Cheat Lake Neighborhood Guide

Cheat Lake sits along the eastern shore of the lake it's named for, stretching from the dam past Sunset Beach toward the Pennsylvania border and spilling inland toward Chestnut Ridge. It's one of the few areas around Morgantown where you can find genuine square footage, a wooded lot, and a dock all on the same property, which draws families and boat owners who want a slower pace without leaving the region entirely. The neighborhoods tend toward newer construction and feel noticeably more suburban than the rest of Morgantown, with pontoon boats and Lakeview golf memberships as common weekend fixtures. The tradeoff is real distance from the city's core, and residents typically factor a 20-plus minute drive into any errand or evening out. For people who prioritize lake access and room to breathe over proximity to downtown, it's a straightforward trade worth making.