FEATURES & BENEFITS

• 82 +/- acre multi use property with dense forest, beautiful farm fields, creeks and riparian areas
• 4 +/- acres of agricultural fields intertwine with the mature forest creating an exciting recreational property
• 77 +/- acres of very valuable timber should one decide to conduct a timber harvest
• The 2000 acre Bluestone Lake and the Mighty New River are just 25 minutes’ drive
• Winding forest trails accessing nearly every part of the property
• Interesting moss-covered rock outcrops and rock cliffs
• Could develop a rewarding permaculture lifestyle here
• A dashed blue-line stream flow for about ½ mile through the property and small farm pond
• 10 ephemeral streams feed the larger stream during rain events and snow melt
• Surrounded by timber tracts and farms in a nice rural neighborhood
• Superior access adjoining state road – FedEx delivery
• Dark skies with little light pollution for star and planet gazing
• Rich soil offers numerous spots for gardens and growing hay and various row crops
• Native sedges, rushes, ferns, songbirds, frogs, turtles, crawdads all enjoy the creeks and their rocky edges
• Located in peaceful Monroe County and just 10 minutes to Alderson, 25 minutes to Union and 35 to Lewisburg
• Many very ancient “Heritage” trees scattered about the forest and fields estimated at 200-300 years old
• Excellent timber species include fragrant cedars, beautiful oaks, black walnuts, poplars, sugar and red maples and hickories
• All the mineral rights in title will convey
• Electricity and telephone onsite with excellent cellular and 4G coverage
• Wildlife is very abundant with deer, turkey, black bear, bobcat, coyote, fox, rabbit, squirrel
• Winged wildlife includes eagles, hawks, grouse, turkey, owls, ravens, and Neotropical songbirds
• Diverse topography containing a mature forest, farm fields, rock outcrops, large creeks and ancient trees create a fascinating natural setting

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.712071°(N), -80.628722°(W)
Address: Flat Mountain Road RT 1, Alderson, WV 24910; No 911 address is assigned to property without structures.
Elevation Range: 2092 ft. to 2250 ft. +/-

Directions:  From the Greenbrier County side of Alderson, cross the RT 3 South bridge over the Greenbrier River; continue left with RT 3 South; after going through the sharp turn to the right in town, travel a short distance and turn left onto Flat Mountain Road RT 1; travel 1.4 miles; the property is on the left.

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The Flat Mountain Farm’s 88+/- acre timber resource acreage is composed of quality Appalachian hardwoods. 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.

Capital Timber Value of the timber and pulpwood has not been determined.

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

Black Cherry, Sugar Maple, Poplar/Basswood, Red Oak Group, White Oak/Chestnut Oak;
Soft Maple, Hickory, Ash, and a host of associate species (black walnut, birch, beech)

Stocking, Stem Quality, and Forest Structure:
Forest-wide, most stands are fully stocked, providing the next ownership with a great deal of flexibility in shaping their own silvicultural legacy. Stem quality forest-wide can be considered excellent with the forest containing an abundant current and future veneer source.

The property’s timber component has been well managed over the years and generally consists or even-aged stands. The predominant timber stand contains 40-120-year-old stems ranging in size of 10”-36” dbh. Portions of this stand were thinned in many years ago as prudent forest management necessitated. Many sections of this stand are ready for a selective thinning which will generate considerable income.

Diameters are well represented across the commercial spectrum with a notable mature size class, as well as abundant pole size timber and growing stock. Average diameter with all sawtimber products 12” dbh combined has not been determined.

Breakdown by diameter class measured 4.5 feet above the ground on the uphill side of the tree has not been determined.

Several “Heritage Trees” are scattered throughout the forest and field edges. These ancient trees, some 200-300 years old, have withstood the test of time, weathering ice, wind, lightning strikes and fire.

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 Hemlock Wooly Adelgid in present and the Eastern Hemlock will decline over the next decade. There have been no forest fires in the recent memory.

The forest floor is home to several types of mushrooms, medicinal plants, wild ginseng, ferns and cool green mosses. One could spend a lifetime getting to know this inviting environ.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

The Flat Mountain Farm’s rich soil, abundant water, 4-season climate, and gentle topography provide the necessary elements for a permaculture lifestyle. There are currently about 4 acres in fields that are suitable for hay or row crops like corn, pumpkins etc. The farm is currently being leased growing hay.

There are a few fruit trees scattered about that were part of the early homestead. Crops of black walnuts and hickory nuts are produced each year from the abundant black walnut and hickory trees scattered about.

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

WILDLIFE

The mixture of mature forest, emerging forest, grown over farm fields, old fruit trees, coupled with the abundant water supply from the stream, create the perfect wildlife habitat. The “edge effect” created between, streams, farm fields, transmission line and forest is the textbook habitat for the resident wildlife. The edges create long wildlife food plot. The hardwood forest produces tons of acorns, hickory nuts, beech nuts, walnuts and soft mast. White tail deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, squirrel, raccoon, fox and many species of songbirds, eagles, owls and hawks make up the resident wildlife population. It is hard to find a property that has a better mix of wildlife as there has been little hunting pressure for many years.

The larger creek and 10 ephemeral branches are a major contributor to the local ecosystem richness and diversity for both plants and animals. The creek and their surrounding aquatic plant life create a water supported community with a wide variety of wildlife. Some of creek margins are fringed by lowlands, and these lowlands support the aquatic food web, provide shelter for wildlife, and stabilize the banks. The plant life associated with the lowlands include, rushes, sedges, cattails, duckweed, bee balm and algae.

There are many animals that around the edges of the creek, including raccoons, opossums, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrat, bull frogs, and redwing blackbirds. Of course, there is the insect and microscopic world including butterflies, dragonflies, water skaters, water beetles, damselflies, tadpoles and various insect larvae.

WATER

There is an intermittent stream that follows for just a little less than ½ mile through the property that should be active during periods of rainfall or snow melt, and 3 additional supporting major hollows.

MINERAL RESOURCES

West Virginia is one of the states in the US that has two ownership titles, those being SURFACE RIGHTS and MINERAL RIGHTS. The mineral rights are believed to be intact and all rights the owner has in title will convey with the property. A mineral title search could be conducted by a title attorney at the same time the surface title search is being conducted. A title search for actual mineral ownership rights is recommend.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

A portion of the property boundary is frontage on Flat Mountain Road RT 1. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: water well could be drilled
Sewer: private septic could be installed
Electricity: onsite
Telephone: onsite
Internet: possibly onsite through the phone cable or through a satellite provider
Cellphone Coverage: Excellent with 4G

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has about 1/4 mile of total frontage on Flat Mountain Road RT 1.

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.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

This farm property currently consists of about 4 acres in fields, about an 1/2 acre in powerline right-of-way, and about 77 acres in forestland.  There will be an exception of an approximately one-half acre area.  Please see the Exception map in the Maps and Documents section displayed below the primary photo.

(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 287 Pg. 628 (only certain tracts in this deed)
Monroe County, West Virginia

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:

Acreage: 82 acres +/- for this sale

Monroe County (13), West Virginia
Wolf Creek District (9)

Tax Map 4 part of Parcel 16; FLAT MT. N. S. ST. SEC. RT. 1, 6.742 AC; Class 2; 2019 Real Estate Taxes $23.48 for whole tax parcel

Tax Map 4 part of Parcel 17; FLAT MT. E. OF ST. SEC. RT. 1, 80 AC; Class 2; 2018 Real Estate Taxes $38.72 for whole tax parcel

Tax Map 4 Parcel 18; FLAT MT. W. OF ST. SEC. RT. 1, 19.09 AC (S); Class 2; 2018 Real Estate Taxes $3.81

2019 Real Estate Taxes: $66.01 for the whole tax parcels. Sale area would involve only a portion of this.

AREA SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

Monroe County School District

Public Elementary School:
Mountain View Elementary School
Alderson Elementary School (Greenbrier County)

Public Middle School:
Mountain View Middle School
Eastern Greenbrier Middle School (Greenbrier County)

Public High School:
James Monroe High School
Greenbrier East High School (Greenbrier County)

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

Private Schools:
Seneca Trail Christian Academy
Greenbrier Episcopal School
Lewisburg Baptist Academy

Home schooling is very popular in Greenbrier and surrounding counties.

THE AREA

Just 30 minutes to Sandstone Falls, Bluestone Lake, Bluestone State Park and Pipestem Resort, the surrounding area offers unlimited soft recreational activities including white water rafting, golfing, fishing, camping, hiking, bird watching and rock climbing. Snow skiing at the Winterplace Resort is less than an hour away. In 10 minutes you can catch the Amtrak train in Alderson and ride to the Greenbrier Resort, Chicago or New York City. The Beckley Airport is just 45 minutes away. The new 10,000 acre Boy Scout high adventure camp is an hour’s drive and the 14,000 acre Wildlife Management Area is just across the river at Bull Falls.

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. Small-mouth bass, large-mouth 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.

Lewisburg, which is the Greenbrier County seat, was voted the Coolest Small Town in American and is just a 35-minute drive to the thriving downtown historic district. The downtown boasts a year-round live theatre, Carnegie Hall, new $3MM library, several fabulous restaurants, antique shops and boutiques. There is also a modern hospital and all attendant medical facilities along with all the big box stores. Several new schools have been built in the area.

The Greenbrier County Airport, which has WV’s longest runway, is located just 45 minutes away and has daily flights to Chicago and Washington DC. The world-famous Greenbrier Resort is 35 minutes’ drive and Snowshoe Ski Resort is about 2 hours’ drive. Blacksburg, Virginia (Vtech) is about 90 minutes away, Roanoke, Virginia, is 120 minutes, DC is 4 hours and Charlotte, North Carolina is 3.5 hours away.

The charming village of Union, which is the Monroe County seat, is a 25-minute drive. Banking, healthcare facilities, drugstore, grocery shopping and a great family restaurant are readily available. Some of the friendliest people in West Virginia can be found in Monroe County. Monroe County has a population of about 13,000 residents and does not have a stoplight and has more cattle and sheep than people. There are no fast food restaurants but there are local restaurants in the area that are well known for their good food and friendly atmosphere.

The town of Alderson is just 10 minutes away. The largest and most popular 4th of July day parade in the state is hosted by the Town of Alderson. Alderson’s amenities include churches, elementary school, motel, bank, Dollar General, Family Dollar, gas/convenience stores, medical clinic, pharmacy and restaurants. Alderson is located along the Greenbrier River in Greenbrier County and Monroe County, incorporated in 1881. Alderson was originally settled in 1777 by “Elder” John Alderson, a frontier missionary for whom the town is named Alderson is also home to “Camp Cupcake”, the minimum-security federal prison where Martha Stewart spent her vacation.

The Greenbrier Resort features an ever-expanding schedule of public events, including the underground gaming casino and the Greenbrier Classic, a nationally televised PGA tournament held in early October. The Resort opened a new $30 million training facility for professional football teams and their practices are open to the public. A 2500-seat tennis stadium to host professional and exhibition matches (The Williams sister, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe, etc.) recently played there.

SELF-SUSTAINING LIFE OFF THE GRID

Just like 150 years ago, when the first mountaineers settled the area, the property would be self-sustaining in times of necessity – even without electricity.

Fresh water for drinking and cooking would come from springs and drilled water wells (hand drawing water from the wells using a cylinder well bucket).  The ponds and forest would provide fresh food (fish, deer, and turkey). The agricultural land would be used to raise livestock, vegetable gardens, berry patches, fruit orchards, and row crops of corn, oats and barley. Bee hives would provide honey and beeswax for candles.  The vast forest would provide firewood for heating and cooking, lumber for building, maple syrup and pounds of nuts (walnuts, beechnuts and hickory nuts).

FOREST FARMING

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

Here are some specific examples of crops in each category that are currently being cultivated:

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