Woodland Chalet: Everything You Need to Know Before Your Stay

Already booked Woodland Chalet, or still deciding? Eight bedrooms spread across multiple levels, an indoor heated pool, two hot tubs, a game room, a private theater, and gathering spaces designed for groups of up to 20 make the property worth understanding before arrival.

This guide covers the practical details, notable spaces, and useful context for arrival day.

Getting There

Woodland Chalet sits in the North Glade community of Swanton, Maryland, tucked into the wooded hills above Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County. If you're coming from Washington D.C., expect about a three-hour drive west on I-68, with Baltimore closer to three and a half. From Pittsburgh, it's roughly two and a half hours south. Cleveland is about four and a half hours. The nearest airports are Morgantown (WV), about an hour and a half away, and the Wisp Resort regional airport for private flights.

The last stretch of your drive takes you off the main roads and onto quiet mountain lanes. The exact address arrives with your check-in instructions before your stay. GPS will get you there, but keep your eyes open for the final turn; it comes up quickly.

A Word About Winter Driving

The driveway itself is flat and paved. In winter (November through March), 4WD, AWD, or snow tires are strongly recommended for the area because the mountain roads can become slick after snowfall.

The chalet is surrounded by woods and set back from the road.

What to Bring (and What You Don't Need To)

Woodland Chalet is well-equipped for a large group. Bed linens and bath towels are provided for all guests, and both kitchens come fully stocked with cookware, bakeware, dishes, and utensils, enough to cook a holiday dinner for 20. There are drip and single-cup coffee makers on the main level, so bring your favorite coffee or pods.

Do bring:

• Groceries and beverages: the nearest market is about a 10-minute drive (Arrowhead Market or Deep Creek Lake area shops)
• Pool towels if you prefer your own for the indoor pool and hot tubs
• Propane for the gas grill if you plan to grill out
• Board games, cards, or favorite movies (though the game room and theater may keep you plenty busy)
• Winter layers and warm boots if visiting November through March
• Swimsuits: the indoor heated pool and hot tubs are available year-round

Already there for you:

• Bed linens and bath towels for all bedrooms
• Fully equipped kitchens (two of them) with cookware, dishes, and utensils
• Coffee makers (drip and single-cup)
• Central A/C and heating
• WiFi throughout the house
• 12 smart TVs with streaming capability
• Washer and dryer

Check-In and Check-Out

Check-in is at 4:00 PM and check-out is at 10:00 AM. Detailed check-in instructions are texted 5–7 days before check-in, and your guest app goes live at check-in. Plan to arrive during daylight if possible. It makes unloading the car easier and lets you get oriented to the wooded setting before dark.

At check-out, follow the complete checklist in your welcome materials. It covers kitchen, trash, fireplace, hot-tub, and lock-up steps.

Exploring the House: Level by Level

Woodland Chalet is big enough that your first walk-through feels like an adventure. Here's what you'll find on each level.

Main Level

This is where the house makes its first impression. The kitchen (16'×18') is fully equipped with an oven, dishwasher, wine cooler, and more counter space than most people have at home. The breakfast nook and formal dining room provide multiple places to gather. Off the kitchen, you'll find a spacious living room with a gas fireplace, a family room (20'×13'), an office/workspace, and three bedrooms including a primary suite with a king bed and an oversized jetted tub. There's also a laundry room with a washer and dryer, a lifesaver for longer stays.

Upper Level

Upstairs you'll find two more bedrooms (both with king beds), a full bath, and a small wet bar landing area, a good spot to set up a beverage station away from the main kitchen traffic.

Lower Level

The lower level is where the fun lives. The game room stretches 17'×45' with a pool table, a foosball table, a 4-person poker table, five arcade cabinets (Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam, NFL Blitz, Golden Tee, Ms. Pac-Man), and a claw machine restocked each stay with a stuffed animal for every guest. The theater room (11'×21') has a big screen for movie nights. There's a full second kitchen (17'×14'), useful for snacks or morning coffee without returning upstairs. The lower-level primary suite (25'×21') has a king, a queen, and a full bed, giving families a flexible shared sleeping space. Two outdoor hot tubs sit on the patio, overlooking the woods.

Pool House

The pool house is its own building and a standout. The main level has the indoor heated pool room (30'×28') with the pool itself measuring 19 feet long by 10 feet wide. Upstairs is an apartment-style loft (30'×16') with a wet bar, a full bathroom, a queen sleeper sofa, and a big-screen TV with a view of the pool room below. Children must still be supervised by an adult at pool level.

Pool and Hot Tub Tips

The indoor pool and both hot tubs are available throughout your stay, year-round. A few things worth knowing:

• The pool is heated and indoors, so it's comfortable even on the coldest winter days
• No glass in the pool area; plastic cups and bottles only
• There's no lifeguard. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times, in the pool and the hot tubs (full details in the house rules)
• The hot tubs and pool are in separate areas, so plan accordingly if you're hoping to go back and forth
• The pool house lounge has its own TV for movie nights once everyone's out of the water

Using the Dock Slip

Woodland Chalet comes with a dock slip on Deep Creek Lake, available from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The dock is about a 10-minute walk or a short drive down the road from the house. It isn't steps-from-the-door access, so plan for the walk when carrying lake gear.

If you're bringing a boat or renting one locally, the dock slip is a genuine perk. Deep Creek Lake offers 3,900 acres of water for swimming, kayaking, fishing, and boating. If you don't have your own watercraft, local marinas rent pontoons, kayaks, and paddleboards nearby.

Nearby Essentials

Woodland Chalet is secluded, but you're not far from what you need:

• Groceries: Arrowhead Market and other shops are about a 10-minute drive. Stock up on the way in. The two full kitchens make cooking at home easy and economical for a big group.
• Dining out: Fireside Deli & Wine Shop for a casual lunch, Trader's Coffee House for your morning espresso, Lakeside Creamery for ice cream after a lake day, and Short Story Brewing for craft beer with a view.
• Pharmacy and basics: Available in the Deep Creek Lake commercial area, about a 10–15 minute drive.
• Gas stations: Fill up on your way in because the nearest stations are along Route 219.

For a full list of restaurants, activities, and attractions, check out our Things to Do Near Deep Creek Lake guide.

House Rules: The Quick Version

Full house rules are provided with your booking confirmation, but here's the overview:

• No pets: the property is not pet-friendly
• No smoking indoors: outdoors is fine, away from doors and the hot tubs
• No parties or events: this is a family vacation home, not an event venue
• No unregistered guests: all guests must be listed on the reservation
• Minimum age 30 for the booking guest, and the property is for families only (no sorority/fraternity or non-chaperoned groups)
• Quiet hours apply in the evening out of respect for the mountain setting
• Parking: garage fits 1 vehicle, driveway accommodates up to 8 total

What Your Stay Will Actually Feel Like

Here's the part no amenities list can capture: what it actually feels like to be at Woodland Chalet.

Mornings can begin with coffee on the multi-level deck, looking into the surrounding trees.

By mid-morning, someone has started a pool tournament in the game room. Kids are splashing in the indoor pool. A few people have claimed the hot tubs. The two kitchens mean you can have a pancake station going on the main level while someone else preps lunch downstairs, without anyone stepping on toes.

Afternoons might be a trip to the lake, a hike at Swallow Falls State Park to see Maryland's tallest waterfall, or time on the deck with a book and the sound of birds. In winter, Wisp Resort is minutes away for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing.

In the evening, gather at one of the outdoor stone fireplaces, make s'mores with the kids, and watch the embers glow while the mountain air cools down. The theater room and game room give the group indoor options afterward. Twelve smart TVs provide streaming options throughout the house.

A Few Last Tips

• Arrive in daylight if you can. The mountain roads are beautiful but unfamiliar, and you'll want to explore the house before dark.
• Assign bedrooms before arrival if possible. With 8 bedrooms across multiple levels, it helps to have a plan so everyone can settle in quickly.
• Download entertainment in advance. WiFi is available throughout, but with 20 people streaming, having some content downloaded doesn't hurt.
• Bring layers because mountain weather can shift quickly, especially spring and fall. Mornings on the deck can be 20 degrees cooler than afternoon.
• Plan one day at the property: the pool house, game room, theater, hot tubs, and decks can easily fill a day without another drive.