5 sites · RVs, Tents7 acres · La Plata, MDThis privately owned large home is tucked away on 7+ acres wooded area in scenic semi-secluded neighborhood in La Plata, Charles County. Charles County was created in 1658 by an Order in Council. There was also an earlier Charles County from 1650 to 1653, sometimes referred to in historic documents as Old Charles County.
In April 1865, John Wilkes Booth made his escape through Charles County after shooting President Abraham Lincoln. He was on his way to Virginia. John Wilkes Booth fled to southern Maryland, toward Zekiah Swamp. Booth entered the swamp after treatment by Dr. Samuel Mudd for the broken leg he suffered escaping Fords Theater. A black tobacco farmer guided Booth and his co-conspirator David Herold through the swamp to the home of a Confederate sympathizer, Samuel Cox. Cox led Booth and Herold to Thomas A. Jones who helped them the rest of the way through the Zekiah Swamp and across the Potomac River to Virginia.
In 1926, a tornado ripped through the county leaving 17 dead (including 13 schoolchildren) and on April 28, 2002, another tornado destroyed much of downtown La Plata. In its path of destruction was our location now known as THE DRAGON INN, the house was completely torn down to its foundation and rebuild in 2003. You can see a marker stone in the brick wall near the garage.
This county also has several properties on the National Register of Historic Places. Among them are Green Park and Pleasant Hill, home of the Green and Spalding Families.
The Dragon Inn and its all natural wooded backyard, also known as Zekiah Swamp, is part of the Potomac River basin in Charles County, Maryland. The swamp is 21 miles (34 km) of braided stream stretching the length of Charles County and is a tributary of the Potomac River. It sits at an elevation of three feet 90.91 m) and 450 acres (180 ha) of its southern end is protected as the Zekiah Swamp Natural Environment Area.
Although the Zekiah Swamp Natural Environment Area is primarily owned by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, it isn't managed for recreation. As a result, there are no paved public access roads, parking areas, or scenic overlooks. Nor are there marked or developed trails, picnic areas, campsites, or visitor's centers. Nonetheless, a limited level of recreational use is still possible.
In connection with its Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail system, the U.S. National Park Service notes that access is possible by way of the intersection of U.S. Highway 301 and SR 234 (Budds Creek Road). Traveling east from that point on SR 234, one comes to Penn's Hill Road/Allen’s Fresh Road. Following Allen's Fresh Road south at mile 23.2, there is a dirt road on the west side that leads through the swamp and woods to Allen's Fresh Run of the Wicomico River. This is suitable for driving or walking. Other sight-seeing or photo opportunities are possible with brief stops along the shoulder of SR 234 where it passes through the Natural Environment Area. Similar possibilities exist to the north on SR 6 (Charles Street) that runs between La Plata and Charlotte Hall.
If you are feeling adventurous you can explore some paths, clearings and bamboo fields leading to a small creek flowing into the Zekiah Swamp Run directly from our backyard!
Learn more about this land:Pitch your tent on our property and enjoy a semi secluded camping experience with the luxury of access to an outdoor bathroom, hand washing station, fire pit and use of swimming pool if you so desire.
