OVERVIEW

The Horseshoe Bend Little Farm consists of 13 rolling acres tucked away in a pretty country setting.  The pretty meadows are framed by views of distant mountains and valley farms.  The little farm’s excellent location is convenient to schools, libraries, major medical facilities, shopping as well as social, cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities.

ATTRIBUTES AND HIGHLIGHTS

• 13 acres +/- of nicely laying land allowing for multiple uses
• Ideal for developing a self-sustaining private country estate or equestrian ranch
• Garden spots, long views, a little frog pond as well as a larger farm pond
• Cell phone coverage excellent with 5G available
• Internet may be available through Frontier, Suddenlink, Cellular Hotspot or satellite
• Located in Greenbrier County between Lewisburg and Union
• Low taxes
• Excellent access fronting on a well-maintained private lane
• 20 minutes to historic Lewisburg – America’s coolest small town
• 15 minutes to Union, Monroe county’s county seat
• 25 minutes to Interstate 64 and the GVA jet airport
• 50 minutes to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Sandstone
• Long-range views of distant mountains and pastoral farms
• All Mineral Rights in title will convey
• Electric & landline phone available nearby
• Abundant wildlife with white tail deer, wild turkey, squirrels, raccoons, and chipmunks
• Neo-tropical songbirds, owls, red tail hawks, blue jays, ravens and eagles
• Mosses, ferns, wildflowers and abundant native plants cover the forest floor
• Little light pollution sets the stage for amazing star gazing and planet observation
• Sized right for incorporating a permaculture experience
• Ancient “Heritage” trees scattered about estimated at 100+ years old
• Elevations range from 2197’ to 2297’
• Vineyards and orchards do very well in this area

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.741826°(N), -80.425968°(W)
Address: G. W. Lane, Ronceverte, WV 24970.  No 911 address is assigned to property without structures.
Elevation Range: 2197 ft. to 2297 ft. +/-

DIRECTIONS

From Ronceverte, West Virginia:  3 miles +/- (10 minutes +/-)

From the bridge over the river, travel US 219 South for 1.7 miles; turn left onto Horseshoe Bend Road; travel 9/10 mile; continue straight onto Lewis Road; travel a very short distance; turn right onto G W Lane; travel 2/10 mile; the property is on the left.

NEARBY ATRACTIONS

• 15 minutes to main town Lewisburg
• 15 minutes to I-64
• 20 minutes to The Greenbrier Resort and White Sulphur Springs
• 25 minutes to Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg, WV
• 1 hour 45 minutes to Roanoke, VA
• 20 minutes to Greenbrier State Forest, Harts Run, WV
• 50 minutes to Beartown State Park
• 55 minutes to Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park
• 1 hour 15 minutes to Watoga State Park
• 50 minutes to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Sandstone
• 1 hour 15 minutes to New River Gorge Bridge, Fayetteville
• 60 minutes to Bluestone Lake, Hinton
• 1 hour 15 minutes to Lake Moomaw, Virginia
• 1 hour 30 minutes to Summersville Lake, Summersville

MINERAL RESOURCES

The mineral rights are believed to be intact and all rights the owner has will convey with the property.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

Acreage: 13 acres +/- to be determined by actual survey to separate it from a larger tract

The property will be surveyed prior to closing.

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has about 2/10 mile of frontage on GW Lane.

UTILITIES

Water: a well could be drilled is in place
Sewer: a septic system could be installed
Electricity: nearby
Telephone: nearby
Internet: HughesNet or cable may be available through Verizon or Suddenlink. Cellular hots spots.
Cellphone Coverage: Excellent with 5G

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 nearly 5 acres of cultivated land, about 4 acres of pasture, and 2 areas of wooded land totaling about 3.3 acres. The balance of the property is in fence-row growth, road-side growth, etc.

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information:
Part of DB 458 Pg. 716
Greenbrier County, West Virginia

Acreage: 13 acres +/- to be determined by actual survey to separate it from a larger tract

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Greenbrier County (13), West Virginia
Irish Corner District (8)
Tax Map 11 a portion of Parcel 38; Class 2

2021 Real Estate Taxes: $372.20 for the whole tax parcel of which the sale area is a portion.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Greenbrier County School District
Public Elementary School:
Ronceverte 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 Episcopal School (PK-8)
Greenbrier Valley Academy (2-8)
Lewisburg Baptist Academy (PK-12)
Renick Christian School (2-7)
Seneca Trail Christian Academy (PK-12)

SURROUNDING AREA

The Horseshoe Bend Little Farm is located just on the outskirts of Lewisburg, West Virginia. This beautiful property comes with a great community known for its friendly residents and laid-back lifestyle.

The Greenbrier Valley is richly blessed with a wide array of cultural events that keep life in the valley interesting and satisfying. A year-round live theater, Carnegie Hall (one of four in the USA), fine dining, art galleries and boutiques make up the thriving downtown historic district in Lewisburg.
Lewisburg was voted Coolest Small Town in America and is just a 20 minutes’ drive to complete shopping, churches, schools, medical-dental facilities, fine dining, and a modern hospital. The airport, with the longest runway in the state is just 25 minutes away and has daily flights to Chicago and Washington DC.

Lewisburg is also the county seat of Greenbrier County and 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, education, retail, construction, wood products, mining and agriculture.

For the water enthusiast, the Greenbrier River is the longest un-tamed 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 an 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 and Preserve. Five other area state parks and state forests offer unlimited hiking, horseback riding, ATV riding and rock-climbing opportunities. Snowshoe Ski Resort is a 2 hour drive through some of the most scenic country on the East Coast. The 12,000 acre Boy Scout High Adventure Camp and home to the US and World Jamboree is about an hour’s  drive.

The world-renowned Greenbrier Resort, home of the PGA tour, is just 20 minutes’ drive. Several other area golf courses are available in the area. Rock climbing, ziplining, horseback riding and the 600 + mile long Hatfield-McCoy ATV trail makes for a very active recreation area.

The charming village of Union, which is the Monroe County seat, is a 15-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 are some very nice local restaurants.

The Greenbrier County Airport, which has WV’s longest runway, is located just 25 minutes away and has daily flights to Chicago’s O’Hare and Washington DC-Dulles. The world famous Greenbrier Resort is a 20 minute drive and Snowshoe Ski Resort is about 1 1/2 hours’ drive. Roanoke, Virginia, is 2 hours, DC is 4 hours and Charlotte, North Carolina is 3 hours away.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

• There is a total of 10 acres of agricultural land with 5 acres being cropland and 5 acres in pasture. The land has historically been used to raise row crops, cattle, sheep, and livestock forage
• The land is suitable for growing crops such as corn, oats, pumpkins, grapes, apples, and many kinds of vegetables
• A few very old fruit trees can be found scattered about the neighboring properties dating back to the early settlement of the area and orchards do well in the area
• The production of maple syrup is popular in this region, and the farm has the maple tree resources to produce gallons of high-grade syrup
• Growing hemp is also gaining popularity as an agricultural crop
• Honey is also a well-established industry in the area Horseshoe Bend Little Farm consists of approximately 11 acres of pasture and cropland.
• The property perimeter is partially fenced.  There are 2 small farm ponds.
• The ongoing grassland management program is designed to increase carrying capacity and extend the grazing season.
• The well-maintained grasslands also conserve water and filter out manure and nutrients, keeping them from entering nearby water bodies, protecting water quality, human health, and animal health.

CARBON SEQUESTRATION & CARBON CREDITS

The forest and farmland are a tremendous producer of Oxygen and sequester of Carbon Dioxide. Carbon Sequestration is the act of processing carbon dioxide through sinks and stores and releasing them into the atmosphere as oxygen. The vigorously growing forest and farmland grasses are sequestering tons of Carbon Dioxide each per year and producing tons and tons of life-giving Oxygen.

This natural process allows the owner (and family/friends) the opportunity to potentially enjoy a carbon neutral footprint.

The leasing of “Carbon Credits” to mitigation companies is a rapidly emerging financial opportunity for the property owner to receive income without placing any burden to the land.  The leases can be for as little as one year.

FOREST RESOURCE

The 3 acre +/-forest resource is composed of quality Appalachian hardwoods.

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 Walnut, Sugar Maple, Poplar/Basswood, Red Oak Group, White Oak/Chestnut Oak, Soft Maple, Hickory, and a host of associated species (ash, cedar, birch, sourwood, black gum, beech).

The property’s timber component has been well managed over the years and consists of stands of differing age classes. The predominant timber stand contains 30-50-year-old stems pole size timber and growing stock. ranging in size of 10”-20” dbh  A few “Heritage Trees” are scattered along fence rows and old 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 Eastern Hemlock species is under siege by the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid and the hemlock will significantly decline over the coming decade. There have been no forest fires in recent memory.

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

There are a few fruit trees scattered about, some of which 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.

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

RECREATION AT HORSESHOE BEND LITTLE FARM

The Horseshoe Bend Little Farm offers outstanding recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the proximity to the Greenbrier River, New River, and Bluestone Lake.

Nature viewing is first in line of recreational activities. Attentive wildlife management has been geared not to just game 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 and hawks.

Stargazing-Planet Observation
Nearly complete darkness can be still be found on areas of the property, thereby affording the opportunity to view the night sky in all its brilliant wonder.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the nearby Greenbrier and New Rivers ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing.

Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and Hiking
The gently laying land may be used for conventional and mountain biking, hiking or horseback riding

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

Hunting is a first-class experience. White tail deer, black bear, fox, bobcat, wild turkey, grouse, duck, squirrel, raccoon, fox and rabbit make up the resident wildlife population. It is hard to find a property that has a better mix of wildlife.

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.

Some specific examples of crops which could possibly be 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)

WILDLIFE

Years of wildlife management practices have created the ideal wildlife preserve. Early on, management goals promoted overall wildlife health, facilitated the harvest of game, developed wildlife viewing areas, increased carrying capacity, and increased species diversity.

The Greenbrier River and New River are major contributors to the local ecosystem richness and diversity for both plants and animals. The 2 small farm ponds and the surrounding aquatic plant life create a water supported community with a wide variety of wildlife. Some of the margins of the ponds are fringed by wetlands, and these wetlands support the aquatic food web, provide shelter for wildlife, and stabilize the shore of the pond and banks downstream. The plant life associated with the wetland includes rushes, sedges, cattails, duckweed and algae.

There are many animals that live year round and at other times in the water and around the edges of the ponds including raccoons, opossums, blue herons, Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, minnows, native fish, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrats, bull frogs, eagles, hawks and redwing blackbirds.

There is the insect and microscopic world including butterflies, dragonflies, pond skaters, water beetles, damselflies, tadpoles and various insect larvae.

The very diverse tree species and reliable water supply provided by the ponds and mountain springs create the ideal wildlife habitat. The ample amount of “edge effect” created between farm fields, creeks, hollows, ridges, and rock outcrops benefit all the resident wildlife. Bald eagles, white tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox, many species of songbirds, owls and raptors make up the resident wildlife population.

The small hardwood forest 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.

SELF-SUSTAINING LIFE OFF THE GRID

Just like 200 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’s flat to rolling topography would be used to raise livestock of all kinds (chickens, pigs, cows, sheep, goats, rabbits etc.) and could be farmed with horse drawn equipment. The land would support vegetable gardens, berry patches, fruit orchards, and row crops of corn, oats and barley.
• Beehives would provide honey and beeswax for candles.
• The forest would provide firewood for heating and cooking, lumber for building, basket splints, maple syrup and pounds of nuts (walnuts and hickory nuts).

THE DYNAMIC WETLAND

In earlier times, before the environmental and societal value of wetlands was discovered, the farm’s small but dynamic wetland was commonly called a “swamp” or “bog”. This enchanting area is biologically rich and wildlife diverse, being akin to the world’s largest swamps found in the Florida Everglades and the Amazon River Basin. The small, but mighty wetland works to provide “ecosystem services”—non-monetary benefits like clean water, clean air, carbon sequestration, hunting, and yes—recreation for everyone young and old.

The wetlands are the best of both worlds. A visit begins with the periphery of the ponds to watch for deer, squirrels, raccoon, and turkey while exploring for butterflies, turtles, frogs, crawdads, song birds, salamanders, ducks, herons, newts, and a host of other aquatic invertebrates, migratory birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Wetlands are a very productive part of our environment; more productive of vegetation than some agricultural soils. This vegetation serves important purposes. It shelters and feeds many wildlife species that cannot survive elsewhere. Almost 35 percent of all rare and endangered species depend, in some way, on wetlands. More common wetland species provide enjoyment to many by serving educational, research and recreational needs. Waterfowl and many furbearers such as beaver, mink and muskrat provide both consumptive and no consumptive recreation and are dependent on wetlands. Many fringe wetlands provide the food that young fish need to survive. By slowing the flow of water, wetlands help keep banks from eroding and they trap and settle suspended silt before it smothers fish eggs and covers the insects and other animals that fish eat.

Wetlands add visual diversity to everyone’s lives. The animal trails that skirt and cross the wetlands offers an opportunity to see many different plant and wildlife species seen nowhere else on the property. The wetlands habitat walk is a relaxing and rewarding experience.