The 196 acre +/- Fork Mountain Forest property heavily favors outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat and fresh air conservation.

The property has been managed under West Virginia Best Management Practices minimal county zoning restrictions, allowing for the expansion of property use.  The mineral rights in title will transfer with the surface rights allowing for the possible development of available minerals, oil and gas.

• 196 +/- uninterrupted acres
• Miles of forest trails for hiking, biking and ATV riding
• Good access from County highway
• Diverse wildlife habitat and exceptional wildlife population density
• All mineral rights in title will convey
• Low population density
• Low taxes
• Little to no light pollution for spectacular stargazing and astrophotography
• Several home sites with stunning long views of distant mountains
• Near to Charleston, Roanoke, Beckley & Lewisburg with jet airports, interstates, hospitals, shopping, city amenities
• 20 minutes to the Meadow River Wildlife Management Area
• 20 minutes to New River Gorge National Park
• 40 minutes to Bluestone Wildlife Management Area
• 90 minutes to the Cranberry Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest
• Wildlife program enhances habitat, increases diversity, and promotes health
• Great access by state-maintained roads – FedEx, UPS and USPS delivery
• Cell phone coverage is excellent
• Fur bearing – deer, black bear, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox, chipmunk, opossum
• Winged wildlife – eagles, hawks, owls, grouse, ravens, turkey, woodpeckers, songbirds
• The forest produces tons of Oxygen and is a sequester of carbon dioxide
• Trees species include oaks, black walnut, poplar, maple, hickories, white pine
• Perfect for recreational activities including, ATV riding, hiking, camping, hunting and nature viewing
• The area provides exceptional quality of life values

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.890641°(N), -80.768693°(W)
Address: Simms Mountain Road RT 29/4 (Fayette Co section), Spring Dale, WV 25976. No 911 address is assigned to property without structures.
Elevation Range: 2670 ft. to 3299 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 is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Electric: Appalachian Power
Water: Well could be drilled
Sewer:  A private residential septic system could be installed
Telephone: Frontier Communications or US Cellular Home Plan
Cell phone Coverage: Excellent with 4G
Internet: Frontier Communications, US Cellular or HughesNet
LP Gas: Available locally
Television: Direct TV or Dish

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has frontage on Simms Mountain Road RT 29/4 (Fayette County section) of the public road system. There are about 1.5 miles of internal road/trail with additional trails reaching many sections of the property.

ZONING

Fayette County is subject to some zoning and subdivision regulations. All prospective buyers should consult the County Commission and also the Health Department for details regarding zoning, building codes and installation of septic systems.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The property is largely forestland.

DEED AND TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: DB 778 Pg. 286
Fayette County, West Virginia

Tax Map 121 Parcel 2; Class 3

2020 Real Estate Taxes: $1,484.18

SCHOOLS

Fayette County School District
Public Elementary School:
Meadow Bridge PK-8

Public Middle School:
Meadow Bridge PK-8

Public High School:
Midland Trail High School

Public College:
Fayette Institute of Technology

Note: Due to the property’s location to the Fayette – Greenbrier County line, Greenbrier County schools may be available.

SURROUNDING AREA

RECREATION

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

Cold Water Fishing can be found throughout the region. 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.

Warm Water Fishing in the Greenbrier River and New Rivers is some of the best in the region. Smallmouth bass and muskie are the big draws. The Greenbrier River is 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 produce quicker than their northern cousins. Great fishing is found on both rivers for crappie, catfish, pike and bluegill.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the nearby Greenbrier River, New River 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. White tail 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
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.

All Terrain Motorsports
Experience 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. Please check WV DMV regulations.

Dirt bikes can also be a lot of fun and they come in all sizes and horsepower to fit anyone who enjoys being on two wheels.

Mountain Biking and Hiking
The land may be used for mountain biking or hiking and the area offers several state and national parks geared for these activities.

Rock Climbing on the Meadow and New Rivers
183 routes with opportunities for easier traditional routes as well as hard sport routes and some mixed routes as well.

WILDLIFE

The nearby Meadow River, New River, Greenbrier River, and Bluestone Lake 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.

The miles of “edge effect” benefit all the resident wildlife. In addition to those listed above, white tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, fox, chipmunk, make up the resident wildlife population.

Area winged wildlife includes Neotropical songbirds, turkey, grouse, eagles, herons, hawks, woodcock, owls, ravens, king fishers, ravens, crows, ground nesters, and hummingbirds and many types of waterfowl

Of equal importance, there is the insect and microscopic world including butterflies, dragonflies, water skaters, water beetles, damselflies, hellgrammites, tadpoles and various insect larvae.

Great fishing is found in the Meadow River, Greenbrier River, New River and Bluestone Lake with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill present in good numbers.

The rivers, lake, and creeks, and their surrounding aquatic plant life, create a water a water-supported community with a wide variety of wildlife. Much of their margins are fringed by wetlands, and these wetlands support the aquatic food web, provide shelter for wildlife, and stabilize their shores. The plant life associated with the wetland includes rushes, sedges, cattails, duckweed, bee balm and algae.

The hardwood forest of the surrounding mountains provides the essential nutrient source and produces tons of hard mast including acorns, hickory nuts, beech nuts and black walnuts. Soft mast includes stag horn sumac, black cherry, tulip poplar seeds, maple seeds, autumn olive 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.

Here are some specific examples of possible crops:

• 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)

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The timber resource is well positioned for future timber income as well as value appreciation over the coming decades. With an attractive species mix, adequate stocking levels, and favorable diameter class distribution, the timber amenity represents an additional component of value to the investor.

The 196+/- acre forest has trees in the 25-100-year-old range. The forest resource is composed of upland Appalachian hardwoods and wetland hardwood species. The species composition consists primarily of White Pine, Poplar, Red Oak, White Oak and Hickory.

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

THE AREA

Fork Mountain Forest is an easy drive to higher population areas of Charleston, Roanoke, Blacksburg, Beckley, Princeton and Lewisburg.

Nearby Beckley & Lewisburg offer grocery stores, restaurants, banks, auto parts stores, hardware, hospital, dentists and most other city amenities. Beckley is the Raleigh County Seat and Lewisburg is the Greenbrier County seat and they are the economic and governmental hub of those counties.

Charleston is West Virginia’s state capitol (105 min). Charleston is West Virginia’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 (45 min), has a population of 34,000, and is the county seat of Raleigh County. All city 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.

The surrounding area offers unlimited recreational activities including white water rafting, golfing, fishing, camping, hiking, bird watching and rock climbing and snow skiing.

Highlights:

• 30-90 min to Beckley, Princeton, Lewisburg, 80,000-acre New River Gorge National Park, 2,000-acre Bluestone Lake, Pipestem Resort and Bluestone State Park, Sandstone Falls, Winterplace Ski Resort and the 4-Star Greenbrier Resort, 3000-acre Summersville Lake
• A picturesque Amtrak train ride from Hinton or White Sulphur Springs connects the area to DC, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, and many other locations
• Washington, DC is 5 hours and Charlotte 3 hours
• Charleston, Beckley, Lewisburg airports offer jet service to main hubs
• Charleston, the state capitol, is 1.5 hours’ drive and offers all large city amenities
• Easy access to I-64, I-77, I-79, US 460, US 19
• The Bechtel Summit Reserve, the12,000-acre Boy Scouts of America’s high adventure camp (60 min)
• The 14,000-acre Bluestone Wildlife Management Area is 40 minutes
• The 2,385-acre Meadow River Wildlife Management Area is 20 minutes
• The 47,815-acre Cranberry Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest is 90 minutes

THE NEW RIVER AND BLUESTONE LAKE
The property is located in the heart of the recreational mecca area and is 20 minutes to the New River, 80,000-acre New River Gorge National Park and 35 minutes to the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake at Hinton. 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 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.

THE GREENBRIER RIVER
The lower Greenbrier River possesses the excitement of life on one of the nation’s great wild rivers. The focus of a vast outdoor-recreation destination, it flows untamed out of the lofty Alleghenies, attracting anglers, paddlers, and naturalists from across the globe.

At 172 miles long, the Greenbrier drains over 1.5 million acres and is the longest undammed 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 the majority 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.

MEADOW RIVER WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
The Meadow River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is owned by WVDNR and WVDOH and managed by WV Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Section. It was formerly known as the Meadow River Public Hunting & Fishing Area.

In the upper vale of the Meadow River, the 2,698-acre Meadow River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) ranges across wetlands and bottoms along the river and its tributaries and climbs gentle slopes into the surrounding Allegheny foothills.

Game traditionally associated with the management area includes deer, grouse, squirrel, raccoon, turkey, woodcock, and waterfowl. Other wildlife residents include Bobcat, Coyote, Red Fox, Beaver, Mink, Muskrat, Opossum, Fox

The Meadow River Wildlife Management area is located in western Greenbrier County five miles south of Rupert and 15 miles northwest of Lewisburg. The area is accessible from exits on expressway I-64 at Dawson, WV, or Sam Black Church, WV. Larger tracts are accessible off highway US-60 on Tommy Hall Road (CR-60/18) near Rupert.