DEER PATH MOUNTAIN RETREAT

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Agent Contact:
Bill Zimmerman, 304-667-7026

OVERVIEW

Deer Path Mountain Retreat is located in beautiful Monroe County, West Virginia, high atop Peter’s Mountain.  This 8.72+/- acre property and cabin joins the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest and offers views of “Almost Heaven” West Virginia and Virginia.  It is also only 12 miles from Moncove Lake State Park and the Moncove Lake Wildlife Management Area.  The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest and nearby Moncove Lake State Park present the opportunity of enjoying many outdoor activities right at your fingertips.  Moncove Lake offers fishing, boating, camping, hiking, sports recreational areas, and in-ground swimming pool.  This nice wood siding house boasts a huge back deck that overlooks the National Forest and the next mountain  range, adding a level of comfort and solitude which is hard to find.  The home has an open concept living room/dining room/kitchen is wonderful for family gatherings.  There is laminate flooring and carpet throughout the home. This is a must-see property for a family retreat or forever home.  This  1,400 sq. ft. home will give you a lot of room for family fun activities.

ATTRIBUTES AND HIGHLIGHTS

  • On one of Monroe County’s most majestic mountains, Peters Mountain separating the two Virginias, with the Sweet Springs Valley to the north and Potts Creek Valley to the south.
  • Adjoins the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
  • Behind a gated private Deer Path Lane, off of Crowder Road (CR20) near Gap Mills
  • Perfect for recreational activities including hunting, shooting sports, hiking and nature viewing
  • Near continental divide between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico
  • Minutes away from Moncove Lake State Park and Wildlife Management Area
  • The Hanging Rock Observatory is only 5 miles away and a great place to view raptors, especially during migration periods
  • The Sweet Springs Resort in Sweet Springs is just up Route 3. The main building was designed by Thomas Jefferson
  • Surrounded by large farms in the valleys and timberlands on the mountain
  • Accessed by state maintained roads
  • Darkest of skies with little light pollution for star-planet gazing & astrophotography
  • Mostly flat terrain with elevations from 3481 ft. to 3707 ft. +/-
  • Just 20 minutes to Union, the Monroe County Seat
  • Timber species include beautiful oaks, poplar, white pine, maple and hickories
  • Fur bearing – deer, black bear, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox, chipmunk, opossum
  • Winged wildlife – eagles, hawks, owls, ravens, turkeys and Neotropical songbirds
  • Low taxes, low population density
  • Outstanding views

HOME HIGHLIGHTS

  • Wood siding
  • Stone foundation
  • Metal roof
  • 1,400 sq. ft. home (single-wide manufactured home with addition)
  • Drywall and wood paneling throughout
  • Laminate and carpet flooring throughout
  • Propane gas furnace and fireplace
  • Oak kitchen cabinets with laminate countertops
  • Vanities with soapstone countertop
  • Living room  14’x15′
  • Dining room  17’x14′
  • Sitting room  13’x14′
  • Kitchen 13’x11′
  • Laundry room 4’x5′
  • Master Bedroom. 13’x13′
  • Bedroom 1  12’x15′
  • Bedroom 2 10’x9′
  • Bathroom 10’x6′
  • Master Bathroom 5’x7′
  • Walk-in closet 5’x8′
  • Front porch 10’x19′
  • Back deck 8’x22′
  • 800′ commercial depth well which would service future cabins/structures on the property
  • Large work shop and maintenance building
  • Large pond fed by mountain spring

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.556771°(N), -80.337456°(W)
Address: 1258 Deerpath Lane, Waiteville, WV 24984
Elevation Range: 3481 ft. to 3707 ft. +/-

MINERAL RESOURCES

West Virginia is one of the states in the US that has two ownership titles, those being SURFACE RIGHTS and MINERAL RIGHTS. A title search for mineral rights ownership has not been conducted. 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

The property was surveyed in April 2017. The southern boundary runs with the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.  The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water:  Drilled well – 800′ commercial depth for service to additional structures
Sewer: Septic Tank System
Electricity: Monpower
Telephone and internet: Frontier
Cellphone Coverage: Good

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property is accessed by a 30-feet-wide right-of-way.

ZONING

There is currently no county zoning in Monroe County. All prospective purchasers are encouraged to contact the Monroe County Health Department for answers regarding installation of septic systems and water wells. Further information on county zoning may be answered by contacting the Monroe County Commission.

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: DB 289 Pg. 265
Monroe County, West Virginia
Acreage: 8.72 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Monroe County (32), West Virginia
Sweet Springs District (6)
Tax Map 31 Parcels 14.1 and 27; Class 2

2021 Real Estate Taxes: $704.62

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Monroe County School District

Public Elementary School:
Mountain View Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Mountain View Middle School

Public High School:
James Monroe High School

Colleges:
New River Community and Technical College (Lewisburg campus)
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)

WILDLIFE

The nearby mixture of mature forest, emerging forest, farm fields and the abundance of water supply from the large pond and springs, create the perfect wildlife habitat. The edge effect created between the pond, field and forest is the textbook habitation for the resident wildlife. The edges create long wildlife food plots.  The hardwood forest produces tons of acorns, hickory nuts, beechnut, and soft mask to feed the whitetail deer, black bear, red and gray fox, bobcats, wild turkey, squirrels, and raccoons.  The large pond on the property is a great habitat for ducks, turtles, and other marine life. The power line that runs through the property creates a game plot for the deer to graze.  The property adjoins the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest and the abundance of wildlife makes this property a great hunting property.

RECREATION

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

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, hawks.

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

Cold Water Fishing can be found throughout the region. Second Creek has a special regulation section for flyfishing only, which is only 20 minutes from property. Also, many of the tributaries of the Greenbrier River are stocked with trout. The head waters 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.

The Jackson River near Hot Springs Virginia has excellent trout fishing from the Lake Moomaw/Gathright Dam downstream for several miles, and many of its tributaries above the lake hold trout also.

Warm Water Fishing in the Greenbrier River and New Rivers in West Virginia and the James River in Virginia are some of the best in the region. Smallmouth bass and muskie are the big draws.

The Greenbrier and James Rivers areas are great for the novice kayaker or canoeist to fish, the New River is for the more experience boaters only but has the best fishing for trophy sized fish. The New River has an excellent population of the native Eastern Highlands walleye. This walleye subspecies grows faster and reproduces quicker than their northern cousins. Great fishing is found on both rivers for crappie, catfish, pike and bluegill.

Hunting is available right on the property. Whitetail deer, eastern wild turkey, squirrel and rabbits make up the most abundant game species.

Not only are there 8 acres of private hunting on the property, there are acres of wide-open public lands. West Virginia and Virginia make excellent destinations for hitting the trails on a hunt. From whitetail deer and native black bear to turkey and gray squirrels, the game is as diverse as the mountain landscape behind it. Hunting seasons start early in the spring and transition throughout the fall months. If you’re looking to connect with nature through a hunt, this is the place for you.

Wildlife Management Areas and National Forests in West Virginia and Virginia provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to disconnect from our daily lives and reconnect with nature in its purest form. Discover wildlife native to the area and explore the scenic vistas that call these areas home.

There are four Wildlife Management Areas within an hour’s drive: Moncove, Meadow River, and Bluestone Lake in West Virginia and Gathright in Virginia. These areas provide over 34,000 acres of public land to enjoy.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the nearby James River, Jackson River, and Lake Moomaw in Virginia, and in West Virginia the Greenbrier River, New River, Moncove Lake and Bluestone Lake ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing.

THE GEORGE WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON NATIONAL FOREST

Deer Path Mountain Retreat adjoins the vast George Washington and Jefferson National Forest on it southern boundary.

In 1995, the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests were administratively combined to form one of the largest areas of public land in the Eastern United States. They cover 1.8 million acres of land in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Approximately 1 million acres of the forest are remote and undeveloped and 139,461 acres have been designated as wilderness areas, which eliminates future development.

The National Forests are traversed by the Blue Ridge Parkway and are located within eight major river basins: the Potomac, James, Roanoke, New, Big Sandy, Holston, Cumberland, and Clinch Rivers. Average discharge of surface water from National Forest lands is estimated to be 2.2 million acre feet.

The Forests contain 2,340 miles of perennial streams, of which over 1,000 miles are trout waters. There are 82 reservoirs within or immediately downstream from the National Forests, 16 of which are used for municipal water supply. Lake Moomaw is among the largest reservoir (2530 acres) providing flood control, water quality control, and recreation opportunities.

APPALACHIAN TRAIL

This famous Maine-to-Georgia footpath follows the crest of Peters Mountain from the southern Monroe County line with Virginia to a point above the Sugar Camp Farm, a part of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. Monroe County is one of only two counties in WV which can claim a portion of the Appalachian Trail.

MONCOVE LAKE STATE PARK and WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

Moncove Lake State Park offers a peaceful setting for families to enjoy the outdoors. The park is a popular destination for outdoor social gatherings, quiet strolls, camping and water recreation. This 250-acre park is a part of the 896 acre Moncove Lake Wildlife Management Area. Located in the hills of the southeastern edge of the state, near Union in Monroe County, the park offers many opportunities for fishing, hunting, boating, swimming, birdwatching and hiking.

The Moncove Lake area was established in 1960, following the damming of Devil Creek in eastern Monroe County. The lake was built as part of the Moncove Lake Hunting and Fishing Area. In 1991, 250 acres were set aside as a state park. The remainder of the land continues to be managed as a wildlife management area. The park has since been expanded to 896 acres. The park sits on the shores of 144-acre Moncove Lake, and underneath the flyway of the Fall Hawk migration.

Moncove Lake State Park’s campground includes 48 tent and trailer sites, 25 of which have electric hookups. There are picnic tables and fire rings with grill surfaces, drinking water, a dump station and a central bathhouse with showers. Firewood is available for purchase upon your arrival. West Virginia State Park campground reservations are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year. Campgrounds are open on a first-come, first-serve basis through October 31.

Three picnic shelters are available to reserve, fully equipped with grills and tables. Playgrounds, restroom facilities, and a swimming pool open from Memorial Day to Labor Day will make your gathering complete!

More than 160 species of birds have been seen around Moncove Lake. The area is a birding hot spot due to nearby Peter’s Mountain and the ridge-and-valley section of the Appalachian Mountains. These ridges act as funnels for birds migrating in the fall and present excellent chances to glimpse birds that are considered rare or unusual for this region. On Peter’s Mountain during peak days in September, Broad Winged hawks are counted by the hundreds, and migrating hawks of nearly every eastern species and numerous songbirds can be seen throughout the month of September and into October. Witness the annual migration of birds of prey as they travel the eastern flyway passing through Monroe County, WV. Migration typically begins in early September through October, however, late September usually brings the most sightings.

GREAT EASTERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

The property is situated near the continental divide between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The waters of Kitchen Creek flow to the Gulf of Mexico and the waters of Sweet Springs Creek flow to the Atlantic Ocean in the Sweet Springs Valley that the property looks over too.

Kitchen Creek is part of the Second Creek drainage area which flows into the Greenbrier River between Ronceverte and Alderson. The waters from Emerald Ridge make their way down the Greenbrier River to the New, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers to the mighty Mississippi and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.

Sweet Springs Creek flows into Dunlap Creek which is part of the James River drainage area which flows across the State of Virginia and enters the Chesapeake Bay, then the Atlantic Ocean.

Prior to about 1760, north of Spanish Florida, the Appalachian Divide (Eastern Continental Divide) represented the boundary between British and French colonial possessions in North America. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 separated settled lands of the Thirteen Colonies from lands north and west of it designated the Indian Reserve; the proclamation border ran along the Appalachian Divide but extended beyond its Pennsylvania-New York terminus north into New England.

HANGING ROCK OBSERVATORY

Hanging Rock is an out-and-back trail that provides a good opportunity to view wildlife located near Waiteville, West Virginia.

The observatory, sitting high atop Peters Mountain on the Eastern Continental Divide, is at about 3800 feet above sea level, nearly 2,000 feet above the valley floor below. The lookout offers an outstanding panorama of Monroe County, and on clear days views can extend well into Mercer, Summers, and Greenbrier Counties in West Virginia, and Allegheny, Craig, Roanoke, and Giles Counties in Virginia.  The observatory is reached via a 40 minute walk along the Allegheny Trail from the mountaintop parking lot along Monroe County Road 15 (Limestone Hill Rd.).  From this vantage point, visitors have an excellent spot with a 360 degree view of the surrounding areas and an eye-level view of migrating raptors. The site is situated along a popular, southern migration path so raptor viewing is best in the autumn, but the hike and the view are great all year long.

The fire tower, built in 1956 was abandoned in 1972. In 1983 the US Forest Department acquired this area as part of the Jefferson National Forest. Since then the Tower has become known for its viewing opportunities for spotting migrating Hawks, Eagles, Falcons and Osprey. Various groups and organizations still contribute to keep the “Observatory” in usable condition.

SURROUNDING AREA

SWEET SPRINGS RESORT
Sweet Springs Resort is located just a few miles northeast of the property and was founded in 1792. Once known as Old Sweet Springs, this historic resort hotel is currently undergoing renovation by the nonprofit Sweet Springs Resort Park Foundation. The property enjoys notoriety for its natural hot spring.

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 are Salt Sulphur Springs, Blue Sulphur Springs, Red Sulphur Springs, Green Sulphur Springs, Pence Springs and Sweet Chalybeate Springs.

During the height of wealthy families’ summer treks to the Virginia springs resorts—from roughly 1800 until the Civil War—one popular circuit encompassed “the fountains most strongly impregnated with minerals, heat, fashion, and fame,” according to one chronicler. For those arriving from eastern Virginia and points northeast, the circuit started at Warm Springs northeast of Lewisburg, in the Allegheny Mountains. From there, it ran south and west to the Hot, the White Sulphur, the Sweet, the Salt Sulphur, and the Red Sulphur, then back in the opposite direction.

The waters of Sweet Springs were asserted to assist aged persons, free from organic disease, would “find youth and vigor and elasticity at the bottom of this noble fountain,” and with a daily plunge could live to the “fabled age of the crow.” It was cautiously recommended the Sweet Springs be used for certain cases of uterine functions, dyspepsia, and nephritic afflictions.

MONROE COUNTY
Deer Path Mountain Retreat is located near the charming village of Gap Mills and Union is less than a 15-minute drive, which is the Monroe County seat. Banking, healthcare facilities, drugstore, grocery, hardware, auto parts and farm supply are readily available in nearby Union. There are no fast food restaurants, but there are local restaurants that are great places to meet friends and enjoy a great home cooked meal.

Some of the friendliest people in West Virginia can be found in Monroe County. With a population of about 13,000 residents, Monroe County does not have a stoplight and has more cattle and sheep than people. Monroe County is a special area with interesting folks, both “born and raised” and newer members from many different states. People from all walks of life reside in harmony in this lovely pastoral setting. Located east of Union, near Gap Mills, the parcel offers those from urban areas the opportunity for a rural retreat well within a half days drive to Washington, DC and Charlotte, NC.

Shortly after Monroe County was created, James Alexander offered 25 acres of land, including a lot for a courthouse which in time became the town of Union. On January 6, 1800, the Virginia Assembly passed an act creating the town of Union. The Monroe County Historical Society preserves several historic structures in the town, including the Caperton Law Office, Owen Neel House, Clark-Wisemen House, Ames Clair Hall, and the Old Baptist Church. The Union Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

The village of Gap Mills is 2 minutes from the property. The community has locally made bakery, cheese and furniture stores. The name of the community is a portmanteau of the natural pass, or “gap” in the adjacent Gap Mountain. Fort Henry commander Abraham Wood sent the first recorded English expedition to reach the area in 1671.

Other notable figures from the community were: Col. Andrew S. Rowan of Spanish American War fame. First Lieut. Percy Pharr of the World War I and W. J. Humphrey, Physicist of the Meteorological Bureau, Washington, DC. L. R. Neel, manager of Middle Tenn. Experiment Station was born and reared one mile from the village of Gap Mills.

PAINT BANK, VIRGINIA
Paint Bank got its name from the iron ochre and red clay taken from the banks of Potts Creek that was used by Native Americans, notably the Cherokees, as war paint, and to make their pottery with a distinctive red color. Reportedly settled by permanent settlers in the 18th century, during the early days of the 19th century, the same red clay was later made into a commercial paint and red bricks for permanent buildings. A number of land grants were made by Lord Fairfax and the Commonwealth of Virginia, especially by the later around Paint Bank in the 1820s through the 1850s.

A few miles up the road between Sweet Springs, West Virginia and Paint Bank, is the location of the home of Ann Anne Royall. By some accounts, she was the first professional female journalist in America.

“During the Civil War, the off-the-beaten-path community became known as the “Union hole,” a place for deserters and resisters. It was close to this area that Union General David Hunter fought his most difficult battle, a confrontation involving two of Craig County’s highest mountains, on his trek from Lynchburg, Va., to Sweet Springs, West Virginia”

The Order of the Heroes of America, also known as the “Red Strings”, extended into southwestern Virginia as well. Paint Bank, Virginia was known as a Union-Hole because of the pro-Union membership in these societies. One of the members of the Order was a Christiansburg, Virginia wheelwright named Williams. It is not known if this is the same man named Williams that residents of Back Valley, Virginia spoke about as a member of the Loyal League. “Paint Bank, in Craig County, was the core of what local citizen George A. Linton called the “Union Hole”-an area with mixed loyalties that sometimes swayed heavily to the north, in this traditionally southern state.”

POTTS CREEK
Potts Creek, originally called “Carpenter Creek”, runs through the village of Paint Bank, Virginia. The name was originally applied to a land grant of over 700 acres dating from 1750 to John Carpenter, which was located near present-day Covington, Virginia. The Paint Bank Virginia Fish Hatchery run by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is located in Paint Bank, and the trout that are raised there are released locally. Brown trout, Brook trout and Rainbow trout are raised there. The trout are released when they are about 18 months old, and are used to stock streams in nine counties. “This state fish hatchery, just south of Paint Bank, provides a unique look into the trout rearing and stocking process. Numerous concrete tanks hold up to 1.6 million trout in all stages of development, thus providing an easy viewing experience. Around the fish hatchery is a variety of wildlife. The creek that runs along the edge of the property should be checked for butterflies, birds and at dusk some white-tailed deer.”

PAINT BANK FISH HATCHERY 1.6 MILLION – RAINBOW TROUT, BROOK TROUT, BROWN TROUT
Deer Path Mountain Retreat is near the Paint Bank Fish Hatchery. The Paint Bank hatchery — run by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries — raises brown, brook and rainbow trout, and when those trout are about 18 months old, they are used to stock bodies of water in nine counties from Craig to Henry, including Roanoke. Stocking season is from October to May, but the majority of the trout are released in the spring.

Numerous concrete tanks hold up to 1.6 million trout in all stages of development, thus providing an easy viewing experience for those visiting the hatchery.

GREENBRIER VALLEY, WEST VIRGNINA
Historic Lewisburg is located just 40 minutes to the North with all the charm of a small town and all the amenities of a larger city. Designated the “Coolest Small Town in America”, fine dining, arts and entertainment flourish in the Lewisburg area while “big box” stores like Walmart and Lowes are also available along with the Greenbrier Valley Medical Center and other medical services.

Lewisburg is also home to Carnegie Hall, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, the WV School of Osteopathic Medicine, a community college, and is the county seat for Greenbrier County. The Greenbrier Valley Airport with daily flights to Chicago, Atlanta and Washington, DC, is located just outside of Lewisburg. The world famous Greenbrier Resort is a 1 hour drive and Snowshoe Ski Resort is within a 2 hour drive as well.

Within an hour to two hour drive are located some of the finest recreational facilities in West Virginia. Snowshoe Ski Resort, whitewater rafting / fishing on the Greenbrier, New River and Gauley River, 2000-acre Bluestone Lake, 919,000 acre Monongahela National Forest and the 80,000 acre New River National Gorge National Park and Preserve. Five other area state parks and state forests offer unlimited hiking, horseback riding, ATV riding and rock-climbing opportunities.

REGIONAL INFORMATION

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304.645.7674