OVERVIEW

• Convenient access to the town of Lewisburg and the amenities of the Greenbrier Resort
• The farm’s privacy and rural character make it an accessible retreat with broad appeal
• 50 +/- acres = 20 acres in fields; 30+/- acres in forestland
• 900 +/- sq. ft. farmhouse built in 1942, with 2 bedrooms and 1 1/2 bathrooms
• A blue-line stream runs along and through the northwestern portion of the property for about ¼ mile
• Greenbrier County is the state’s 2^nd largest county and one of the least populated
• Major retailers, restaurants, and a modern hospital are found in Lewisburg, a 15-minute drive
• 1 hour 45 minutes to the Snowshoe Resort, WV largest ski resort and events destination
• All mineral rights in title will convey
• Suitable for Off – Grid and a rewarding permaculture lifestyle
• A quiet private farm lane provides access to paved state roads
• Superior access by state maintained paved roads – FedEx, UPS and USPS delivery
• Fur bearing wildlife – deer, bear, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox, opossum
• Winged wildlife – eagles, hawks, owls, ravens, turkeys and Neotropical songbirds
• Timber species include oaks, poplar, maple and hickories
• The forest and field grasses produce life-giving Oxygen and store Carbon dioxide
• Spectacular long-range views
• Ideal for recreational activities: shooting sports, ATV & horseback riding, hiking, camping, and nature viewing
• Low taxes, low population density
• Surrounded by large timber tracts and farms in a nice rural neighborhood
• Darkest of skies with little or no light pollution for star and planet gazing
• 20 +/- acres of rich soil offer numerous spots for gardens and to grow hay and various crops
• Some “Heritage” trees scattered about estimated at 150+ years old
• Electricity and telephone onsite
• Elevations ranging from 2165 ft. to 2264 ft. +/-
• Jet air service to Chicago O’Hare and Washington DC Dulles
• Easy access to Interstates I-64, I-77, I-81 and I-79

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.869896°(N), -80.349263°(W)
Address: 1227 Keister Road, Lewisburg, WV 24901
Elevation Range: 2165 ft. to 2264 ft. +/-

DIRECTIONS

From Lewisburg I-64 Exit 169: 6.8 miles +/- (approximately 15 minutes)

From Lewisburg Exit 169, travel US-219 North for 2.2 miles; turn right onto Benedict Lane; travel 2.9 miles; turn left onto Keister Road; travel 1.2 miles; in sharp curve to the right, turn left onto the road leading to the property; travel ½ mile to the property’s home.

Drive Times (approximate)

Highway and Local Towns
I-64 Lewisburg Ronceverte Exit 169: 15 minutes
Lewisburg: 15 minutes
Beckley: 50 minutes
White Sulphur Springs: 30 minutes
Charleston: 2 hours
Marlinton: 1 hour
Roanoke, VA: 2 hours
Alderson: 40 minutes
Union: 45 minutes

Airports

Lewisburg – Greenbrier Valley Airport: 15 minutes
Beckley – Raleigh County Memorial Airport: 1 hour
Charleston – West Virginia International Yeager Airport: 2 hours
Roanoke – Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport: 2 hours

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

• The property has about 20 acres of nice laying meadows.
• A fruit orchard would flourish here. There is a magnificent quince tree and a few apple pear and apple trees scattered about which were part of the original homestead.
• The production of Maple Syrup is popular in this region and the property has the maple tree resource to produce gallons of high-grade syrup.
• Crops of black walnuts, acorns, beechnuts and hickory nuts are produced each year.
• Making honey is also a well-established industry in the area.

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The timber resource, consisting of about 30 acres, is well positioned for long-term timber income as well as value appreciation over the coming decades. With an attractive species mix, the timber amenity represents a strong component of value to the investor.

The forest resource is composed of quality Appalachian hardwoods.   The forest can provide a great deal of flexibility to the next ownership in terms of potential harvest revenue. Capital Timber Value of the timber and pulpwood has not been determined at this time.

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 hardwood types, consisting primarily of, Sugar Maple, Poplar, Red Oak/Scarlet Oak, White Oak/Chestnut Oak, Soft Maple, Hickory, and a host of associated species (birch, sourwood, black gum, beech).

The forest is healthy and there are no signs of pest infestations of Gypsy Moth. The Emerald Ash Borer, which has inundated the entire Northeast US, is present and the Ash component will significantly decline over the next decade. The Eastern Hemlock species is under siege by the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid and the hemlock will continue to decline over the next decade. There have been no forest fires in recent memory.

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

Crops of acorns and hickory nuts are produced each year from the abundant oak and hickory trees scattered about.

Honeybees would do well here, and it would be possible to produce maple syrup from the sugar and red maple trees growing on the property.

WATER

A blueline stream runs along and through the northwestern portion of the property for about ¼ mile. That stream should have regular water flow, especially during rain events and snow melt.

MINERAL RESOURCES

All rights the owner has in title will be conveyed with the property.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water:  Private well has been drilled
Sewer:  Private septic system has been installed
Electricity:  MonPower
Telephone:  Frontier
Internet:  Available through Frontier or satellite providers
Cellphone Coverage:  Carrier dependent, some are good, some poor

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

There is a prescriptive easement for the property as granted by the Circuit Court of Greenbrier County with details in the owner’s deed and in the court order document recorded as Deed Book 547 page 428.

ZONING

Greenbrier County is subject to some zoning and subdivision regulations. All prospective buyers should consult the County Commission and 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 about 20 acres of fields and about 30 acres in 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 606 Pg. 719
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
Deeded Acreage: 50 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax Info:
Greenbrier County (13), West Virginia
Frankfort District (7)
Tax Map 23 Parcel 9; Class 2
2025 Real Estate Taxes: $297.58

SCHOOLS

Greenbrier County School District

Public Elementary School:
Lewisburg 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 AT THE CHRISTIAN HOMEPLACE

The Christian Homeplace offers many soft recreational opportunities.

Nature viewing is first in line of recreational activities. Attentive wildlife management has been geared not to just 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 and hawks.

Stargazing-Planet Observation

Complete, or near darkness, can still be found on areas of the property, thereby affording the opportunity to view the night sky in all its brilliant wonder.

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

Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and HikingThe gently laying land may be used for conventional and mountain biking, hiking or horseback riding.

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

The property is perfect for experiencing the property from an ATV, UTV, or dirt bikes. These exciting machines handle the wide variety of terrain.

Hunting on the farm is currently not a focus but could be a first-class experience. White tail deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey,  squirrel, raccoon, and rabbit make up the resident wildlife population.

WILDLIFE

Years of wildlife management practices have created the ideal wildlife sanctuary. Early on, management goals promoted overall wildlife health,  developed wildlife viewing areas, increased carrying capacity, and increased species diversity.

The nearby Greenbrier River is a major contributor to the local ecosystem’s richness and diversity for both plants and animals. The areas creeks, rivers, ponds, and springs support the surrounding aquatic plant life and create a water sustained community with a wide variety of wildlife. The edges of the area’s small wetlands support the aquatic food web and provide shelter for wildlife. The plant life associated with the wetland includes rushes, sedges, cattails, duckweed and algae.

There are many animals that live year-round and at other times in the water and around the edges of the of the area’s creeks and rivers including raccoons, opossums, blue herons, Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, minnows, native fish, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrats, bull frogs, eagles, hawks and redwing blackbirds.

There is the insect and microscopic world including butterflies, dragonflies, water beetles, damselflies, tadpoles and various insect larvae.

The area’s diverse tree species, coupled with the abundant water supply from the nearby river and streams, create the area’s perfect wildlife habitat. The miles of “edge effect” crafted between farm fields, creeks, hollows, ridges, and rock outcrops benefit all the resident wildlife. Bald eagles, white tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox and many species of songbirds, owls and raptors make up the resident wildlife population.

The hardwood forest provides an essential nutrient source and produces tons of hard mast including acorns, hickory nuts and beech nuts. Soft mast includes stag horn sumac, black cherry, tulip poplar seeds, maple seeds, multiple rose berries and blackberries.

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.

Some examples of special forest product crops for each category:

• 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: Acorns, 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, bloodroot and ground pine (Lycopodium)

SELF-SUSTAINING LIFE OFF THE GRID

Just like 250 years ago, when the first pioneers settled the area, the property would be self-sustaining in times of necessity – even without electricity.

• The agricultural land’s flat to rolling topography would be used to raise livestock of all kinds (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.
• Fresh water for drinking and cooking would come from springs and drilled water wells (hand drawing water from the wells using a cylinder well bucket).
• The nearby Greenbrier River, creeks and forest would provide fresh food (native fish, crayfish, deer, bear, and turkey).
• Beehives would provide honey and beeswax for candles.
• The forest would provide firewood for heating and cooking, lumber for building, basket splints, maple syrup and pounds of nuts (acorns, beechnuts and hickory nuts).

CARBON CAPTURE

The forest and farmland are tremendous producers of Oxygen and capture Carbon. Carbon Capture is the act of processing carbon dioxide through sinks and stores and releasing them into the atmosphere as oxygen.

A MOST PLEASANT CLIMATE

An enjoyable four-season climate ideal for growing grapes, berries, apples, peaches, flowers, gardens, hay, and all kinds of row crops. The elevation and surrounding mountains contribute favorably to their growth. Honey, maple syrup, and molasses production all thrive exceptionally well in this climate, as do livestock, poultry, and people.

Summers are noticeably cooler than areas to the east, with average high temperatures in the 70s and 80s. During the winter, high temperatures reach the 50s and 60s, with lows dropping to the teens. Spring and fall generally feature spectacular weather that highlights the brilliant colors of the changing seasons, and temperatures average in the 60s. Annual rainfall is approximately 44 inches, while annual snowfall is approximately 39 inches.

BUTTERFLIES

The property is an excellent habitat for butterflies, especially monarchs. The monarch highly depends on the milkweed plant and returns to areas rich in milkweed to lay their eggs. The milkweed they consume as caterpillars contain toxins stored in their bodies, making the butterfly taste terrible to predators. Their bright orange wings serve as a warning signal.

Each fall, in one of the world’s astounding natural animal events, tens of millions of monarch butterflies migrate as much as 3,000 miles from the northeast U.S. and Canada to their wintering grounds in central Mexico. They use air currents and thermals to travel such incredible distances.

Other butterflies that visit Heritage include eastern tiger and spicebush swallowtails, silver-spotted skippers, and a variety of sulphurs and whites. Another interesting insect to visit the property is the Black Saddlebag Dragonfly, a regular guest of the lake and wetlands, with all the frogs, fish, and turtles.

SURROUNDING AREA

Lewisburg, 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 with 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, Photocopies, 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 modern Robert. C Byrd Medical Clinic (300 employees), the WV Osteopathic Medical School (800 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

Just a few minutes’ drive or bike ride is the Greenbrier River.  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 most 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 property 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 a two 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 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 the river and 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.

SNOWSHOE SKI  & RESORT DESTINATION

Snowshoe Mountain Resort is an hour and 45 minutes’ drive and is among the most popular ski resorts in the east-central U.S. The resort, at 4848’ elevation, includes two ski areas, two terrain parks, and 57 downhill slopes that uniquely descend from the ski villages at the top of the mountain. The resort is also among the chief destinations for mountain biking in the Virginias. The International Mountain Bicycling Association has designated the Snowshoe Highland Ride Center as a silver-level destination. The resort boasts 23 restaurants and pubs, 34 lodges and cabin villages, and supports many off-mountain lodging venues year-round.

ADDITIONAL DESTINATION DRIVE TIMES

Medical
CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, Fairlea: 30 minutes
Roanoke Valley Medical Center: 2 hours
University of Virginia: 2 hours 15 minutes
WVU Medical Center, Morgantown: 3 hours 30 minutes

Recreation
State Fair of West Virginia
Local Festivals  Renaissance, Chocolate, Taste of our Town
Area Resorts  The Greenbrier Resort, Glade Springs Resort, Warm Springs
Area Lakes  Bluestone, Moomaw, Summersville, Anna
Snowshoe Ski Resort  Winterplace Ski Resort
80,000-acre New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
1,000,000-acre Monongahela National Forest
1,800,000-acre George Washington & Jefferson National Forest

Aquatic Center – Greenbrier Valley Aquatic Center, Fairlea: 30 minutes
Fair – State Fair of West Virginia, Fairlea: 30 minutes
Golf – Lewisburg Elks Country Club: 15 minutes
Golf – Several other golf courses are in the surrounding area
Lake – Bluestone Lake, Hinton: 1 hour
Lake – Boley Lake, Babcock State Park: 1 hour
Lake – Lake Moomaw, Virginia: 1 hour 30 minutes
Lake – Moncove Lake, Moncove Lake State Park: 1 hour
Lake – Summersville Lake, Summersville: 1 hour 30 minutes
National Park – New River Gorge Bridge, Fayetteville: 1 hour 25 minutes
National Park – New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Sandstone: 45 minutes
Resort – Glade Springs Resort: 1 hour 10 minutes
Resort – Pipestem Resort State Park: 1 hour 25 minutes
Resort – The Greenbrier: 30 minutes
Ski Resort – Snowshoe Ski Resort: 1 hour 45 minutes
Ski Resort – Winterplace Ski Resort: 1 hour 15 minutes
State Park – Babcock State Park: 1 hour
State Park – Beartown State Park: 40 minutes
State Park – Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park: 40 minutes
State Park – Greenbrier State Forest, Harts Run, WV: 25 minutes
State Park – Moncove Lake State Park: 1 hour
State Park – Pipestem Resort State Park: 1 hour 25 minutes
State Park – Watoga State Park: 1 hour