Simms Mountain Farm is a 43-acre multi-use agricultural, recreational and residential property located just 30 minutes from the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake, the New River and the 70,000 acre New River Gorge National River Park.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 43 acres is the perfect size for creating a wonderful country estate
• 10 min to the I-64 Dawson Interchange
• Jet airport with service to Chicago and Dulles is 35 minutes drive
• Forest is comprised of Red Oak, White Oak, Pin Oak, Swamp White Oak, Hickory, Poplar and Maple
• Perfect for all water sport activities supported by the nearby Greenbrier River, New River and the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake
• 70,000 acre New River Gorge National River Park nearby
• Fronts on a gravel state-maintained road – FedEx, UPS and USPS delivery
• City amenities are 30-40 minutes drive to Beckley and Lewisburg
• 90 minutes to Charleston, the State Capitol and WV’s largest metro area
• 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
• A rewarding off-grid permaculture lifestyle can be easily developed
• Cell phone coverage is good with 5G service
• Modern schools nearby with county school bus service
• Dark skies with little or no light pollution for star gazing and planet observation
• The 43 acres offers ATV riding, hiking, camping, hunting and nature viewing
• 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.
• All mineral rights in title will convey
• Elevations run from 2655 ft. to 2991 ft.
• Low taxes, low population density
• Old home (part of it hand hewn log) with conventional additions. Would make a good recreational shelter
• Several wooded outbuildings in various states of repair (outhouse, coal & firewood, barn, tool shed and smoke house)

LOCATION

Simms Mountain Farm is located in Fayette County, West Virginia, near Lewisburg, Beckley, Rainelle and the unincorporated community of Meadow Bridge. This 43-acre agricultural- timberland-recreational opportunity is located in the scenic, mountainous region of southeastern West Virginia. The surrounding Fayette County landscape is part of the southeastern Ridge and Valley Region, a scenic tapestry of elongated hardwood Allegheny & Appalachian mountain ranges. Much of Fayette County remains undeveloped and is characterized by its scenic farms, valleys, small communities and large expanses of hardwood forest.

Google Coordinates: 37.881642°(N), -80.768236°(W)
Address: 969 Simms Mountain Road, Springdale, WV 25986
Elevation Range: 2655 ft. to 2991 ft. +/-

Driving Times

Towns/Highways
40 minutes to Beckley
55 minutes to Fayetteville
15 minutes to Meadow Bridge
1 hour to Summersville
10 minutes to I-64 Exit 150, Dawson

Airports
35 minutes to Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg
40 minutes to Raleigh County Memorial Airport

Recreation

45 minutes to Bluestone Lake, Hinton
1 hour to Summersville Lake, Summersville
30 minutes to Babcock State Park
1 hour to Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park, Summersville
50 minutes to New River Gorge Bridge, Fayetteville
25 minutes to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Sandstone

THE OLD HOMESTEAD

• The old homestead has a small home, several outbuildings, barn, and spring
• Old home (part of it contains hand-hewn logs) with conventional additions would make a part time get away or recreational shelter
• Several wooded outbuildings in various states of repair (outhouse, coal & firewood, barn, tool shed and smoke house)
• A spring served as a water source for the home

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The abundant timber resource is well positioned for future timber income as well as value appreciation over the coming decades. 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 39 +/- acre forest has trees in the 10-100 year old range. The forest resource is composed of upland Appalachian hardwoods species. The species composition consists primarily of, Red Maple, Poplar, Red Oak, White Oak, Hickory, and a host of associated species (Sourwood, Black Walnut, Locust, Black Gum, Beech, Ironwood and Hop Hornbeam).

A few “Heritage Trees” are scattered throughout the forest and old field edges. These ancient trees, some 100-200 years old, have withstood the test of time, weathering, 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 are a few fruit trees scattered about, which were part of the early homestead. Honeybees will do very well here.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

There are approximately 4 acres that would be suitable for row crops such as corn, oats, wheat, pumpkins and all kinds of vegetables. The land would also be suitable for grazing or for making hay. A fruit orchard would also flourish here.

RECREATION

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

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the nearby Greenbrier River, 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 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 this exciting motorsport.

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.

WILDLIFE

The nearby New River, Greenbrier River, 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.

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 area’s 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 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 AREA

Simms Mountain Farm is an easy drive for the higher population areas of Charleston, Roanoke, Blacksburg, Beckley, Princeton and Lewisburg.

Nearby Beckley & Lewisburg offer grocery stores, restaurants, banks, auto parts stores, hardware, hospital, dentists and most other city amenities. 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 many major hubs.

Beckley (30 min), has a population of 34,000, and is the county seat of Raleigh County. Most city amenities are available in Beckley. Beckley is located at the intersection of I-77, 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, world class rock climbing, and snow skiing.

Highlights:

• 30-60 min to Beckley, Princeton, Lewisburg, 70,000 acre New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, 2,000 acre Bluestone Lake, Pipestem Resort and Bluestone State Park, Sandstone Falls, Winterplace Ski Resort and the 4-Star Greenbrier 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 1.5 hours’ drive and offers all large city amenities
• Easy access to I-64, I-77, 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 down river at Bull Falls

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, 70,000-acre New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, 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 and nearby Camp Creek State Forest.

WATER

The property has a couple of mountain springs, one of which was developed and served as the water source for the home.  The spring is still running, although new piping would need installed as the current metal piping is no longer functional.

MINERAL RESOURCES

All rights the owner has in title will convey with the property.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property was surveyed in November 2001, as TRACT 1, 42.94 AC, in a division of a larger tract. The survey plat showing that TRACT 1 and the larger tract division is recorded as Map Cabinet 1 Slide 314. The metes and bounds description of TRACT 1, 42.94 AC, prepared from that survey is shown in the owner’s deed. The eastern boundary of the subject property runs with Simms Mountain Road. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: Spring
Sewer: Unknown
Electricity: Onsite
Telephone: Onsite
Internet:  Starlink or possibly cable
Cellphone Coverage: Good

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has about 1/4 mile of frontage on Simms Mountain Road Rt. 29/4. The entrance to the home grounds connects directly to Simms Mountain Road.

ZONING

Fayette County is subject to some zoning and subdivision regulations. All prospective buyers should consult the County Commission and also the Health Department for details regarding zoning, building codes and installation of septic systems.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The property is comprised of about 1 acre of home grounds with farm buildings, about 4 acres in an older field that could be brought back to production with a little work, and about 38 acres of forestland.

(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.)

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: DB 608 Pg. 383
Fayette County, West Virginia
Acreage: 42.94 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Fayette County (10), West Virginia
New Haven District (1)
Tax Map 121 Parcel 8; Class 2

2023 Real Estate Taxes: $1088.34

SCHOOLS

Fayette County School District

The multi-phase Meadow Bridge Regional PK-12 School is currently being built under a contract that targets Dec. 1, 2024 for substantial completion.

Public Elementary School:
Meadow Bridge Elementary
Rainelle Elementary School (Greenbrier County)

Public Middle School:
New River Intermediate

Western Greenbrier Middle School (Greenbrier County)

Public High School:
Meadow Bridge High
Greenbrier West High School (Greenbrier County)

Public College:
Fayette Institute of Technology