Deep Creek Lake State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Deep Creek Lake State Park
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Location	Garrett County, Maryland, United States
Nearest city	Frostburg, Maryland
Area	1,169 acres (473 ha)
Elevation	2,461 ft (750 m)
Established	1959
Administered by	Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Designation	Maryland state park

Deep Creek Lake State Park is a fun outdoor place in Garrett County, Maryland. It covers more than 1,100 acres next to Deep Creek Lake. This park is a great spot for many water activities, camping, and exploring nature trails. You can find it about 18 miles south of Interstate 68 on U.S. Route 219.

Park History: How Deep Creek Lake Was Made

People started settling in this area way back in the 1700s. But in the 1900s, many trees were cut down for logging. The forest you see today, full of oak and hickory trees, grew back from those original trees.

Deep Creek Lake itself is not a natural lake. It's a large reservoir that was created in 1925. A company built the Deep Creek Dam on a river that flows into the Youghiogheny River. This dam helped create the big lake we know today.

In 1980, the state of Maryland started managing the fun activities on the lake. Later, in 2000, the state bought the land under the lake and the areas around it. This helped protect the park and its beautiful surroundings.

Fun Things to Do at Deep Creek Lake State Park

Deep Creek Lake State Park offers tons of exciting things to do for visitors of all ages. Whether you love being on the water or exploring the land, there's something for everyone.

Water Adventures on Deep Creek Lake

The lake is perfect for many water sports. You can go motor boating or try water skiing for an exciting ride. If you prefer something calmer, you can go swimming in the designated areas. Fishing is also very popular, and you might catch some big ones! For a peaceful trip, try canoeing across the calm waters.

Camping and Trails for Explorers

If you love spending the night outdoors, the park has a large campground. It has 112 campsites, and 26 of them even have electricity. This means you can plug in your devices or lights. The park also has many trails that are great for hiking and mountain biking. You can explore the forest and enjoy the fresh air.

Discover Nature at the Discovery Center

The park has a special place called the Discovery Center. It's a big building, about 6,000 square feet, filled with cool exhibits. You can learn all about the local plants and animals that live in the park. Sometimes, you might even see American black bears near the campground!

The Discovery Center also teaches you about the lake and how its water flows. You can learn about important topics like conservation and how to protect nature. There are also exhibits about the area's history, like coal mining and logging. Park naturalists, rangers, and volunteers offer daily educational programs. These programs help you learn more about nature and the environment in a fun way.

Johnny's Bait House: A Fishing Legend

For many years, from 1955 to 2003, there was a special place called Johnny's Bait House right on the shore of Deep Creek Lake. It was run by Johnny Marple and his wife, Elaine. Johnny was a big supporter of fishing at the lake.

Johnny's Bait House was a key spot for local anglers. It provided the Deep Creek Lake Fishing Report to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and many newspapers. Johnny also helped start the Garrett County Fishing Contest, which is still a weekly event today. He even kept track of the official Deep Creek Lake Fishing records until 2003. Many state fishing records were set during that time! Johnny also helped the state keep an eye on fish populations by registering tagged fish. Today, you can see many of the mounted fish from Johnny's collection on display at the Discovery Center.