The 1084 acre Johnson Forest adjoins the George Washington National Forest for nearly 4 miles. This forest is an exceptional recreational property with valuable timber, tremendous wildlife, and miles of improved interior roads and forest trails.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 1084 acre forested mountain range
• Adjoins the George Washington National Forest for nearly 4 miles
• All mineral rights in title will convey
• 20 minutes to the Greenbrier River and 10 minutes to Tuckahoe Lake
• Well managed forest by professional foresters for over 40 years
• Valuable timber is harvest ready for immediate income
• 15 minutes to the Greenbrier Resort
• Miles of improved interior roads (graveled, ditched with culverts) wind through the property on gentle grades suitable for future residential development. Additionally, many more miles of forest trails provide superior access to nearly every part of the property
• Professionally managed wildlife program developed to enhance the habitat, increase species diversity, promote the health of the resident wildlife and increase the carrying capacity
• Interesting moss-covered rock outcrops and rock cliffs
• Permaculture lifestyle could be developed
• Surrounded by National Forest, large timber tracts and mountain farms in a nice rural neighborhood
• Darkest of skies with little or no light pollution for star and planet gazing
• Sedges, rushes, ferns, songbirds, frogs, turtles, crawdads all enjoy the seasonal creeks
• Located in ever popular Greenbrier County
• Several ancient “Heritage” trees scattered about the forest estimated at 200-300 years old
• Timber species include, oaks, walnut, poplar, maple, white pine, hemlock and hickories
• Electricity and phone is onsite with excellent cell coverage and 4G
• Winged wildlife includes eagles, hawks, owls, ravens, and Neotropical songbirds
• Diverse topography containing a mature forest, emerging forest, old fields, huge rock outcrops and ancient trees create a fascinating natural setting
• Forest is a tremendous producer of life-giving Oxygen and a major sequester of carbon
• Several dash-blueline streams flowing through the property
• State maintained road frontage for superior access
• Spectacular long-range views approaching 20 miles
• High percentage of commercially – operable ground supporting forestry, recreation and potential for numerous future cabin sites
• Perfect for shooting sports, ATV riding, horseback riding, hiking, camping, hunting and nature viewing
• Low taxes, low population density

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.746983°(N), -80.274384°(W)
Address: Tuckahoe Road RT 50, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986; No 911 address is assigned to property without structures.
Elevation Range: 2017 ft. to 3244 ft. +/-

WATER

There are six blue-line streams that have their beginning portions in the forest. Those streams support Dry Creek, and should flow during rain events and snow melt.

RECREATION AT JOHNSON FOREST

Johnson Forest offers unparalleled recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by close proximity to the Greenbrier River and New River Gorge. The 1084 acres provides the foundation for all that is the Johnson Forest.

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, hawks.

Stargazing-Planet Observation
Complete darkness can be still be found on the majority 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 River ideal for: Swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and wind-surfing.

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
Johnson Forest has miles of internal roads and miles of forest trails that are perfect for experiencing the property from an ATV or UTV. These exciting machines handle the wide variety of the Johnson Forest’s terrain. The riders can go from down along the streams, wind through the pine and hardwood forest and climb nearly 1000 feet up to the highest ridges.

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, horseback riding and hiking
The same trails used for Motorsports can also be used for mountain biking or horseback riding. The trails are designed to be on gentle grades but some trails coming off the river offer a more challenging climb.

Hunting is a first-class experience. White tail deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, grouse, 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 as there has been professional wildlife management for many years.

GREENBRIER RIVER

Johnson Forest is a 20-minute drive to the lazy Greenbrier River at Alderson. The Greenbrier River is 173 miles long is the last free flowing river east of the Mississippi. It is an excellent river to float or canoe and is well known for its large and small mouth bass fishing. It is the gateway to water recreation and fun as it is at most times lazy and easy to navigate.

CARBON SEQUESTRATION

Johnson Forest is a tremendous producer of Oxygen and Carbon Sequester. Carbon Sequestration is the act of processing carbon dioxide through sinks and stores and releasing them into the atmosphere as oxygen. With 1084 acres, the vigorously growing forest is sequestering approximately 100,000 tons of Carbon Dioxide each per year.

On average, one tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen each year. Since there are estimated to be some ½ million trees growing in the forest, there could be over 120,000 tons of Oxygen being produced each year. The forest may be supplying the needs of over 86,000 of the world’s citizens.

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 examples of crops that can 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)

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The abundant 1084-acre timber resource is well positioned for current 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 a strong component of value to the investor.

The Johnson Forest’s resource is composed of quality Appalachian hardwoods, white pine and hemlock. 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. Capital Timber Value of the timber and pulpwood has not been determined at this time but is considered substantial.

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
• A host of associate species (ash, cedar, birch, sourwood, black gum, beech)

Forest-wide, most stands are fully stocked, providing the next ownership with a great deal of flexibility in shaping their own silvicultural legacy. Stem quality forest-wide can be considered excellent with the forest containing an abundant current and future veneer source.

The property’s timber component has been well managed over the years and consists of several stands of differing age classes that have been managed under exacting silvicultural guidelines. The predominant timber stand contains 10-140-year-old stems ranging in size of 6”-40” dbh. Portions of this stand have been thinned as prudent forest management called for. Some of the stands were completely regenerated and are now young emerging forest with thousands of vigorously growing trees on each acre.

Diameters are well represented across the commercial spectrum with a notable mature size class, as well as abundant pole size timber and growing stock. Several “Heritage Trees” are scattered throughout the forest and 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 attack by the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid and the remaining 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 several 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.

WILDLIFE

Years of progressive wildlife management practices have created the quintessential 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 nearby Greenbrier River and Tuckahoe lake are major contributors to the local ecosystem richness and diversity for both plants and animals. The river and lake and their surrounding aquatic plant life create a water supported community with a wide variety of wildlife. Some of their margins fringed by lowlands, and these lowlands support the aquatic food web, provide shelter for wildlife, and stabilize the shore of the stream. The plant life associated with the wetland includes rushes, sedges, cattails, duckweed and algae.

There are many animals that live in the water and around the edges lake, river and creeks including, trout, beaver, otters, mink, raccoons, opossums, blue herons, Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, minnows, stocked fish, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrat, 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 property has a mixture of mature hardwood species. The diverse tree species, coupled with the abundant water supply from the seasonal creeks and springs, creates the perfect wildlife habitat. The miles of “edge effect” created between the creeks, hollows, ridges, rock outcrops and forest are the textbook habitat benefiting all the resident wildlife. Bald eagles, white tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox and many species of songbirds, owls and raptors make up the resident wildlife population.

The 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.

MINERAL RESOURCES

West Virginia is one of the states in the US that has two ownership titles, those being SURFACE RIGHTS and MINERAL RIGHTS. All rights the owner has will convey with the property. A confirming 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

Over the years, the property lines have been surveyed and painted. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: water well could be drilled
Sewer: private septic could be installed
Electricity: Onsite
Telephone: Onsite
Internet: possibly onsite through the phone cable or satellite
Cellphone Coverage: Excellent with 4G

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has frontage on Tuckahoe Road RT 50, containing a property road entrance. Plus, there is a deeded right-of-way and easement, 50 feet in width, running from Big Ridge Road to the property, for the purposes of ingress and egress. Johnson Forest has miles of interior roads and trails that provide access to a major portion of the 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

This property has been devoted to managed forestland for many years.

DEED AND TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: DB 494 Pg. 452; TRACT TWO
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
Acreage: 1084 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Greenbrier County (13), West Virginia
White Sulphur District (16)
Tax Map 37 Parcel 9; 1084 A GROUP 63 FEE (JOHNSON); Class 3

2018 Real Estate Taxes: $1,050.52

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Greenbrier County School District

Public Elementary School:
White Sulphur Springs 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)

THE AREA

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

The charming village of White Sulphur Springs, home to the 11,000 acre Greenbrier Resort, is a 10 minute drive. The Greenbrier Resort is widely regarded as one of the finest luxury resorts around the world. Surrounded by the Allegheny Mountains, the Greenbrier offers exclusive services and amenities such as championship golf, fine dining, more than 55 activities, designer boutiques, a world-renowned mineral spa and a 103,000 square foot gaming and entertainment venue. Banking, healthcare facilities, drugstores, grocery shopping and great restaurants are readily available in downtown.

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.

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.

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.

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 120 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 a 90 minute drive.