Located on a wooded peninsula along the Severn River — known locally as the “Idle River” — just five miles northwest of downtown Annapolis, Sherwood Forest is one of Anne Arundel County’s most storied private communities. Planned in 1913 by Baltimore investor William F. Cochran and incorporated as the Sherwood Forest Club in 1915, the 467-acre community was originally built as a bucolic summer camp for middle-class families, with 35 mission-style wooden cottages constructed around a vision of country life just outside the city.
Sherwood Forest MD real estate includes historic cottages dating to the 1910s and 1920s alongside more substantial year-round residences, nearly all nestled into dense woodland along the Severn River and its tributary, Brewer Creek. The community’s rustic, deliberately low-key character — reinforced by restrictive covenants that keep homes blending into the surrounding forest — has preserved a genuinely unique sense of place for more than a century.
Life in Sherwood Forest revolves around its private recreational infrastructure and a deep, multigenerational sense of community. Residents golf on the community’s nine-hole course, designed by Herbert Strong and opened in 1919, swim at the Olympic-sized pool, sail and fish from the marina and community piers, and gather at the general store and clubhouse. Children grow up attending the Sherwood Forest Boys & Girls Summer Camp, established in the 1920s and still serving hundreds of children annually with sailing, lacrosse, and tennis on the Severn River — a tradition that has shaped generations of residents since childhood.
The community’s Fourth of July fireworks and annual corn roast anchor the summer calendar, and residents describe a particular pride in Sherwood Forest’s privacy and quiet; as longtime board members put it, “no one comes to Sherwood without knowing what they’re getting into.” Most homes are leased for 99 years from the community association rather than owned outright in the traditional sense — a structure that reflects the Club’s deep-rooted governance and its residents’ long-term commitment to the forest.
Sherwood Forest’s nine-hole, Herbert Strong-designed course, opened in 1919, anchors the community’s recreational identity alongside its historic clubhouse, which hosts community gatherings throughout the year.
With a 100-slip marina, fishing and swimming piers, and two private beaches along the Severn River, water access is built directly into daily life for Sherwood Forest residents.
The community’s earliest 1910s and 1920s cottages — modest one- or two-room structures with red-brick fireplaces and generous porches — remain among Sherwood Forest’s most character-rich and sought-after properties.
Because the community operates as a special tax district — where residents pay an assessment covering trash pickup, snow removal, water utility service, and other infrastructure, separate from an additional fee to join the recreational club — buyers should confirm current district assessments, Club membership dues, and leasehold terms for any specific property before making an offer.
Many of today’s year-round residents are professionals who bought homes in Sherwood Forest specifically for its recreational facilities, natural beauty, and relative privacy, while commuting to jobs in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
The community’s nine-hole golf course, marina, and Severn River access draw residents for whom these recreational amenities are central to daily life, not just occasional weekend activities.
Sherwood Forest’s longstanding Boys & Girls Summer Camp and child-centered recreational traditions make it a particular draw for families who want their children to grow up learning to swim, sail, and explore the surrounding woods, much as generations of residents have before them..
Sherwood Forest, MD FAQs
Q: What makes Sherwood Forest unique near Annapolis?
Sherwood Forest is a gated, member-governed community founded in 1913 as a summer camp, with homes leased for 99 years from the community association rather than owned in fee simple — a structure, paired with its nine-hole golf course and 100-slip marina, found nowhere else in the region.
Q: What types of homes are available in Sherwood Forest?
The community offers original 1910s–1920s mission-style cottages alongside more substantial, modernized year-round residences, nearly all nestled into dense woodland along the Severn River and Brewer Creek.
Q: Does Sherwood Forest include recreational amenities?
Yes. Residents have access to a private nine-hole golf course, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a 100-slip marina, fishing and swimming piers, two private beaches, tennis courts, and a children’s summer camp, through a combination of special tax district assessments and Club membership dues.
Q: Do homes with Severna River water access or historic character command premiums?
Yes. Properties directly on the Severn River or Brewer Creek, along with well-preserved historic cottages, typically command stronger buyer interest given the community’s deep historical character and genuinely limited turnover
1,777 people live in Sherwood Forest, where the median age is 56 and the average individual income is $52,690. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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There's plenty to do around Sherwood Forest, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Explore popular things to do in the area, including Crab -N- Cruz, Casita Linda, and Mobile Waiter.
| Name | Category | Distance | Reviews |
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| Dining | 0.67 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.74 miles | 29 reviews | 4.7/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.74 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Dining · $$ | 0.78 miles | 152 reviews | 3.6/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.67 miles | 13 reviews | 4.4/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.67 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.74 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.77 miles | 115 reviews | 4.9/5 stars | |
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Sherwood Forest has 808 households, with an average household size of 2. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Sherwood Forest do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 1,777 people call Sherwood Forest home. The population density is 3,175 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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