HIGHLIGHTS

• 100 acres +/- multi-use farm – ideal for residential, agriculture, and self-sustaining lifestyle
• 10 acres +/- of level agricultural land utilized for hay production
•  88 acres +/- mixture of upland timberland with valuable timber ready to harvest
• Interesting cave onsite
• City amenities 20 minutes to Historic Lewisburg
• 20 min to jet airport with daily service to Chicago and Dulles
• 40 minutes to the 80,000 acre New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Sandstone
• Enjoy agriculture pursuits, ATV riding, hiking, camping, and nature viewing
• Dark skies with little light pollution for star gazing and planet observation
• 88 acre +/- forest is comprised of Red Oak, White Oak, Pin Oak, Hickory, Poplar and Maple
• An amazing resident wildlife population rich in diversity and ever changing
• Fur bearing – deer, black bear, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox, chipmunk, opossum, coyote
• Area winged wildlife includes Bald Eagles, Neotropical songbirds, turkey, grouse, herons, hawks, woodcock, owls, ravens, king fishers, woodpeckers, ravens, crows, ground nesters, and hummingbirds and many types of waterfowl
• Dynamic forest with some old growth trees estimated to be 150-200 years old
• A rewarding off-grid permaculture lifestyle can be easily developed
• All mineral rights in title will convey
• Modern schools nearby with county school bus service
• Varied topography and intermittent and ephemeral creeks create and interesting and diverse habitat
• Many forest trails to hike, bike & ATV
• Perfect for all water sport activities supported by the nearby Meadow River, Greenbrier River, New River, 5000 acre Summersville Lake and the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake
• 80,000 acre New River Gorge National River Park & Preserve nearby
• 90 minutes to Charleston, the State Capitol and WV’s largest metro area
• Cell phone coverage is excellent with 5G service
• An easy drive to higher population areas of Charleston, Blacksburg, Roanoke, Beckley, Princeton and Lewisburg, jet airports and 4 major interstates
• FedEx, UPS and USPS delivery
• Elevations run from 2197’ to 2419’
• Low taxes, low population density

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.926146°(N), -80.434954°(W)
Address: 2598 Carroll Hill Road, Lewisburg, WV 24901
Elevation Range: 2197 ft. to 2419 ft. +/-

DIRECTIONS

From Lewisburg, West Virginia:  10 miles +/- (approximately 20 minutes)
From the I-64 Lewisburg Exit 169, turn onto US 219 North; travel 5.7 miles; turn left onto Savannah Lane Rt. 23; travel 1.9 miles; turn right onto Carroll Hill Road Rt. 19; travel 2.5 miles; the driveway into the property is on the right.

From Frankford, West Virginia:  5.4 miles +/- (approximately 10 minutes)
From the Frankford Elementary School in Frankford, travel US 219 South for 1/10 mile; turn right onto Williamsburg Road Rt. 17; travel 3.9 miles; turn left onto Carroll Hill Road Rt. 19; travel 1.4 miles; the driveway into the property is on the left.

• 15 minutes to Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg, WV
• 20 minutes to I-64 and Lewisburg
• 30 minutes to The Greenbrier Resort and White Sulphur Springs
• 90 minutes to Charleston
• 55 minutes to Marlinton
• 2 hours to Roanoke, VA
• 40 minutes to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Sandstone
• 60 minutes to Bluestone Lake, Hinton
• 1 hour 15 minutes to Lake Moomaw, Virginia
• 1 hour 20 minutes to New River Gorge Bridge, Fayetteville
• 1 hour 20 minutes to Summersville Lake, Summersville

HOME INFORMATION

• Built 1981
• 24′ x 40′
• 2 Bedrooms
• 1 Full bath
• Wood heat
• Ranch style
• 10′ x 20′ porch
• 10′ x 24′ deck

GARAGE AND OUTBUILDINGS

Garage

• 28′ x 32′
• 2-story detached

Outbuilding

• 12′ x 16′

FOREST AND TIMBER RESOURCES

Species composition:

The forest’s predominately well-drained upland terrain has led to a resource dominated by hardwood species, hemlock and white pine. Overall, the species composition is highly desirable and favors Appalachian hardwood types, consisting primarily of:

• White Oak/Chestnut Oak
• Red Oak Group
• Poplar/Cucumber/Basswood
• Hickory/Sugar Maple/Soft Maple
• Hemlock
• White Pine
• A host of associate species

The property has various ages of forestland, consisting of 50-100 year old full canopy stands of mature hardwoods and scattered trees of white pine and hemlock.

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/Chestnut Oak, Red Oak Group, Poplar/Cucumber/Basswood, Sugar Maple/Soft Maple and a host of associate species.

Carrol Hill’s timber component has been well managed over many decades. The predominant timber stand of the forest is 50 to 120 year-old stems ranging in size of 12” to 40” dbh. Little, if any of this stand has been selectively harvested in the last 40 years. Some parts of this stand are comprised of long-ago abandoned farm fields that have naturally been restocked with pioneer species of poplar, red maple, white pine, and hickory. This stand is considered to be high value sawtimber and veneer.

Diameters are well represented across the commercial and pre-commercial spectrum with a mature size class, as well as abundant pole size timber and growing stock. Average diameter with all products combined has not been determined.

There are some trees well over 150 years old and classify as “Heritage Trees”. These amazing trees have withstood the test of time and lend an air of grace and permanency to the property.

The forest is healthy and there are no signs of pest infestations of Gypsy Moth. Emerald Ash Borer and the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is present and most of the Ash and Hemlock trees are severely stressed and will continue to decline over the next decade. There have been no forest fires in the recent memory.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

There are approximately 10 acres of open ground suitable for multiple uses including:

• Grassland suitable for seasonal livestock grazing or for making hay.
• The open land has historically been used to raise row crops, cattle, sheep, livestock forage.
• The land is very suitable for growing row crops such as corn, oats, wheat, pumpkins and all kinds of vegetables.
• A fruit orchard would also flourish here with several fruit trees already producing. Some scattered fruit trees can be found dating back to the early days of the farm.
• The production of Maple Syrup is popular in this region and the farm has the maple tree resource to produce gallons of high-grade syrup.
• Growing hemp is also gaining ground as an agricultural crop
• Making honey is also a well-established industry in the area
• In recent years, the production of wine, beers and ales have grown into a flourishing industry. Growing Hops for the craft beer industry is an emerging agricultural niche market

WATER

There are 4 major hollows containing some 10 ephemeral stream scattered throughout the property. These hollows and small streams are dry for a good part of the year but do have water flow during rain events and periods of snow melt.

One of the major hollows contains a cave that does maintain some water flow on a more frequent basis. Year-round temperature inside the cave remains a  constant 50 degrees and is a quite refreshing place to be on summer and winter days. Caves stay at the same temperature year-round because they are thermally insulated from the external substances that flow into them. The temperature of the air and liquids that flow into caves has little impact on the crust that forms the cave, which has a much larger thermal capacity than liquid or air.

Carroll Hill Farm is home to an amazing cave where one can spend hours exploring for flowstones, soda straws, stalactites, stalagmites, fossils, crawdads, bats and other cave critters. Numerous solution caves are developed within the Greenbrier Formation, with the cave on Carroll Hill Farm being one of them.

The cave is developed in the Union Limestone sub-strata of the Greenbrier Limestone, also known locally as the “Big Lime” The formation is an extensive limestone unit deposited during the Middle Mississippian Epoch (345 – 326 million years ago), part of the Carboniferous Period. This rock stratum is present below ground in much of West Virginia and neighboring Kentucky, and extends somewhat into adjacent western Maryland and southwestern Virginia. The name derives from the Greenbrier River in West Virginia.

MINERAL RESOURCES

All rights the owner has will convey with the property. A mineral title search could be conducted by a title attorney at the same time when the surface title search is being conducted.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

Some of the boundary is evidenced by old fencing and county road.  The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: Drilled water well onsite
Sewer: Private septic system onsite
Electricity: Onsite
Telephone: Onsite
Internet:  Cellular hotspot, Satellite. Possibly through Frontier cable.
Cellphone Coverage: Excellent with 5G

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has about ¼ mile of frontage on Carroll Hill Road Rt. 19.

ZONING

Greenbrier County is subject to some zoning and subdivision regulations. All prospective buyers should consult the County Commission and also the Health Department for details regarding zoning, building codes and installation of septic systems.

Information can be found at the county website: http://greenbriercounty.net/ordinances.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The property has 3 fields that total about 10 acres, has a little over 2 acres in the home grounds, and about 88 acres of forestland.

(This summary is an estimation of current property use as determined from aerial photography.  It is made subject to the estimation of property boundaries and any errors in the interpretation of land use type from the aerial photography utilized.)

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: DB 596 Pg. 685
Greenbrier County, West Virginia

Acreage: 100 acres +/-
Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Greenbrier County (13), West Virginia
Frankford District (7)
Tax Map 8 Parcel 41; Class 2

2021 Real Estate Taxes: $727.30

SCHOOLS

Greenbrier County School District

Public Elementary School:
Frankford Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Eastern Greenbrier Middle School

Public High School:
Greenbrier East High School

Colleges:
New River Community and Technical College (Lewisburg campus)
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Private Schools:
Greenbrier Community School (PK-8)
Greenbrier Valley Academy (2-8)
Lewisburg Baptist Academy (PK-12)
Renick Christian School (2-7)
Seneca Trail Christian Academy (PK-12)

RECREATION

The property offers unparalleled recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the nearby Greenbrier River, New River, New River Gorge National River Park and the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the nearby Greenbrier River, New River and Bluestone Lake ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing. Great fishing is found for small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill.

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 land 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.

WILDLIFE

The nearby Meadow River, New River, Greenbrier River, and Bluestone Lake 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.

The miles of “edge effect” benefit all the resident wildlife. In addition to those listed above, white tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, fox, chipmunk, and many species of songbirds 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 larve.

Great fishing is found in the Meadow River, Greenbrier River, New River and Bluestone Lake with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill present in good numbers.

The rivers, lake, and creeks, and their surrounding aquatic plant life, create a water a water-supported community with a wide variety of wildlife. Much of their margins are fringed by wetlands, and these wetlands support the aquatic food web, provide shelter for wildlife, and stabilize their shores. The plant life associated with the wetland includes rushes, sedges, cattails, duckweed, bee balm and algae.

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.

CARBON SEQUESTRATION

Carroll Hill Farm is a wonderful producer of Oxygen and Carbon Sequester. Carbon Sequestration is the act of processing carbon dioxide through sinks and stores and releasing them into the atmosphere as oxygen. The vigorously growing forest is sequestering tons of Carbon Dioxide each per year and producing tons of life sustaining Oxygen.

SELF-SUSTAINING LIFE OFF THE GRID

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

• Solar or wind power could provide an endless supply of off grid electricity
• Fresh water for drinking and cooking would come from springs or a drilled water well (hand drawing water from the well using a cylinder well bucket)
• Deer and turkey can supply fresh meat
• Raise chickens, pigs, cows, sheep, goats, rabbits etc.) and could be farmed with horse drawn equipment. The land would support 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 and pounds of walnuts

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 possible 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, persimmons
• 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)

ARCHEOLOGY AND GEOLOGY (ONSITE CAVE)

Carroll Hill Farm is nestled between the folded Ridge and Valley Province to the east and the younger Allegheny Plateau to the west. The Greenbrier River flows 162 miles southwest through the valley and empties into the world’s third oldest river, the New River.

The rich farmland of the area is made fertile by the Greenbrier Limestones, known locally as the “Big Lime”. These limestones were formed from shallow seas some 350 million years ago during the Mississippian geological period. The quarrying of limestone for dimension stone, fill-rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and agricultural lime is an important industry in the area.

The area exhibits a karst topography due to the underlying Greenbrier Limestone. Karst is characterized by numerous caves, sinkholes, fissures, and underground streams. This interesting topography forms in regions of plentiful rainfall where bedrock consists of carbonate-rich rock, such as limestone, gypsum, or dolomite, that is easily dissolved. Mildly acidic rainwater slowly dissolves the soft limestone over millions of years creating geological fascinations like Lost World Caverns and Organ Cave, carved from the Greenbrier Limestone.

Carroll Hill Farm is home to an amazing cave where one can spend hours exploring for flowstones, soda straws, stalactites, stalagmites, fossils, crawdads, bats and other cave critters. Numerous solution caves are developed within the Greenbrier Formation, with the cave on Carroll Hill Farm being one of them.

The cave is developed in the Union Limestone sub-strata of the Greenbrier Limestone, also known locally as the “Big Lime” The formation is an extensive limestone unit deposited during the Middle Mississippian Epoch (345 – 326 million years ago), part of the Carboniferous Period. This rock stratum is present below ground in much of West Virginia and neighboring Kentucky, and extends somewhat into adjacent western Maryland and southwestern Virginia. The name derives from the Greenbrier River in West Virginia.

The Greenbrier Limestone is subdivided into six stratigraphic units. In ascending order, they are Denmar Limestone, Taggard Shale, Pickaway Limestone, Union Limestone, Greenville Shale, and Alderson Limestone. The limestones in this interval are predominantly skeletal grainstones or packstones. The Pickaway and especially the Union contain zoolitic grainstones.

Starting at the property, you can take a trip through time riding on I-64 to the WV/VA boundary showcasing outcrops from the younger Mississippian formations to the older Devonian mountains.

The rich coal fields lying a few miles to the northwest were formed about 300 million years ago during the Pennsylvanian and Permian periods when the West Virginia area was south of the equator and moving north. Coal, a combustible sedimentary rock, formed when our area was covered with huge, tropical, swampy forests where plants – giant ferns, reeds and mosses – grew. When the plants died they piled up in swamps. Over time, heat and pressure transformed the buried materials into peat and into various forms of coal. These prehistoric coalfields continue to provide energy and industry to residents of West Virginia, the nation, and the world.

The farm has many interesting “riches from the earth” in the form of limestone, agates, fossils, geodes, and curious rock outcrops.

The Droop Sandstone, a very hard, quartz-rich rock originally deposited as sand beaches along an ancient shoreline, is especially prominent in the area. Numerous sheer rock cliff formations are created by the erosion-resistant Droop Sandstone. Locally, the Muddy Creek Mountain quarry produces decorative sandstone from the Droop that is known worldwide for its beauty and durability.

The area is well known for the healing waters of the numerous “Sulphur Springs”. During the 1800’s and early 1900’s, several “Sulphur Springs Resorts” flourished in the area. Most notably and still in existence are White Sulphur Springs, Warm Springs and, Hot Springs. Others included, Sweet Springs, Blue Sulphur Springs, Red Sulphur Springs, Green Sulphur Springs, Salt Sulphur Springs, Pence Springs and, Sweet Chalybeate Springs.

SURROUNDING AREA

Lewisburg, which is the Greenbrier County seat, was voted the Coolest Small Town in America, combining the warmth of a close community with the sophistication of more urban locations. The thriving downtown historic district offers year-round live productions presented at the State Professional Theatre of WV, Carnegie Hall, distinctive dining venues, antique shops, award-winning galleries/boutiques, a year-round farmer’s markets.

Greenbrier Valley Medical Center is a modern hospital and all attendant medical facilities, along with the many big box stores.

The county and city host several fairs & festivals throughout the year including The WV State Fair, a professional 4-weekend Renaissance Festival, Chocolate Festival, Taste of our Town Festival (TOOT), antique car shows, Jeep Rally, Airstream Rally, WV Barn Hunt Competition, PGA Tour @ The Greenbrier Resort, and numerous fun parades.

Lewisburg is the home to the Greenbrier Country Public Library, a fantastic, ultra-modern public library that is open 7 days a week. The library’s services include: Reading Areas, References, Notary Public, Local History Room, Tax Forms, Fax Service, Photo Copies, Digital Printing, Inter Library Loans, Internet/Computer Access, Audio Books, eBooks, Story Hour, Video & DVD’s, Paperback Book Exchange, Literacy Tutoring, Databases, Computer Classes, Book Discussions, Children’s Programming and an Online Catalogue.

Lewisburg is also home to the modern Robert. C Byrd Medical Clinic (300 employees), the WV Osteopathic Medical School (600 students) and the New River Community and Technical College. The area is a strong economic generator with a solid workforce employed in county/state government, tourism, hospitality, medical, education, retail, construction, wood products, mining and agriculture.

The world-renowned Greenbrier Resort, with 800 rooms and 1600 employees, is located in the sleepy little town of White Sulphur Springs. The 4-Star resort has a subterranean casino and is at times the home to the NFL Summer Practice Event, Tennis Exhibitions (Venus Williams, John McEnroe etc.). Several other area golf courses are available in the area – including Oakhurst Links, America’s first golf course, where guests play using old style hickory-handled clubs and ground-burrowing golf balls.

A picturesque train ride from White Sulphur Springs connects the area to DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, and many other locations. By car, DC is 4 hours away and Charlotte is only 4.

Within a two-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 90-minute drive through some of the most scenic country on the East Coast. The new 12,000-acre Boy Scout High Adventure Camp and home to the US and World Jamboree is an hour’s drive.

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, and it is paralleled for 77 miles by the Greenbrier River Trail, a rail trail which runs between the communities of Cass and North Caldwell.

It has always been a valuable water route, with the majority of the important cities in the watershed being established river ports. 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.

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.

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.

GREENBRIER RIVER TRAIL

The 77-mile-long Greenbrier River Trail State Park is operated by the West Virginia State Parks and is a former C&O railroad grade now used for hiking, bicycling, ski-touring, horseback-riding, and wheel-chair use. The trail passes through numerous small towns and traverses 35 bridges and 2 tunnels as it winds its way along the valley. Most of the trail is adjacent to the free-flowing Greenbrier River and is surrounded by peaks of the Allegheny Mountains.

SIX RIVERS AND TWO LAKES

The 100 acre +/- Carrol Hill Farm is located in the heart of a biological, historic, and recreational mecca.

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.

All rivers and lakes are within an easy one hour’s drive from the property: area encompassing the New River, Greenbrier River, Gauley River, Cherry River, Meadow River and Bluestone River. Within this vast watershed lies the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake and 3000-acre Summersville Lake.

The adjoining Meadow River, and nearby New River, Greenbrier River, Summersville Lake, and Bluestone Lake 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 the Greenbrier River, New River, and both Lakes with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill present in good numbers.

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. Summersville Lake is over 3000 acres at summer pool and is the state’s largest body of water.