New Life for an Old Calvert County, Md. Plantation

Cedar Hill Plantation Bed & Breakfast Pulls Double Duty as an Historic Icon and a Quiet Guest Retreat

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md., -- November 29, 2005 - Nestled on a gentle bluff on Barstow Road in Calvert County – and nearly a stone’s throw from the Patuxent River – sits an exquisite example of 17th Century architecture. Now more than 300 years old, Cedar Hill Plantation was originally known as “Miles End” and was obtained from Lord Baltimore by John Bigger, a horse trader and appraiser who once owned numerous properties scattered throughout Southern Maryland. Bigger and his wife Ann Stoakley, the namesake for Stoakley Road, eventually left the estate to their son who augmented an additional 700 acres to the property’s original 350 acres, creating what became known as the “Bigger Plantation” in the 1700s.

The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and was noted as being “one of the few remaining cruciform dwelling houses existing in Maryland.” A visit to the property today reveals an aged beauty that has been carefully restored and preserved to its former grandeur.

Now privately owned, Cedar Hill Plantation has a new mission as a bed and breakfast, meeting hall and intimate gathering place for corporate retreats, receptions and weddings. Cedar Hill’s unique, Colonial ambiance and historical relevance make it an attractive location for a wide range of events and activities. The property has a number of working fireplaces, a wine cellar, gazebos, a rose garden and 75 acres of tranquil countryside – the perfect setting for formal, casual and even educational events.

But perhaps the most impressive feature of the property is the abundance of historical artifacts that decorate the hallways, parlors and bedrooms. Cedar Hill is a living museum with a stunning collection of antiques, paintings and other memorabilia from the earliest days of Maryland’s founding. The parlor contains a studio portrait of Henrietta Maria for whom Maryland is named, the Hall is decorated with a plantation deed that bears the signature and seal of Lord Baltimore and there is also an impressive collection of early American maps.

As an equestrian facility with all the comforts and conveniences of home including stables, riding trails, open fields and an outdoor arena, Cedar Hill is equipped to serve the needs of equine enthusiasts as well.

The staff at Cedar Hill is currently busy planning festivities for a grand New Year’s Eve celebration at the plantation. They believe it will provide an excellent opportunity to show off the property in all its holiday finery. It will be an intimate affair with room for about 50 people and will include good music, food and holiday cheer – a truly memorable occasion. Tickets are available for $65 per person or $125 per couple.

Contact the staff of Cedar Hill Plantation Bed & Breakfast at 410.474.4684 or cedarhillce@gmail.com for more information, to schedule your wedding or corporate retreat or to make reservations for the New Year’s Eve Celebration. You can also visit online at www.cedarhillplantation.com.

For more information on the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development, our visitor sites and attractions and the services available to assist County businesses, call 410.535.4583, 800.331.9771 or 301.855.1880; or send an e-mail to info@ecalvert.com