Owl’s Retreat | Pet Friendly, Hot Tub, Nearby Lake

We had a great stay over Easter weekend. Property was great for our young dog and had plenty of space for the three of us plus dog. Place was clean, beds were comfortable, kitchen was well stocked with dishware, utensils etc.

We stayed at Owl’s Retreat over MLK weekend (2026). The house is charming and nicely decorated, and it has the potential to be a wonderful property, but it wasn’t quite guest-ready. Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations issued a 150 refund, which was appreciated, though it was a small portion of the rental cost.The home was technically clean but felt as though it hadn’t been thoroughly prepared for guests. The toilets had rust stains and visible water lines, suggesting they had not been thoroughly cleaned. The indoor jetted tub had moldy and rusty staining in the jets, and the drain was clogged, limiting its use. Firewood was advertised but not provided, and there were no matches or fire starters.The outdoor hot tub lock was frozen and required maintenance; once accessible, it only heated to about 75–80F, making it impractical for winter use. There was also a weather-related Comcast Wi-Fi outage for the entire weekend (not the company’s fault), though we appreciated the DVD collection provided.Guests should be aware that there are no extras included—no coffee, shampoo, or other complimentary amenities beyond basic soap packets. While Taylor-Made staff were courteous and responsive, maintenance had to visit twice during our short stay. Overall, the repeated issues made the property feel overpriced, and we would likely choose an individually managed rental in the future rather than a unit that is maintained by a property management company.

We took a weekend trip to Deep Creek for our anniversary, and the cabin was very nice and clean. The décor was charming, with fun touches like a random Denzel photo that made us laugh and a Titanic model over the fireplace. The location was perfect! Tucked just off the main road, so it was quiet but still close to the lake and nearby restaurants.Our only complaint was that firewood wasn’t provided, and we found out the hard way that the wood piles between the trees didn’t belong to the rental property. Other than that, everything was great, and we would definitely stay here again.

We’ve been coming to Deep Creek Lake for years and have never had an experience like this. While the house was cute at first glance, it quickly became clear that it’s not being maintained.The outdoor decks are falling apart, with dry rot and visible wear. The hot tub is oddly placed right in the front driveway, completely exposed to the road and neighbors -not exactly relaxing. Speaking of the neighborhood, the surrounding area felt rundown, with odd items hanging from trees on nearby properties, adding to the overall dilapidated vibe.Inside the home, cleanliness was a major issue. The Keurig coffee maker had visible slime in the water reservoir — so we couldn’t even make coffee in the morning. There were multiple mouse traps with peanut butter throughout the house, and unfortunately, we woke up to a mouse caught in one of them. That alone made it hard to feel comfortable.The bedding didn’t appear to have been properly cleaned — we found black dog hair on the sheets upon arrival. The shower leaked, and it was clear no one is taking care to prepare this home for guests the way they should.We rented through Taylor-Made, and overall, the customer service was disappointing. There was little apology or genuine concern. They did refund us for two of the three nights after we chose to leave early and offered us another property — but the alternative wasn’t much better.We regret staying even one night. It’s unfortunate, because Deep Creek is usually a favorite.

We arrived for our stay at about 9pm. The check in process wasn't an issue, as they had specific instructions for check in after hours. However, the place had not been cleaned. The sheets in the master bedroom were not changed and were stained. The upstairs bathroom tub was so dirty that it had muddy footprints visible and the dirty towels were still on the floor. The sink was also dirty. Several dishes in the kitchen had food residue on them, even though they were put away in the cabinets. I took pictures and called a message for the office asking for a return call the next day. It wasn't returned by 10 am, so I called again, and they did send housekeeping out rather quickly to clean up. However, no one has followed up with me regarding this disappointing experience. It was not addressed during my initial call to the office, even though I stated I was upset about the condition of the house. I submitted two of the automated surveys outlining the issues and I also submitted a request on the website to be contacted. I have not heard from anyone. I hate to leave a negative review, as I'm not usually a complainer. But the basic expectation is that when you arrive to a rental, it is clean. Adding to my negative experience is that no one would even address this with me and it's now been over a week. I wouldn't recommend the cabin.

Nice cozy location

Overall fun and relaxing weekend with family. The location was great only issue was it was not cleaned very well in the bedrooms. Also floor creeks very badly in bedroom upstairs. Other than that place was great

Cabin was just right for a family of 5. Very quiet and close to everything.

We had a great stay here! Just a short trip to WISP - maybe 10 mins bc of traffic - but felt very out of the way and uncrowded. Tucked into the woods in a very quiet and peaceful area. Everything was clean and in great working order.

This property has everything you need and more! Dont worry about bringing any kitchen utensils as there is a wide variety of items ! The location is a short distance to the lake and other area attractions. The home is well kept and clean on the inside. The outside could use a little grooming but met the needs of my family and dog. The hot tub was enjoyable and was checked out and cleaned again by a very knowledgeable employee. This was a very relaxing and comfortable stay!