PRETTY BRANCH

Sold!

Agent Contact:
Richard Grist, 304.645.7674

HIGHLIGHTS

  • 204 unbroken and unspoiled woodland acres located in the beautiful Potts Creek Valley
  • Timber resource has a capital value of $175,000 per a professional forester’s recent appraisal
  • Surrounded by the 140,000 acre pristine Jefferson National Forest
  • Shares 3miles of common boundary with the National Forest
  • One mile of crystal clear native trout stream flows through the heart of the property protected by another mile of upstream headwaters on the National Forest
  • All Mineral Rights will convey
  • Located in the sleepy hamlet of historic Waiteville
  • 90 minutes to Roanoke, Blacksburg, Lewisburg and jet airports and interstates
  • Long-range views of the Potts Creek Valley and Peters Mountain
  • Harvest ready timber provides immediate cash flow opportunities
  • Mature forest with many varieties of trees including Oak, Beech, Sugar Maple, Black Walnut, Shagbark Hickory, Black Cherry, Sassafras & Tulip Poplar
  • High percentage of trees well over 100 years old with some 200-300 years old
  • Miles of trails for hiking, ATVing & horseback riding
  • Electric & landline phone available on site
  • Exceptional residential wildlife population includes white tail deer, wild turkey, black bear, coyote, bobcat, squirrel, raccoon, opossum and chipmunk
  • Neo-tropical song birds, owls, red tail hawks, blue jays, ravens
  • Many ephemeral streams, trout stream, rock outcrops, large hollows, ridges & large flats create interesting topography
  • Mosses, ferns, wildflowers and abundant native plants cover the forest floor
  • NO light pollution sets the stage for amazing star gazing and planet observation
  • Special marsh area with an exceptional aquatic plant and wildlife community
  • Sized right for incorporating a permaculture experience and forest farming
  • The dynamic forest has been managed by a professional forester for over 50 years

WILDLIFE

Pretty Branch is the ideal wildlife preserve, considering it is surrounded by the unspoiled 140,000-acre Jefferson National Forest (shares 3 miles of common boundary line with the Jefferson). 50 years of consistent implementation and adherence to stated management goals have promoted overall wildlife health, facilitated the harvest of game, developed wildlife viewing areas, increased carrying capacity, and increased species diversity.

Pretty Branch, a pristine native trout stream, flows through the heart of the property and is a major contributor to the local ecosystem richness and diversity for both plants and animals. The branch and ephemeral streams support the surrounding aquatic plant life and create a water supported community with a wide variety of wildlife. Some of the margins of the stream are fringed by lowlands, and these lowlands support the aquatic food web, provide shelter for wildlife, and stabilize the shore of the streams. The plant life associated with the wetlands includes rushes, sedges, cattails, duckweed and algae.

There are many animals, including raccoons, opossums, wood ducks, mallards, minnows, native trout, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrat, bull frogs, eagles, hawks and redwing blackbirds associated with the riparian area along Pretty Branch.
There is the insect and microscopic world including grasshoppers, butterflies, dragonflies, pond skaters, water beetles, damselflies, tadpoles and various insect larve.

The property has a mixture of mature hardwood species, white pine and hemlock. The diverse tree species, coupled with the abundant water supply from Pretty Branch and numerous ephemeral streams, creates the perfect wildlife habitat. The miles of “edge effect” created between creeks, hollows, ridges, and rock outcrops benefit all the resident wildlife. Bald eagles, white tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox and many species of songbirds, owls and raptors make up the resident wildlife population.

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

FOREST RESOURCES

Pretty Branch’s 204 acre forest contains an outstanding timber resource composed of high-quality Appalachian hardwoods. The estimated capital value is $175,000 per a recent professional forester’s appraisal. This well managed timber resource can provide a great deal of flexibility to the next ownership in terms of potential harvest revenue and can be managed to provide cash flow opportunities to offset holding cost and long-term asset appreciation.

  • 12”-14” dbh total stand volume is 257,100 board feet
  • 16”-18” dbh total stand volume is 325,800 board feet
  • 20” dbh and up total stand volume is 267,100 board feet
  • Total stand volume is 850,000 board feet
  • Total Value of timber 12” and up is $165,874.82
  • Total Pulpwood Value is $8,797.00
  • Total Value for this stand is estimated to be $175,369.33

(SEE COMPLETE TIMBER APPRAISAL IN THE MAPS AND DOCUMENTS SECTION LOCATED IN THE GOLD COLORED BOX)

Pretty Branch is blessed with 204 beautiful forested acres that have been well tended over the past 50 years. Sustainable forestry practices have resulted in an extremely well managed forest that is highly productive. A morning walk in the forest offers a welcome respite from all the daily cares of the world. Listening to a wood thrush singing in the canopy is one dividend Wall Street can never promise.

With excellent hardwood quality, mature timber and numerous pole-sized and sawlog-sized stems, the tract’s timber resource is well-positioned for product shifts over the coming decade which will drive its long-term asset value growth. Sawlog volumes are dominated by White oak, Red oak, Sugar Maple, Yellow Poplar and Black Cherry, some of the fastest-growing species with historically strong veneer and lumber market demand. Other species include Hickory, Ash, Sycamore, Buckeye, Beech, Black Gum and Sourwood.

Several Heritage Trees can be found scattered throughout the forest and along the old field edges. These ancient trees, some 200-300 years old, have withstood the test of time, weathering ice, wind, lightning strikes, fire and of course, woodpeckers.

The forest is home to a vast array of wildlife which includes an amazing variety of song birds, owls, hawks, woodpeckers, ravens and wild turkeys. White tailed deer, raccoon, opossums, rabbits, chipmunks, coyotes, bobcats and maybe a black bear with her cubs enjoy the protection offered by the forest. The “edge effect” that is created between field and forest is the perfect habitat for all the resident wildlife.

Oak, hickory and walnut trees drop tons and tons of nuts on the forest floor each fall. Beech trees, Stag horn sumac, black cherry and tulip trees produce seeds and berries as well. The forest trees provide an important nutrient source for the animals, thereby assuring they can gain enough fat to survive the winter.

The forest floor is home to several types of mushrooms, medicinal plants, wild ginseng, ferns and cool green mosses. One could spend a lifetime getting to know this inviting environ.

The forest is healthy and there are no signs of pest infestations of Gypsy Moth. The Emerald Ash Borer and the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid are present and the Ash and Hemlock trees are severely stressed and will die out over the next decade. There have been no forest fires in the recent memory.

Some areas of property were once farmed and cleared for pasture. The fields and old cabin site have been abandoned for many decades and now contain mature timber. Not surprising, the trees, shrubs, ferns and grasses are highly productive in producing tons and tons of oxygen while at the same time eliminating huge amounts of Carbon Dioxide; Nature’s way of reducing our Carbon Footprint.

SELF-SUSTAINING LIFE OFF THE GRID

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

  • Fresh water for drinking and cooking would come from mountain springs
  • The forest would provide fresh food (deer, and turkey)
  • The flat to rolling land could be cleared for agricultural land raise livestock, vegetable gardens, berry patches, fruit orchards, and row crops of corn, oats and barley
  • Beehives would provide honey and beeswax for candles
  • The forest would provide firewood for heating and cooking, lumber for building, maple syrup and pounds of nuts (walnuts, beechnuts and hickory nuts)

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)

RECREATION AT PRETTY BRANCH

Pretty Branch offers many recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the proximity to the New River and the vastness of property itself.

Nature Viewing is first in line of recreational activities. Attentive wildlife management has been geared not to just game animals. Equal consideration has been extended to increasing the numbers and diversity of species including neo-tropical songbirds, butterflies, turtles, frogs, rabbits, chipmunks, dragonflies, owls, hawks.

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

Fishing.  Native trout can still be caught in Pretty Branch.

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

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

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

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

All Terrain Motorsports
Pretty Branch has several forest trails that are perfect for experiencing the property from an ATV or UTV. 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
Along with ATV riding, existing forest trails may be used for conventional and mountain biking, hiking or horseback riding.

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.4549985°(N), -80.429958°(W)
Address: Bear Hollar Road, Gap Mills, WV 24941; No 911 address is assigned to property without structures.
Elevation Range: 2590 ft. to 3276 ft. +/-

WATER

About 1 mile of Pretty Branch, a blue line stream with some native trout, is located near the center of the property, running from border to border. The regular flow of the branch will increase during rain events and periods of snow melt. There are several other seasonal branches feeding Pretty Branch. Pretty Branch’s water supply is protected and supplemented by another mile of upstream headwaters on the National Forest.

MINERAL RESOURCES

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

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

Most of the property boundary is common with Jefferson National Forest. The US Forest Service usually marks its boundaries with bold red paint and signage, making the boundary lines quite visible. A metes and bounds description based upon US Forest Service boundary information is contained in the current owner’s deed. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: a water well could be drilled
Sewer: a private septic system could be installed
Electricity: onsite
Telephone: onsite
Internet: Satellite
Cellphone Coverage: none currently available in this area. Satellite phones work perfectly here.

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has a deeded access of 30’ wide following the centerline of Bear Hollar Road. The 1 mile long Bear Hollar Road is a locked and gated private road servicing other residential and rural properties along its length. Pretty Branch sits at the end of this road and no one may enter Pretty Branch without the owner’s permission.

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 of septic systems and water wells. Further information on county zoning may be answered by contacting the Monroe County Commission.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

Forestland well covers this property.

DEED AND TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: DB 262 Pg. 709
Monroe County, West Virginia
Acreage: 204.50 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Monroe County (32), West Virginia
Sweet Springs District (6)
Tax Map 53 Parcel 29; Class 3

2019 Real Estate Taxes: $363.88

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Monroe County School District
Public Elementary School:
Mountain View Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Mountain View Middle School

Public High School:
James Monroe High School

REGIONAL INFORMATION

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Contact Foxfire

304.645.7674