OVERVIEW

Emerald Ridge is 10.12 +/- acres of land with home to make your own hidden mountain top retreat.  Located in picturesque and historic Monroe County on top of Peters Mountain looking over the Sweet Springs Valley near the village of Gap Mills.  This is a great get away site for your vacation or to make the move for your permanent residence. Located in West Virginia, but within a mile of the Virginia state line near the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, Monongahela National Forest and multiple West Virginia and Virginia State Parks, there are a great deal of outdoor activities off the property to enjoy.  The property less than a mile behind a private gated road just waiting for you to come and relax for a weekend or the rest of your life.

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.
• Behind a gated private road off of Crowder Road (CR20) near Gap Mills
• 9+/- acres of woodland
• Less than an acre of lawn
• Fully furnished 960 sq. foot home with telephone, power, septic and well
• Two out buildings: workshop and utility shed
• 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 3450’ to 3600’
• 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
• Views of Sweet Springs Valley
• Surface rights only are transferred

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: N 37.552674, W -80.345661
Address: Deerpath Lane, Gap Mills WV 24941
Elevation Range:   3450’ to 3600’

HOME AND OUTBUILDINGS

Highlights

• 960 sq. foot home (40’ L x 24’ W) with 8’ wide full length porches on front and back of home
• 240 sq. foot woodshop
• 96 sq. foot utility shed

Home Room Dimensions

Main Floor
Living Room/ Kitchen            Length: 21′-5”; Width: 23’-0”
Bedroom 1                              Length: 13′-0”; Width: 11′-5”
Bedroom 2                              Length: 9′-3”; Width: 11′-9”
Bathroom 1                             Length: 8’-0”; Width: 8′-4”
Utility Room                           Length: 9′-1”; Width: 3′-11”
Pantry                                      Length: 3′-0”; Width: 3′-11”

Covered Porch – Front            Length: 40’; Width: 8’
Covered Porch – Back             Length: 40’; Width: 8’

Total Living Space = 960 Sq. Feet (outside dimensions)

Outbuilding Dimensions

Outbuilding 1-Workshop:       Length: 20’-0”; Width: 12’-0” with a 5’x12’ covered porch
Outbuilding 2- Utility Shed:   Length: 12’-0”; Width: 8’-0”

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. Surface rights are conveyed with this property. The mineral rights are not conveyed with the property.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre
Access from Crowder Road is over a deeded 30 foot right of way known as Deerpath Lane.
The is also conveyed a 25 foot easement to the George Washington & Jefferson National Forest from Deerpath Lane

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

This property may only be shown by appointment.
Deerpath Lane is a private gated road, access is not available unless accompanied by a Foxfire Realty Agent.

UTILITIES

Water: Well in place
Sewer: Septic Tank System in place
Electricity: On-site and connected to Home
Telephone: On-site and connected to Home
Internet: Frontier Communications
Cellphone Coverage: Good

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 utilities. Further information on county zoning may be answered by contacting the Monroe County Commission.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The property is classed as Residential with a Land Use of Residential 1 Family

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information:
Deed Book 247/Page 301 & Page 303
Acreage: 10.12 +/-, deeded in two separate tracts: Tract 1 – 5.08 ac.; Tract 2 – 5.04 ac.

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Monroe County, West Virginia
Sweet Springs District
Tax Map 30 Parcels 22.38 & 22.39

2020 Real Estate Taxes: $463.50

WILDLIFE

The hardwood trees produce acorns, hickory nuts, beech nuts and loads of soft mast. Whitetail deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, squirrel, raccoon, fox and many species of songbirds, owls and raptors make up the resident wildlife population. It is hard to find a property that has a better mix of wildlife.

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.

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 10 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.

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. Whitetail 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 with 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.

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.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Monroe County School District

Public Elementary School:
Peterstown Elementary School
Mountain View Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Peterstown 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)

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

Emerald Ridge 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.

GREENBRIER VALLEY

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.