OVERVIEW

The 154-acre pretty Green Bank Forest borders the Monongahela National Forest and is a mix of old farms fields, streams and a mixed hardwood-pine forest. All this goes together to create the perfect recreational property. Infrastructure includes graveled interior roadways, electric service and numerous ATV and hiking trails with several cabin sites.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 154 surveyed acres in Pocahontas County, West Virginia
• Adjoins the unspoiled Monongahela National Forest
• Mature hardwood and white pine forest
• Old fields with flat ground provide private cabin sites
• A natural mountain spring with proven production
• Excellent access with 1/4 mile frontage on low traffic, 4-season state maintained road
• Dark skies with little or night pollution for star and planet gazing
• Wildlife is abundant with several fur bearing species represented
• Winged wildlife includes eagles, hawks, owls, ravens, and Neotropical songbirds
• Short drive to Snowshoe Ski Resort, Greenbank Telescope and Cass Railroad
• Varied topography with 10+ seasonal streams interspersed with flats and hillside
• Elevations run from 2898’ to 3465’
• Land legacy of wildlife management coupled with outstanding long-term forest stewardship
• Nice network of improved gravel roads and interior trails provide access to nearly every corner
• Nearby is the Greenbrier River and River Trail – perfect for anglers and water recreation enthusiasts
• Spectacular long range views
• A good percentage of commercially – operable ground supporting farming, forestry, recreation and potential for numerous future cabin sites
• Electric on the property and phone nearby
• Low taxes, low population density, little or no light pollution

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

Complementing the property’s scattered old fields and aesthetic attributes is a timber resource that is well positioned for value appreciation over the coming decade. With an attractive species mix, adequate stocking levels, and favorable diameter class distribution, the timber amenity represents a strong component of value to the investor. 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.

WILDLIFE

Green Bank Forest has an abundant wildlife population. The mixture of mature forest, emerging forest, farm fields, old fruit trees, coupled with the abundant water supply from the creek and springs, create the perfect wildlife habitat. The hardwood forest produces tons of acorns. White tail deer, wild turkey, squirrel, raccoon, fox and many species of songbirds and raptors 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 to no hunting pressure for many years.

WATER

There is one ¼ mile long blue line stream that has a flow for most of the year. There are 7 ephemeral streams and that flow during rain events and snow melt and feed the main blue line stream. There are some springs scattered about on the property, one with a proven flow over historic period of time.

MINERAL RESOURCES

All rights the owner has will convey with the property.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property has a recent boundary survey and the property lines are painted with red paint. The plats are found in the Maps and Documents section above. The boundary has been survey into 5 boundaries ranging in size from 11acres to 59 acres with all lines painted and corners set if the new owner would wish to sell off individual tracts. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

• Electric: on site
• Water: None, though a well could be drilled
• Sewer: None, though a septic system could be installed.
• Telephone: Onsite
• Internet: Possibly Frontier or Hugh’s Net
• Cellphone Coverage: None available. This is a Quiet Zone due to the Green Bank Radio Observatory being nearby

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has about ¼ mile frontage on the Green Bank Road WV RT 4, providing direct access to the public road system.

ZONING

There is no county zoning at this time. 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 currently devoted to overgrown pasture and forestland use.

DEED AND TAXES

Deed Information: Deed Book 196 Page 305, Pocahontas County, West Virginia

Total Survey Acreage: 154 acres +/-
Pocahontas County (38), West Virginia
Green Bank District (4)

TM 39 Parcels 9, 9.1, 9.2; Buffalo Mt.; Class 3
TM 40 Parcels 20 and 21; Buffalo Mt; Class 3;

2016 Total Real Estate Taxes: $1,760.03

THE SURROUNDING AREA

POCAHONTAS COUNTY

Pocahontas County, West Virginia, is set deep in the Allegheny Mountains, separating West Virginia from Virginia, and called “the birthplace of rivers”. The Greenbrier, Gauley, Elk, Cherry, Cranberry, Tygart Valley, Williams, and Shavers Fork of the Cheat rivers all begin in these pristine mountains. The area is rooted in its crystal clear streams, native brook trout, roaring waterfalls, and unique history.

Pocahontas County is a Mountain Playground. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound from Hunting on private lands and the Monongahela National Forest, and Fishing in the Greenbrier River, Shavers Fork, Buffalo Lake and the countless native trout streams, Snow Skiing at Snowshoe, and Mountain Biking at Seneca State Forest and the Greenbrier River Trail.

In historic Durbin, WV, you have the opportunity to ride & experience the sights and sounds of one of the rarest steam locomotives in existence. The DURBIN FLYER Excursion Train is powered by a rare steam locomotive; Old #3 is one of only three operating Climax geared logging locomotives on earth!

For the water enthusiast, the Greenbrier River is the last un-dammed river east of the Mississippi and offers a great float/canoe/kayak experience. The fishing for small mouth bass is considered excellent. The Greenbrier River trail is an 86-mile rails to trails system and offers exceptional hiking and biking opportunities along the scenic Greenbrier River.

Within a short drive you are located some of the finest recreational facilities in West Virginia. Snowshoe Ski Resort, whitewater rafting / fishing on the Tygart, New River and Gauley Rivers, the 48,000 acre Cranberry Wilderness, the 80,000 acre New River National Gorge National Park, and whitewater rafting / fishing on the New River and Gauley Rivers. Five other area state parks and state forests offer unlimited hiking, horseback riding, ATV riding and rock climbing opportunities. Snowshoe Ski Resort is a leisurely drive through some of the most scenic country on the East Coast. The world renowned Greenbrier Resort, home of the PGA tour, is just 1 ½ hour drive. Several other area golf courses are available in the area. The new 10,600 acre Boy Scout High Adventure Camp, Summit (home to the US and World Jamboree) offers weekend visitors ziplining and canopy tours, ropes courses, climbing and repelling, mountain biking, as well as BMX and skate plazas. Five other area state parks and state forests offer unlimited hiking, horseback riding, ATV riding, and rock climbing opportunities.

Spruce Knob, Seneca Rocks, The Cass Scenic Railroad in Cass and the National Radio Observatory in Green Bank are other area attractions that make this region of the state one of the most sought after to live and play.

THE MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST

The Monongahela National Forest was established in 1920 and is encompasses about one million acres. Located in the north central highlands of West Virginia, the Monongahela straddles the highest ridges in the State. Elevation ranges from just under 1000′ to 4863′ above sea level. Variations in terrain and precipitation have created one of the most ecologically diverse National Forests in the country.

Visitors to this beautiful forest enjoy breathtaking vistas, peaceful country roads, gently flowing streams, and glimpses of the many species of plants and animals that inhabit the Forest. You will also see a ‘working’ forest, which produces timber, water, grazing, minerals and recreational opportunities for the region and nation.

The landscape goals for management of the Monongahela are for a largely natural appearing and diverse forest, which provides outstanding dispersed recreation opportunities and supporting developed facilities. Dispersed recreation opportunities abound for hiking, backpacking, fishing, hunting, mountain biking and so on. Developed sites provide the tourism destination facilities and base camps so important to the efforts of local Convention and Visitor Bureaus, local communities, and other non-government agencies. Forest Plan Management Prescriptions favor non-motorized recreation for ecological reasons.

The forest is noted for its rugged landscape with spectacular views, blueberry thickets, highland bogs and “sods”, and open areas with exposed rocks. In addition to the second-growth forest trees, the wide range of botanical species found includes rhododendron, laurel on the moist west side of the Allegheny Front, and cactus and endemic shale barren species on the drier eastern slopes.

There are 230 known species of birds inhabiting the MNF: 159 are known to breed there, 89 are Neotropical migrants; 71 transit the forest during migration, but do not breed there, and 17 non-breeding species are Neotropical. The Brooks Bird Club (BBC) conducts an annual bird banding and survey project in the vicinity of Dolly Sods Scenic Area during migration (August – September). The forest provides habitat for 9 federally listed endangered or threatened species: 2 bird species, 2 bat species, 1 subspecies of flying squirrel, 1 salamander species, and 3 plant species. Fifty other species of rare/sensitive plants and animals also occur in the forest.

Larger animals and game species found in the forest include black bear, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, gray and fox squirrels, rabbits, snowshoe hare, woodcock, and grouse. Limited waterfowl habitat exists in certain places. Furbearers include beaver, red and gray fox, bobcat, fisher, river otter, raccoon and mink. Other hunted species include coyotes, skunks, opossums, woodchucks, crows, and weasels. There are 12 species of game (pan) fish and 60 species of non-game or forage fish. Some 90% of the trout waters of West Virginia are within the forest.

THE GREENBRIER RIVER

At 162 miles long, the Greenbrier is the longest untamed (unblocked) 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.[9]

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.

Along most of its course, the Greenbrier accommodated the celebrated Indian warpath known as the Seneca Trail (Great Indian Warpath). From the vicinity of present-day White Sulphur Springs the Trail followed Anthony’s Creek down to the Greenbrier near the present Pocahontas-Greenbrier County line. It then ascended the River to the vicinity of Hillsboro and Droop Mountain and made its way through present Pocahontas County by way of future Marlinton, Indian Draft Run, and Edray.

NEARBY HISTORIC GREENBRIER COUNTY

Lewisburg, which is the Greenbrier County seat, was voted the Coolest Small Town in America in 2011, combining the warmth of a close community with the sophistication of more urban locations. The thriving downtown historic district offers year-round live productions presented at the State Professional Theatre of WV, Carnegie Hall, distinctive dining venues, antique shops, award-winning galleries/boutiques, and two summer-season farmer’s markets. Greenbrier Valley Medical Center is a modern hospital and all attendant medical facilities, along with the many big box stores.

Lewisburg is home to the WV Osteopathic Medical School (600 students) and the New River Community and Technical College. The area is a strong economic generator with a solid workforce employed in county/state government, tourism, hospitality, medical, education, retail, construction, wood products, mining and agriculture.

The world-renowned Greenbrier Resort, with 800 rooms and 1600 employees, is located nearby in the sleepy little town of White Sulphur Springs. The 4-Star resort has a subterranean casino and is home to the PGA tour, the “Greenbrier Classic.” Several other area golf courses are available in the area – including Oakhurst Links, America’s first golf course, where guests play using old style hickory-handled clubs and ground-burrowing golf balls!

The Greenbrier County Airport with WV’s longest runway provides daily flights to Atlanta and Washington DC. A picturesque train ride from White Sulphur Springs connects the area to DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, and many other locations. By car, DC is 4 hours away and Charlotte is only 4.