Lockbridge Forest is a 523 +/- acre multi-use timber investment, recreational and residential property located near the 3000-acre Summersville Lake, 2000-acre Bluestone Lake, New River, Winter Place Ski Resort, and the 80,000 acre New River Gorge National River Park.

This mountain range represents an opportunity to create a classic family ownership legacy for the next tenure. Most of the terrain is unusually gentle for the region.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 523 +/- acres multi-use timber investment, recreational and residential property
• Some timber is ready for immediate harvest producing a strong cash flow to offset purchase and holding costs
• Dark skies with little or no light pollution for star gazing and planet observation
• Miles of forest trails for ATV riding, hiking, camping, hunting and nature viewing
• Large size lends itself to create a wonderful country retreat – very private but not remote
• 20 min to the Green Sulphur Springs exit on I-64
• Jet airport with service to Chicago, Dulles, Orlando is a 45-minute drive to Lewisburg & Beckley
• Hardwood forest is comprised of Red Oak, White Oak, Hickory, Poplar and Maple
• Perfect for all water sport activities supported by the nearby Greenbrier River, New River 3000-acre Summersville Lake and the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake
• 80,000 acre New River Gorge National River Park nearby
• City amenities are 45 minutes to Beckley and Lewisburg
• 90 minutes to Charleston, the State Capitol and WV’s largest metro area and jet service
• Amazing resident wildlife population rich in diversity and ever changing
• Fur bearing – deer, black bear, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox, chipmunk, opossum
• Area winged wildlife includes Neotropical songbirds, turkey, grouse, eagles, herons, hawks, owls, ravens, king fishers, ravens, crows, and hummingbirds
• Dynamic forest with some old growth trees estimated to be 150-200 years old
• Exceptional rock outcroppings for rock climbing, bouldering and exploring
• Forest soaks up tons of Carbon Dioxide and produces tons of life giving oxygen
• A rewarding off-grid permaculture lifestyle can be easily developed
• Cell phone coverage is good with 4G service
• An easy drive to higher population areas of Charleston, Blacksburg, Roanoke, Beckley, Princeton and Lewisburg, jet airports, and 4 major interstates
• Surrounded by timber tracts and cattle farms in a nice rural neighborhood.
• Boone and Crocket country
• Elevations run from 2503 ft. to 3066 ft.
• Low taxes, low population density

LOCATION

Lockbridge Forest is located in Summers County, WV near Lewisburg, Beckley, Rainelle and the unincorporated communities of Meadow Bridge, Sandstone, Dawson and Sam Black Church.

Google Coordinates: 37.809481°(N), -80.867056°(W)
Address: Lockbridge Road RT 1, Meadow Bridge, WV 25976. No 911 address is assigned to a property without structures.
Elevation Range: 2450 ft. to 3235 ft. +/-

THE AREA

Lockbridge Forest is an easy drive of higher population areas of Charleston, Roanoke, Blacksburg, Beckley, Princeton and Lewisburg.

Hinton, Beckley & Lewisburg offer grocery stores, restaurants, banks, auto parts stores, hardware, hospital, dentists and most other city amenities. Hinton is the Summers County Seat, Beckley is the Raleigh County Seat and Lewisburg is the Greenbrier County seat and they are the economic and governmental hub of those counties.

Charleston is West Virginia’s state capitol (90 min). 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 (45 min), has a population of 34,000, and is the county seat of Raleigh County. All city amenities are available in Beckley. Beckley is located at the intersection of I-80 +/-, I-64 and US 19 so easy access to Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Charleston and Cincinnati is just around the corner.

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

Highlights:

• 30-60 min to Hinton, Beckley, Princeton, Lewisburg, 80,000 acre New River Gorge National Park, 2,000 acre Bluestone Lake, Pipestem Resort and Bluestone State Park, Sandstone Falls, Winterplace Ski Resort and the 4-Star Fayette Resort
• A picturesque Amtrak train ride from Hinton or White Sulphur Springs connects the area to DC, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, and many other locations
• Washington, DC is 5 hours and Charlotte 3 hours
• Charleston, Beckley, Lewisburg airports offer jet service to main hubs
• Charleston, the state capitol, is 90 minute drive and offers all large city amenities
• Easy access to I-64, I-80 +/-, I-79, US 460, US 19
• The Bechtel Summit Reserve, the12,000 acre Boy Scouts of America’s high adventure camp (60 min)
• The 14,000 acre Bluestone Wildlife Management Area is just up river at Bull Falls

RECREATION

The property offers unparalleled recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the nearby Fayette River, New River, New River Gorge National River Park, 3000 acre Summersville Lake and the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the nearby New River and Bluestone Lake ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing. Great fishing is found for small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill.

Nature viewing is next in line of recreational activities. Wildlife viewing is not just for larger animals. Equal consideration is given to a diversity of species including neo-tropical songbirds, butterflies, turtles, frogs, rabbits, chipmunks, dragonflies, owls, eagles and hawks. White tail deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, grouse, geese, squirrel, raccoon, fox and rabbit make up the resident wildlife population.

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

Shooting-sports devotees find all the land and privacy needed to enjoy:

• Paintball-Airsoft-Laser Tag-Archery tag
• Shotgun sport shooting including Skeet, Trap, Double Trap and Sporting Clays
• Rifle & Handgun shooting: bullseye, silhouette, western, bench rest, long-range, fast draw
• Archery and Crossbow competition shooting
• 22 single shot rifle and a few tin cans make a fun day

All Terrain Motorsports
The property is perfect for experiencing the property from an ATV or UTV. Riders are welcome to ride all public roads that do not have a painted dividing line and there are miles and miles of open roads in the area. These exciting machines handle the wide variety of the forest’s terrain.

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 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/TIMBER RESOURCES

The abundant timber resource does have some very nice timber ready for commercial harvest to generate immediate cash flow and offset holding costs.  The resource is well positioned for current timber income as well as excellent value appreciation over the coming decades. Part of the timber was lightly and selectively harvested decades ago (some areas where not harvested and now represent significant commercial value.  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 523 +/- acre forest has trees in the 20 to 150-year-old range. The forest resource is composed of upland Appalachian hardwoods. The species composition consists primarily of White Oak, Chestnut Oak, Red Maple, Sugar Maple, Poplar, Red Oak, Hickory, and a host of associated species (Sourwood, Black Walnut, Black Cherry, Basswood, Locust, Black Gum, Beech, Ironwood and Hop Hornbeam).

Several “Heritage Trees” are scattered throughout the forest and old field edges. These ancient trees, some estimated at 200 years old, have withstood the test of time, weathering flood, ice, wind, lightning strikes and fire.

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. Crops of black walnuts are produced each. Honeybees will do very well here.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

Currently, all the land is in forest. If the land were to be cleared, it would be suitable for row crops such as corn, oats, wheat, pumpkins, hay and all kinds of vegetables. A fruit orchard would also flourish here. At one time, approximately 200 acres were in agricultural production before being abandon sometime in the 1950’s.

DEED AND TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: DB 224 Pg. 673, DB 228 Pg. 638, DB 230 Pg. 411
Summers County, West Virginia
Acreage: 523.198 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Summers County (45), West Virginia
Green Sulphur District (3)
Tax Map 9 Parcels 27, 28, 41, 48

2020 Total Real Estate Taxes: $3,450.84

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property is comprised of 3 adjoining tracts of land.  Each tract has a metes and bounds description in its respective deed that are from boundary surveys performed in the 1990s and early 2000s.  The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Electric: Nearby and possibly onsite
Water: Water well could be drilled or develop a spring
Sewer: No public sewer system available. A residential septic system could be installed.
Landline Telephone: Unknown if on site
Cell phone Coverage: Good in most places with 4G
Internet: Hardwire is not on site. Satellite, Cellphone hotspot, 4G possibly
LP Gas: Available locally for delivery
Television: Direct TV, Dish

ZONING

Summers County currently has no known zoning or subdivision regulations. However, all prospective buyers should consult the County Government and also the Health Department for any changes and details regarding zoning, building codes, and installation of water wells and septic systems.

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

Property fronts a county maintained paved public road and has several miles of an internal road and trail system offering access to nearly every corner of property.

MINERAL RESOURCES

West Virginia is one of the states in the US that has two ownership titles, those being SURFACE RIGHTS and MINERAL RIGHTS. A portion of the property will convey in fee simple and a portion will convey coal only with the oil & gas and other minerals reserved.  A title search for mineral rights ownership has not been conducted. All rights the owner has will convey with the property. A mineral title search could be conducted by a title attorney at the same time when the surface title search is being conducted.

PROPERTY TYPE

The property is comprised of forestland with some wildlife food plots established throughout the property.

WILDLIFE

The nearby New River, Greenbrier River, Summersville Lake, and Bluestone Lake are major contributors to the local ecosystem richness and diversity for both plants and animals. There are many animals that live year round and at other times in the water and around the edges of the rivers/lake, including beavers, otters, minks, raccoons, opossums, blue herons, Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, king fishers, minnows, native fish, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrats, bull frogs, eagles, owls, hawks and redwing blackbirds.

The miles of “edge effect” benefit all the resident wildlife. In addition to those listed above, white tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, fox, chipmunk, and many species of songbirds make up the resident wildlife population.

Of equal importance, there is the insect and microscopic world including butterflies, dragonflies, water skaters, water beetles, damselflies, hellgrammites, tadpoles and various insect larve.

Great fishing is found in the Greenbrier River New River and Bluestone Lake with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill present in good numbers.

The rivers, lake, and creeks, and their surrounding aquatic plant life, create a water a water-supported community with a wide variety of wildlife. Much of their margins are fringed by wetlands, and these wetlands support the aquatic food web, provide shelter for wildlife, and stabilize their shores. The plant life associated with the wetland includes rushes, sedges, cattails, duckweed, bee balm and algae.

The hardwood forest of the surrounding mountains provides the essential nutrient source and produces tons of hard mast including acorns, hickory nuts, beech nuts and black walnuts. Soft mast includes stag horn sumac, black cherry, tulip poplar seeds, maple seeds, autumn olive berries and blackberries.

SELF-SUSTAINING LIFE OFF THE GRID

Just like 200 years ago, when the first mountaineers settled the area, the property can be self-sustaining in times of necessity – even without on-grid electricity.

• Solar or wind power could provide an endless supply of off grid electricity
• Fresh water for drinking and cooking would come from the drilled water well (hand drawing water from the well using a cylinder well bucket)
• Deer and turkey can supply fresh meat
• Raise chickens, pigs, cows, sheep, goats, rabbits etc.) and could be farmed with horse drawn equipment. The land would support vegetable gardens, berry patches, fruit orchards, and row crops of corn, oats and barley
• Beehives would provide honey and beeswax for candles
• The forest would provide lumber for building, firewood for heating and cooking and pounds of walnuts

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 possible 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)

THE NEW RIVER AND BLUESTONE LAKE

The property is located in the heart of the recreational mecca area and is 20 minutes to the New River, 80,000 acre New River Gorge National River Park and 35 minutes to the 2000 acre Bluestone Lake at Hinton. 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 up 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 New River is the second oldest river in the world, preceded only by the Nile; it is the oldest river in North America. The New River is unique because it begins in Blowing Rock, N.C. and flows north through Virginia into West Virginia. The Nile and Amazon are the only other major rivers that also flow north. Year after year, it produces more citation fish than any other warm water river in WV. Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, sunfish, hybrid striped bass, and muskie are all common species of fish found in the New River and Bluestone Lake.

Bluestone Lake is over 2000 acres at summer pool and is the state’s third largest body of water. Great hunting and fishing opportunities abound at the 17,632 acre Bluestone Wildlife Area adjacent to the park, Camp Creek State Forest and the 10,000 acre Beury Mountain WMA.

3000 ACRE SUMMERSVILLE LAKE

Superb water quality and sheer sandstone cliffs make the 3000 acre Summersville Lake a unique place to visit. West Virginia’s largest lake; Summersville Lake has over 28,000 acres of water and 60 miles of shoreline.

Boating, water-skiing, swimming, fishing for large- and smallmouth bass, walleye, panfish, and catfish, (trout are stocked below the dam in the spring and fall) scuba diving, picnicking, hunting, and biking are the favorite activities enjoyed by nearly one million visitors annually.

Technical rock climbing and whitewater rafting are available year round, with scheduled whitewater releases below the dam on the world class Gauley River in September and October. Adjacent to the lake is Mountain Lake Campground with cabins, camping & RV hookups and many other conveniences for guests. Sarge’s Dive Shop and the lake’s marina are located on the lake with grocery stores, restaurants, and service stations located nearby in Summersville.

SCHOOLS

Summers County School District

Public Elementary School:
Hinton Area Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Summers County Middle School

Public High School:
Summers County High School