Visits to vacation rentals and second homes at Deep Creek Lake are under restrictions.

When coronavirus began spreading in cities across the U.S., resort and vacation destinations saw a surge of reservations by people trying to escape the pandemic. But smaller destinations like Ocean City and Garrett County, Maryland, have worked to deter visitors from coming. Ocean City closed its beaches, boardwalk, and hotels, limiting occupancy to first responders and other essential workers. Garrett County, home to Deep Creek, has gone one step further, banning all vacation rentals and discouraging owners of second homes from visiting.

Deep Creek Lake is a popular destination in the summer, offering boating, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor activities. In the winter, smaller crowds come to ski and enjoy winter activities. Each year over one million visitors come to Garrett County, but the population that lives there year-round only equals about 29,000. The area’s only hospital, Garrett Regional Medical Center, only has 55 beds and also serves people from Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The small healthcare system could be easily overwhelmed if visitors and residents in Deep Creek Lake were hit with a wave of coronavirus.

To avoid that exact scenario, the Garrett County Health Department has banned all vacation and temporary rentals in Garrett County. The order will remain in place until Governor Larry Hogan lifts the order closing all non-essential businesses in Maryland. The order also discourages people with second homes from visiting. If you own a second home you aren’t prohibited from visiting, but you must quarantine in your home for 14 days upon arrival. 

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Some residents of the Western Maryland enclave took it further. A Facebook post displayed a homemade sign at an intersection read “Non-residents please leave now.” The post generated a range of comments, some questioning whether or not visitors are coming in and others suggesting the post could harm tourism.

As of April 27, Garrett County only has four cases of coronavirus and no recorded deaths. So for now, Deep Creek Lake doesn’t have to worry about viral spread. But just like Ocean City, they are anxious to see when summer hits.