OVERVIEW

This prime Fayette County West Virginia property offers 90+- acres with exceptional commercial and residential development potential. Strategically located ½ mile off the US -19 Expressway, the parcel benefits from easy access to a major artery making it an ideal location for a wide range of ventures. The property is ready for immediate development with essential utilities in place: electric, gas, water, and sewer are available roadside, and accessible 3-phase power, ensuring minimal preparation for any construction. With its large size and easy access, this parcel offers ample opportunity for large-scale projects. The proximity to regional hubs ensures both convenience and strategic positioning for future growth. The development possibilities are vast, and the land is competitively priced to accommodate a variety of applications. North Hills Commercial – Residential is a chance to secure a highly accessible, well-equipped site in a growing area with great potential for long-term value.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 90 acres+- tract of land offers a versatile foundation for both commercial and residential development located in Fayette County, WV
• Adjoins the Fayette Square Commercial Complex
• Surrounding municipalities are Fayetteville, Oak Hill, Beckley, Summersville
• This property offers the perfect blend of location, convenience, and growth potential.
• Utilities include public water, electric, natural gas, 3 phase electric
• Paved frontage on Pine Knoll Drive
• Strategically locatedn ½ mile from US 19 Expressway, a major artery ensuring a steady flow of traffic.
• Jet airports – Charleston, Beckley, and Lewisburg
• Easy access to I-64, I-79, I-77, US-19
• Minutes to Walmart, Kroger, Lowes, restaurants, and city amenities
• Located in rapidly growing New River Gorge National Park region
• A thriving wildlife population
• The natural forest is managed by a professional forester
• Cultural & educational opportunities abound throughout the region
• Elevations range from 1899’ to 2005’
• Low taxes

UTILITIES

Water: Public water
Sewer: Public sewer
Electricity: Available
Natural Gas: Available
Telephone: Available
Internet: Available
Cellphone Coverage: Yes

DIRECTIONS

From Fayetteville:  4.5 Miles (approximately 10 minutes)

From the US 19 and Court Street intersection near Tudor’s at main town Fayetteville, travel US 19 south toward Oak Hill for 4.1 miles; just past the Fayette Square Mall, take the Lochgelly Road – N Oak Hill Exit;  go straight across the intersection; travel a short distance and turn left onto a single lane road which is Pine Knoll Drive without a sign; staying on the asphalt road (toward the Pine Knoll Apartments), travel 750 feet; the property road entrance is on the right.

LOCATION

Google Coordinates:  38.010874°(N), -81.133527°(W)
Address: Pine Knoll Drive, Oak Hill, WV 25901. A 911 address has not yet been assigned.
Elevation Range: 1899 ft. to 2005 ft. +/-

Local Towns
Oak Hill: 5 minutes
Beckley: 15 minutes
Charleston: 1 hour
Fayetteville: 10 minutes
Roanoke, VA: 2 hours

Airports

Beckley – Raleigh County Memorial Airport: 30 minutes
Charleston – West Virginia International Yeager Airport: 1 hour
Lewisburg – Greenbrier Valley Airport: 1 hour
Roanoke – Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport: 2 hours

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: Part of the property in DB 337 Pg. 333
Fayette County, West Virginia
Acreage: 90 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Taxes:
Fayette County, West Virginia
New Haven District (1)
Tax Map 69 part of Parcel 2; Class 3
Oak Hill Corp (9)
Tax Map 2 Parcel 1; Class 4
Tax Map 3 Parcels 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8; Class 4
Tax Map 4 Parcels 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,155; Class 4

2024 Total Real Estate Taxes: $1640 estimated

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

There is about 2/10 mile of frontage on Pine Knoll Drive. The property connects directly to Pine Knoll Drive.

ZONING

Fayette County and towns are subject to zoning and subdivision regulations. All prospective buyers should consult the County Government and the Health Department for details regarding zoning, building codes, and installation of water wells and septic systems.

The applicable portion of New Haven District Tax Parcel 1-69-2 (eastern side of the property) lies in the two zones of R-R (Rural Residential) and B-3 (Highway Business District).

The Oak Hill Corp Tax Parcel 9-2-1 and the several tax parcels of lots (western side of the property) lie in Oak Hill Corp zone B-2 (General Business District).

Zone B-2

In Fayette County, WV, residential homes are indeed permitted in the B-2 (General Business) zoning district. The B-2 district is intended to accommodate a variety of commercial uses, but also includes residential dwellings as a permitted use. This means that single-family, two-family, and multi-family dwellings are allowed, along with rooming houses. The B-2 district is designed to provide areas for commercial activities, particularly those oriented towards automobile traffic, while also allowing for residential development. Specifically, the B-2 district in Fayette County allows for single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, multi-family dwellings, and rooming houses. In addition to residential uses, the B-2 district also permits commercial activities like automotive services, business and professional offices, and financial services.

Zone B-3

The B-3 zone is primarily for business and tourism uses, such as automobile sales, service stations, restaurants, hotels/motels, and recreational facilities. One of the listed prohibited uses in the B-3 zone is “dwellings, except as permitted herein”. Generally, residential homes are not explicitly permitted as a primary use in the B-3 (Corridor Business or Business Tourism) Zone in Fayette County, WV. Based on the available information: This suggests that while residential dwellings are generally prohibited in the B-3 zone, there might be specific exceptions or conditions under which they could be allowed. One potential exception could be multi-family dwellings, provided they conform to specific provisions, according to American Legal Publishing. To confirm whether your specific situation falls under an exception or if residential use is possible in a particular B-3 zoned area in Fayette County, WV, it is highly recommended to consult the Fayette County Zoning Department directly. You can reach the Zoning Enforcement Officer at 304-574-4320.

Zone R-R

In Fayette County, West Virginia, the R-R (Rural Residential) zoning district is intended to provide for areas where a rural atmosphere can be maintained and where limited farming operations and single-family dwellings are allowed. Based on the provided information, the R-R zone generally permits agricultural uses, single-family homes, and accessory structures. Other permitted uses include certain animal raising for domestic use, home occupations, residential care homes for up to six clients, places of worship, communications equipment buildings, electric distribution substations, country clubs, golf courses, fire and police stations, libraries, museums, and accredited schools through grade 12. Temporary storage for construction and maintenance of public infrastructure is also permitted. Conditional uses, which require a conditional use permit, may also be allowed. Examples include service stations and convenience stores.

FOREST

A professional forester has managed the property for many years. Management goals include timber, wildlife, recreation, and water. About twenty years ago, the forester prepared a timber harvest plan that included thinning the larger trees, allowing the residual trees a chance to become healthier and grow faster. The selective thinning created stands of differing age classes. The predominant timber stand consists of trees aged between 30 and 140 years, with diameters ranging in size of 10 to 30 inches at breast height (dbh).

Overall, the species composition is highly desirable and favors Appalachian hardwood types, consisting primarily of Black Walnut, Sugar Maple, Poplar/Basswood, Red Oak Group, White Oak/Chestnut Oak, Soft Maple, Hickory, Black Cherry, and a host of associated species (Birch, Sourwood, Black Gum, and Beech), enhancing the forest’s overall appeal and value.

The forest is healthy and there have been no forest fires in recent memory.

The forest floor is home to several types of mushrooms, medicinal plants, wild ginseng, ferns, and cool green mosses.

The area is conducive for beekeeping as honeybees thrive well here. Also, the sugar and red maple trees growing on the property present the potential for producing maple syrup.

AREA WILDLIFE

White tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, fox, chipmunk, and many species of songbirds and raptors make up the resident wildlife population.

Of equal importance, there is the insect and microscopic world including butterflies, dragonflies, water skaters, water beetles, damselflies, hellgrammites, tadpoles and various insect larvae.

Great fishing is found in the area’s lakes and rivers with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill present in good numbers.

The hardwood forest of the surrounding mountains provides the essential nutrient source and produces tons of hard mast including acorns, hickory nuts, beech nuts and black walnuts. Soft mast includes stag horn sumac, black cherry, tulip poplar seeds, maple seeds, autumn olive berries and blackberries.

WATER

A dashed blueline stream flows through the northeastern portion of the property for about 1/10 mile. The intermittent stream has periodic water flow during rain events and periods of snow melt.

MINERAL RESOURCES

Ownership of mineral rights appears to have been severed by prior deeds since the property is taxed as SURFACE. Any rights the owner has in title will convey with the property.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The property has been managed as a forestland.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Fayette County School District

Public Elementary School:
Fayetteville PK-8

Public Middle School:
Fayetteville PK-8

Public High School:
Oak Hill High

Public College:
Fayette Institute of Technology

FOUR SEASON CLIMATE

The New River Gorge area sustains a microclimate more typical of warmer and more southerly latitudes, due partly to the sheltering nature of its valley. Though the river may appear a cool mountain stream, by the time it reaches the gorge it has already traveled more than 300 miles from the summits of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina and has heated over that distance. As its warm microclimate accommodates a longer growing season. Mean annual precipitation in the area is estimated at 37 to 47 inches, mean annual air temperature at 50 to 52 degrees, and its frost-free period at 140 to 170 days.

ON-PROPERTY RECREATIONAL AMENITIES

Nature viewing is next in line of recreational activities. Wildlife viewing is not just for larger animals. Equal consideration is given to a diversity of species including neo-tropical songbirds, butterflies, turtles, frogs, rabbits, chipmunks, dragonflies, owls, eagles and hawks. White tail deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, grouse, geese, squirrel, raccoon, fox and rabbit make up the resident wildlife population.

Stargazing-Planet Observation

Near total darkness can be still be found on the property, thereby affording the opportunity to view the night sky in all its brilliant wonder.

Shooting-sports devotees find all the land and privacy needed to enjoy:

• Paintball-Airsoft-Laser Tag-Archery tag
• Shotgun sport shooting including Skeet, Trap, Double Trap and Sporting Clays
• Rifle & Handgun shooting: bullseye, silhouette, western, bench rest, long-range, fast draw
• Archery and Crossbow competition shooting
• 22 single shot rifle and a few tin cans make a fun day

All Terrain Motorsports

The property is perfect for experiencing the property from an ATV or UTV. Riders are welcome to ride all public roads that do not have a painted dividing line and there are miles and miles of open roads in the area. These exciting machines handle the wide variety of the forest’s terrain.  Dirt bikes can also be a lot of fun and they come in all sizes and horsepower to fit anyone who enjoys being on two wheels.

Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and Hiking

The land may be used for mountain biking, hiking or horseback riding and the area offers several state and national parks geared for these activities.

SURROUNDING CITIES AND TOWNS

OAK HILL

Oak Hill is Fayette County’s largest municipality and its economic center. Oak Hill was incorporated in 1905 and named for the region’s first post office, which stood under a large White Oak (Quercus alba) at nearby Hill Top, now about two miles south of the city’s downtown.

A city of nearly 8,000 residents, Oak Hill is located on a plateau area west of the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia. The US-19 expressway runs north-to-south through the city. It has traditionally been a commercial center that served the surrounding coalfields but is now chiefly a residential community, part of the larger New River Gorge region, and it adjoins the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.

The city has recently increased its investment in recreational and quality-of-life improvements and has acquired land for the new outdoor-adventure park approaching the edge of the New River Gorge.

The Death of Hank Williams

Oak Hill is popularly known for its association with American musician and singer-songwriter Hank Williams. In the early morning hours of New Year’s Day in 1953, William’s driver, Charles Carr, stopped for gas en route to a concert at Canton, Ohio, and discovered Williams dead. Carr had last spoken to Williams near midnight while they stopped at an all-night restaurant at Bristol, Va. Details of the death, including the location of the service station at which they stopped at Oak Hill, are a subject of dispute.

White Oak Rail Trail

The White Oak Rail Trail travels eight miles across the greater Oak Hill area, connecting the city with its cultural, educational, and recreational centers. A popular section of the trail approaches within a quarter-mile of the woodland, providing exceptional access for hikers and bikers. The trail is being extended as part of a state trail network to link Oak Hill with national park trails and the national scout reserve as well as population centers at Beckley and Fayetteville.

Needleseye Bouldering Park

Named for a narrow rock cleft that leads into a two-mile garden of cliffs and house-sized boulders, Needleseye Park protects more than 280 acres of woodland in east Oak Hill. The park is a popular destination for hikers, rock climbers, and birdwatchers. The park’s chief attraction is bouldering, a variation of rock climbing. Thousands of expert climbers visit the region annually to scale the cliffs that line the rim of the New River Gorge.

Hunting Preserves

Two public hunting and fishing areas with a combined 10,000 acres of woodland are located within five miles of the city. Deer, turkey, and squirrel are the principal game. The Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area includes 202-acre Plum Orchard Lake, a popular destination for flatwater kayaking as well as fishing. The Beury Mountain Wildlife Management area conserves some of the most remote highland forests in the region. In addition to the two preserves, hunting is also permitted in season in more than 65,165 acres in the national park.

Outdoor Recreation Resorts

Several outdoor adventure resorts are located in and near Oak Hill. All offer guided whitewater rafting tours on the New and Gauley rivers, and most include basecamps that accommodate cabins, camping, and coordinate outdoor recreation adventures. Some offer canopy tours and zip line and adventure courses.

FAYETTEVILLE

The county seat of Fayette County, was established in 1837 as “Vandalia” and was named for Abraham Vandal, who owned of the land upon which the town was founded. Chartered as Fayetteville in 1883, the town was named in honor the Marquis de LaFayette.

Fayetteville is located on the US-19 expressway approximately six miles north of Oak Hill, West Virginia, 15 miles north of the Bechtel National Scout Reserve, at Mount Hope, West Virginia, and 25 miles north of Beckley, West Virginia.

In addition to the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, the following parks and public recreation areas are located within 20 miles of Fayetteville.

• Janutolo Park (Fayetteville)
• Hughes Park (Fayetteville)
• Fayette County Park
• Collins Park (Oak Hill)
• Babcock State Park
• Hawks Nest State Park
• Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area

Fayetteville’s historic district is both charming and one of the most attractive locations for outfitters shops, boutique shops, and specialty restaurants in West Virginia. More than a dozen antiques shops were operating in the Fayetteville area in summer 2017, and five independent restaurants in the district were offering an outstanding selection of unique cuisine. Fayetteville is central to the travel-destination area as well as the legal center of Fayette County. Its population in 2014 was estimated at 2,892.

Adventures on the Gorge

Less than 15 miles from the property is one of the nation’s leading outdoor-adventure resorts, Adventures on the Gorge. Locals and their guests are welcome to take advantage of the resort’s restaurants, pubs, outfitter shop, canopy tour network, and gorge-view swimming pool. Whether you seek whitewater rafting, rock climbing adventure, or just a relaxation time by the water, you will find your place.

Dining and Retail

The property is centrally located between the New River Gorge and Kanawha Valley regions and enjoys access to a variety of dining and shopping venues in both directions. Nearby, the Fayetteville area offers a charming collection of over a dozen noteworthy independent restaurants catering to locales and visitors seeking impeccable dining experiences. An hour’s drive west, the Charleston metropolitan area boasts the state’s highest concentration of restaurants and retail centers.

SUMMERSVILLE, WV
Summersville is the county seat of Nicholas County, West Virginia. Summersville was formed in June 1820 and was primarily a farming community. During the winter of 1864-65, both Union and Confederate armies were encamped in Summersville or nearby. It was during that winter that the town and all its buildings were burned to the ground. Although the war ended soon after, the destruction of the town was discouraging, and citizens were very slow to return and rebuild. By 1884, Summersville was again home to over 100 citizens and slowly became the commerce center of the county.

Centrally located in the mountains of West Virginia, Summersville offers endless opportunities for fun-filled days enjoying beauty, adventure, history and relaxation. There are a host of festivals in the summer and fall and check out the event schedule at the Summersville Arena & Conference Center. Summersville is easy to navigate and offers a large selection of lodgings to match any budget. Restaurants range from fast food to fine dining. Winter, spring, summer or fall, Summersville has something to offer couples, families, adventure seekers, historians, or just those seeing relaxation.

Summersville has many quaint shops that are ideal for browsing and finding the perfect gift or souvenir. There are many primitive shops, specialty shops, antiques, sporting goods, department stores, and collectibles and food items unique to the area. Summersville also offers several “big box” stores including Big Lots, Lowes, Peebles, Grand Home Furnishings, and Walmart.

Summersville also offers the Summersville Arena & Conference Center, which is a 73,000 square foot multi-use facility constructed jointly with the City of Summersville and the West Virginia Army National Guard. The facility offers a 24,000 sq. ft. arena, 2,000 seats for events such as basketball games, an additional 2,400 seats available for a “staged” event, and a 3,600 sq. ft. convention area. Summersville has a public library.

There is also a modern hospital and all attendant medical facilities. Summersville Regional Medical Center is located on Route 19 in Summersville, West Virginia. In operation since 1968, SRMC has served Nicholas County and the surrounding area for over four decades and is the second largest employer in the county.

VETERANS MEDICAL

Veterans in West Virginia can access several VA Hospitals, including those in Beckley, Clarksburg, Martinsburg, and Huntington. Additionally, nearby Community-Based Outpatient VA Clinics are available in Clarksburg, Gassaway, Parkersburg, Parsons, Petersburg, Princeton, Ronceverte/Lewisburg, South Charleston, and Westover, West Virginia.

THE SUMMIT: BECHTEL FAMILY NATIONAL SCOUT RESERVE

As a result of unrivaled access to recreation, the Boy Scouts of America established its national Jamboree site here encompassing 12,000 acres and has invested over $300,000,000 in the acquisition and buildout of the site.

The Summit is the home of the World Jamboree as well as the National Scout Jamboree. The Summit is the national leadership center for the Boy Scouts of America as well as one of the organization’s five high-adventure bases. More than 50,000 scouts and leaders from all over 40 countries attended the World Jamboree in 2019.

SURROUNDING AREA RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Residency in the New River Gorge region offers access to a seemingly limitless variety of recreational pursuits. Its parks invite hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, paddling, rock climbing, ziplining, and whitewater rafting. The area accommodates several walking and field sports facilities, including stadiums, playgrounds, and walking and biking trails. The winter months are not let out—Winterplace is an hour’s drive south, offering skiing and snow-tubing.

Great fishing is found in the rivers and lakes populated with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike, stocked and native trout, and bluegill.

The New River is the second oldest river in the world, preceded only by the Nile; it is the oldest river in North America. The New River is unique because it begins in Blowing Rock, N.C. and flows north through Virginia into West Virginia. The Nile and Amazon are the only other major rivers that also flow north. Year after year, the New River produces more citation fish than any other warm water river in WV.

Summersville Lake is over 3,000 acres at summer pool and is the state’s largest body of water. Bluestone Lake is over 2000 acres at summer pool and is the state’s third largest body of water.

Summersville Lake

Superb water quality and sheer sandstone cliffs make the 3000-acre Summersville Lake a unique place to visit. West Virginia’s largest lake; Summersville Lake has over 28,000 acres of water and 60 miles of shoreline. Boating, water-skiing, swimming, fishing for large- and smallmouth bass, walleye, panfish, and catfish, (trout are stocked below the dam in the spring and fall), camping, scuba diving, picnicking, hunting, and biking are the favorite activities enjoyed by nearly two million visitors who visit the region annually.

Technical rock climbing and whitewater rafting are available year-round, with scheduled whitewater releases below the dam on the world class Gauley River in September and October. Adjacent to the lake is Mountain Lake Campground, with cabins, camping & RV hookups and many other conveniences for guests. Sarge’s Dive Shop and the lake’s marina are located on the lake with grocery stores, restaurants, and service stations located nearby in Summersville.

NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE – ONE OF AMERICA’S NEWEST NATIONAL PARKS!

The sign at entrance to Canyon Rim Visitor Center at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve near Fayetteville, West Virginia.

One of the most exciting destinations for hiking, biking, climbing, and paddling in the eastern United States, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve was established by the National Park Service in 1978 and includes more than 70,000 acres in and adjacent to the New River Gorge and the valley of the New River. More than a million visitors annually climb rocks along the rim of the gorge near Fayetteville and paddle its whitewater runs on the New and its tributaries. Countless miles of hiking and biking trails wander the park and climb into the surrounding mountains. The nearby Gauley River National Recreation Area likewise attracts thousands of tourists annually, notably rafters during “Gauley Season” in autumn when the river runs strong.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is rich in cultural and natural history and offers an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities. New River Gorge is home to some of the country’s best whitewater rafting, mainly from the Cunard put-in to the Fayette Station take-out and is also one of the most popular climbing areas on the East Coast.

Home to the New River, which drops 750 feet over 66 miles, with its Class V rapids, has long drawn adventuresome rafters and kayakers to this whitewater area. The New River, which flows northward through low-cut canyons in the Appalachian Mountains, is one of the oldest rivers on the planet.

Rock climbing on the canyon walls, mountain biking and hiking on trails that flank the river, and wildlife viewing—bald eagles, osprey, kingfishers, great blue herons, beavers, river otters, wild turkeys, brown bats, snakes, and black bears—are all popular activities within the park.

The New River Gorge Bridge is a work of structural art. Construction of the bridge began in 1974, and was completed in 1977. The Bridge spans 3,030 feet in length and is the third highest bridge in the U.S., at 876 ft. During Bridge Day, an annual one-day festival celebrating the construction of the Bridge, BASE jumpers launch off the 876-foot bridge and parachute down to the New River. New River Gorge is the only national park in the U.S. that permits this extreme activity.

NEW RIVER

The New River is shared by boaters, fisherman, campers, park visitors and local neighbors.  The New River is recognized as the “second oldest river in the world” and is estimated to be between 10 and 360 million years old. Its headwaters begin near Blowing Rock, NC and is one of the few rivers in North America that flows northerly.

Class I, II, III, IV and V rapids dot the entire 320 miles of New River making it a great paddling, tubing, and white rafting adventure. Beautiful cliffs, bluffs, and mountain views make it one of the most scenic rivers on the east coast.

New River Gorge National River includes 53 miles of free-flowing New River, beginning at Bluestone Dam and ending at Hawks Nest Lake. The New River typifies big West Virginia style whitewater. Within the park it has two very different characters. The upper (southern) part of the river consists primarily of long pools, and relatively easy rapids up to Class III. It is a big powerful river, but very beautiful, always runnable, and providing excellent fishing and camping. There are a number of different river access points, and trips can run from several hours to several days.

The lower (northern) section of river is often referred to as “the Lower Gorge.” In a state that is justifiably renowned for colossal rapids, the Lower Gorge has some of the biggest of the big with rapids ranging in difficulty from Class III to Class V. The rapids are imposing and forceful, many of them obstructed by large boulders which necessitate maneuvering in very powerful currents, crosscurrents, and hydraulics. Some rapids contain hazardous undercut rocks.

Fast water, big rocks and lazy/slow stretches are features of the New River. Water sports enthusiasts will find the New River ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing. Great fishing is found in the New River with bass (largemouth, smallmouth and rock), flathead catfish, channel catfish, muskie, walleye and bluegill present in good numbers.

GAULEY RIVER NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

Gauley River

The Gauley River was added to the National Park System in 1988.  The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide variety of natural and cultural features.  Dropping 26 feet per mile through a gorge that averages 500 feet in depth, the Gauley is noted for its outstanding whitewater and is one of the most technical rivers in the nation, containing several class V+ rapids.  The Meadow River gradient averages 71 feet per mile.

The Gauley River and its gorge have been a barrier as well as a corridor for human activity. The area was used for fishing and hunting by Native Americans for 10,000 years and was populated by Europeans in the late 1700s near the mouth of Peters Creek.  The confluence of the Gauley and Meadow rivers was the site of an 1861 Civil War battle. Union troops forced Confederate forces from their position overlooking the Gauley. The site is part of Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park.

In the late 1800s railroads and lumber companies came to the gorge to harvest its vast supply of timber.  Coal and gas development followed shortly after are still economic powers in the area.  Vegetation is diverse and abundant. Extremes in topography, elevation and microclimate have caused tremendous variation in plant life. Most of the recreation area is below 2,000 feet and contains the central hardwood forest type. Tree species found in this timber type include the red and white oak, American beech, yellow poplar, hemlock and dogwood. Such vegetation supports a wide variety of wildlife species.

West Virginia is home to parts of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, a foot path that stretches more than 2,100 miles between Maine and Georgia; the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, which cuts through 16 states for 4,900 miles; the Bluestone National Scenic River; and Harpers Ferry National Historic Park.