This outstanding 215 +/- acre farming and recreational opportunity is located in the scenic mountainous region of south-central West Virginia just 10 minutes from Winterplace Ski Resort.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Large 215 +/- acre parcel surrounded by farms, residential developments, and woodland tracts
• 145 acres of pasture land or conversion to pasture land
• 70 acres of timber provide filter strips in the riparian zones
• Easy access to I-77, I-64, US Route 19 and US 460
• Daily jet flights Charleston, Beckley, Roanoke, and Lewisburg
• 10 minutes to Winterplace Ski Resort
• Near to the mighty New River, the East Coast’s whitewater rafting and fishing mecca
• Nearby are the Greenbrier River, Little Bluestone River, New River, and 2000 acre Bluestone Lake – perfect for anglers and water recreation enthusiasts
• Spectacular 360 degree long range views approaching 40 miles
• High percentage of commercially – operable ground supporting farming, forestry and recreation * Potential for numerous residential homes or cabin sites
• Elevations range from 3059’ to nearly 3248’
• Excellent year round paved state maintained access
• Electric and phone onsite
• Cell phone coverage excellent with 5G
• Potential conservation value
• Low taxes, low population density
• Star gazing and planet observation opportunities
• The Hatfield-McCoy Trail is an hour’s drive
• Conveyed surface only

OVERVIEW

The 215-acre Flat Top Farm represents an opportunity to create a classic family ownership legacy for the next generation, or to carefully craft a rural residential project for future home sites. The terrain is typical of the region and considered rolling to mountainous.

Situate near the heart of the recreation mecca of the New River Gorge, the property offers rural estate qualities with the upside potential for future residential development.

Mountain wildflowers can be enjoyed every spring and summer including the spectrum of mountain irises to daffodils. Spectacular 40 mile long views from the upper reaches.  The night sky is filled with millions of stars for hours of enjoyment.

Not surprising, the trees, shrubs and pasture grasses are highly productive in producing tons and tons of oxygen while at the same time eliminating huge amounts of Carbon Dioxide; Nature’s way of reducing our Carbon Footprint.

LOCATION

This 215 +/- acre farming, timberland-recreational opportunity is located in the scenic, mountainous region of south-central West Virginia.

Charleston is West Virginia’s state capitol and is a 90-minute drive from the Flat Top Farm. Charleston is WV’s largest city with a population of some 50,000 and a metro area of 225,000. It is the center of government, commerce, culture and industry. There is a commercial airport with daily flights to most major hubs.

Beckley is a 30-minute drive, has a population of 34,000, and is the county seat of Raleigh County. All amenities are available in Beckley. Beckley is located at the intersection of I-77, I-64 and US 19, so easy access to Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Charleston and Cincinnati is just around the corner.

Princeton, the Mercer County seat, is 55-minutes’ drive. All amenities are available in Princeton including banking, excellent healthcare facilities, pharmacies, big box stores, grocery shopping and great restaurants.

The quaint village of Athens, home to Concord University, is just 30 minutes away.

Historic Lewisburg is located just 90 minutes away with all the charm of a small town and all the amenities of a larger city. Voted “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. The Greenbrier Valley Airport has direct flights to O’Hare and Dulles.

Within an hour to two-hour drive are located some of the finest recreational facilities in West Virginia. Winterplace Ski Resort (10 minutes), Snowshoe Ski Resort, whitewater rafting / fishing on the Greenbrier, New River and Gauley River, 2000-acre Bluestone Lake, 3000 acre Summersville Lake, 919,000 acre Monongahela National Forest 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.

Located just 10 minutes from I-77, year-round access to the property is excellent.

Google Coordinates: 37.603618°(N), -81.072756°(W)
Address: Ellison Ridge Road, Flat Top, WV 25841. There is no 911 address assigned to a property without residential structures.
Elevation Range: 3059 ft. to 3248 ft. +/-

DIRECTIONS

From I-77 Ghent Flat Top Exit 28: 4.9 Miles +/- (approximately 10 minutes)

At the end of the exit ramps, turn onto Odd Road Rt. 48 toward the Marathon station and US 19; travel 3/10 mile; turn right onto US 19 South; travel 2.2 miles; turn left onto Ellison Ridge Road; travel about 180 feet; continue through right hand curve on Ellison Ridge Road; travel 6/10 mile; turn a slight left to continue on Ellison Ridge Road / Mountain View Road; travel Ellison Ridge Road an additional 1.8 miles (total distance on Ellison Ridge road is about 2.4 miles); gated property road entrance is on the left.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

The property consists of a large 40-acre pasture field that has been used to graze cattle, an area of about 20 acres that is greening where it was recently converted to pasture field, approximately 82 acres of land in the process of converting to fields, and about 70 acres of forestland primarily surrounding the property streams.

The fields lay well and would be perfect for raising vegetables, pumpkins, grapes, fruit and a host of other agricultural crops. Presently, the fields are being used as pasture for grazing several head of cattle and hay production. The boundary is fenced.

WATER

A 2-acre farm pond provides water for the cattle and good fishing.

Two separate intermittent dashed blue line streams begin on the property. One stream has its headwaters on the property for a distance of about 4/10 mile before it leaves the property and eventually flows into Flat Top Lake. The other stream has its headwaters on the property for a distance of about 1/10 mile before it leaves the property and flows into Farley Creek. This stream has its beginning as a 2-acre pond on the farm. Both streams should have water flow during rain events and periods of snow melt.

WILDLIFE

Flat Top Farm is known locally as an excellent wildlife habitat. The wildlife management parameters have remained consistent over the years providing for a well-established wildlife population.

The mixture of forest, old farm fields, present farm fields and a water supply from the farm pond, creeks and springs, create the perfect wildlife habitat. The hardwood forest produces acorns, hickory nuts beech nuts and black walnuts. White tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, raccoon, fox and many species of songbirds and raptors make up the resident wildlife population.

A number of Bald Eagles have been spotted up and down the Greenbrier and New Rivers.

MINERAL RESOURCES

This property is being conveyed surface only.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The southern boundary of the property runs with Ellison Ridge Road for about 6/10 mile and with Daisy Trail for about 265 feet. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

• Electric – Roadside
• Propane – can be delivered
• Landline Phone – Roadside
• Internet – May be available through land line
• Cable TV & Internet – DirectTV or Dish Network
• Sewer – No public sewer available at this time. Septic system commonly used
• Water – Public water is not available at this time.  However, service is in place about a mile away and is expected to be extended. Drilled water wells commonly used or develop springs
• Trash Pickup – at curbside
• Cell phone coverage is fair to excellent in this area
• USPS and Overnight Couriers deliver to the area

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The farm fronts on Ellison Ridge Road Rt. 31 for about 6/10 mile and fronts on Daisy Trail Rt. 25 for about 265 feet. The farm’s interior road joins directly to Ellison Ridge Road.

ZONING

Raleigh County has some zoning and subdivision regulations. All prospective buyers should consult the County Government and also the Health Department for regulations regarding zoning, building codes, and installation of water wells and septic systems.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The property consists of a large 40-acre pasture field that has been used to graze cattle, an area of about 20 acres that is greening where it was recently converted to pasture field, approximately 82 acres of land in the process of converting to fields, and about 70 acres of forestland primarily surrounding the property streams.

(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 5018 Pg. 4991, and DB 5056 Pg. 7713 less out sales.
Raleigh County, West Virginia
Acreage: 215 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Raleigh County (41), West Virginia
Shady Spring District (8)
Tax Map 54 Parcels 1 and 6; Class 2

2022 Real Estate Taxes: $1784

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Raleigh County School District

(A listing of the many Raleigh County schools and colleges is available on the internet.)

Public Elementary School:
Ghent Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Shady Spring Middle School

Public High School:
Shady Spring High School

Private Schools: Greater Beckley Christian School (K-12), Mabscott Christian Academy (K-12), Saint Francis DeSales Catholic School (K-8), Victory Baptist Academy (K-12)

Higher Education:
West Virginia University (Beckley Campus); Appalachian Bible College (Bradley); Concord University (Beaver Campus); Bluefield State College (Beaver Campus); Erma Byrd Higher Education Center; Southern West Virginia Community College (Beckley Campus)

RECREATION AT FLAT TOP FARM

The property offers unparalleled recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the Greenbrier River, New River, Bluestone Lake and Summersville Lake.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the three rivers and the 2000-acre lake ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing. Great fishing is found in all the rivers and lake, with small mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie and bluegill present in good numbers. Ice skating is occasionally a fun activity during the winter months.

Nature viewing is first in line of recreational activities. Attentive wildlife management has been geared not to just larger 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, eagles and hawks. White tail deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, grouse, duck, squirrel, raccoon, fox and rabbit make up the resident wildlife population. .

Stargazing-Planet Observation
Plenty of 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
• 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 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.

Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and Hiking
The gently laying land may be used for mountain biking, hiking or horseback riding. The area offers several state and national parks geared for these activities.

Snow Skiing is just minutes away at the Winter Place Ski Resort in Flat Top WV.

HEALTHCARE

Hospitals with emergency units are located nearby in Beckley and Charleston. State medical centers at Charleston and Morgantown are recognized as some of the best in the Appalachian region.  A Veterans Administration Medical Center is located at Beckley. Several medical and emergency care clinics serve the upper Kanawha Valley region, while the area’s moderate climate and access to trails, gymnasiums, and athletic centers support healthy living.

VETERANS MEDICAL

West Virginia has VA Hospitals in Beckley, Clarksburg, Martinsburg, and Huntington. Nearby Community-Based Outpatient VA Clinics are in Clarksburg, Gassaway, Parkersburg, Parsons, Petersburg, Princeton, Ronceverte/Lewisburg, South Charleston and Westover West Virginia.

TRANSPORTATION

Motor Vehicle / Interstate expressways 77 and 64 and US-19 join nearby, providing easy access to Richmond, Charlotte, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Washington, D.C. Flight / Yeager Airport, at Charleston, is the largest and busiest flight-service center in the region. Rail / The Amtrak passenger station at Montgomery is a 20-minute drive from the property and provides direct access to Charleston, Washington, Chicago, and New York City.

FIVE RIVERS AND THREE LAKES

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.

The rivers and lakes are from one to two hours from the property. Flat Top Farm is located in the heart of the recreational mecca area encompassing the Gauley River, New River, Greenbrier River, Cranberry River and Cherry River. Within this vast watershed lies the 3000-acre Summersville Lake and Summit Lake.

Great fishing is found in the rivers 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 3,000 at summer pool and is the state’s largest body of water.

THE NEW RIVER GORGE REGION OVERVIEW

The 70,000-acre New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is a unit of the United States National Park Service (NPS) designed to protect and maintain the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains. Established in 1978 as a national river, the NPS-protected area stretches for 53 miles from just downstream of Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted. The park was officially named America’s 63rd national park, the U.S. government’s highest form of protection, in December of 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a relief bill.

West Virginia is home to parts of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, a foot path that stretches more than 2,100 miles between Maine and Georgia; the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, which cuts through 16 states for 4,900 miles; the Bluestone National Scenic River; and Harpers Ferry National Historic Park. Now, over 70,000 acres of land, bordering 53 miles of the gorge, has earned the government’s protection.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is rich in cultural and natural history and offers an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities. New River Gorge is home to some of the country’s best whitewater rafting, mainly from the Cunard put-in to the Fayette Station take-out and is also one of the most popular climbing areas on the East Coast.

The New River, which drops 750 feet over 66 miles, with its Class V rapids, has long drawn adventuresome rafters and kayakers to this whitewater area. The New River, which flows northward through low-cut canyons in the Appalachian Mountains, is actually one of the oldest rivers on the planet.

Rock climbing on the canyon walls, mountain biking and hiking on trails that flank the river, and wildlife viewing—bald eagles, osprey, kingfishers, great blue herons, beavers, river otters, wild turkeys, brown bats, snakes, and black bears—are all popular activities within the park.

The New River Gorge Bridge is a work of structural art. Construction of the bridge began in 1974, and was completed in 1977. The Bridge spans 3,030 feet in length and is the third highest bridge in the U.S., at 876 ft. During Bridge Day, an annual one-day festival celebrating the construction of the Bridge, BASE jumpers launch off the 876-foot bridge and parachute down to the New River. New River Gorge is the only national park in the U.S. that permits this extreme activity.

HATFIELD-MCCOY TRAILS

The Hatfield-McCoy Trails System (HMTS) is made up of over 600+ miles of trails and located in the rich mountains of southern West Virginia. The 600+ mile HMTS is second only to the 2000 mile long Paiute ATV Trail in Central Utah.

As one of the largest off-highway vehicle trail systems in the world, HMTS is open 365 days a year and offers something for every skill level. The trail system caters to ATV, UATV, and motorbikes (dirt bikes), but hikers, mountain bikers, and horse riders can also use the trails. The trail system is a multi-county project, including West Virginia counties Logan, Kanawha, Wyoming, McDowell, Mercer, Wayne, Lincoln, Mingo, and Boone.

The name of the trail system is derived from the names of two families, the Hatfields and McCoys, who famously feuded near the West Virginia and Kentucky border after the Civil War.

Law enforcement officers patrol the trail to assure compliance with safety regulations. Motorized users of the trail system must wear a DOT-approved helmet and are prohibited from “doubling” (having a passenger), unless their vehicle is designed for two people. These rules, and a host of others, have allowed the trail system to enjoy a quality safety record, despite an increase in ATV-related injuries around the country.

WINTERPLACE SKI RESORT

Winterplace Ski Resort is located in Ghent, West Virginia on Raleigh County’s Flat Top Mountain, just five minutes off of I-77 at Exit 28 . The southernmost ski resort in West Virginia, Winterplace is a popular attraction to skiers from VA, NC, KY and OH, due to its proximity to Interstate 77. It operates in conjunction with The Resort at Glade Springs, a four season golf resort and spa. Winterplace Ski Resort is the most accessible skiing area in West Virginia, even during heavy snowstorms. The Resort features 12 lifts, 27 trails, two terrain parks and WV’s largest snowtubing park, offering 16 lanes of fun, and much more.

THE RESORT @ GLADE SPRINGS

The resort is located eight miles north of Winterplace in Daniels, West Virginia, near the intersection of I-77 and Interstate 64. It operates a spa and three golf courses. The Cobb Course and the Stonehaven Course have been rated among the top five courses in West Virginia by Golfweek Magazine; the Cobb Course, designed by George Cobb, was rated West Virginia’s best golf course in 1995. Glade Springs is also the home course for the WVU Tech men’s and women’s golf teams Glade Springs also offers horseback riding and whitewater rafting on the New River.