OVERVIEW

Ricottilli on Peters Creek is a great timber investment with lots of recreational value located on Peters Creek in Nicholas County.  The land has been managed for timber products for years.  Timber trails throughout the property make for great recreational activities.  Less than a 15 minute drive from Summersville Lake and Gauley River National Recreation Area.

ATTRIBUTES AND HIGHLIGHTS

• 675.18 +/- acre multi-use parcel suitable for recreation, residential, timber investment and excels as a wildlife paradise
• Clear title and the boundary lines are marked and painted
• 7 rivers and three lakes are within an average one hour’s drive. These include the New River, Gauley River, Cherry River, Cranberry River, Elk River, Greenbrier River, Bluestone River, 3,000 acre Summersville Lake, 2,650 acre Stonewall Jackson Lake and 2000 ac Bluestone Lake
• Close to proximity to National and State Parks, Wildlife Management Areas and National Forest properties
• 15 minutes to Summersville, county seat of Nicholas County
• Just over a one hour drive 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
• 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, Pittsburgh, DC, Blacksburg, Roanoke, Beckley, Princeton and Lewisburg, jet airports, and major interstates
• Convenient to I-64, I-77, I-79, US-19, US-60 and jet airports
• The vigorous forest is a steady producer of life-giving Oxygen and silently works to sequester carbon dioxide
• Over 40 years of professional forest and wildlife management
• Harvest-ready hardwood timber available to offset holding costs
• Several seasonal branches flow during snow melts and rain events
• State and County-maintained roads for superior access
• Several interior roads and trails provide access to nearly every corner of the property
• High percentage of commercially – operable ground supporting forestry, recreation and a potential for numerous future cabin sites
• Perfect for shooting sports, ATV riding, horseback riding, hiking, camping, hunting and nature viewing
• Elevations range from 1145′ to 1875′
• Potential conservation value
• Low taxes, low population density, little or no light pollution
• Nearby rivers and lakes are ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing
• Great fishing is found in the lakes and rivers. Species include small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: N 38.279204, W -80.978178
Address: 9709 Turnpike Rd, Summersville, WV 26651
Elevation Range:  1145′ to 1875′

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. The SURFACE RIGHTS are intact and all rights the owner has will convey with the property.  Mineral rights are not conveyed with this tract.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

This property is being sold by the boundary and not the acreage.

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

This property has multiple access points:

The property starts 0.5 mile east of Drennen, West Virginia on State Route 39.  The tract is on both sides of State Route 39 at this point.  The property remains south of State Route 39 and Peters Creek for another 1 mile to approximately the intersection of Jones Branch Road CR 39/38 and SR 39.

The northwest portion of property may be accessed on Deal Fork Road County Rout 39/42.  Travel approximately 0.2 miles to gas well access road on right, foot travel only from this point.

The northeast section of the property is accessed off of Sulobon Lane, a private road.  Travel approximately 450 feet to gas well access on left, foot travel only from this point.

UTILITIES

Water: Public water on State Route 39
Sewer: Public not available, private septic tank may be installed
Electricity: NE and NW tracts have power lines crossing over them.  Southern part of tract has power lines on the property by railroad tracks.
Telephone: Along State Route 39
Internet: Available through telephone company or cellphone companies
Cellphone Coverage: very good throughout property

ZONING

Nicholas County has no zoning regulations in effect other than that which is enacted and enforced within the city limits of Summersville and Richwood.

As of April 1994 Nicholas County was reinstated into the National Flood Insurance Program. Therefore, any person undertaking new construction, substantial improvement, the placement of relocation of any structure (including manufactured homes), will need to apply for a permit with the Nicholas County’s Flood Plain Administrator to decide if location is within a flood plain.

A permit is also required from the Nicholas County Health Department for septic systems.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The property consists of various ages of forestland. A utility lines run across the northwestern and northeastern sections of the property for some 1,600’ and 550’, respectively. Northfolk Southern Railroad right-a-way runs across approximately 6,500’ of the property.  There is a small contour mining area from the 1950’s and 1960’s than has naturally revegetated and regenerated into nice timber, grasses and shrubs.

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: Book 383 Page 637 & Book 327 Page 347
Acreage: 675.18 +/-
Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Nicholas County, West Virginia
Grant District
Tax Maps/Parcels
12/12 – 11.22 Acres
13/9 – 98.37 Acres
13/102 – 189.59 Acres
15/3 – 370.21 Acres
2020 Real Estate Taxes: $1,771.96

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Nicholas County School District
Public Elementary School:
Zela Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Summersville Middle School

Public High School:
Nicholas County High School

Colleges:
Nicholas County Career and Technical College – Richwood
New River Community and Technical College (Nicholas County Campus)

Private Schools:
New Life Christian Academy (PK-12)
Summersville Seventh Day Adventist (K-8)

RECREATION AT RICOTILLI ON PETERS CREEK

The Ricottilli on Peters Creek offers many recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the proximity to the recreation mecca of the Summersville Lake and Gauley River National Recreation Area.

Nature viewing – Attentive wildlife management has been geared not just too game animals. Equal consideration has been extended to increasing the numbers and diversity of species including neo-tropical songbirds, butterflies, turtles, frogs, rabbits, chipmunks, dragonflies, owls, hawks.

Stargazing-Planet Observation-Astrophotography

Complete to semi-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, Gauley River, Cranberry River, Elk River, Greenbrier River, Bluestone River and Cherry River ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing. The 7 rivers and the 2700 acre Summersville Lake, 2650 acre Stonewall Jackson Lake and 2000 acre Bluestone Lake are all within an easy one hour’s drive. Great fishing is found in the 7 rivers and three lakes. Species include small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill.

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

Ricottilli on Peters Creek has several forest trails that are perfect for experiencing the property from an ATV or UTV, and Rock Crawlers. 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.

Hunting is a first-class experience. White tail deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, 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.

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 like 200 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 springs or a drilled well
• The forest would provide fresh food (deer, squirrel and turkey)
• More land could be cleared, and the land would be used to 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 (beechnuts and hickory nuts)

WATER

Peters Creek is a perennial (blue line) stream that flows along and through the northeast portion of the property for approximately 1.75 miles and which all run off from on property intermittent and ephemeral streams flow into. There are over 1.5 miles of intermittent (dashed blue line) streams that flow into Peters Creek from the property.  There are approximately 3.5 miles of ephemeral branches on the property that feed into Peters Creek either directly or by the intermittent streams. There should be frequent water flow in the streams and branches, particularly during rain events and periods of snow melt. Numerous springs may be found throughout the property.

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The Property’s timber resource, 675.18 acres +/-, is composed of some very quality Appalachian hardwoods. Some of this timber may contain veneer logs for export. This 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.

• Prudent forest management called for timed selective harvests on portions of the forest under the supervision of a registered forester. Residual timber in these areas are considered well stocked.
• The remaining portion of the forest has not been harvested for many decades. No capital value on this area has been established.
• Timber stands are generally fully stocked with excellent stem quality.

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:

• Black Cherry
• Sugar Maple
• Poplar/Cucumber/Basswood
• Red Oak Group
• White Oak/Chestnut Oak
• Soft Maple
• Hickory
• As well as a host of other species (birch, beech, sassafras, wahoo, buckeye)

Forest-wide, most stands are fully stocked, providing the next ownership with a great deal of flexibility in shaping their own silvicultural legacy.  Many sections of the forest are ready for a selective thinning which will generate considerable income.

Diameters are well represented across the commercial spectrum with a notable mature size class, as well as abundant pole size timber and growing stock.

Several “Heritage Trees” are scattered throughout the forest creekside edges. These ancient trees, some 100-200 years old, have withstood the test of time, weathering ice, wind, lightning strikes and fire. The forest is healthy and presently there are no signs of pest infestations of Gypsy Moth. The Emerald Ash Borer and Hemlock Wooly adelgid are present and the Ash component will be eliminated by the borer in the next decade.

The forest floor is home to several types of mushrooms, medicinal plants, wild ginseng, ferns and cool green mosses.

SEVEN RIVERS AND THREE LAKES

These rivers and lakes are within an easy one hour’s drive from the property.  Ricottilli on Peters Creek is located in the heart of the recreational mecca area encompassing the New River, Gauley River, Cherry River, Cranberry River, Elk River, Greenbrier River and Bluestone River. Within this vast watershed lies the 2,700 acre Summersville Lake, 2,650 acre Stonewall Jackson Lake and 2000 acre Bluestone Lake.

The nearby rivers and lakes 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.

Great fishing is found in these rivers and lakes with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill present in good numbers.

SURROUNDING AREA

GAULEY RIVER NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

The Gauley River was added to the National Park System in 1988.  The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide variety of natural and cultural features.  Dropping 26 feet per mile through a gorge that averages 500 feet in depth, the Gauley is noted for its outstanding whitewater and is one of the most technical rivers in the nation, contains several class V+ rapids.  The Meadow River gradient averages 71 feet per mile.  The Gauley River and its gorge have been a barrier as well as a corridor for human activity. The area was used for fishing and hunting by Native Americans for 10,000 years and was populated by Europeans in the late 1700s near the mouth of Peters Creek.  The confluence of the Gauley and Meadow rivers was the site of an 1861 Civil War battle. Union troops forced Confederate forces from their position overlooking the Gauley. The site is part of Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park.  In the late 1800s railroads and lumber companies came to the gorge to harvest its vast supply of timber.  Coal and gas development followed shortly after are still economic powers in the area.  Vegetation is diverse and abundant. Extremes in topography, elevation and microclimate have caused tremendous variation in plant life. Most of the recreation area is below 2,000 feet and contains the central hardwood forest type. Tree species found in this timber type include the red and white oak, American beech, yellow poplar, hemlock and dogwood. Such vegetation supports a wide variety of wildlife species.

CARNIFEX FERRY BATTLEFIELD STATE PARK

Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park is located on the rim of the Gauley River Canyon, minutes from Summersville Lake. This Park offers picnicking, reservable picnic shelters, hiking trails, three overlooks of the Gauley River, softball field, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and the Patterson House Museum. The park is seasonal in nature.

The 156-acre Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park is an important Civil War battle site. It is part of the Civil War Discovery Trail, which links more than 300 historical sites in 16 states, and commemorates the 1861 Battle of Carnifex Ferry, a major Union victory that led to the eventual Confederate withdrawal from western Virginia. Carnifex Ferry is one of the oldest state parks in the United States and is a popular site for Civil War reenactments.

SUMMERSVILLE LAKE AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

Superb water quality and sheer sandstone cliffs make Summersville Lake a unique place to visit.  West Virginia’s largest lake; Summersville Lake has over 2,700 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.

The 5,974-acre Summersville Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) ranges across tableland forests and towering cliffs that famously overlook Summersville Lake. Game traditionally hunted in the management area includes bear, deer, grouse, squirrel, and turkey, though the lake is its principal attraction.

NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND RESERVE

The Newest National Park in America at your back door…   Just a short 35 minute drive from the property will take you to the amazing New River National Park.  An awe inspiring visit that is sure to bring a new experience each and every time. Once you see it, it’s something you’ll never forget. Rock climbers have long prized the sandstone cliffs of West Virginia’s New River Gorge, which was designated as a national park and preserve in December 2020.  New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is known for its 53 miles of free flowing whitewater that cuts through sandstone cliffs towering as high as 1,000 feet in the air. It boasts class III through V rapids and plenty of boulders to keep even the most experienced rafters engaged. The upper part of the river is calmer and more welcoming to new rafters. The area also boasts more than 1,500 climbing routes, as well as a 12.8-mile system of mountain bike trails built by the Boy Scouts.  There are moments, as you drift through the deep canyon walls of the New River Gorge, when it feels like you’ve got the whole world to yourself. It’s just you and the river, littered with massive, prehistoric boulders that were here when the coal mining camps were built, and the fur trading posts before them, and the Shawnee and Cherokee villages before those. In a river that geologists say could be one of the world’s oldest, you can lose yourself in time. Then the current picks up, and you’re back to paddling like mad, navigating the chutes and eddies of heart-pounding white water.  Since the 1960s, West Virginia’s New River Gorge has drawn adventure seekers to its rapids and rock walls, and those rafters and climbers have long considered it a hidden gem. But the curtain is being drawn back on the canyon, because part of it has become America’s 63rd national park. New River Gorge National River’s 72,186 acres is just like its name “New”.   The Newest National Park and Preserve in America.

CRANBERRY RIVER AND WILDERNESS AREA

The 47,815 acre Cranberry Wilderness and 14,000 acre Cranberry Backcountry in the Monongahela National Forest is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Located in Pocahontas and Webster Counties, the area includes the entire drainage of the Middle Fork of the Williams and the North Fork of the Cranberry Rivers. Elevations range from 2,400 to over 4,600 feet.

Cranberry Wilderness and Cranberry Backcountry make up one of the largest backpacking areas east of the Mississippi River. Together there are 135 miles of hiking trails that provide a great opportunity of reasonably long distance trips (3 to 6 days) and some good loops. The scenery includes rugged mountains with streams, waterfalls and swimming holes. Hardwood forests dominate the lower elevations and spruce forests offer interesting variation on the peaks of the mountains.

CRANBERRY RIVER FLY FISHING

The Cranberry River is a confluence of its North and South Forks which rise on Black Mountain and Cranberry Mountain, respectively. In the past, naturally acidic water made the Cranberry River almost unlivable for warm water species. Thanks to the Department of Natural Resources’ addition of limestone to the water in recent years, the river’s PH levels have risen and its waters are now rife with wildlife, namely, trout. In fact, the Cranberry River holds more trout per acre than any other stream in West Virginia. The river consists of two sections; the easily accessible lower section and the remote backcountry section, which is the real crown jewel for anglers. Deep in the wilderness and unreachable by vehicles, the 16-mile backcountry section is well worth the hike. The Backcountry includes both the North and South forks as well as Dogway Fork, the river’s glorious 6-mile stretch designated for “Fly Fishing Only”. All three forks are excellent for brook trout fishing, but the backcountry section fosters plenty of rainbow and brown trout. It’s very likely you won’t be ready to head home after just one day, so check out the shelters available along the water for overnight trips. Glades Gate Google Map Coordinates: 38.208298, -80.282796