Welcome to Rise and Shine Farm, an exceptional 93.28 +/- acre country estate and working farm tucked away in the beautiful Wolf Creek area of Monroe County, West Virginia. Offering an appealing combination of privacy, productive farmland, comfortable modern living, abundant wildlife, and extensive farm infrastructure, this property embodies the best of Almost Heaven, West Virginia.

Located at the end of state-maintained Skaggs Road, Rise and Shine Farm enjoys a remarkable degree of seclusion and serenity. The property is the only full-time residence on Skaggs Road, providing the kind of privacy that is increasingly difficult to find. The farm is conveniently located off Johnson’s Crossroads, just minutes from the Wolf Creek Post Office, while the historic communities of Union, the county seat of Monroe County, and Alderson are each approximately a 20-minute drive away.

Monroe County is renowned for its rolling farmland, mountain scenery, quiet country roads, rich agricultural heritage, and relaxed rural lifestyle. Adding to the property’s appeal, Monroe County currently has no county-wide zoning, providing flexibility for a variety of agricultural and rural uses.

Rise and Shine Farm in Almost Heaven, Monroe County, West Virginia.

THE FARMHOUSE

At the heart of the property is an impressive 4,713-square-foot modern farmhouse, circa 2005, thoughtfully designed for comfortable everyday living, entertaining, and enjoying the surrounding mountain countryside.

The exceptionally spacious kitchen is a focal point and features high-end stainless-steel appliances, a Viking six-burner gas range, a Bosch dishwasher, a large center island, tile flooring, and abundant pantry and storage space. The space makes it easy to prepare family meals, entertain guests, or preserve the bounty from the farm and garden.

The adjoining Great Room offers a warm and inviting gathering space highlighted by wide-plank flooring and a handsome stone propane fireplace. Large windows take full advantage of the property’s impressive long-range views, including a commanding view toward mighty Keeney Mountain, the highest point in neighboring Summers County.

The main level includes two bedrooms, a full bathroom with laundry facilities, the Great Room, and the oversized kitchen and dining areas.

Multiple exterior doors provide convenient access to the home’s porches and decks on both levels, creating excellent outdoor living spaces for morning coffee, family gatherings, grilling, wildlife watching, or simply enjoying the peace and quiet of the surrounding West Virginia mountains

PRIVATE GUEST / IN-LAW APARTMENT

Situated above the attached two-car garage is a private guest or in-law apartment offering excellent flexibility for extended family, overnight guests, a caretaker, or private home-office accommodations.

The apartment features its own exterior entrance, separate HVAC system, kitchenette, full bathroom, and backup generator, allowing it to function independently from the main residence when desired.

HIGHLIGHTS

A WELL-IMPROVED AND PRODUCTIVE FARM

Rise and Shine Farm has been thoughtfully developed with the infrastructure necessary for livestock, hay production, gardening, horses, and general agricultural use.

The farm currently supports substantial hay production, horses, chickens, and gardening, and it was previously operated as a cow-and-calf farm. Its combination of open agricultural ground, water resources, fencing, barns, and rural privacy provides numerous possibilities for the next owner.

Farm and residential improvements include:

• Extensive fencing and gates
• Cattle guard crossings
• Well-maintained gravel driveway
• Two water wells
• Underground utilities
• Multiple farm hydrants
• Multiple Mirafount livestock watering fountains
• A newly developed spring with a large reservoir tank
• Two barns
• Electric and water service to one barn
• Two backup propane generators
• Brand-new 2025 HVAC heat pumps serving both the farmhouse and guest apartment
• Excellent cellular service
• Excellent high-speed internet
• A hunter and wildlife enthusiast dream property
• The extensive water system is especially valuable for agricultural use, livestock management, gardening, and continuing the property as a productive farm.

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.635530°(N), -80.617596°(W)
Address: 829 Skaggs Road, Wolf Creek, WV 24993
Elevation Range: 1782 ft. to 1992 ft. +/-

Estimated drive times

Charlotte, NC – 4 hours
Charlottesville, VA – 2.5 hours
Columbus, OH – 5 hours
Lexington, KY – 5 hours
Pittsburgh, PA – 4 hours
Raleigh, NC – 5 hours
Roanoke, VA – 2 hours
Richmond, VA – 4 hours
Washington, DC – 4.5 hours

HISTORY OF WOLF CREEK (Wolfcreek)

Wolf Creek (Wolfcreek) is one of the oldest settlements in the Greenbrier Valley, dating back to the very frontier days. Baughman’s Fort near Alderson at the mouth of the Wolf was purportedly settled in 1751. Local historical societies have information about Baughman’s Fort.

Today, Wolf Creek (Wolfcreek) is a sleepy, pastoral village in Monroe County with a Post Office, a church, and a community building, with a sparse population living near the waters of Broad Run, Wolf Creek, and their tributaries.

The Greenbrier Valley and Monroe County today: Much of the past is still alive in Monroe County. The County seat of Union is a modern-day Mayberry, where folks still speak to each other in passing. Union offers all the shopping and business needs for everyday life; you will find an excellent hometown supermarket, hardware, quaint restaurants, an attorney, insurance agents, a pharmacy, the Bank of Monroe, the courthouse, service stations, and many other businesses. One thing that you will not find in Monroe County is a 4-lane highway, a franchise fast-food restaurant, or a stoplight—Monroe County still has an agriculturally based lifestyle with farm families that go back hundreds of years. The population of Monroe County is 13,401; however, the cattle population has historically been higher.

THE FARMHOUSE

RISE AND SHINE FARM

The Farmhouse was constructed circa 2005 and is a one-and-a-half-story timber frame home with log siding. Outstanding views of Keeney’s Mountain (the highest point in Summers County), The Knobs, Flat Mountain, and Wolf Creek Mountain. The home has five/six bedrooms and three baths, a mudroom, a large kitchen with excellent storage and appliances, a great room, and an office area. The great room features high ceilings and a stone-and-timber front propane fireplace. Beautiful wide pine flooring is throughout much of the downstairs, with tile in the mudroom, kitchen, and baths. The home has lots of natural light and feels immediately comfortable as you enter. Multiple exterior doors provide access to the exterior and outdoor decks throughout. The kitchen is a large space with ample room, a center island, and plenty of storage, and it features a 6-burner, commercial-grade Viking gas range. Modern stainless steel front appliances include a Bosch dishwasher, a large Whirlpool refrigerator, and a Faber range hood.  The home can be optionally heated by an outdoor Nature’s Comfort wood stove (circa 2016) housed in a custom building/woodshed measuring 10 ft. x 23 ft. Currently all heating and cooling is via the new HVAC systems. The home also has central air and heat HVAC via a new heat pump for the main body and a new heat pump for the guest apartment. The home has several inviting decks on both levels. The outstanding covered breezeways from the guest apartment and the large garage are excellent, relaxing spots. The owners have enjoyed family reunions, get-togethers, and other special events throughout the 4 seasons at the farm. The farmhouse is move-in ready and ready for its next family.

Room information

Entry Level

Great Room              Main    23 x 15
Kitchen                      Main    24 x 19
Dining Room             Main    31 x 13
Office                         Main  15 x 14
Entry Master Bdr       Main    19 x 11
Entry Master Bath     Main    12 x 14
Utility Room               Main   6 x 7
Mud Room                 Main   13 x 19

Upper Level

Foyer                         Upper               24 x 12
Bedroom                    Upper               18 x 11
Bedroom                    Upper               18 x 11
Bathroom                   Upper               19 x 16
Game Room              Upper               25 x 17
Foyer                         Upper               11 x 17

GUEST APARTMENT Upper 32 x 24 Open design with one bed, kitchenette, large bath with shower stall.

Exterior Decks

Front Open Deck 24 x 16
Kitchen side open deck 24 x 24 alley 34 x 9 and west facing 23 x 10
Open deck, upper level   8 x 8
Covered Breezeway between garage and home 23 x 10
Guest apartment deck 8 x 8
West side deck 7 x 11
Front covered porch 7 x 11

FARM BUILDINGS

Front entrance barn 40 x 60
Outdoor wood stove building 10 x 23
Pump House – 8 x 10

Red metal barn with sliding doors on each end, electric, water, side passage door, and sheep door, 40 x 30 – includes a chicken coop, sheep pen with door, and large area (constructed circa. 2009)

THE LAND AND FARM

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

A portion of the farm includes edge forest land, creating the perfect setting for hunting and wildlife watching. No estimate of the forest’s value has been conducted yet.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

Currently, the farm is being used for family farming and gardening. In recent years, the previous owner has had horses and cattle. An excellent fenced paddock is located at the red metal barn.

Sheep and chickens have recently been part of the farm. The red metal barn offers fantastic facilities, already having an interior chicken house and a sheep pen with a separate sheep door.

Running water and electricity are in place at the red metal barn. The farm suits a wide range of animals. You could cultivate various crops in the fields. Near the farmhouse is a garden spot complete with electric fencing.

WILDLIFE

The mixture of mature forest, emerging forest, grown over farm fields, and old fruit trees, coupled with the water supply from Hardy Run and the farm pond, creates the perfect wildlife habitat. The “edge effect” created between streams, farm fields, and forests is the textbook habitat for the resident wildlife. The edges create long wildlife food plots. The hardwood forest produces tons of acorns, hickory nuts, beech nuts, walnuts, and soft mast. White-tailed deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, squirrel, raccoon, and many species of songbirds, eagles, owls, and hawks make up the resident wildlife population. It is hard to find a property that has a better mix of wildlife, as there has been little hunting pressure for many years.

There are many animals around the edges of Hardy Run, including raccoons, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrats, bullfrogs, and redwing blackbirds. Of course, there is the insect and microscopic world, including butterflies, dragonflies, water skaters, water beetles, damselflies, and tadpoles.

WATER

Hardy Run is a dashed blue-line mountain branch that flows; the owners state it typically has water year-round and crosses the large tract at the eastern corner. The Farm has a large pond near the large tract’s residence.

A well serves the farmhouse and the in-laws’ apartment (The farmhouse well is 420 feet deep; the pump is 408 feet; 1 HP pump, 7 gallons per minute; serviced by Reese Pump Service).

A recently developed spring system with a concrete reservoir tank is located on the farmhouse side.  The farm has a drilled well in a pasture bottom that is used for agricultural purposes.

MINERAL RESOURCES

West Virginia is one of the states in the US that has two ownership titles, those being SURFACE RIGHTS and MINERAL RIGHTS. A title search for mineral rights ownership has not yet been conducted. All rights the owner has will convey with the property. A title attorney could perform a mineral title search while the surface title search is being conducted.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The sellers’ deed includes metes-and-bounds descriptions.  Fencing and creeks evidence boundaries in some places.  State road frontage forms portions of the property boundary.  The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: A drilled well serves both the farmhouse and in-laws apartment. (Well: 420-foot depth, pump depth 408-foot, 1 HP pump, 7 gallons per minute).

Sewer: Septic system
Electricity: MonPower
Telephone: Frontier landline may be available – Owners use cell phones
Internet:  Countrymen Communications, excellent service; Starlink is also available
Cellphone Coverage: Good

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The state road also runs along the property, creating direct access to the farmhouse driveway and has multiple field gates along Skaggs Road.

ZONING

Monroe County currently has no county zoning. All prospective purchasers are encouraged to contact the Monroe County Health Department for answers regarding the installation of septic systems and water wells. For more information on county zoning, contact the Monroe County Commission.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

This farm property consists mostly of pasture fields, with some intermingled forestland.

(This summary estimates current property use as determined from aerial photography.  It is subject to the estimation of property boundaries and any errors in interpreting land use type from the aerial photography used.)

DEED AND TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: Part of DB 314 Page 762
Monroe County, West Virginia
Acreage: 93,28 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Monroe County (32), West Virginia
Wolf Creek District (9)
Tax Map 15 Parcel 20 Class 2

2025 Real Estate Taxes: $2371.00

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Monroe County School District

Public Elementary School:
Mountain View Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Mountain View Middle School

Public High School:
James Monroe High School

THE AREA

Union, Monroe County, West Virginia — Community Narrative

Nestled amid the rolling limestone valleys and pastoral farmland of southeastern West Virginia, Union is the historic county seat of Monroe County and one of the region’s most distinctive small towns. Located at the intersection of U.S. Route 219 and West Virginia Route 3, Union sits at an elevation of approximately 2,071 feet and had a population of 427 at the 2020 Census. Although small in population, Union serves as an important governmental, medical, educational, financial, and commercial center for much of rural Monroe County.

Union’s setting is quintessentially Monroe County: broad valleys, productive farms, wooded ridges, historic homes, mountain views, and a pace of life that remains strongly connected to agriculture and the land. Unlike much of West Virginia, Monroe County was never dominated by coal mining. Agriculture—particularly cattle and livestock production, hay and other crops, and timber—has long shaped both the landscape and the local economy. The county’s underlying limestone also produces abundant springs, caves, and notably fertile agricultural soils.

A Town With More Than Two Centuries of History

Union traces its origins to 1774, when James Alexander settled in the area. After Monroe County was separated from Greenbrier County in 1799, Alexander provided land for a courthouse and town. The Virginia legislature formally established Union as the county seat on January 6, 1800. The community’s name is traditionally attributed to its role as a place where frontier militia companies would “unite” or muster for drill during the era of the Indian wars.

The location became important in the Allegheny region’s early transportation network. Roads and turnpikes connected Union with the celebrated mineral-spring resorts at Salt Sulphur Springs, Sweet Springs, and White Sulphur Springs, bringing travelers, merchants, attorneys, physicians, farmers, and political figures through town.

Today’s Monroe County Courthouse, completed in 1881, still dominates the center of town and reinforces Union’s role as Monroe County’s governmental center. The courthouse occupies property that has served county government since the town’s earliest years; earlier courthouses included the original log structure and an 1820 brick courthouse.

Union’s preserved architecture is one of its greatest assets. The Union Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 and encompasses a remarkable collection of residences, commercial buildings, churches, educational buildings, and civic structures dating from the late 18th through early 20th centuries. Architectural styles include vernacular, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Classical Revival, Queen Anne, and Craftsman influences.

Historic landmarks in and around Union include Elmwood, the Caperton family home; the historic Caperton Law Office; the Old Baptist Church; several early Methodist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal church buildings; historic academy buildings; and numerous antebellum residences. Just east of Union is Rehoboth Church, dating to 1784 and recognized as one of West Virginia’s most important surviving frontier church buildings.

County Government and Public Services

As the county seat, Union provides public services far beyond what its population might suggest. Monroe County Courthouse houses or supports many of the functions that residents, property owners, businesses, attorneys, and real-estate professionals routinely need, including the County Clerk, Assessor, tax-related services, courts, elections, probate, and land-record functions.

Other governmental and community services in or immediately around Union include the Monroe County Commission and county offices, Circuit and Magistrate Court functions, the County Sheriff’s Office, the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, West Virginia state offices, and emergency management and public-safety services.

The Union does not maintain its own municipal police department; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and West Virginia State Police provide law enforcement. The Union Volunteer Fire Department and Union-area emergency medical and ambulance services also serve the community.

The centrally located United States Postal Service provides postal services for ZIP Code 24983, while Monroe County Public Library serves as an educational and community resource on South Main Street.

Medical, Dental and Health Services

One of Union’s most valuable amenities for a rural community is its concentration of healthcare services.

Monroe Health Center operates its Union clinic on Health Center Drive. The community health center provides primary and preventive medical care along with laboratory and diagnostic services, pediatrics, behavioral-health services, and other outpatient healthcare resources.

Dental care is available locally through Kilcollin Dental- Union, a longstanding Union dental practice providing general and family dentistry.

Prescription and pharmacy services are available through Union Pharmacy on South Main Street.

The area also has physical therapy, wellness, and other allied-health services, while larger hospitals and specialty-care facilities are available in the greater Greenbrier Valley, Beckley, Princeton, and nearby Virginia communities.

Schools and Education

Union is part of Monroe County Schools, with central administrative offices in the Union area.

Mountain View Elementary & Middle School serves students from preschool through middle school in Union. Monroe County’s secondary students attend James Monroe High School, while the county also provides career and technical education opportunities.

Union has a particularly deep educational history. The community supported academies and seminaries in the 19th century, including Union Academy, Monroe Presbyterian High School, the West Virginia Female Seminary, and Johnson Female College. Several surviving buildings associated with this educational heritage contribute to the Union Historic District.

Grocery, Shopping and Everyday Services

Despite its small-town size, Union has a practical collection of businesses serving residents of the surrounding countryside.

For groceries, Jewell’s Supermarket is a full-service community grocery store offering groceries, meat, deli, and prepared foods. Dollar General provides household goods, pantry staples, and other everyday necessities.

One of Union’s classic Main Street businesses is Kittles Hardware and Supply, which provides hardware and supplies particularly useful to homeowners, farmers, and rural property owners.

Union also has convenience stores, fuel stations, florist and gift-related businesses, automotive repair, tire and mechanical services, agricultural and farm-supply businesses, salons and other small locally owned enterprises.

An especially fitting amenity for this agricultural county is the Monroe Farm Market, established by area farmers in 2006. The market connects consumers with locally produced vegetables, fruits, meats, eggs, baked goods, and other farm products.

Restaurants and Dining

Union retains the kind of locally owned dining establishments associated with a traditional county-seat town.

Kalico Kitchen is a longtime local-style restaurant specializing in traditional American and country cooking.

MOCO DINER, LLC provides another Main Street option for breakfast, lunch, and traditional diner fare.

Other dining choices in town have included pizza and subs, sandwiches and deli foods, and locally operated restaurants. Monroe County’s tourism organization maintains a current dining directory for visitors exploring Union and surrounding communities.

Banking and Financial Services

A significant local institution is The Bank of Monroe. Its Union office provides local banking services, including personal and business banking, lending, and related financial services. The bank maintains both lobby and drive-through facilities in Union.

Professional accounting services are also available locally.

Attorneys and Professional Services

As might be expected in a county seat, Union has a longstanding legal community associated with the courthouse and the handling of deeds, estates, real estate transactions, civil matters, and other legal work.

Pritt Law Firm, PLLC maintains a Main Street Union office and provides legal services, including real estate, estate planning, family, and civil matters.

Insurance services include Todd Belcher Insurance and Monroe Insurance Group.

Funeral and memorial services are available through Groves-Mann Funeral Home.

Together with surveyors, contractors, tradespeople, farm-service providers, title and real-estate professionals, Union functions as an important professional-service center for the surrounding rural portions of Monroe County.

Historic and Cultural Attractions

The Monroe County Historical Society Museum on Main Street is an excellent introduction to local history. Its collection interprets Monroe County’s frontier settlement, Civil War history, agriculture, mineral springs, domestic life, and other aspects of the county’s heritage. The museum complex also includes reconstructed historic log structures furnished with Monroe County artifacts.

The historic Allen Taylor Caperton Law Office is particularly significant. The building dates to about 1820 and was once used by Allen Taylor Caperton, who served in both the Confederate States Senate and later the United States Senate. The building later housed banking operations and today forms part of the historical society complex.

Visitors can also explore Union’s historic streetscape and architecture, Green Hill Cemetery, historic churches, and nearby farms and estates.

A short drive away, Rehoboth Church and Museum provides an exceptional connection to Monroe County’s late-18th-century frontier settlement.

Outdoor Recreation and the Monroe County Countryside

Union also makes an excellent base for exploring the broader Monroe County landscape. The surrounding countryside offers opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, bicycling, birding, photography, and scenic driving.

Among regional attractions are Moncove Lake State Park, Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory, the Allegheny Trail, portions of the Jefferson National Forest region, historic covered bridges, Sweet Springs, Salt Sulphur Springs and the many scenic valleys and working farms that define Monroe County.

The county’s extensive karst topography also means caves, sinkholes, underground drainage systems, and abundant springs are part of the natural landscape.

The Town of Alderson, affectionately known as the “Gem of the Hills,” is an easy 20-minute drive. The town is tucked away in the lush Greenbrier Valley of southeastern West Virginia. It sits along the beautiful Greenbrier River and spans both Greenbrier and Monroe Counties.

In 1763, the nearby Muddy Creek settlements were destroyed by Shawnee Indians under Chief Cornstalk, and it was not until 1777 that the town was settled by “Elder” John Alderson, a frontier missionary for whom the town was named. He founded the first Baptist church in the Greenbrier Valley and later a Baptist seminary, which was moved north to become Alderson-Broaddus College at Philippi, WV.

The Federal Reformatory for Women, the first federal prison for women, was established here in 1927. The town is renowned for its annual Independence Day festival, which West Virginia Living Magazine acknowledged as the state’s “Best Independence Day Celebration” in 2012.

Alderson, WV, is largely a residential community today, with retail establishments in its historic downtown district. These serve the many camps and vacation homes along the Greenbrier River, as well as tourists visiting the surrounding countryside. Commerce and property values are rising due to increased tourism, the river’s sheer beauty, and the surrounding farms. Alderson contains many fine homes from the turn of the 20th Century, many of which are in mint condition and have never been altered from their well-tended, original appearance.

The town of Alderson has been an active community for generations. Boasting the best and most popular Independence Day celebration in West Virginia, the festival includes the large July 4th parade hosted by the AVFD and numerous other groups and individuals. The Independence Day fireworks draw thousands to town from multiple states and regions. Alderson’s amenities include churches, an elementary school, a motel, a national bank, Dollar General, Family Dollar, gas/convenience stores, an auto parts store, a U-Haul dealer, a barbershop, beauty parlors, an insurance agency, the renowned Alderson’s Store, a medical clinic, a veterinarian office, and two funeral homes. Restaurants and gathering places in Alderson include the Big Wheel Family Restaurant, Stuarts Smokehouse, a Subway sandwich shop, and Godfather’s Pizza. Since 1898, Alderson has been home to Camp Greenbrier for Boys. This summer camp draws boys and families from several states to spend several weeks at this great facility. Alderson is also home to “Camp Cupcake,” the minimum-security federal prison where Martha Stewart spent her vacation.

Lewisburg, the Greenbrier County seat, was voted the Coolest Small Town in America and is just a 20-minute drive. The downtown boasts a year-round live theatre, Carnegie Hall, a new $3MM library, several fabulous restaurants, antique shops, and boutiques. It also has a modern hospital, all attendant medical facilities, and all the big box stores. Several new schools have been built in the area.

The Greenbrier Valley Airport, which has WV’s longest runway, is located just 25 minutes away and has daily flights to Chicago and Washington, DC. The world-famous Greenbrier Resort is a 30-minute drive, and Snowshoe Ski Resort is about a 2-hour drive. Blacksburg, Virginia (VTech) is about 90 minutes away; Roanoke, Virginia, is 2 hours away; DC is 4 hours away; and Charlotte, North Carolina, is 4 hours away.

Just 35 minutes from Sandstone Falls, Bluestone Lake, Bluestone State Park, and Pipestem Resort, the surrounding area offers endless outdoor activities, including whitewater rafting, golfing, fishing, camping, hiking, bird watching, and rock climbing. Snow skiing at the Winterplace Resort is less than an hour away. In 15 minutes, you can catch the Amtrak train in Alderson and ride to the Greenbrier Resort, Chicago, or New York City. The Raleigh County Airport is just 45 minutes away. The new 10,000-acre Boy Scout high adventure camp is an hour’s drive, and the 14,000-acre Wildlife Management Area is just across the river at Bull Falls.

WATER RESOURCES

THE GREENBRIER RIVER

The lower Greenbrier River possesses the excitement of life on one of the nation’s great wild rivers. This vast outdoor recreation destination flows untamed from the lofty Alleghenies, attracting anglers, paddlers, and naturalists from across the globe.

At 162 miles long, the Greenbrier is the longest undammed river left in the Eastern United States. People use it mainly for recreation, and it’s well known for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and floating. Its upper reaches flow through the Monongahela National Forest, and the Greenbrier River Trail parallels it for 77 miles, running between Cass and North Caldwell.

It has always been a valuable water route, with many important cities in the watershed established as river ports. The river supplies the New River’s receiving waters with an estimated 30% of its water volume. Over three-fourths of the watershed is an extensive karst (cavern) system that supports fine trout fishing, cave exploration, and recreation. Many important festivals and public events are held along the river throughout the watershed.

The Greenbrier is formed at Durbin in northern Pocahontas County by the confluence of the East Fork Greenbrier River and the West Fork Greenbrier River, both of which are short streams rising at elevations exceeding 3,300 feet and flowing for their entire lengths in northern Pocahontas County. From Durbin, the Greenbrier flows generally south-southwest through Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Monroe and Summers Counties, past several communities, including Cass, Marlinton, Hillsboro, Ronceverte, Fort Spring, Alderson, and Hinton, before entering the New River.

Along most of its course, the Greenbrier accommodated the celebrated Indian warpath, the Seneca Trail (Great Indian Warpath). From the vicinity of present-day White Sulphur Springs, the Trail followed Anthony’s Creek down to the Greenbrier near the present Pocahontas-Greenbrier County line. It then ascended the River to the vicinity of Hillsboro and Droop Mountain and made its way through present Pocahontas County by way of future Marlinton, Indian Draft Run, and Edray.

THE NEW RIVER AND BLUESTONE LAKE

Nearby, in about a 30-minute drive, is the New River and 2,000-acre Bluestone Lake at Hinton. The New River is the second-oldest river in the world, after 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 the Amazon are the only other major rivers that flow north. It produces more citation fish yearly than any other warm-water river in WV. Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, sunfish, hybrid striped bass, and muskie are all common species of fish found in the New River and Bluestone Lake.

Bluestone Lake is over 2000 acres at the summer pool and is the state’s third-largest body of water. Great hunting and fishing opportunities abound at the 17,632-acre Bluestone Wildlife Area adjacent to the park and nearby Camp Creek State Forest.