Big Bend Cottage is situate on 33 acres high upon bluff overlooking the Greenbrier River in the popular area of the New River Gorge Region.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Immaculate 1 ½ story modern log sided cottage totaling 1224 sq. ft. +/-
• Covered front porch and large side deck
• 33 surveyed acres – a nice blend of mature forest and estate grounds
• Ready to build homesite on high bluff overlooking the river
• Well, septic, great cell coverage, DSL internet connection, landline hookup
• Full basement with outside entrance
• 20 minutes to a world renowned water recreation mecca including the 2000 acre Bluestone Lake, Mighty New River, Greenbrier River and the heart of the white water rafting country, the New River Gorge
• Upscale cabin interiors include custom hardwood flooring, poplar siding and ceilings
• Complete privacy – no neighbors may be seen from the cabin and little noise pollution
• Dark skies provide for excellent star gazing and planet observation
• Wildlife is abundant with eagles, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, squirrel, grouse, song birds, owls and hawks
• Stunning long range views of the distant mountains with striking sunrises and sunsets
• Mature hardwood trees diversify the landscape and improve animal habitat
• Valuable timber and mineral rights will convey
• Winterplace Ski Resort located just 60 minutes away
• Land legacy of careful wildlife management coupled with outstanding long-term forest stewardship
• The area is perfect for hunters, anglers and water recreation enthusiasts
• Large garden spot and raised bed planters with some asparagus
• Elevations range from 1595 ft. to 2038 ft.
• Just six miles to emergency care facility
• Deeded access to the Greenbrier River
• Year round state maintained roads and then private road with maintenance agreement in place
• Low taxes, low population density

COTTAGE INFORMATION

Cottage Dimensions:

Total square feet = 1,224+/-
Main 16’x32’ = 512sqft
Loft 10’x20’ = 200sqft
Basement 16’x32’ = 512sqft
Covered front porch 8’x16’ = 128sqft
Open side deck 8’x23 = 184sqft

Room Dimenions:

Kitchen 13’x15’
Bedroom 10’x15’
Powder room 5’x5’
Bathroom 5’x10’
Loft 10’x16’
Basement 14’x30’

Outbuildings:

Garden/storage building 12’x16’

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.598695°(N), -80.805139°(W)

Address: 994 Takota Mountain Road, Hinton, WV 25951

Elevation Range: 1595 ft. to 2038 ft. +/-

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The 33 acre tract in forest that has been well managed over the years. It has one of the few remaining pockets of old growth timber left standing in West Virginia. The deep shade offered by the spreading crowns of the large oak and hickory trees makes for a cool and inviting environment in which to enjoy a quiet walk.

The timber resource is composed of high quality Appalachian hardwoods. This well managed timber resource can provide a great deal of flexibility to the next ownership in terms of potential harvest revenue and can be managed to provide cash flow opportunities to offset holding cost and long-term asset appreciation.

The forest’s predominately well-drained upland terrain has led to a resource dominated by hardwood species. Overall, the species composition is highly desirable and favors Appalachian hardwood types, consisting primarily of: White Oak, Red Oak, Hickory, Beech, Sugar Maple, Red Maple, Ash, Yellow Poplar and Black Cherry

Stocking, Stem Quality, and Forest Structure:

Forest-wide, most stands are fully stocked, providing the next ownership with a great deal of flexibility in shaping their own silvicultual legacy. Stem quality forest-wide can be considered excellent with the forest containing an abundant current and future sawlog source.

The forest’s timber component has been well managed over the years and generally consists of hardwood managed under uneven-aged silvicultural guidelines. The predominant timber stand contains 40-120 year old stems ranging in size of 10”-30” dbh. Portions of this stand were thinned over 20 years ago as prudent forest management called for. The forest is again ready for a selective thinning which could generate some income. The forest has matured into higher-value sawtimber diameter classes with an abundant growing stock already in place for the future.

Diameters are well represented across the commercial spectrum with a notable mature size class, as well as abundant pole size timber and growing stock.

A few “Heritage Trees” are scattered throughout the forest. These ancient trees, some 100-150 years old, have withstood the test of time, weathering ice, wind, lightning strikes and fire.

The forest is healthy and there are no signs of pest infestations of Gypsy Moth. The Wooly Adelgid and The Emerald Ash Borer are present and it is anticipated that the Hemlock and Ash component will be in decline over the next decade. There have been no forest fires in the recent memory.

The forest floor is home to several types of mushrooms, medicinal plants, wild ginseng, ferns and cool green mosses. One could spend a lifetime getting to know this inviting environ.

Some of the forest was in fields prior to WWII and piles of field stone are found along the old field edges. These stone piles are a lasting testament of the backbreaking work the early mountaineers put in to create a homestead.

Beechnuts, Hickory nuts, sweet White Oak and Red Oak Acorns provide a sustainable food source for the squirrels, chipmunks, whitetail deer and wild turkey that live in abundance in the forest. The intermittent stream as well as a small livestock pond provides a water source for the wildlife.

Many species of songbirds and woodpeckers that thrive in the special habitat that large older trees provide make their home in this special forest environ. It is exciting to see and hear the large and very vocal Pileated Woodpecker, with its bright red crest dressed in a black and white tuxedo, sweep through the tall canopy in search of a morning snack. Owls nest here nearly every year and provide lots of night-time and early-morning entertainment.

MINERAL RESOURCES

All rights the owner has will convey with the property.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property was surveyed in 2005 and is shown on a plat of survey recorded with the property deed in Deed Book 247 Page 724. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: Well
Sewer: Septic
Electricity: MonPower
Telephone: Frontier
Internet: Frontier
Cellphone Coverage: Good

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has a deeded access right-of-way to RT 12, providing direct access to the public road system.  There is also deeded access to the Greenbrier River.

ZONING

Summers County currently has no known zoning or subdivision regulations. However, all prospective buyers should consult the County Government and also the Health Department for any changes and details regarding zoning, building codes, and installation of septic systems.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

There is about an acre of open area around the home, and the balance of the property is in forestland.

DEED AND TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: Deed Book 247, Page 724
Summers County, West Virginia

Deed Acreage: 32.729 acres +/- with deeded access right-of-way to RT 12 and to the Greenbrier River
Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Summers County (45), West Virginia
Forest Hill District (1)

TM 7 Parcel 3.3; 32.729 ACS M/L GREENBRIER RIVER HILLS; Class 2
2016 Real Estate Taxes: $713.76

SCHOOLS

Summers County School District:

Public Elementary Schools:
Hinton Area Elementary School
Jumping Branch Elementary School
Talcott Elementary School

Public Middle Schools:
Summers County Middle School

Public High Schools:
Summers County High School

THE GREENBRIER RIVER

At 162 miles long, the Greenbrier is the longest untamed (unblocked) river left in the Eastern United States. It is primarily used for recreational pursuits and well known for its fishing, canoeing, kayaking and floating opportunities. Its upper reaches flow through the Monongahela National Forest.

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 and Summers Counties, past several communities including Cass, Marlinton, Hillsboro, Ronceverte, Fort Spring, Alderson, and Hinton, where it flows into the New River.

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

Along most of its course, the Greenbrier accommodated the celebrated Indian warpath known as 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

The New River Gorge was a vast and largely unsettled wilderness until the C&O railroad was built on the eastern side of the river in the 1880’s. The railroad opened up the rich coalfields and virgin timber stands of the region. Early “mountaineers” settled the area and soon were carving out mountain farms and raising families.

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, it produces more citation fish 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 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.

SURROUNDING AREA

The surrounding area offers unlimited soft recreational activities including white water rafting, golfing, fishing, camping, hiking, bird watching and rock climbing. In 20 minutes you can catch the Amtrak train in Hinton and ride to the Greenbrier Resort, Chicago or New York City. The Beckley Airport is just 30 minutes away.

Hinton, the county seat of Summers County is a 20 minute drive. Hinton, founded in 1871, grew rapidly as the hub of a growing railroad industry serving the New River coal fields, passenger travel and coast to coast freight lines. Today, Hinton serves the growing tourist and technology industries. Situate at the confluence of the New River, Bluestone River and Greenbrier River, adjoining the 2000 acre Bluestone Lake, Hinton is truly a gateway to water recreation. The 80,000 acre New River National River Park, Bluestone State Park, Pipestem State Park Resort and 17,000 acre Bluestone Wildlife Management Area are recreational cornerstones in the area. The new 10,000 acre Boy Scout high adventure camp is an hour’s drive. Hospital, grocery shopping, pharmacy, hardware/farm supply and dining are available.

Lewisburg is the county seat of Greenbrier County and home to the WV Osteopathic Medical School (800 students) and the New River Community and Technical College. In 2011, Lewisburg was named Coolest Small Town in America and is just a 55 minute drive to complete shopping, churches, schools, medical-dental facilities, fine dining, and a modern hospital. The area is a strong economic generator with a solid workforce employed in county/state government, tourism, hospitality, education, retail, construction, wood products, mining and agriculture. The Greenbrier Valley and surrounding area is richly blessed with a wide array of cultural events that keep life in the valley interesting and satisfying. A year round live theatre, Carnegie Hall (one of four in the USA), fine dining, art galleries and boutiques make up the thriving downtown historic district in Lewisburg. The Greenbrier Valley Airport, with the longest runway in the state is just 1 hour 15 minutes away and has daily flights to Atlanta and Washington DC.

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