LEONARDTOWN, Md. — During its Dec. 11, 2025 meeting, St. Mary’s County’s Historic Preservation Commission reviewed plans for a new visitors center at Myrtle Point Park, saying the project area contains significant historical and archaeological resources that must be evaluated before construction begins.
The proposal, submitted by St. Mary’s County Recreation & Parks, calls for a 4,000-square-foot visitors center, ADA beach and kayak access, upgraded trails, a pavilion, restrooms, a guard house, and related site improvements near Patuxent Boulevard in California, Maryland.
County property records show no standing buildings remain on the parcel today. But despite appearing as open parkland, historic survey records and earlier field investigations identify the land as the former location of multiple early- and mid-20th-century structures, including farm buildings, homes and a small lodging establishment. While most former buildings dated to the early and mid-20th century, the site also includes agricultural features and archaeological deposits with origins as early as the 18th century.
A Landscape With Deep Historic Layers
Historic documentation reviewed by the Commission describes Myrtle Point as once containing a small cluster of rural homes, farm structures, and a riverfront lodging establishment that served the area for decades.
Among the features historically recorded on the site were:
- A tobacco barn constructed using early Chesapeake building techniques, reflecting the region’s agricultural economy in the 19th century.
- A turn-of-the-century farmhouse and a second early-1900s dwelling, both typical of rural domestic architecture of their period.
- A mid-20th-century bed-and-breakfast, which operated along the Patuxent River before the land transitioned into a public park.
Though these structures have since been demolished, survey records indicate that foundations, subsurface remains, and cultural deposits are still present in several areas. A November field visit by county staff confirmed that the parcel contains known archaeological sites even though no buildings remain standing.
Disturbing or collecting archaeological materials on park property is prohibited under Maryland law, and visitors are reminded not to dig or search for artifacts in the area.
Critical Area Review Also Required
County environmental staff also noted that the project lies within the 100-foot Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Buffer, triggering additional state oversight. A Dec. 10 memo says the county must either shift the visitors center outside the buffer or seek conditional approval from the Critical Area Commission, which requires demonstrating that the project cannot be relocated and that environmental impacts will be fully mitigated. No development in the buffer can proceed until state and local agencies complete their review and approve the plan.
Commission Calls for State-Level Review
Historic planners told the Commission that, due to the concentration of cultural findings on the property, the applicant should obtain review and guidance from the Maryland Historical Trust before the county proceeds with approval. Staff also recommended assessing whether the planned locations of the visitors center, parking lot, and new pathways should be shifted to avoid disturbing sensitive areas.
Commission members agreed, noting that while the parcel appears open and undeveloped today, “the archaeological record shows a long continuum of use that requires careful consideration.”
The applicant must provide the results of the state review before the project can advance.
Next Steps
The Commission will revisit the proposal once state preservation officials issue recommendations. Its next public meeting is scheduled for Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. at the Patuxent Building in Leonardtown.
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Charlotte Hall had significant historical landmarks just a few years back. They were all replaced with stop-lights and non-locale spam.