DESCRIPTION

Barkalin Farm is an outstanding 100 +/- acre County Estate property located just minutes to the historic town of Lewisburg and the Greenbrier Resort. Rolling pastures, old growth trees and thickets of Eastern Red Cedar offer a diverse landscape and wildlife habitat.

Barkalin Farm is more than just beautiful real estate; it comes with a great community known for its friendly residents and laidback lifestyle. The Greenbrier Valley is richly blessed with a wide array of cultural events that keep life in the valley interesting and satisfying.

Several easy to build on home sites with spectacular long range views overlooking the Greenbrier Valley and distant mountains make Barkalin Farm a perfect place to develop a country estate. Climate and soils are conducive to raising grapes and apples so creating an orchard or vineyard would be a fun project. The pastures have been used for grazing cattle and horses but sheep, alpacas and lamas will also do well on the exceptional grasses that grow so well in the region.

100 acres is a very large place – It is nearly 2 miles around the perimeter of the property and covers 4.3 million square feet of surface area!! This old farmstead is nestled in the heart of the Greenbrier Valley and is just a 5 minute drive to shopping, churches, schools, medical-dental facilities, restaurants and a modern hospital. The airport is just 20 minutes away and has daily flights to Atlanta and Washington DC.

For the water enthusiast, the Greenbrier River is 2 miles away at Fort Spring. The Greenbrier River is the last un-dammed river east of the Mississippi and offers a great float/canoe/kayak experience. The fishing for small mouth bass is considered excellent.

The trees in the cedar forest are very beautiful with some old growth Elms, Ash and Oaks scattered about. The song birds, deer, rabbits, wild turkey, and squirrels thrive here as the gentle laying land, farm pond and vegetative diversity creates the perfect wildlife habitat. This area has more cattle per square mile than people and the night sky is filled with stars and not light pollution.

Within an hour’s drive are located some of the finest recreational facilities in West Virginia. Winterplace Ski Resort, whitewater rafting / fishing on the New River and Gauley River, 2000 acre Bluestone Lake, Pipestem State Park and Resort and the 80,000 acre New River National Gorge National Park. Five other area state parks and state forests offer unlimited hiking, horseback riding, ATV riding and rock climbing opportunities. Snowshoe Ski Resort is 2 hours drive through some of the most scenic country on the East Coast.

The world renowned 4-Star Greenbrier Resort, home of the PGA tour, is just 20 minutes away. Several other area golf courses are available. Rock climbing, ziplining, horseback riding and the 100 + mile long Hatfield-McCoy ATV trail makes for a very active recreation area.

LOCATION

Barkalin Farm is located in Greenbrier County WV, 6 miles southwest of the Lewisburg Interchange (#169) on I-64. The property has year round access on paved state maintained roads.

Elevations on the property run from 1898′ to 2120′ above sea level.

The property’s Google coordinates are:
LAT 37.7459782 N
LON 080.5004228 W

ACCESS AND BOUNDARIES

The property fronts paved state maintained Route 63 and provides excellent year round access to the property. The property runs along the road for about 3/10ths of a mile (1600′).

The original 133 acre boundary of Barkalin Farm was surveyed in 1998 by Harvey Neel. The sellers are retaining 33 acres and their home and the remaining 100 acres is being offered for sale. A new division line will be established by survey prior to closing to determine the exact location of the 100 acres. To the Sellers knowledge, there are no rights of way that can be used by others across the property except for utility rights of way of record.

UTILITIES

Currently there is electric, phone and public water on the property. Buyers should check with the utility companies and water company to establish service prior to closing.

No cable Internet service is currently available on the property. However, Frontier has been expanding service of its high speed internet connection in the county and there may be service available shortly. High speed internet can be provided through HughesNet and television reception though DishNet or DirectTV.

There is no sewer hookup available at this time. Sewage treatment may be provided by installing a county approved septic system.

Cell phone coverage is excellent in this area.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

Barkalin Farm is predominately pasture land that is well suited for raising livestock. This is limestone country and the sweet soils and cool climate create the perfect mix for the grasses to thrive during the summer months.

A portion of the property is also suited for the production of row crops and vegetables. Several nice garden spots are available but be sure to plant a little extra for the rabbits to enjoy. Pumpkins would do well here too.

The Greenbrier Valley is primarily agrarian based and is the #1 producer of cattle in the state. The area is also well known for the breeding of fine horses, having a rich tradition of show competition and horse pulls. The 4-H and Future Farmers of America youth groups are active in the community and area schools.

There is a farm pond already in place and several other sites would be suitable for creating additional ponds and watering troughs if so desired.

Fencing is spotty and would need some improvement to keep livestock in on a year round basis.

Beekeeping is also a very popular pastime in the area and Barkalin Farm would be well suited for the production of honey with some well-placed hives.

FOREST RESOURCES

The majority of the trees growing are Eastern Red Cedar, which have pioneered on areas no longer being maintained as pasture. Black Walnut, White Oak, Red Oak, Sugar Maple, Hickory, Tulip Poplar, Black Cherry and Mountain Ash are the predominant species comprising the other trees found scattered across the property in the hollows and hillside portions of the farm.

Although there is presently no commercial timber value, the evolving forest is healthy and shows no signs of forest pest or disease. Not surprising, the forest, shrubs and grasses are highly productive in producing tons and tons of oxygen while at the same time eliminating huge amounts of Carbon Dioxide; Nature’s way of reducing our Carbon Footprint.

MINERAL RESOURCES

The Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Field is thought to underlay the property and natural gas companies have been aggressively leasing natural gas rights in the area. To the Sellers knowledge, there have been no gas wells drilled on the property and no coal mining has ever been done.

The Sellers believe the mineral rights to the property will convey with the surface and have not leased any coal or natural gas rights to any companies. Prospective buyers should always have an attorney perform a routine title search to determine the Seller’s quality of title to the surface and minerals before purchasing any property.

TAXES AND DEED INFORMATION

The property is taxed in Fort Spring District, Greenbrier County WV on Tax Map 138, parcel 55.2.

Annual property taxes for the entire 133 acres and home in 2009 were $2100.62. This amount will change when the property is reassessed as 100 acres with no dwelling.

The deed is recorded in the Greenbrier County Courthouse in Lewisburg WV in Deed Book 453, Page 617.

ZONING

The property is located in Fort Springs District and is subject to some county zoning restrictions.

Greenbrier County recently enacted a Subdivision Ordinance and all prospective buyers contemplating division of property into lots should consult the Greenbrier County Planning Commission. All prospective buyers should contact the Greenbrier County Commission and Health Department when considering purchasing or developing any property in the county to determine if the property is subject to any additional zoning ordinances.