves and the wider lake and the property’s private docks and shoreline access make launching a kayak at sunrise, taking a dip in the afternoon, or watching a kaleidoscope sunset unfurl both easy and unforgettable.

Local flavor is alive and well in the area’s plethora of signature restaurants and lovely shops. From fine dining to creative upstarts, Nearby Oakland offers a cluster of cafés and independent eateries that invite a delicious, farm to table, slow-food approach for the gourmand. Don’t miss your chance to have a meal at Firewater where brilliantly mixed cocktails and comfort food blend into one perfect meal or Dutch’s at Silver Tree for more formal offerings. Shoppers will love the local artisan boutiques and galleries offering stunning indigenous crafts, original art, outdoor gear, notable home décor, stylish one-of-a-kind fashions and tasteful accessories. And the wide selection of the area’s guided fishing charters, boat rentals, custom created excursions, and nature tours offer myriad, effortless and low-impact ways to discover and envelope yourself in the region’s unique and uniquely beautiful lake-and-forest ecosystem.​

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