Johnson Mountain Forest is a 555+/- acre multi-use, recreational, residential, and timber investment opportunity. With its vast, contiguous acreage, Johonson Mountain Forest presents an opportunity to create a lasting generational legacy.

Estimated $208,000 in ready to harvest timber, thereby producing a strong cash flow to offset purchase and holding costs. The vigorously growing forest is a tremendous Carbon Sink. Carbon Credits could possibly be leased to provide additional income.

Johnson Mountain’s extensive ecological and conservational values provide many essential ecosystem services, including rainwater filtration, carbon dioxide sinking, oxygen production, and wildlife habitat enhancement.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 555 acres +/- multi-use residential, farming, timber investment, and recreational property
•  From miniature plants to gigantic trees, biodiversity is exemplified by an incredible variety plants and animals
• An estimated $208,000 in valuable timber is ready for immediate harvest producing cash flow to offset purchase and holding costs
• Classic two over two farm house dating to the late 1800’s to early 1900’s
• Mature hardwood forest is comprised of Red Oak, White Oak, Hickory, Poplar, White Pine, Hemlock, and Maples
• Numerous home or cabin sites including forested and fields with long range views of mountains and valleys
• Miles of forest trails provide access to nearly every corner of the property
•  Elevations range from about 2017 ft. to 2569 ft – making for a diverse topography
• Perfectly sized to create a wonderful country retreat – private but not remote
• Laurel Creek, a blue line stream runs through the property for 1 mile
• Four intermittent streams supporting Laurel Creek lie inside the property for a total of about 1.8 miles.
• ATV riding, hiking, camping, hunting, star gazing, and nature viewing
• Perfect location to enjoy all water sport activities supported by the nearby New River, Greenbrier River, Bluestone River, and the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake
• Amazing resident wildlife population rich in diversity and ever changing
• Area fur bearing wildlife– deer, black bear, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, coyote, fox, chipmunk, opossum
• Area winged wildlife includes eagles, Neotropical songbirds, turkey, grouse, eagles, herons, hawks, owls, ravens, king fishers, ravens, crows, and hummingbirds
• The mature forest soaks up tons of Carbon Dioxide and produces tons of life-giving oxygen
• A rewarding off-grid permaculture lifestyle can be easily developed
•  Abundant mosses, lichens, liverworts, and ferns add to the biodiversity of the land
• Deep shady coves, nearly two miles of interior streams, rock outcrops, wildlife viewing areas, abandoned farm fields, 600’ vertical elevation change all combine to create a dynamic and interesting topography.
• Electric, landline telephone, and cell coverage, on site.
• Starlink Satellite is available in the area
• An easy drive to higher population areas of Princeton, Blacksburg, Roanoke, Beckley, Lewisburg and Charleston, 4 jet airports, and 4 major interstates
• 5 minutes to the 6,000-acre Camp Creek State Park and Forest
• Bluestone National Scenic River is just a couple of miles away
• 18,000-acre Bluestone Wildlife Management Area is close
• Proximity to 70,000-acre New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, America’s newest national park
• City amenities 30 minutes to Princeton, 40 minutes to Beckley
• 1 hour 40-minute drive to Charleston – WV’s State Capitol and largest metro area & jet service
• Low taxes, low population density

DIRECTIONS

From I-77 Camp Creek Exit 20: 4.6 miles (15 minutes)

At the end of the exit ramps, turn onto US 19 South; travel a short distance; turn left onto Eagle Crest Road; travel 2.2 miles; turn right onto Ellison School Road; travel 1.4 miles; turn sharp left onto Sugar Maple Drive (gravel road); travel 9/10 mile; old homeplace driveway is on the left.

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.509380°(N), -81.062590°(W)
Address: 425 Sugar Maple Drive, Camp Creek, WV 25820
Elevation Range: 2017 ft. to 2569 ft. +/-

Drive Times (approximate)

Towns and Colleges
Athens and Concord University: 30 minutes
Beckley: 40 minutes
Blacksburg, VA and Virginia Tech: 1 hour 20 minutes
Bluefield: 40 minutes
Charleston, WV: 1 hour 40 minutes
Charlotte, NC: 3 hours 15 minutes
Lewisburg: 1 hour 25 minutes
Princeton: 30 minutes
Roanoke, VA: 2 hours
Washington, DC: 5 hours 25 minutes
White Sulphur Springs: 1 hour 30 minutes
Wytheville, VA: 1 hour

Airports

Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg: 1 hour 20 minutes
Mercer County Airport, Bluefield: 45 minutes
Raleigh County Memorial Airport, Beckley: 40 minutes
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport: 1 hour 55 minutes
Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport, Blacksburg: 1 hour 15 minutes

Recreation
Golf – Elks Golf Course, Princeton: 40 minutes
Golf – Fountain Springs Golf Course: 50 minutes
Golf – Pipestem Resort State Park: 45 minutes
Golf – The Greenbrier: 1 hour 30 minutes
Lake – Bluestone Lake: 50 minutes
Resort – Pipestem Resort State Park: 45 minutes
Resort – The Greenbrier: 1 hour 30 minutes
National Park – New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, Sandstone: 55 minutes
Skiing – Winterplace Ski Resort: 25 minutes
State Fair – West Virginia State Fair, Fairlea: 1 hour 30 minutes
State Park – Camp Creek State Park & Forest: 20 minutes
State Park – Pipestem Resort State Park: 45 minutes

THE OLD HOMEPLACE

The original two-story home was constructed in the classic two over two farmhouse style.  Dating to the late 1800’s to early 1,900’s, the home features two hand cut native sandstone chimneys on either end, kitchen bathroom, bedrooms, living room, and a full length screened in front porch.

The home has a newer metal roof. In an undated renovation, it is believed the vinyl siding was installed over the home’s original chinked hand-hewn logs or perhaps solid poplar shiplap siding.

In addition to the home, there is a vintage wooden barn with metal roof, a wooden storage building, and a nice cinderblock outbuilding (possibly built as a hen house).

A quaint wooden footbridge crosses the creek.

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The 555 acres +/- 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 forest of Johnson Mountain has been well managed.  A 2024 forest-wide inventory shows a projected commercial harvest value of about $208,000 (the landowners share) that might be paid by forest products companies in a competitive sealed-bid sale.

The forest resource is composed of quality Appalachian hardwoods. This timber resource can provide a great deal of flexibility to the next ownership in terms of potential harvest revenue and could be managed to provide cash flow opportunities to offset holding cost and long-term asset appreciation.

The land is very productive for growing hardwoods with annual ring growth up to ½ inch. The timber runs consistently throughout and is good quality hardwood sawtimber and veneer with a nice component of native Eastern Hemlock and White Pine. There is a market for this timber in the area.

The abundant 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 a strong component of value to the investor.

The property has various ages of forestland, ranging from 40-year-old emerging forest in naturally regenerated old farm fields to 100-year-old full canopy stands of mature forest. The forest features a timber resource with impressive commercial and pole stocking with a solid basal area per acre. This stocking is average to above average for the region.

Diameters are well represented across the commercial and pre-commercial spectrum with a mature size class, as well as abundant pole size timber and growing stock. Average diameter with all products combined is considered average to above average for the area.

There are some trees well over 150 years old and classified as “Heritage Trees”. These amazing trees have withstood the test of time and lend an air of grace and permanency to the property.

The forest is healthy and there are no signs of pest infestations of Gypsy Moth. Emerald Ash Borer and the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid are present and most of the Ash and Hemlock trees are severely stressed and will continue to decline over the next 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 may be a few fruit trees scattered about, which were part of the early homestead. Honeybees will do very well here.

TIMBER INVENTORY

Timber Value of the timber was estimated by a professional forester to be approximately $208,000 in November 2024.

Timber data in this report are based upon a 2024 timber inventory that was conducted by an experienced professional forestry consultant.

The forester took 92 systematic samples using a basal area factor of 15 across the forest. The inventory shows 882,835 board feet of hardwood and pine/hemlock sawtimber and veneer 12” dbh and larger. The trees were measured for diameter at breast height (dbh) applying the Doyle Scale, Form Class 78 & 80.

The inventory shows forest wide 21,432 tons of pulpwood & future growing stock.

Species composition:

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:

• 19% White Oak/Chestnut Oak – 168 MBF
• 11% Red Oak Group – 103 MBF
• 29% Poplar/Cucumber/Basswood – 260 MBF
• 21% White Pine-Hemlock – 184 MBF
•   7% Hickory- 63MBF
• 11% Maples – 95
•   2% A host of associate species (Birch, Beech, Sycamore, Black Gum, Locust,) 18-MBF

DISCLAIMER: The above-listed volumes are estimates only for the benefit of the owners and are not guaranteed. Due to variations in timber utilization and logging techniques, potential buyers should make their own determination of the quantity, quality and commercial value of the timber.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

There is some open area for the original farmstead. The balance of the property is nearly all forestland containing various ages of trees.

AREA 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 miles of ephemeral stream and along with a varied topography is a major contributor to the local ecosystem richness and diversity for both plants and animals. The property’s associated streams, and feeders, create a water supported community with a wide variety of wildlife.  Some of the margins of the creeks are fringed by wetlands. These wetlands support the aquatic food web, provide shelter for wildlife, and stabilize the streambanks. Some of the plant life associated with the wetland includes rushes, sedges, cattails, duckweed, skunk cabbage, and algae.

There are many animals that live year-round, and at other times, in the water and around the edges of the area’s lakes, rivers, ponds, creeks and streams. These include 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 diverse tree species, coupled with the abundant water supply, create the perfect wildlife habitat. The miles of “edge effect” created between the access roads, forest trails, hollows, ridges, and rock outcrops benefit 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 an 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.

WATER

Laurel Creek, a blueline stream that should have waterflow nearly year-round, runs through the property for about a mile. Four intermittent streams supporting Laurel Creek lie inside the property for a total of about 1.8 miles. The intermittent streams should flow during rain events and periods of snow melt.

MINERAL RESOURCES

West Virginia is one of the states in the US that has two ownership titles, those being SURFACE RIGHTS and MINERAL RIGHTS. This property is a SURFACE ONLY ownership. The deeds to this property define various minerals and associated rights that have been excepted and reserved.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property is comprised of separate adjoining tracts of land that have separate descriptions in the deeds. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: well could be drilled
Sewer: private septic could be installed
Electricity: Onsite
Telephone: Cell phone coverage is good
Internet:  Starlink is available in the area

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has about 200 feet of frontage on Eagle Crest Road Rt. 3/1, and about 200 feet of frontage on Ellison School Road Rt. 3/2. Sugar Maple Drive Rt. 1/4 runs through the property for about 4/10 mile.

ZONING

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

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

There is some open area for the original farmstead. The balance of the property is nearly all forestland containing various ages of trees.

(This 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 830 Pg. 329, DB 833 Pg. 320, DB 834 Pg.439
Mercer County, West Virginia
Acreage: 554.37 acres +/-

Real Estate Taxes Information: 
Mercer County (28), West Virginia
Jumping Branch District (6)
Tax Map 17 Parcel 14; Class 3
Tax Map 21 Parcels 19 and 19.1; Class 3
2024 Total Real Estate Taxes: $7,527.38

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Mercer County School District

Public Elementary School:
Spanishburg Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Pikeview Middle School

Public High School:
Pikeview High School

Higher Education:
Concord University, Athens
Mercer County Technical Education Center, Princeton

RECREATION AT JOHNSON MOUNTAIN FOREST

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

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the nearby lakes and rivers 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

Lots of darkness can be still be found on the property, thereby affording the opportunity to view the night sky in all its brilliant wonder. Ideal for star walking and astrophotography too.

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.

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 HikingThe land may be used for mountain biking, hiking or horseback riding and the area offers several state and national parks geared for these activities.

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 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)

SELF SUSTAINING LIFE OFF THE GRID

Just as 150 years ago, when the first mountaineers settled the area, the property can be self-sustaining in times of necessity – even without electricity.

1. Fresh water for drinking and cooking can come from mountain springs or a drilled water well (hand drawing water from the well using a cylinder well bucket).
2. The creeks and forest can provide fresh food (deer, squirrel, rabbit, and turkey).
3. Clearing land for agriculture can provide vegetable gardens, berry patches, fruit orchards, and row crops of corn, oats and barley.
4. Bee hives can provide honey and beeswax for candles and pollenate the fruit trees.
5. The forest can provide firewood for heating and cooking, lumber for building, maple syrup and pounds of nuts (walnuts, beechnuts and hickory nuts).
6. A vineyard could be created to provide jellies, jams, juices and wines.
7. Livestock can be raised including dairy cows, chickens, geese, turkey, rabbits, goats, sheep, pigs and cattle. Milk, cheese, eggs, meat, wool, leather, fur, feather pillows and down comforters can all be produced.

PERMACULTURE FARMING

The three core tenets of permaculture are:

• Care for the earth: Provision for all life systems to continue and multiply. This is the first principle, because without a healthy earth, humans cannot flourish.
• Care for the people: Provision for people to access those resources necessary for their existence
• Setting limits to population and consumption: By governing our own needs, we can set resources aside to further the above principles. This includes returning waste back into the system to recycle into usefulness. The third ethic is sometimes referred to as Fair Share, which reflects that each of us should take no more than what we need before we reinvest the surplus.

Permaculture design emphasizes patterns of landscape, function, and species assemblies. It determines where these elements should be placed so they can provide maximum benefit to the local environment. Permaculture maximizes useful connections between components and synergy of the final design. The focus of permaculture, therefore, is not on each separate element, but rather on the relationships created among elements by the way they are placed together; the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Permaculture design therefore seeks to minimize waste, human labor, and energy input by building systems, and maximizes benefits between design elements to achieve a high level of synergy. Permaculture designs evolve over time by taking into account these relationships and elements and can evolve into extremely complex systems that produce a high density of food and materials with minimal input.

The design principles, which are the conceptual foundation of permaculture, were derived from the science of systems ecology and study of pre-industrial examples of sustainable land use. Permaculture draws from several disciplines including organic farming, agroforestry, integrated farming, sustainable development, and applied ecology. Permaculture has been applied most to the design of housing and landscaping, integrating techniques such as agroforestry, natural building, and rainwater harvesting within the context of permaculture design principles and theory.

CARBON SEQUESTRATION

The property is 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 is sequestering thousands of 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 environmental mitigation companies is a rapidly emerging financial opportunity for the property owner to receive income without placing any burden on the land. The leases can be for as little as one year.

RIPARIAN ZONES

In earlier times, before the environmental and societal values of riparian zones (RZ’s) were discovered, the RZ was commonly called a “swamp”. These enchanting areas are biologically rich and wildlife diverse, being akin to the world’s largest swamps found in the Florida Everglades and the Amazon River Basin. The mighty RZ works to provide “ecosystem services”—non-monetary benefits like clean water, clean air, carbon sequestration, and recreation for everyone.

These areas are the best of both worlds. Here you can watch for deer, squirrels, raccoon, and turkey while exploring for butterflies, turtles, frogs, crawdads, songbirds, salamanders, newts, and a host of other aquatic invertebrates, migratory birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

The RZ’s are a very productive part of the environment, more productive of vegetation, in fact, 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 RZ’s. More common riparian zone 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 the zones. Many fringe RZ’s provide the food that young fish need to survive. By slowing the flow of water, RZ’s 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.

Riparian zones add visual diversity and offer an opportunity to see many different plant and wildlife species seen nowhere else on the property.

MOSSES AND LICHENS – ANCIENT PLANTS

By Ellen McHale

Tree moss growing on the base of a tree.

Often overlooked, these tiny plants have incredible properties. From hot deserts to damp caves, they can survive in extreme conditions and play an important role in biodiverse habitats across the world.

1. Biodiversity.

From miniature plants to gigantic trees, biodiversity is the incredible variety of all life on earth. Mosses are important components of the vegetation in many regions of the world, and they make up a major part of the biodiversity in moist forest, wetland, mountain and tundra ecosystems. Moss communities offer microhabitats that are critical to the survival of a diversity of organisms. They provide valuable shelter for insects to live, lay their eggs and hunt for food.

2. They’re ancient plants.

Mosses are non-flowering plants which produce spores and have stems and leaves, but don’t have true roots. Mosses, and their cousins liverworts and hornworts, are classified as Bryophyta (bryophytes) in the plant kingdom.

They date back 450 million years, and have survived and thrived through a range of drastic climate changes. Comprised of 15,000 – 25,000 species, they occur on every continent and in every ecosystem habitable by plants that use sunlight for energy.

Among the world of plants, the bryophytes are the second most diverse group exceeded only by the angiosperms, the flowering plants (350,000 species).

3. They don’t have roots

Unlike most other plants, mosses don’t have roots. Instead, they have rhizoids, which are small hairlike structures. Their main function is anchoring the plant to rock, bark or soil. So, without roots, some moss suck nutrients up through the rhizoids and others draw in moisture and minerals from rain and the water around them through their highly absorbent surfaces.

4. They’re tougher than they look 

Mosses grow in many different environments, from cold snowy mountains to baking hot deserts. Because of their range of adaptations, they are able to occupy areas that are otherwise uninhabitable such as rocky ledges on mountainsides.

A little ‘forest’ of Haircap moss

Different species have adapted to survive in extreme conditions. Studies have shown that the lowest temperature they can photosynthesise (turn energy from sunlight into food) is around -15ºC and the highest is around 40ºC. In hot environments like prairies or deserts, one way that mosses tolerate heat is by becoming dormant. When they’re desiccated (dried out) they can survive heat much better than when they’re hydrated. Some mosses have even been known to survive temperature highs of 100ºC when dried out, and lows of -272ºC. That’s a resilient little plant right there.

4. Soaking it up

Mosses function like sponges, using their capillary spaces to hang on to water.

They help to soak up rainfall, maintain moisture in the soil below and keep conditions around them humid. This enables other plants around them to thrive, such as in habitats like marshes and woodland. Mosses also play a vital role in the development of new ecosystems. They’re among the first plant colonizers of disturbed sites, such as when an area is deforested or affected by forest fires. They stabilize the soil surface and retain water, helping new plants to grow.

6. Temperature control 

Mosses can impact the temperature of the soil, both warming it up and cooling it down depending on the environment.

In hot places, they can protect tree roots by shading and insulating the soil from high temperatures. In the Arctic they have an opposite effect on temperature. They can prevent the warmth of the sun from reaching the ground and reduce the speed at which ice thaws, keeping it cooler for longer.

7. Some mosses are luminous 

Some mosses have adapted to low light conditions and are even found growing in caves.

One of the most well-known cave mosses is Schistostega pennata, also known as dragon’s gold, which shines an emerald green color. This moss has adapted to cope with lack of light and it’s these adaptations that create the luminescence.

Protonema are thread-like structures that grow from a moss spore. Inside the protonema, the chloroplasts gather together to receive the maximum amount of available light and the lens-shaped cells help to focus the light. The reflection of light from these chloroplasts is what causes the green luminous glow.

LICHENS

Rock Tripe – A common lichen

Lichens occur from sea level to high alpine elevations, in many environmental conditions, and can grow on almost any surface. They are abundant growing on bark, leaves, mosses, or other lichens and hanging from branches “living on thin air” (epiphytes) in rainforests and in temperate woodland. They grow on rock, walls, gravestones, roofs, exposed soil surfaces, rubber, bones, and in the soil as part of biological soil crusts. Various lichens have adapted to survive in some of the most extreme environments on Earth: arctic tundra, hot dry deserts, rocky coasts, and toxic slag heaps. They can even live inside solid rock, growing between the grains (endolithic).

There are about 20,000 known species.  Some lichens have lost the ability to reproduce sexually, yet continue to speciate. They can be seen as being relatively self-contained miniature ecosystems, where the fungi, algae, or cyanobacteria have the potential to engage with other microorganisms in a functioning system that may evolve as an even more complex composite organism. Lichens may be long-lived, with some considered to be among the oldest living things. They are among the first living things to grow on fresh rock exposed after an event such as a landslide. The long life-span and slow and regular growth rate of some species can be used to date events (lichenometry). Lichens are a keystone species in many ecosystems and benefit trees and birds.

SURROUNDING AREA

Winterplace Ski Resort

The surrounding area offers unlimited soft recreational activities including white water rafting, golfing, fishing, camping, hiking, bird watching and rock climbing. Snow skiing at the Winterplace Ski Resort is a 25 minutes away. The Raleigh County Airport at Beckley is just 40 minutes away. Yeager Airport in Charleston WV is an easy 1 hour 40 minute drive and the Regional Airport in Roanoke is about a two hour drive.

The property is supported by the thriving community of Princeton. The area is a strong economic generator with a solid workforce employed in county/state government, tourism, hospitality, education, retail, construction, wood products, railroad, mining and agriculture. The surrounding area is richly blessed with a wide array of cultural events that keep life interesting and satisfying. Visit http://www.visitmercercounty.com/

Charleston is West Virginia’s state capitol and is an easy 1 hour 40 minute drive. 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 is a 40-minute drive, has a population of 34,000, and is the county seat of Raleigh County. Most all 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 world renowned 4-Star Greenbrier Resort is 90-minute drive. Several other area golf courses are available in the area. The New River Gorge recreation area offers white water rafting, rock climbing, ziplining, camping and horseback riding. The nearby and very popular 100+ mile long Hatfield-McCoy ATV trail makes for a very active recreation area.

Year round, state maintained paved roads and a private driveway provide easy access. Weekly trash pickup, daily newspaper and mail delivery is available.  UPS and FedEx service this area also.

Situate within an hour’s drive of the confluence of the New River, Bluestone River and Greenbrier River, the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake at Hinton is truly a gateway to water recreation. The 70,000 acre New River National River Park, Bluestone State Park, Pipestem State Park Resort and 18,000 acre Bluestone Wildlife Management Area are recreational cornerstones in the area. The new 12,000 acre Boy Scout high adventure camp is an hour’s drive.

PIPESTEM RESORT STATE PARK

Pipestem Resort State Park is West Virginia’s largest state park. It is nestled between Mercer and Summers Counties in southern West Virginia, and it sits on the east rim of the Bluestone River Gorge, which carves through the plateau to the scenic Bluestone River 1,200 feet below. The entire park is a fantastic destination for all outdoor enthusiasts. The park offers accommodations for guests looking for a comfortable and newly renovated lodge, an array of cabins or campsites.

Pipestem is an adventurer’s paradise – for the individual or for families seeking outdoor excitement from a variety of activities. West Virginia’s best zipline takes enthusiasts down the Bluestone gorge on ziplines at heights up to 300 feet, and then delivers them back to the top via a scenic tram ride. Other adventures satisfy a range of skill and excitement levels and include skeet shooting, axe throwing, kayaking, horseback riding, electric bikes, golf, swimming, mini golf and much more.

Pipestem Resort State Park gets its name from the native pipestem or meadowsweet plant. Native Americans and early pioneers used the hollowed-out twigs as shafts for tobacco pipes. For generations, the descendants of Scotch, Irish and English farmers farmed the relatively flat plateau on the east side of the Bluestone River Gorge. The land was rich in beauty but lacking in jobs. In the 1960s, West Virginia received financial assistance to buy property to create a park that would attract visitors to help grow the local economy. The park was built with grants provided by the Area Redevelopment Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce under the administration of President John F. Kennedy. The park officially opened on Memorial Day 1970.

CAMP CREEK STATE PARK AND FOREST

Camp Creek State Park and Forest is known for beautiful waterfalls and great camping. With nearly 6,000 acres of lush forest, 35 miles of trails and seven miles of seasonally stocked trout streams, there is something for every hiker, biker, horseback rider and angler to explore and enjoy.

Camp Creek State Park and Forest has four campgrounds, all of which include picnic tables, grills and fire rings. Camp Creek campgrounds are open year-round, weather permitting. Campsites may be reserved anytime online, by call, or at the campground office.

Mash Fork Campground offers Wi-Fi and a heated bathhouse. In its entirety, the campground includes 26 trailer/tent sites with the following options: 9 with electrical hookups, 8 with water and electric hookups, and 9 with full hookups.

Blue Jay Campground offers 12 rustic sites for tent campers.

Double C Horse and Rider Campground is perfect for those traveling on horseback. The site offers two, four or six horse occupancy sites. Riders may bring as many horses as their campsite stall accommodates.

Pack It In – Pack It Out Campground is the ideal spot for those looking to travel away from mainstream facilities. To reach the campsite, guests must hike or bike more than three miles to the Almost Heaven Road and Trail. Reservations for this remote campground are preferred.

THE BLUESTONE NATIONAL SCENIC RIVER

The Bluestone National Scenic River protects a 10.5-mile section of the Bluestone River in Summers and Mercer counties of southern West Virginia. It was created 26 October 1988 under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and is protected by the National Park Service.

The nation’s Wild and Scenic Rivers System was established for the purpose of protecting for the present, and preserving for the future, undeveloped, free-flowing rivers that possess “Outstandingly Remarkable” scenic, natural, cultural, geological and recreational values. Currently one hundred fifty-six entire rivers or sections of rivers are protected under this system of publicly owned water resources.

A section of Bluestone NSR is also protected by the West Virginia State Park System within Pipestem Resort State Park. The remaining portion is within the 18,000 West Virginia Wildlife Management Area.

Geology and Natural History

The Bluestone River and the rugged gorge it has carved make up a richly diverse and scenic area of the Appalachian Plateau. The river cuts into Mississippian and Pennsylvanian sedimentary rocks of the Mauch Chunk and Pottsville groups in southern West Virginia according to geologic mapping carried out by researchers at nearby Concord University. The modern name of the river is derived from the blueish-colored limestones exposed along the riverbed and near the canyon floor. The rim of the canyon is mostly framed by sandstone cliffs of the Mississippian-age Princeton Formation (up to 100 ft thick) and the overlying Glady Fork Member (up to 40 ft thick) of the Bluestone Formation.

More than a thousand species of plants grow in several diverse Appalachian forest habitat types. Two hundred species of birds have been spotted in the park. The Bluestone also provides excellent areas for watching many mammal, amphibian, reptile and insect species. The riverbed habitat is alive with a carpet of macro-invertebrate aquatic species and supports healthy populations of many warm water game and non-game fishes. The Bluestone River is classified as a High-Quality Warm Water Stream by the state of West Virginia.

The headwaters of the Bluestone River begin at an elevation of 3500 feet on East River Mountain near Bluefield, Virginia and flow for 77 miles to Bluestone Lake near Hinton, West Virginia at 1409 feet.

History

American Indians called the river “Momongosenka” (Big Stone River), a name believed to have been derived by their travels along ancient pathways through the boulder-strewn lower gorge. Many native prehistoric sites, from nomadic Paleo-Indian hunting camps dating back to the times of Ice-Age mammoth and mastodon, through hundreds of generations of village and burial sites of the Archaic and Woodland cultures, to the Delaware, Cherokee and Shawnee tribes of the 17th and 18th centuries, have been documented throughout the Bluestone River watershed.

In the mid-18th century European and African peoples began to explore and establish subsistence homesteads along the river. Settlers at the river’s headwaters, in present-day Tazewell County, Virginia, named the river Bluestone for the water’s course over the blue limestone streambed. At the confluence of the Bluestone and Little Bluestone rivers in the NSR near Bluestone State Park, the community of Lilly once flourished. It was condemned and residents removed prior to the construction of Bluestone Dam.

The Bluestone Turnpike is a riverbank road that was improved from the original Indian trail through the gorge. It was used by local residents who farmed and harvested timber from the area until the 1940s. Today it serves as the main trail access for park visitors.

To mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Wild and Scenic River System in October 2008, the Bluestone National Scenic River was chosen by the Department of the Interior as host and representative of the system for the official celebration of this landmark act of American environmental preservation.

Recreation and Access

Because Bluestone National Scenic River lies in a deep gorge with no immediate road access, getting to the area can be challenging. The best means of access is at its ends. At the downstream end, guests can enter through Bluestone State Park. At the upstream end, visitors can ride the seasonal aerial tram at Pipestem Resort State Park to reach the bottom of the gorge.

A hiking trail, the Bluestone Turnpike Trail, runs the length of the National Scenic River at the bottom of Bluestone Gorge. There are limited opportunities for canoeing and kayaking, with the spring paddling season most likely to provide adequate water levels. The Pipestem Tram will transport canoes and kayaks as well as bicycles for an additional charge.

Fishing is a popular activity along the Bluestone, with game fish such as smallmouth bass and bluegill being favored in the area. Hunting is also permitted in Bluestone Gorge; visitors should wear appropriate blaze-orange clothing during hunting seasons

THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK and PRESERVE

The 70,000-acre New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is a unit of the United States National Park Service (NPS) designed to protect and maintain the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains. Established in 1978 as a national river, the NPS-protected area stretches for 53 miles from just downstream of Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted. The park was officially named America’s 63rd national park, the U.S. government’s highest form of protection, in December of 2020.

West Virginia is home to parts of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, a foot path that stretches more than 2,100 miles between Maine and Georgia; the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, which cuts through 16 states for 4,900 miles; the Bluestone National Scenic River; and Harpers Ferry National Historic Park.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is rich in cultural and natural history, and offers an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities. New River Gorge is home to some of the country’s best whitewater rafting, mainly from the Cunard put-in to the Fayette Station take-out, and is also one of the most popular climbing areas on the East Coast.

Home to the New River, which drops 750 feet over 66 miles, with its Class V rapids, has long drawn adventuresome rafters and kayakers to this whitewater area. The New River, which flows northward through low-cut canyons in the Appalachian Mountains, is one of the oldest rivers on the planet.

Rock climbing on the canyon walls, mountain biking and hiking on trails that flank the river, and wildlife viewing—bald eagles, osprey, kingfishers, great blue herons, beavers, river otters, wild turkeys, brown bats, snakes, and black bears—are all popular activities within the park.

Begin your experience with a stop at Canyon Rim Visitor Center, which is situated on the edge of the gorge, for maps, current information, and chats with a park ranger. You can learn any pertinent safety protocols and visit the bookstore.

The New River Gorge Bridge is a work of structural art. Construction of the bridge began in 1974, and was completed in 1977. The Bridge spans 3,030 feet in length and is the third highest bridge in the U.S., at 876 ft. During Bridge Day, an annual one-day festival celebrating the construction of the Bridge, BASE jumpers launch off the 876-foot bridge and parachute down to the New River. New River Gorge is the only national park in the U.S. that permits this extreme activity.

President Jimmy Carter signed legislation establishing New River Gorge National River on November 10, 1978. As stated in the legislation, the park was established as a unit of the national park system “for the purpose of conserving and interpreting outstanding natural, scenic, and historic values and objects in and around the New River Gorge and preserving as a free-flowing stream an important segment of the New River in West Virginia for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.” The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Designation Act in 2021 changed the designation to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Less than 10% of the original national river was re-designated as a national park, where hunting is no longer permitted, while the remainder is a national preserve with little change.

The New River is shared by boaters, fisherman, campers, park visitors and local neighbors. The waters of the New River system contain a mosaic of hydrologic features and aquatic habitats that support a highly productive aquatic ecosystem that includes distinct populations of native fish, mussels, crayfish, and a broad array of other aquatic life, including rare amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

NEW RIVER REGION OVERVIEW

The 320-mile New River rises in the Blue Ridge region of North Carolina and flows northeastward through the Appalachian uplands to Radford, Va., where it turns northwestward and passes through a series of narrow valleys and gorges into southern West Virginia. It ends where it joins the Gauley River to form the Kanawha River. In WV, the New River is entrenched in a steep and narrow valley, the most narrow part of which is known as the “New River Gorge.”

In 1998, because of historical, economical, and cultural importance, President Clinton signed into law the New River as one of the very first American Heritage Rivers. Much of the river’s course through West Virginia was designated as the New River Gorge National River. In 2021, the area was designated as the United States’ newest National Park.

The New River is recognized as the “second oldest river in the world” and is estimated to be between 10 and 360 million years old. Its headwaters begin near Blowing Rock, NC, and is one of the few rivers in North America that flows northerly.

Class I, II, III, IV and V rapids dot the entire 320 miles of New River making it a great paddling, tubing, and white rafting adventure. Beautiful cliffs, bluffs, and mountain views make it one of the most scenic rivers on the east coast.

New River Gorge National Park includes 53 miles of free-flowing New River, beginning at Bluestone Dam and ending at Hawks Nest Lake. The New River typifies big West Virginia style whitewater. Within the park it has two very different characters. The upper (southern) part of the river consists primarily of long pools, and relatively easy rapids up to Class III. It is a big powerful river, but very beautiful, always runnable, and providing excellent fishing and camping.

There are several different river access points, and trips can run from several hours to several days. The lower (northern) section of river is often referred to as “the Lower Gorge.” In a state that is justifiably renowned for colossal rapids, the Lower Gorge has some of the biggest of the big with rapids ranging in difficulty from Class III to Class V. The rapids are imposing and forceful, many of them obstructed by large boulders which necessitate maneuvering in very powerful currents, crosscurrents, and hydraulics. Some rapids contain hazardous undercut rocks.

Prior to the rise of the Appalachian Mountains, the New River cut its bed at a time when the land sloped to the northwest. Amazingly so, as the Appalachians gradually rose around the river, the New River wore away the bedrock at the same rate the mountains formed, leaving behind towering cliffs and prominences that hover hundreds of feet about the water level.

Accounts claim that Indians referred to the New River as the “river of death,” however this origin story is likely legend. Native Americans and early European settlers regarded the New and Kanawha rivers as being one single waterway. The name “New” may have been derived when the river upstream was discovered by European explorers as the first “new” river found flowing westward.

Native American Indians used the New River as they traveled west years before the pioneers arrived. In the 1600s explorers navigating the New River thought they were close to the Pacific Ocean because of its westerly flow.

In 1671 the Batts-Fallam expedition, by way of the New River, came through to the Lurich area and ended there because the Indian guides refused to take them any farther. They carved their initials in a tree and claimed the territory for King Charles II of England. This was the first proclamation of English territory west of the Alleghenies making the New River the first gateway into the west.

Fast water, big rocks and lazy/slow stretches are features of the New River. Water sports enthusiasts will find the New River ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing. Great fishing is found in the New River with bass (largemouth, smallmouth and rock), flathead catfish, channel catfish, muskie, walleye and bluegill present in good numbers. Year after year, it produces more citation fish than any other warm water river in WV.

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 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 gorge was practically impassible before completion of the New River Gorge Bridge, near Fayetteville, WV, in 1978. The river within its gorge is one of the most popular whitewater rafting destinations in the eastern U.S. Much of the New between Hinton and Gauley Bridge is managed by the National Park Service as the New River Gorge National River.

Principal tributaries of the New in West Virginia include, from south to north, the East River, the Bluestone River, and the Greenbrier River.

Many former mining communities located on the New River in its gorge have since become ghost towns. These include Sewell, Nuttalburg, Kaymoor, Fayette, South Fayette, Hawks Nest, Cotton Hill, and Gauley, Beury and Claremont.

THE SURROUNDING BLUESTONE AREA

BLUESTONE LAKE

Amidst the beautiful scenery of southern West Virginia lies the long Bluestone Lake. This reservoir, the third largest lake in West Virginia, is popular for its fishing and other recreational activities. Bluestone Lake was formed by a concrete dam built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers across the New River to reduce flooding. Although the dam was started in 1941, its construction was delayed because of World War II, and it was not fully completed until 1952.

The lake is nearly eleven miles long, with an area of 2,040 acres during summer pool, though the water level does change frequently. The Lake can grow to over 36 miles long at flood control pool. At higher levels, the lake extends into Giles County, Virginia. The Lake’s Catchment Area is 4,565 square miles. Water levels are drawn down four feet in winter to make room for melting snow and spring rain.

Bluestone Lake, Greenbrier River and the New River are great places for fishing, and it is said that New River is the best warm-water fishery in the state. Some of the species of fish available in the lake and river are bluegill, catfish, crappie, muskellunge, and various types of bass. New River bass have set some West Virginia state records.

In addition to fishing, Bluestone Lake is fantastic for enjoying all sorts of water activities, including boating, canoeing, water skiing, and wake boarding. The lake has several boat ramps and a commercial marina for the boater’s convenience, and there are no limits to the size of boats or motors that can be on the lake.

Bluestone Lake is part of the Bluestone Wildlife Management Area, which covers an area of 18,019 acres. The Wildlife Management Area is known for having some of the best hunting in the area, and hunters and trappers will be able to catch a variety of game including white-tail deer, turkey, fox, and other animals.

One great place to enjoy the lake is at Bluestone State Park. The park has ample accommodations for those who want to stay overnight. There are a variety of camp sites – or, if you prefer a more comfortable stay, there are 26 cabins with TV’s, showers, and other modern conveniences. Park visitors can take a walk on the hiking trails, play in the swimming pool, or rent game equipment to play croquet or horseshoes. The park also has weekly events with lots of fun activities.

In addition to all the fun activities on the lake, there’s plenty more to do in the surrounding area. There are several other parks nearby, where you can enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities. You can experience some great whitewater on the New River. And the New River Gorge is well-known as a great place for rock climbing, with its many hard sandstone cliffs. If you want a break from outdoor activities, the nearby town of Hinton has many attractions. There are a variety of restaurants, shops and antique stores to browse, and museums to visit.

Historical and recreational interest located in the Bluestone area includes the outdoor musical dramas “Hatfields and McCoys” and others shows performed at Grandview Park, near Beckley. Pipestem Resort with its myriad recreational facilities is 20 minutes away, and the 80,000 acres New River Gorge National River Park, center of some of the state’s best whitewater rafting and canoeing plays an integral part of the area. Of special note are Sandstone Falls and the Visitor Center, just north of Hinton; and Bluestone National Wild and Scenic River, which flows into Bluestone Lake within the park boundaries.

BLUESTONE LAKE MARINA

Bluestone Lake Marina offers guests lake opportunities for water-oriented recreation. Depending on lake conditions, it is open from April 15th through October 15th.

At the marina you can rent fishing boats, pontoon boats, kayaks, canoes and slip rentals as well as cabin rentals conveniently located near Bluestone Lake and Bluestone State Park. Fuel, bait and snacks are available for purchase.

BLUESTONE WMA – 18,109 ACRES 

The statewide Wildlife Management Program is designed to conserve and manage high quality habitats for a variety of wildlife species and to improve public access to these resources. West Virginia provides numerous opportunities to learn and appreciate the abundant wildlife.

Bluestone Wildlife Management Area offers visitors a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities on 18,109 acres. Being adjacent to Bluestone Lake, the state’s third largest body of water, the area offers guests boating, canoeing and fishing opportunities. The section of the lake from just upstream of the Bluestone River to Bluestone Dam is in Bluestone State Park; the rest of the lake in West Virginia basin comprises Bluestone WMA.

Hunting is offered due to the wildlife management area status, and Bluestone has over 330 primitive campsites and picnic sites. Avid fishermen can enjoy float fishing and stocked trout fishing in Indian Creek. Hiking and equestrian trails are also popular.

Bicycles are permitted on main roads, day use areas and campground areas. Many of the roads leading to Wildlife Management area campgrounds are dirt roads which provide an experience similar to off-road bicycling.

BLUESTONE STATE PARK

Bluestone State Park was established in 1950 and is named after the Bluestone National Scenic River, which flows into the New River at the park. Bluestone State Park encompasses over 2,100 acres of rugged, heavily forested, mountainous terrain, and provides a variety of water-oriented activities for guests and residents of southern West Virginia. This park is five miles south of Hinton, WV.

Bluestone State Park has 26 modern, fully furnished cabins with kitchens, showers, linens, towels, cooking utensils, dishes, tableware and modern appliances. Each cabin also has a stone fireplace, grill, picnic table and campfire ring. Cabins are available for rent year-round and accommodate two to eight people. Select cabins are pet friendly. Guests also have access to nearby Pipestem Resort State Park’s indoor facilities including an indoor pool and sauna for some more rest and relaxation.

Bluestone State Park has four campgrounds with 120 campsites. The Meador Campground has 32 sites open to RVs and tents with electric and water available at seven of the sites, electric at 15 sites, and a central bathhouse also on-site. The Tent Area Campground has five rustic sites and is designed for group camping. Old Mill Campground, open to tents and RVs, has 44 rustic campsites and a central bathhouse. East Shore Campground has 39 primitive sites accessible by boat only. The campgrounds are open mid-April through late October. Campground reservations are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year. Campgrounds are open on a first-come, first-serve basis through October 31. A campsite reservation application is available here.

An extra plus is that Bluestone Park is adjacent to Bluestone Lake, the state’s third largest body of water. Due to this sizeable lake, boating and fishing are naturally an important part of the recreational opportunities at the park. The addition of hiking trails, a swimming pool, game courts, and a seasonal nature/recreation program creates a well-rounded array of activities. The proximity of Bluestone to Winter Place ski area makes the park’s rental cabins affordable accommodations for ski groups and winter vacations.

Nearby is “The Year-Round Crown Jewel of West Virginia State Parks,” Pipestem, is known for its scenic overlooks and an aerial tram ride into the Bluestone Gorge. Park amenities include an 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course with several restaurants and snack bars.

HATFIELD-MCCOY TRAILS

The Hatfield-McCoy Trails System (HMTS) is made up of over 600+ miles of trails and located in the rich mountains of southern West Virginia. The 600+ mile HMTS is second only to the 2000 mile long Paiute ATV Trail in Central Utah.

As one of the largest off-highway vehicle trail systems in the world, HMTS is open 365 days a year and offers something for every skill level. The trail system caters to ATV, UATV, and motorbikes (dirt bikes), but hikers, mountain bikers, and horse riders can also use the trails. The trail system is a multi-county project, including West Virginia counties Logan, Kanawha, Wyoming, McDowell, Mercer, Wayne, Lincoln, Mingo, and Boone.

The name of the trail system is derived from the names of two families, the Hatfields and McCoys, who famously feuded near the West Virginia and Kentucky border after the Civil War.

Law enforcement officers patrol the trail to assure compliance with safety regulations. Motorized users of the trail system must wear a DOT-approved helmet and are prohibited from “doubling” (having a passenger), unless their vehicle is designed for two people. These rules, and a host of others, have allowed the trail system to enjoy a quality safety record, despite an increase in ATV-related injuries around the country.