OVERVIEW

Sand Fork Forest is a 15-acre forest located in Lewis County, West Virginia.  The 15 acres is an ideal, manageable sized forest creating a remarkable setting for a home or cabin.  The forest adjoins United States government property which surrounds Stonewall Jackson Lake.  Sand Fork Forest is located directly across the road from the Sand Fork headwaters of the 2,630-acre Stonewall Jackson Lake.

ATTRIBUTES AND HIGHLIGHTS

• 15 acres of all wooded, private land
• Direct access off of Route 19 approximately 4 ¾ miles off of Interstate 79
• Excellent residential and recreational potential
• Fishing, boating, kayacking and other water sport activities supported by Stonewall Jackson Lake and Stonecoal Lake
• Hunting opportunities for deer, small game, turkey and water fowl are nearby at the 18,289-acre Stonewall Jackson Public Hunting and Fishing Area
• 300-yard shooting range located nearby on Wildlife Management Area
• Golf, spa, and fine dining located minutes away at Stonewall Resort
• +/- 12 miles to Weston, WV – Shopping, restaurants, medical facilities, etc.
• +/- 35 miles to Clarksburg/Bridgeport, WV
• +/- 65 miles to Morgantown, WV – Home of West Virginia University and the Mountaineers

LOCATION

Sand Fork Forest is located in Lewis County, West Virginia near Weston.  This 15-acre residential-recreational-timberland opportunity is located in the mountain lakes region of central West Virginia.

Google Coordinates: 38.923828°(N), -80.467472°(W)
Address: US 19, Roanoke, WV 26447. No 911 address assigned to a property without structures.
Elevation Range: 1200 ft. to 1393 ft. +/-

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

(This summary 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.)

Residential

The lay of the land offers a unique opportunity to build your home or cabin overlooking the headwaters of Stonewall Jackson Lake and with an amazing mountain view.  Access to the property is directly off of Route 19 approximately 4 ¾ miles off of Interstate 79 at Exit 91 (Roanoke Exit.)

Recreational

Sand Fork Forest is comprised of approximately 15 acres of forestland.  The forest offers many recreational opportunities and excellent habitat for wild game, such as white-tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, gray squirrel, grouse, and rabbit.

Along the same lines, nature viewing is a great recreational activity. 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.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find nearby Stonewall Jackson Lake and Stonecoal Lake ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, and tubing among other unique activities.

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

Forest-wide, most stands are fully stocked to overstocked, providing the next ownership with a great deal of flexibility in shaping their own silvicultural legacy. Stem quality forest-wide can be considered excellent with the forest containing an abundant current and future sawlog source.

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

A few “Heritage Trees” are scattered throughout the forest. These ancient trees, some 150+ years old, have withstood the test of time, weathering ice, wind, lightning strikes and fire.

The forest is healthy and there are no current signs of gypsy moth. The Emerald Ash Borer is present, and it is anticipated that the Ash component will be in decline over the next decade. The Hemlock Wooly Adelgid is present and the Eastern Hemlock species is in decline. There have been no forest fires in the recent memory.

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

Beechnuts, Hickory nuts, sweet White Oak and Red Oak acorns provide a sustainable food source for the squirrels, chipmunks, whitetail deer and wild turkey that live in abundance in the forest.

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 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.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property was surveyed in 1990, and a plat was prepared from that survey.  Most of the boundaries are evidenced by old fencing.  The southern boundary of the property runs with the northern right-of-way line of US 19. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The entire southern boundary of the property runs with the northern right-of-way line of US 19.  The access road for the property leaves US 19 within that frontage.

There is excellent paved road access to the property via Route 19.  Sand Fork Forest is located approximately 4 ¾ miles off of Interstate 79 at Exit 91 (Roanoke Exit.)  There is a total of about 747 feet of paved road frontage.

UTILITIES

Water: Public water present – Need to check
Sewer: Septic system would have to be installed
Electricity: Present
Telephone: Present
Internet: Unknown
Cellphone Coverage: Excellent

ZONING

All prospective buyers should consult the County Government and also the Health Department for information regarding zoning, building codes, and installation of water wells and septic systems.

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: po DB 476 PG 159 & po DB 483 Pg. 232
Lewis County, West Virginia
Acreage: 15.36 acres +/- by the survey plat.

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Lewis County (21), West Virginia
Collins Settlement District (1)

Tax Map 7M Parcel 47; 15.36 AC SURF SAND FORK; Class 3

2020 Total Real Estate Taxes: $137.06

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Lewis County School District

Public Elementary Schools:
Jane Lew Elementary School
Leading Creek Elementary School
Peterson-Central Elementary School
Roanoke Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Robert L. Bland Middle School

Public High School:
Lewis County High School

SURROUNDING AREA

Stonewall Jackson Lake

Stonewall Jackson Lake was authorized and approved by the Flood Control Act of 1966.  The purposes of the project, as stated in the authorizing legislation, are flood protection, low flow augmentation for water quality, water supply, fish and wildlife enhancement, hydropower and recreation.  The project, completed in 1990, is the most recent addition to the Pittsburgh District’s 16 flood control projects.

Stonewall Jackson Dam is located on the West Fork River, three miles south of the county seat at Weston, West Virginia and 73 miles upstream from the river’s mouth.  From its source in Lewis and Upshur Counties, the West Fork River flows northward for 98.7 miles to Fairmont, West Virginia.  There it joins the Tygart River to form the Monongahela River.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers retains 330 acres of land at the dam site for operation of the dam and support facilities. All remaining federal lands are leased to the state of West Virginia.  These consist of roughly 2,000 acres managed by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources as a state park and 18,289 acres of land and water managed for public hunting and fishing.  Stonewall Jackson Lake’s water surface area contains approximately 2,630 acres.

Stonewall Jackson Lake provides an ideal setting for your pleasure and relaxation.  Boating, fishing, hunting, camping and hiking are just a few of the many recreational opportunities that are available at the lake. Corps of Engineers’ facilities include an administration building with a visitor information center and public restrooms, an outdoor plaza, walkways and overlook for viewing the dam, fishing access to the tail water area, hiking trails and visitor parking areas.

Backwater areas, which provide excellent fishing opportunities, are easily accessible either by boat or by trail. Canoeists and other paddlers can explore the many inlets and backwater areas along the lake’s 82-mile shoreline. These have been designated minimum wake areas and offer visitors serenity and a place to quietly observe nature.

Stonewall Resort

Stonewall Resort combines the pristine lake surroundings with all the comforts of home. Here, in the midst of lush, rolling hills and tranquil lake waters, the beautiful Adirondack-style lodge offers a refreshing perspective, state-of-the-art conference facilities and a luxury resort experience. From the resort’s own Mtn. Laurel Spa, 374-slip boat marina and award-winning Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, guests can enjoy a wide range of recreational activities.

Stonecoal Lake

Stonecoal Reservoir is a 550-acre lake nestled in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains between the cities of Weston and Buckhannon, West Virginia. The lake is situated within a 3,000-acre Wildlife Management Area and offers excellent boating, fishing, and hunting opportunities.

Located in both Lewis and Upshur counties, Stonecoal Reservoir currently holds a number of state records for trophy size fish. The state record muskellunge was caught in 2003 at 52.7 inches and 38.5 pounds. A shorter, but heavier (49.75 lbs) muskie was also pulled from the lake’s water. Stonecoal Reservoir also holds state records for rainbow trout (11.74 lbs), golden rainbow trout (8.63 lbs) and carp (41.5 lbs). There are two concrete boat ramps, located at both ends of the lake. Motorboats are restricted to 10 horsepower. Once on the lake, anglers have a good chance of catching largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, and walleye in addition to the record setting species. The lake is stocked regularly. The foot of the Stonecoal Creek Dam, on the western shore, is noted as an excellent fishing hole.

The Stonecoal Reservoir Wildlife Management Area offers 3,000 acres of hunting and hiking opportunities. Hardwood forests cover 80 percent of the area where hunting opportunities abound for deer, bear, turkey, squirrel, and waterfowl.