OVERVIEW

Kuhn’s Haven is 63.64 +/- acres of land with unfinished home to make your own hidden retreat.  Located in picturesque and historic Monroe County in Sweet Springs Valley near the village of Gap Mills.  This is a great get-a-way site for your vacation home or to make the move for your permanent residence. Located in West Virginia, but within a few miles of the Virginia state line near the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, Monongahela National Forest and multiple West Virginia and Virginia State Parks, there are tons of outdoor activities off the property to enjoy.  There is a 2000 sq. foot framed in home constructed on the property and a hunting cabin that can be used as rental should you wish.

ATTRIBUTES AND HIGHLIGHTS

• One of Monroe County’s most beautiful valleys, Sweet Springs Valley, with Peters Mountain to the east and Gap Mountain to the west
• Near continental divide between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico
• 60+/- acres of woodland
• 3+/- acres of fields
• 2000 sq. foot framed in home with power, septic and well
• 1500 sq. foot basement
• Small cabin
• Perfect for recreational activities including hunting, shooting sports, ATV riding, horseback riding, hiking, camping, hunting and nature viewing
• Minutes away from Moncove Lake State Park and Wildlife Management Area
• The Hanging Rock Observatory is only 5 miles away and a great place to view Raptors, especially during migration periods
• The Sweet Springs Resort in Sweet Springs is just up Route 3. The main building was designed by Thomas Jefferson
• Surrounded by large farms and timber tracts in a nice rural neighborhood
• Superior access by state maintained paved roads – FedEx, UPS and USPS delivery
• Darkest of skies with little light pollution for star-planet gazing & astrophotography
• Gentle rolling terrain with elevations run from 2520’ to 2825’
• Just 15 minutes to Union, the Monroe County Seat
• Timber species include beautiful oaks, black walnut, poplar, white pine, maple and hickories
• Fur bearing – deer, black bear, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox, chipmunk, opossum
• Winged wildlife – eagles, hawks, owls, ravens, turkeys and Neotropical songbirds
• Low taxes, low population density
• Views of Peters Mountain
• Surface rights only are transferred

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: N 37.567166, W -80.362520
Address: 11509 Sweet Springs Valley RD, Gap Mills WV 24941
Elevation Range:   2520’ to 2825’

HOME AND OUTBUILDINGS

Highlights

• 2000 sq. foot framed in home. Half of the exterior has vinyl siding, remainder of siding is stored on site.  Exterior windows and doors are installed.  Interior rooms have been framed out but not finished.  Electricity is to the breaker box in basement but not through the home.  Septic tank system is connected to home but no interior plumbing completed.  Well on property but has not been connected to home.
• 1500 sq. foot unfinished basement with concrete walls and Styrofoam insulation. Basement opens to ground level on two sides with doors and windows installed.
• Cabin was used a home by previous owner and with a little TLC can be ready to live in while completing the home and could be used later as an Airbnb style rental property for travelers. The Cabin has its own septic system and uses same well as home.

Home Room Dimensions

Main Floor

Living Room               Length: 24′-6”; Width: 21′-7”
Kitchen                       Length: 14′-8”; Width: 17′-3”
Master Bedroom         Length: 17′-8”; Width: 14′-7”
Master Bathroom        Length: 8′-11”; Width: 7′-8”
Bedroom 2                  Length: 11′-8”; Width: 11′-11”
Bedroom 3                  Length: 12′-3”; Width: 11′-9”
Bathroom 2                 Length: 6’-0”; Width: 11′-9”
Utility Room               Length: 4′-1”; Width: 11′-9”
Covered Porch            Length: 50’; Width: 8’

Total Living Space = 2,000 Sq. Feet

Cabin Dimensions

Main Outside              Length: 24’; Width: 24’
Extension 1                 Length: 10’; Width: 10’
Extension 2                 Length: 16’-7”; Width: 8’

Outbuilding Dimensions

Outbuilding 1 near Cabin: Length: 20’-4”; Width: 18’-6”
Outbuilding 2 near House: Length: 12’; Width: 10’

MINERAL RESOURCES

West Virginia is one of the states in the US that has two separate ownership titles; those being SURFACE RIGHTS and MINERAL RIGHTS. Surface rights are conveyed with this property. The mineral rights are not conveyed with the property.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

Travel 0.2 miles from the Gap Mills Post Office east on CR 3/Sweet Springs Valley Road, right-of-way is on the left. The property has deeded 12 foot right-of-way from County Route 3 – Sweet Springs Valley Road.

UTILITIES

Water: Well in place
Sewer: Septic Tank System in place
Electricity: On-site and connected to Home and Cabin
Telephone: On-site; connected to Cabin only
Internet: Maybe possible through phone cable and satellite
Cellphone Coverage: Not available at this time

ZONING

There is currently no county zoning in Monroe County. All prospective purchasers are encouraged to contact the Monroe County Health Department for answers regarding installation utilizes. Further information on county zoning may be answered by contacting the Monroe County Commission.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The property is classed as Residential with a Land Use of Residential 1 Family

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information:
Deed Book 233/Page 627
Acreage: 63.64 +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Monroe County, West Virginia
Sweet Springs District
Tax Map 24 Parcel 27.6

2020 Real Estate Taxes: $1,465.98

WILDLIFE

The owner has created wildlife food plots in several places throughout the property. The surrounding farm lands create a constant food source and the dense pine stands on the property provide the necessary security habitat for the wildlife. The hardwood trees produce acorns, black walnuts, hickory nuts, beech nuts and loads of soft mast. White tail deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, squirrel, raccoon, fox and many species of songbirds, owls and raptors make up the resident wildlife population. It is hard to find a property that has a better mix of wildlife as there has been little hunting pressure for many years.

RECREATION

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

Cold Water Fishing can be found throughout the region. Second Creek has a special regulation section for flyfishing only, this area is only 20 minutes from property.  Also, many of the tributaries of the Greenbrier River are stocked with trout. The head waters hold the native Brook Trout. Several special regulation sections of some streams offer fly-fishing only areas. The Cranberry Back-Country area hosts 16 miles of secluded trout fishing and may only be accessed by non-motorized transportation.

The Jackson River near Hot Springs Virginia has excellent trout fishing from the Lake Moomaw/Gathright Dam downstream for several miles and many of its tributaries above the lake hold trout also.

Warm Water Fishing in the Greenbrier River and New Rivers in West Virginia and the James River in Virginia are some of the best in the region. Smallmouth bass and muskie are the big draws. The Greenbrier and James Rivers areas great for the novice kayaker or canoeist to fish, the New River is for the more experience boaters only but has the best fishing for trophy sized fish.

The New River has an excellent population of the native Eastern Highlands walleye. This walleye subspecies grows faster and produce quicker than their northern cousins. Great fishing is found on both rivers for crappie, catfish, pike and bluegill.

Hunting is available right on the property.  The owner has developed several food plots and mineral stations.  Hunting stands and easily be placed throughout the property due to the extensive timber trail network.  Whitetail deer, eastern wild turkey, squirrel and rabbits make up the most abundant game species.

Not only is there 60 acres of private hunting on the property, there are acres of wide-open public lands, West Virginia and Virginia make excellent destinations for hitting the trails on a hunt. From whitetail deer and native black bear to turkey and gray squirrels, the game is as diverse as the mountain landscape behind it. Hunting seasons start early in the spring and transition throughout the fall months. If you’re looking to connect with nature through a hunt, this is the place for you.

Wildlife Management Areas and National Forest in West Virginia and Virginia provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to disconnect from our daily lives and reconnect with nature in its purest form. Discover wildlife native to the area and explore the scenic vistas that call these areas home.

There are three Wildlife Management Areas within an hour’s drive: Moncove, Meadow River, and Bluestone Lake in West Virginia and Gathright in Virginia.  These areas provide over 34,000 acres of public land to enjoy.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the nearby James River, Jackson River, Lake Moomaw in Virginia and in West Virginia the Greenbrier River, New River, Moncove Lake and Bluestone Lake ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing.

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 with near total darkness can be still be found on the property, thereby affording the opportunity to view the night sky in all its brilliant wonder.

All Terrain Motorsports

Experience 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. Please check WV DMV regulations.

Mountain Biking and Hiking

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

GREAT EASTERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

The property is situated near continental divide between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.  The waters of Kitchen Creek flow to the Gulf of Mexico and the waters of Sweet Springs Creek flow to the Atlantic Ocean.

Kitchen Creek is part of the Second Creek drainage area which flows into the Greenbrier River between Ronceverte and Alderson.  The waters from Kuhn’s Haven make their way down the Greenbrier River to the New, Kanawha, Ohio Rivers to the mighty Mississippi and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.

Sweet Springs Creek flows into Dunlap Creek which is part of the James River drainage area which flows across the State of Virginia and enters the Chesapeake Bay, then the Atlantic Ocean.

Prior to about 1760, north of Spanish Florida, the Appalachian Divide (Eastern Continental Divide) represented the boundary between British and French colonial possessions in North America. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 separated settled lands of the Thirteen Colonies from lands north and west of it designated the Indian Reserve; the proclamation border ran along the Appalachian Divide but extended beyond its Pennsylvania-New York terminus north into New England.

​PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Monroe County School District

Public Elementary School:
Peterstown Elementary School
Mountain View Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Peterstown Middle School
Mountain View Middle School

Public High School:
James Monroe High School

Colleges:
New River Community and Technical College (Lewisburg campus)
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)

SURROUNDING AREA

SWEET SPRINGS RESORT

Sweet Springs Resort is located just a few miles northeast of the property and founded in 1792.  Once known as Old Sweet Springs, this historic resort hotel is currently undergoing renovation by the nonprofit Sweet Springs Resort Park Foundation. The property enjoys notoriety for its natural hot spring.

The area is well known for the healing waters of the numerous “Sulphur Springs”. During the 1800’s and early 1900’s, several “Sulphur Springs Resorts” flourished in the area. Most notably and still in existence are White Sulphur Springs, Warm Springs and, Hot Springs. Others included, Salt Sulphur Springs, Blue Sulphur Springs, Red Sulphur Springs, Green Sulphur Springs, Pence Springs and, Sweet Chalybeate Springs.

During the height of wealthy families’ summer treks to the Virginia springs resorts—from roughly 1800 until the Civil War—one popular circuit encompassed “the fountains most strongly impregnated with minerals, heat, fashion, and fame,” according to one chronicler. For those arriving from eastern Virginia and points northeast, the circuit started at Warm Springs northeast of Lewisburg, in the Allegheny Mountains. From there, it ran south and west to the Hot, the White Sulphur, the Sweet, the Salt Sulphur, and the Red Sulphur, then back in the opposite direction.

The waters of Sweet Springs were asserted to assist aged persons, free from organic disease, would “find youth and vigor and elasticity at the bottom of this noble fountain,” and with a daily plunge could live to the “fabled age of the crow.”  It was cautiously recommended the Sweet Springs be used for certain cases of uterine functions, dyspepsia, and nephritic affections.

MONROE COUNTY

Kuhn’s Haven is located near the charming village Gap Mills and Union is less than a 15-minute drive, which is the Monroe County seat. Banking, healthcare facilities, drugstore, grocery, hardware, auto parts and farm supply are readily available in nearby Union. There are no fast food restaurants but there are the local restaurants that are great places to meet friends and enjoy a great home cooked meal.

Some of the friendliest people in West Virginia can be found in Monroe County. With a population of about 13,000 residents and Monroe County does not have a stoplight and has more cattle and sheep than people. Monroe County is a special area with interesting folks, both “born and raised” and newer members from many different states. People from all walks of life reside in harmony in this lovely pastoral setting. Located east of Union, near Gap Mills, the parcel offers those from urban areas the opportunity for a rural retreat well within a half days drive to Washington, DC and Charlotte, NC.

Shortly after Monroe County was created, James Alexander offered 25 acres of land, including a lot for a courthouse which in time became the town of Union. On January 6, 1800, the Virginia Assembly passed an act creating the town of Union. The Monroe County Historical Society preserves several historic structures in the town, including the Caperton Law Office, Owen Neel House, Clark-Wisemen House, Ames Clair Hall, and the Old Baptist Church. The Union Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

The village of Gap Mills is 2 minutes from the property.  The community has developed local made bakery, cheese and furniture stores.  The name of the community is a portmanteau of the natural pass, or “gap” in the adjacent Gap Mountain.  Fort Henry commander Abraham Wood sent the first recorded English expedition to reach the area in 1671.

Other notable figures from the community were: Col. Andrew S. Rowan of Spanish American War fame was a native of this community. First Lieut. Percy Pharr of the World War and W. J. Humphrey, Physicist of the Meteorological Bureau, Washington, D. C., were born in Gap Mills village. L. R. Neel, manager of Middle Tenn. Experiment Station was born and reared one mile from the village of Gap Mills.

GREENBRIER VALLEY

Historic Lewisburg is located just 35 minutes to the North with all the charm of a small town and all the amenities of a larger city. Designated the “Coolest Small Town in America”, fine dining, arts and entertainment flourish in the Lewisburg area while “big box” stores like Walmart and Lowes are also available along with the Greenbrier Valley Medical Center and other medical services.

Lewisburg is also home to Carnegie Hall, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, the WV School of Osteopathic Medicine, a community college, and is the county seat for Greenbrier County. The Greenbrier Valley Airport with daily flights to Chicago, Atlanta and Washington, DC is located just outside of Lewisburg. The world famous Greenbrier Resort is 1 hour drive and Snowshoe Ski Resort is within a 2 hour drive as well.

Within an hour to two hour drive are located some of the finest recreational facilities in West Virginia. Snowshoe Ski Resort, whitewater rafting / fishing on the Greenbrier, New River and Gauley River, 2000-acre Bluestone Lake, 919,000 acre Monongahela National Forest 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.