OVERVIEW

65 acres in Almost Heaven Blue Sulphur Springs tax district, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. This remote, off-grid property is perfect for those who want to get away from it all. Located at the end of a county road, Hamilton Ridge Retreat puts you directly in touch with nature without any traffic or the hustle and bustle of life. The wooded land is impressive, and it has long-range views of the Allegheny Mountains. The property has two springs that could be developed as a water source. A small unfinished cabin would be the quintessential spot for a couple to have a quiet weekend, or it could be used as a full-time retreat. The property also includes a covered RV shelter 15 wide x 35 long and 15-foot ceiling height.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Almost Heaven Greenbrier County
• Extreme Privacy
• Good Road Access
• Mostly Wooded
• Springs On The Property
• Recent Survey
• Excellent Weekend Getaway
• Great Hunting
• A Wildlife Mecca
• Dark Sky For Stargazing-Planet Observation
• Peace And Quiet And Quiet And Peaceful
• Trails And Forgotten Roads For Hiking And Horseback Riding
• Standing Timber On The Property Conveys. An Evaluation Has Not Been Conducted

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.795857, -80.648519
Address: 3530 Hamilton Ridge Road, Alderson, WV 24910
Elevation Range: 2133.8 ft

BLUE SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY

By the early 1800’s, the Blue Sulphur Valley was already well settled. Farms and small homesteads were served by 3 main turnpikes, including the Lewisburg-Blue Sulphur, Meadow Bluff-Blue Sulphur and the Red Sulphur-Blue Sulphur Turnpikes. These turnpikes were connected to the two major overland routes of the Midland Trail and Seneca Trail. There was also a road leading to Alderson on the Greenbrier River where it connected to the C&O Railroad.

The valley became an important agricultural and timber region. Blaker’s Mill was a gristmill grinding wheat, corn, oats and barley while the Piercy’s Mill processed wool as well as grains.

In 1832, construction of the Blue Sulphur Springs Resort was begun and finished in 1839. The resort would accommodate some 350 guest who came to take the healing waters of the mineral spring with the blueish hue. The Resort was mostly burned in 1864 by Union Troops.

Traveller, General Lee’s horse was born nearby at the Hamilton Farm, in 1857 in the Blue Sulphur Springs Valley. Traveller was an American Saddlebred and as a colt, he took top honors at the Lewisburg, Virginia, fairs in 1858, 1859 and 1860. As an adult he was a sturdy horse, 16 hands tall. Iron gray in color with black points, a long mane and flowing tail. From all accounts, Traveller was difficult, high strung, a bit unruly, pranced or jigged wherever he went.  It is stated that Traveller went into battle more than any other Civil War horse. Traveller walked behind the hearse at Lee’s funeral and continued to be well cared for up until his death in June 1871.

“THE BLUE” THE BLUE SULPHUR SPRING RESORT

Mineral-spring resorts were all the rage for the rich and famous in the eastern U.S. in the 1800s, and the iridescent waters at Blue Sulphur Springs, in Greenbrier County, were no less famous than those of their extant counterparts, such as those at The Greenbrier in nearby White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and The Homestead, in Hot Springs, Virginia. Thousands once visited the Blue, though it was fated to enjoy less fame. Its pavilion is all that remains to tell the tale.

The Greek Revival pavilion at Blue Sulphur Springs is in many respects a fraternal twin of the pavilion at White Sulphur Springs, though the latter is rounded, the former, squared. A 32-foot high square structure, its monumental hip-roof is supported by 12 Doric columns and protects a marble basin which fills with spring water.

The pavilion was the focal point of a 200-room resort built by George Washington Buster in 1834 and which attracted many notable guests, including Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, Robert E. Lee, Henry Clay, and Jerome Bonaparte.

Resort physician Dr. Alexis Martin opened the nation’s first curative mud baths here, but competition from The Greenbrier and an antebellum economic downturn caused the resort to close in 1858. Briefly it was used by the Baptists of Virginia as a ministerial college.

When the Civil War broke out, the resort facilities were used by both Confederate and Union forces, and it was intentionally burned to the ground by the Union Army in the last years of the conflict. Only the pavilion survived.

On March 27, 2013, Mrs. Rebecca Lineberry generously donated the Pavilion and two acres to the Greenbrier Historical Society, leading to the formation of the Greenbrier Historical Society’s “Friends of the Blue” Committee.  In 2013,  the Blue Sulphur Springs Pavilion was placed on the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia’s Endangered Properties List, however, in 2014, an alliance of the “Friends of the Blue” Committee and many other concerned investors embarked on a rescue and rehabilitation effort, and the meticulous reconstruction of the Pavilion has been completed.  In June 2023, the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia recognized the Friends of the Blue Committee for the Blue Sulphur Springs Pavilion Restoration Project by awarding the “Most Significant Save of an Endangered Property Award.”

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 yet to be conducted. All rights the owner has will convey with the property. A title attorney could perform a mineral title search while the surface title search is being conducted.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

A recent survey plat was completed in April 2000 by Greenbrier Surveying. The survey and legal description is recorded in the records of the County Clerk of Greenbrier County.

UTILITIES

Water: None, a well could be drilled, also there are springs that could possibly be developed.
Sewer:  None
Electricity: None (a long way off the grid)
Telephone: None
Internet: Starlink and cellular hotspot
Cellphone Coverage: Good, depending on the cellular coverage provider

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property is accessed from the Blue Sulphur Springs Turnpike and then Turn onto Hamilton Ridge Rd, which is a remote county road in the Blue Sulphur Springs district. Continue driving until you reach 3530 Hamilton Ridge Rd, which is located at the end of the road in a secluded, off-grid area. State maintenance of the road stops quiet a distance from the subject property.

ZONING

Greenbrier 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.

Information can be found at the county website: http://greenbriercounty.net/ordinances.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The property has been used as a retreat and for hunting, hiking and nature observation.

(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 565 Pg. 351
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
Acreage: 65 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Greenbrier County (13), West Virginia
Blue Sulphur District (3)
Tax Map 27, Parcel 9; Class 2

2024 Real Estate Taxes: $835.00

RECREATION

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

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. Great fishing is found for small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill.

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.

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
• 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.

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

SURROUNDING AREA

Lewisburg, which is the Greenbrier County seat, was voted the Coolest Small Town in America, 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, a year-round farmer’s markets.

Greenbrier Valley Medical Center is a modern hospital and all attendant medical facilities, along with the many big box stores.

The county and city host several fairs & festivals throughout the year including The WV State Fair, a professional 4-weekend Renaissance Festival, Chocolate Festival, Taste of our Town Festival (TOOT), antique car shows, Jeep Rally, Airstream Rally, WV Barn Hunt Competition, and numerous fun parades.

Lewisburg is the home to the Greenbrier Country Public Library, a fantastic, ultra-modern public library that is open 7 days a week. The library’s services include: Reading Areas, References, Notary Public, Local History Room, Tax Forms, Fax Service, Photo Copies, Digital Printing, Inter Library Loans, Internet/Computer Access, Audio Books, eBooks, Story Hour, Video & DVD’s, Paperback Book Exchange, Literacy Tutoring, Databases, Computer Classes, Book Discussions, Children’s Programming and an Online Catalogue.

Lewisburg is also home to the modern Robert. C Byrd Medical Clinic (300 employees), 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 in the sleepy little town of White Sulphur Springs. The 4-Star resort has a subterranean casino, NFL Summer Practice Events, Tennis Exhibitions (Venus Williams, John McEnroe etc.). 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.

A picturesque train ride from Alderson connects the area to DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, and many other locations. By car, DC is 4 hours away and Charlotte is only 4.

Within a two-hour’s drive are located some of the finest recreational facilities in West Virginia. Winterplace Ski Resort, whitewater rafting / fishing on the New River and Gauley River, 2000-acre Bluestone Lake, Pipestem State Park and Resort 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. Snowshoe Ski Resort is 90-minute drive through some of the most scenic country on the East Coast. The new 12,000-acre Boy Scout High Adventure Camp and home to the US and World Jamboree is an hour’s drive.

SCHOOLS

Greenbrier County School District

Public Elementary School:
Alderson Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Eastern Greenbrier Middle School

Public High School:
Greenbrier East High School

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

Private Schools:
Greenbrier Community School (PK-8)
Greenbrier Valley Academy (2-8)
Lewisburg Baptist Academy (PK-12)
Renick Christian School (2-7)
Seneca Trail Christian Academy (PK-12)