Liberty Mountain Resort is a resort located in Fairfield, PA, just 45 minutes from Frederick, MD. My husband and I first stumbled upon this resort when we were looking for a venue for our wedding two-and-a-half years ago.
So often I see friends and family ask for a weekend destination that is reasonably priced and not a daunting distance away. When we stumbled upon Liberty, we couldn’t have been more pleased with what we found, and they continue to impress us as we continue to visit. In 2014 when we were checking out LMR, there were some really great features that sold us on this venue. Not only was the wedding site gorgeous (Boulder Ridge Lodge; in the spring, it’s a wedding venue and in the winter it is their tubing site!), but they had an on-site hotel as well as a bar/restaurant for rehearsal dinner and post-reception fun. It made for the perfect wedding experience for us. As of 2016, they opened a brand new hotel with two new restaurants and two new wedding venues. We got married at LMR on July 4, 2015 and every now and then we try to return to spend an evening or a weekend in a place that will always feel romantic to us.
BUT ~ if you’re not totally sap-attack like I am, and are simply looking for a great place to escape for the day or weekend, Liberty is a great place, that offers so much, without having to go far.
The Golf:
Many assume that Liberty Mountain Resort is a ski resort and nothing more. While it does boast great trails for skiers and snowboarders in the winter for a cozy ‘snowed-in’ feel, the spring time is equally enjoyable (if not more enjoyable for us warm-weather lovers!) to visit. Their 18-hole golf course offers beautiful views of the mountains that surround the resort, with holes that are both challenging and pleasant for the player. The cost is reasonable during the peak season, but if you can sneak in in the ‘off-season’ (before Memorial Day) you get really great rates to play a round of 9 or 18. John and I played a round of 9 on the beautiful 70-degree day in March, and while the course hadn’t fully recovered from the snow and winter yet, it was still a beautiful day to be out.
The Food:
Liberty has opened two new restaurants within their new hotel. The Eagle and The Owl and Ike’s Chophouse. John and I visited The Eagle and The Owl after our round of golf, and couldn’t have been more pleased with the food, service and draft beer selection. While it is the off-season and generally everything is a bit slowed down at the resort, it was still great to be able to dine al fresco and enjoy our pub-style food (crab dip appetizer, each with different burgers as our entrees) and craft beer. Ike’s Chophouse is a little more upscale, featuring a more extensive menu such as charcuterie, filet, crab cakes, rack of lamb and more. These two restaurants are added to their pre-existing option, McKee’s Tavern, which is a great place for a sandwich and a beer in a very casual, low-key setting. Each of these options offers something for everyone.
The (Brand New) Hotel:
The new hotel at Liberty is stunning on the inside, with new beautiful rooms to stay in as well. It adds more space at the resort to the already renovated slop side hotel. You can’t go wrong with either option if you’re looking for a spacious and updated room. The Highland Hotel’s new lobby offers a two story fireplace with views overlooking the patio and golf course. Below the two levels of rooms, there is a beautiful new spa, indoor pool and Golf Simulation center with attached pro-shop for golfers. Whether you are a couple, a group of golfers, or a group of ladies looking to get away – the new Highland side offers so much to choose from. The Highland side is where The Eagle and the Owl and Ike’s Chophouse are located, and slope-side is where McKee’s Tavern is located. The slope-side also has the outdoor pool area and tiki bar in the summer.
The Ambiance:
The Eagle and The Owl features live music on the weekends, and a shuffle board table in their trendy bar and restaurant area. On the outdoor patio, a large fire pit with comfortable couch seating invites you out for a beer by the fire (when the fire calls, you listen) and beautiful mountain views.
While this trip was only for a day-date/night to celebrate spring and warm weather, LMR is a great way to feel like you’re getting far away from it all without having to go far for even a full-weekend getaway. And I’ll take just about any reason to celebrate! (This weekend, I celebrated-no-bystanders-hit-by-Kelsey’s-golf-ball while playing a round of nine…)
Cheers,
KLo