OVERVIEW

Buckeye Creek Forest is a great timber investment with lots of recreational value located near the confluence of Buckeye Creek and Long Run in Doddridge County.  The land has been managed for timber products for years.  Timber trails throughout the property make for great recreational activities.  The North Bend Rail Trail also crosses the property.

ATTRIBUTES AND HIGHLIGHTS

• 238.5 +/- acre multi-use parcel suitable for recreation, residential, timber investment and excels as a wildlife paradise
• Clear title and the boundary lines are marked and painted
• 8 rivers and six lakes are within an average one hour’s drive. These include the Ohio River, Monongahela River, Tygart Valley River, Buckhannon River, Elk River, Little Kanawha River, West Fork River, Cheat River, 2,650 acre Stonewall Jackson Lake, 1,750 acre Tygart Lake, 1,730 acre Cheat Lake, 1,500 acre Sutton Lake, 968 acre Burnsville Lake and 550 acre Stonecoal Lake
• Close to proximity to National and State Parks, Wildlife Management Areas and National Forest properties
• 10 minutes to West Union, county seat of Doddridge County
• 25 minutes to large box stores in Bridgeport
• Just over a two hour drive to Charleston, the State Capitol and WV’s largest metro area as well as Pittsburgh PA and the International Airport
• Amazing resident wildlife population rich in diversity and ever changing
• Fur bearing – deer, black bear, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox, chipmunk, opossum
• Area winged wildlife includes Neotropical songbirds, turkey, grouse, eagles, herons, hawks, owls, ravens, king fishers, ravens, crows, and hummingbirds
• Forest soaks up tons of Carbon Dioxide and produces tons of life-giving oxygen
• Cell phone coverage is good with 4G service
• An easy drive to higher population areas of Charleston, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Parkersburg, Morgantown, Clarksburg, jet airports, and major interstates
• Convenient to I-77, I-79, US-50 all multiple lane highways
• Over 40 years of professional forest management
• State and County-maintained roads for superior access
• Several interior roads and trails provide access to nearly every corner of the property
• High percentage of commercially – operable ground supporting forestry, recreation and a potential for numerous future cabin sites
• Perfect for shooting sports, ATV riding, horseback riding, hiking, camping, hunting and nature viewing
• Elevations range from 840′ to 1315′
• Potential conservation value
• Low taxes, low population density, little or no light pollution
• Nearby rivers and lakes are ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing
• Great fishing is found in the nearby lakes and rivers. Species include small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, musky, walleye, pike and bluegill

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: N 39.271371, W -80.659629
Address: Long Run Rd, New Milton, WV.  No 911 address is assigned to a property without structures.
Elevation Range:  840′ to 1325′

MINERAL RESOURCES

West Virginia is one of the states in the US that has two separate ownership titles; those being SURFACE RIGHTS and MINERAL RIGHTS. The SURFACE RIGHTS are intact and all rights the owner has will convey with the property.  Mineral rights are not conveyed with this tract.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

This property is being sold by the boundary and not the acreage.

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

Access to property is by private right-of-way off of Long Run Road, 2 miles on the left from intersection of Long Run Road (WV15) and US50.

The property is on the south side of US 50 approximately 6.5 miles west of Salem, West Virginia. The property fronts on US50 for 2900 feet starting approximately 1.3 miles east of the intersection of US50 East & WV 15 (Long Run Road).

UTILITIES

Water:  A well may be drilled
Sewer: Public not available, private septic tank may be installed
Electricity: Along WV-15 Long Run Road
Telephone: Along WV-15 Long Run Road.
Internet: Available through telephone, satellite or cellphone companies
Cellphone Coverage: very good throughout property, 4G in some areas

ZONING

Doddridge County has no zoning regulations in effect other than that which is enacted and enforced within the city limits of West Union the county seat.

A permit is also required from the Doddridge County Health Department for septic systems.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The property consists of various ages of forestland.

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: Book 244 Page 580, Book 246 Page 567 & Book 246 Page 571
Acreage: 238.5 +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Doddridge County, West Virginia
Grant District
Tax Maps/Parcels
20/14 – 161 Acres
20/6 – 55.5 Acres
20/50 – 23.28 Acres

2021 Real Estate Taxes: $717.46

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Public Elementary School:
Doddridge County Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Doddridge County Middle School

Public High School:
Doddridge County High School

Colleges:
Salem University

Private Schools:
Mountain State Academy

DIRECTIONS

From Salem Post Office Travel 456 feet on W Main St to Valley St.  Turn left on WV 82 for 0.5 mile, turn left on to Water St/Jacobs Run road continue for 0.5 mile to US 50 W.  Travel 6.6 miles on US-50W turn left on County Route 15 Long Run Road.  Travel 0.1 miles turn left on Long Run Road travel 1.9 miles and private gate to property is on left.

RECREATION ON/NEAR BUCKEYE CREEK FOREST

The Buckeye Creek Forest offers many recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the proximity to the recreation mecca of northern West Virginia numerous lakes, rivers, State & National Parks and Wildlife Management Areas.

Hunting Opportunities are abundant on Buckeye Creek Forest.  Whitetail deer, turkey, woodcock, squirrels and rabbits may be found throughout property.  Off property there are seven Wildlife Management Areas within an hour’s drive: Stonecoal Lake WMA, Jug WMA, Little Indian Creek WMA, Snake Hill WMA, Richie Mines WMA, Burnsville Lake WMA and Stonewall Jackson Lake WMA. These seven areas provide over 46,000 acres of habitat.

Cold Water Fishing can be found throughout the eastern region of West Virginia.  The head waters of most rivers hold the native Brook Trout.  Several special regulation sections of some streams offer fly-fishing only areas.  The Cranberry Back-Country area hosts 16 miles of secluded trout fishing and may only be accessed by non-motorized transportation.

Warm Water Fishing is some of the best in the region with six recreational lakes nearby and the mighty Ohio River just an hour west.  Smallmouth & largemouth bass and musky are the big draws but also good fishing for crappie, catfish, walleye, pike and bluegill. Trophy catfishing on the Ohio has taken center stage over the last several years with unbelievable size channel and flathead species caught each year.

Nature viewing – Attentive wildlife management has been geared not just too game animals. Equal consideration has been extended to increasing the numbers and diversity of species including neo-tropical songbirds, butterflies, turtles, frogs, rabbits, chipmunks, dragonflies, owls, hawks.

Stargazing-Planet Observation-Astrophotography
Complete to semi-complete darkness can be still be found on most of the property, thereby affording the opportunity to view the night sky in all its brilliant wonder.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the nearby rivers and lakes ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing.

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
• Plain ole’ plinking: Grandpa’s old 22 single shot rifle and a few tin cans make a fun day

All Terrain Motorsports
Buckeye Creek Forest has several forest trails that are perfect for experiencing the property from an ATV or UTV, and Rock Crawlers. 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
Along with ATV riding, existing forest trails may be used for conventional and mountain biking, hiking or horseback riding.

FOREST FARMING

The most common crops are medicinal herbs and mushrooms. Other crops that can be produced include shade-loving native ornamentals, moss, fruit, nuts, other food crops, and decorative materials for crafts. These crops are often referred to as special forest products. Here are some specific examples of crops:

• Medicinal herbs: Ginseng, goldenseal, black cohosh, bloodroot, passionflower, and mayapple
• Mushrooms: Shiitake and oyster mushrooms • Native ornamentals: Rhododendrons and dogwood
• Moss: Log or sheet moss
• Fruit: Pawpaws, currants, elderberries, and lowbush blueberries
• Nuts: Black walnuts, hazelnuts, hickory nuts, and beechnuts
• Other food crops: Ramps (wild leeks), maple syrup, and honey
• Plants used for decorative purposes, dyes, and crafts: Galax, princess pine, white oak, pussy willow branches in the spring, holly, bittersweet, and bloodroot and ground pine (Lycopodium)

SELF-SUSTAINING LIFE OFF THE GRID

Just like 200 years ago, when the first mountaineers settled the area, the property would be self-sustaining in times of necessity – even without electricity.

• Fresh water for drinking and cooking would come from springs or a drilled well
• The forest would provide fresh food (deer, squirrel and turkey)
• More land could be cleared, and the land would be used to raise livestock, vegetable gardens, berry patches, fruit orchards, and row crops of corn, oats and barley
• Beehives would provide honey and beeswax for candles
• The forest would provide firewood for heating and cooking, lumber for building, maple syrup and pounds of nuts (beechnuts and hickory nuts)

WATER

Buckeye Creek is a perennial (blue line) stream that flows through the southern portion of the property for over 900 feet and which all run off from on property intermittent and ephemeral streams flow into. There are over 4,000 feet intermittent (dashed blue line) streams that flow into Buckeye Creek from the property.  There are approximately 1.5 miles of ephemeral branches on the property that also feed into Buckeye Creek either directly or by the intermittent streams. There should be frequent water flow in the streams and branches, particularly during rain events and periods of snow melt. Numerous springs may be found throughout the property.

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The Property’s timber resource, 238.5 acres +/-, is composed of some very quality Appalachian hardwoods. This 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.

• Prudent forest management called for timed selective harvests on portions of the forest under the supervision of a registered forester. Residual timber in these areas are considered well stocked.
• Timber stands are generally fully stocked with excellent stem quality.

Species composition: 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:

• Black Cherry
• Sugar Maple
• Poplar/Cucumber/Basswood
• Red Oak Group
• White Oak/Chestnut Oak
• Soft Maple
• Hickory
• As well as a host of other species (birch, beech, sassafras, wahoo, buckeye)

Forest-wide, most stands are fully stocked, providing the next ownership with a great deal of flexibility in shaping their own silvicultural legacy.

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

EIGHT RIVERS AND SIX LAKES

These rivers and lakes are within an easy one hour’s drive from the property.  Buckeye Creek Forest is located in the heart of the recreational mecca area encompassing the Ohio River, Monongahela River, Tygart Valley River, Buckhannon River, Elk River, Little Kanawha River, West Fork River, Cheat River, 2,650 acre Stonewall Jackson Lake, 1,750 acre Tygart Lake, 1,730 acre Cheat Lake, 1,500 acre Sutton Lake, 968 acre Burnsville Lake and 550 acre Stonecoal Lake.

The nearby rivers and lakes are major contributors to the local ecosystem richness and diversity for both plants and animals. There are many animals that live year round and at other times in the water and around the edges of the rivers/lake, including beavers, otters, minks, raccoons, opossums, blue herons, Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, king fishers, minnows, native fish, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrats, bull frogs, eagles, owls, hawks and redwing blackbirds.

Great fishing is found in these rivers and lakes with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, musky, walleye, pike and bluegill present in good numbers.

SURROUNDING AREA

NORTH BEND STATE PARK AND RAIL TRAIL

North Bend State Park sits on 2,459 acres along the North Fork of the Hughes River in Ritchie County near Cairo, West Virginia. The park is named after the sharp bend in the river that the formed three sides of the original park boundary. The North Bend Rail Trail, a 72-mile hiking and biking corridor, is also managed as a unit of the park. A new 305 acre lake was recently added to the park.

TYGART LAKE & STATE PARK
Tygart Lake State Park provides guests with a quiet vacation spot and breathtaking views. Just four miles south of Grafton, Tygart Lake State Park is known for its 10-mile long, 1,750-acre lake, which offers water activities like boating, water skiing, scuba diving, swimming, kayaking, canoeing and fishing. The park is surrounded by beautiful mountain views and provides lakeside lodging perfect for relaxation and unwinding after a full day of play. Tygart Lake is considered by many to be one of the best bass fishing sites in the area. The lake’s deep waters also have walleye, musky, crappie, perch, bullhead catfish, carp, northern pike and numerous panfish. All fish found in Tygart Lake are sustained through natural reproduction rather than by stocking, attesting to the exceptional water quality of the lake.

STONEWALL JACKSON LAKE & WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
Stonewall Jackson Lake, 2,630-acre impoundment, nestled in the rolling hills of West Virginia, is easily accessible from Interstate 79. The lake is located in Lewis County, West Virginia, an area rich in history and Appalachian tradition. These factors combined with the scenic beauty of the area provide for excellent outdoor recreational opportunities.  Boating, fishing, hunting, camping and hiking are just a few of the many recreational opportunities that are available.

The remaining lands and the lake are leased to and managed by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources as a public hunting and fishing area and Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park, respectively.

The State Parks’ Stonewall Resort provides visitors with a variety of accommodations and numerous recreation opportunities. The Adirondack-style lodge includes guest rooms and suites, restaurants, fitness center and spa, swimming pool and conference facilities.  An 18-hole golf course, 374-slip marina with boat launch and rentals and waters sports are some of the recreation opportunities provided at the resort. Visitors can also explore miles of beautiful hiking and biking trails meandering along the 18,000-acre Stonewall Jackson Wildlife Management Area.

Backwater areas, which provide excellent fishing opportunities, are easily accessible either by boat or by trail. Canoeists and other paddlers can explore the many inlets and backwater areas along the lake’s 82-mile shoreline. These have been designated minimum wake areas and offer visitors serenity and a place to quietly observe nature.  The lake is a popular spot for largemouth bass fishing. A list of fishing species in the lake include: Crappie, Walleye, Bluegill, Yellow perch, Muskellunge, Channel catfish, Bullhead, Carp.  Trout is stocked in the lake’s tailwaters.

Hunting and trapping is permitted on all project lands except State Park recreation areas and other posted areas.

BURNSVILLE LAKE & WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
Beautiful Burnsville Lake was created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to control flooding along the Little Kanawha River. In addition to flood control, the 968-acre lake provides wildlife management and recreational opportunities such as boating, fishing, camping, cycling, picnicking, and nature watching. The choice is yours.

Boating is one of the most popular activities at Burnsville Lake. You can rent a jet ski for a fast-paced ride, a pontoon boat for a leisurely cruise, and a canoe for a bit of exercise. Three public boat launches are available. Visitors to the lake who are truly looking to escape for a while love the areas two campgrounds. The Riffle Run Campground is located near the dam and marina. This campground offers 60 sites. Bulltown Campground features 204 waterfront and wooded campsites with electric hook-ups. The Bulltown Recreation Areas offer a swimming beach with restrooms, boat launch ramp, fishing access, picnic shelters, and horseshoe pits. Fishing is a favorite Burnsville Lake pastime, and the reservoir is home to bluegill, carp, channel catfish, crappie, flathead catfish, largemouth bass, long-nosed gar, muskellunge, rock bass, sauger, saugeye, smallmouth bass, trout, sunfish, and walleye.

The Wildlife Management Area encompasses over 12,500 acres of hilly and steep, some gently sloping upland areas and fairly flat creek bottoms with a mixture of young timber, brush and old fields to hunt for deer, grouse, squirrel, turkey.

MONONGAHELA RIVER
The Monongahela River often referred to locally as the Mon, is a 130-mile-long river, formed by the confluence of the West Fork River and its “east fork”—the Tygart Valley River—at Fairmont in north central West Virginia. From there it flows northeasterly to cross the Pennsylvania border just west of north Cheat Lake on its Cheat River tributary. Then it flows northerly across southwestern Pennsylvania, taking a bit of a detour northeast 10 miles south of Pittsburgh to approach Pittsburgh from the southeast and its confluence with the Allegheny River to form the Forks of the Ohio at “The Point” of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh. The river’s entire length is navigable via a series of locks and dams.

The upper drainage area of the river basin is renowned for its water sports/hobbies of whitewater kayaking (and in some cases whitewater rafting) opportunities. The land here is of a very rugged plateau type which allows streams to gather sufficient water volume before they fall off the plateau and create challenging rapids.

The Unami word Monongahela means “falling banks”, in reference to the geological instability of the river’s banks.  The Monongahela River valley was the site of a famous battle that was one of the first in the French and Indian War—the Braddock Expedition (May–July 1755). It resulted in a sharp defeat for two thousand British and Colonial forces against those of the French and their Native American allies.

BUCKHANNON RIVER
The Buckhannon River is a 45.4-mile-long tributary of the Tygart Valley River in north-central West Virginia.  The Buckhannon River is formed at the community of Alexander in southern Upshur County by the confluence of the Left Fork Buckhannon River and the Right Fork Buckhannon River, both of which rise in southwestern Randolph County at elevations of 3,658 feet and 3,401 feet, respectively, and flow generally north-northwestwardly into southern Upshur County.

Local lore holds that the Buckhannon was named for Buckongahelas (died 1805), a Lenape ally of the British during the Revolutionary War. The most plausible accounts, however, indicate the river was named for clergyman John Buchannon, a missionary who explored the region in the 1780s.

The uppermost (southernmost) stretch of the river downstream of Alexander drops approximately 400 feet in its first 13 miles and is boulder-strewn, providing habitat for trout (particularly brown trout), smallmouth bass, and rock bass. A low dam, installed for the provision of drinking water, forms a pool stretching upstream of Buckhannon to Sago; downstream of Sago, the Buckhannon is considered to be one of the best streams for muskellunge fishing in West Virginia. For 20 miles downstream of Buckhannon, the river generally moves slowly between vegetation-covered banks over numerous submerged logs, providing habitat for muskies as well as smallmouth bass, rock bass, and carp. In its lowermost course above its mouth, the river assumes a higher gradient and is home to smallmouth bass, rock bass, and sunfish.

WEST FORK RIVER
The West Fork River is a principal tributary of the Monongahela River, 103-mile long, in north-central West Virginia, United States. Via the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 881 square miles on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau.  The West Fork has a low gradient and is slow-moving throughout its course. The river is formed near the community of Rock Cave in southwestern Upshur County by the confluence of small headwaters tributaries known as Straight Fork and Whites Camp Fork. From this confluence the West Fork River flows north through Lewis, Harrison and Marion counties, to the city of Fairmont, where it joins the Tygart Valley River from the west to form the Monongahela River.

It is locally popular for fishing, and is stocked with muskellunge by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Other fish species in the river include carp; channel and flathead catfish; golden and rainbow trout; largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass; sauger; and walleye.

A walking trail parallels the river for 1.2 miles (2 km) in Veteran’s Park in Clarksburg.] For much of its length between Clarksburg and Fairmont, the West Fork is paralleled by a pair of rail trails on the route of a mid-19th century line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The Harrison County Trail extends northward from Clarksburg, and the West Fork River Trail connects Shinnston to Fairmont.

NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND RESERVE
The Newest National Park in America at your back door…   Just a short 35 minute drive from the property will take you to the amazing New River National Park.  An awe inspiring visit that is sure to bring a new experience each and every time. Once you see it, it’s something you’ll never forget. Rock climbers have long prized the sandstone cliffs of West Virginia’s New River Gorge, which was designated as a national park and preserve in December 2020.  New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is known for its 53 miles of free flowing whitewater that cuts through sandstone cliffs towering as high as 1,000 feet in the air. It boasts class III through V rapids and plenty of boulders to keep even the most experienced rafters engaged. The upper part of the river is calmer and more welcoming to new rafters. The area also boasts more than 1,500 climbing routes, as well as a 12.8-mile system of mountain bike trails built by the Boy Scouts.  There are moments, as you drift through the deep canyon walls of the New River Gorge, when it feels like you’ve got the whole world to yourself. It’s just you and the river, littered with massive, prehistoric boulders that were here when the coal mining camps were built, and the fur trading posts before them, and the Shawnee and Cherokee villages before those. In a river that geologists say could be one of the world’s oldest, you can lose yourself in time. Then the current picks up, and you’re back to paddling like mad, navigating the chutes and eddies of heart-pounding white water.  Since the 1960s, West Virginia’s New River Gorge has drawn adventure seekers to its rapids and rock walls, and those rafters and climbers have long considered it a hidden gem. But the curtain is being drawn back on the canyon, because part of it has become America’s 63rd national park. New River Gorge National River’s 72,186 acres is just like its name “New”.   The Newest National Park and Preserve in America.

COOPERS ROCK STATE FOREST
Coopers Rock State Forest is a 12,747-acre state forest in Monongalia and Preston counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Its southern edge abuts Cheat Lake and the canyon section of Cheat River, a popular whitewater rafting river in the eastern United States. Located just 13 miles from the college town of Morgantown and a few minutes off Interstate 68, Coopers Rock has scenic overlooks you won’t want to miss. In addition to selfie stops and canyon gorge views, the park offers biking, fishing, hiking, and rock climbing, along with several playgrounds for families with children. Coopers Rock is home to two distinct campgrounds.

Coopers Rock State Forest gets its name from a legend about a fugitive who hid from the law near what is now the overlook. A cooper by trade, he resumed making barrels at his new mountain hideout, selling them to people in nearby communities. He lived and worked in the forest for many years.

Much of Coopers Rock was originally developed by projects of the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1936-1942. Many of these structures, including durable rustic picnic shelters made of American chestnut, exist today and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

RITCHIE MINES WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
The 2,300-acre Ritchie Mines Wildlife Management Area (WMA) ranges across steep, wooded ridges north of McFarlan Creek, a tributary of the south fork of the Hughes River. Game traditionally hunted in the management area includes deer, grouse, squirrel, raccoon, and turkey. The management area is so-named for the Ritchie Mines, at which rare natural asphalt was mined in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

SNAKE HILL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area is 3,092 acres of public land along the Cheat canyon in Monongalia and Preston Counties, managed by the Coopers Rock Foundation for the purpose of trail work, habitat restoration, and the creation of educational workshops. The terrain is a mix of rolling table land and rocky cliffs near the Cheat River Gorge. Snake Hill features some of the region’s lesser-explored sandstone climbing, as well as four moderate to difficult hiking trails and four overlooks standing 1,200-feet above the Cheat River.  Game traditionally hunted in the management area includes deer, grouse, squirrel, raccoon, and turkey. The Cheat River accommodates fishing opportunities for bass and channel catfish

LITTLE INDIAN CREEK WMA
Little Indian Creek Wildlife Management Area is located on 1,036 acres southwest of Westover in Monongalia County, West Virginia. The area is gently rolling to moderately steep slopes ranging in elevation from 900 feet to 1,330 feet. Primarily covered with mixed hardwood forests and open fields. Little Indian Creek WMA exhibits diverse habitats, including reclaimed mine areas, oak-hickory ridge tops, ponds and wetlands. These support many types of wildlife associated with recreational opportunities such as wildlife watching, hunting, fishing and trapping. Hunting prospects: deer, grouse, squirrel, and turkey.