OVERVIEW

The Spruce Grove Retreat includes a cozy two-bedroom cottage on approximately 68 acres in the farm-country southeast of Summersville. It boasts a small pond, approximately 40 acres of woodland, and an isolated upland field that affords views of distant mountains.

Ideally suited to seekers of peace and quiet, it’s an easy drive of about 10 minutes from the US-19 expressway and Summersville Lake. From there, it’s a 10 to 20-minute drive to Summersville and the New River Gorge Bridge at Fayetteville. Thousands of acres of national park and forest protect large parts of the region, which is visited by approximately two million tourists annually.

HIGHLIGHTS

• A tidy two-bedroom home includes covered front and back porches, a living-dining room, a country kitchen, a full bath, and a mudroom with a laundry center off the rear-porch entrance.
• A small spring-fed pond of approximately .2 acres supports a small group of bass and carp.
• Field areas in the woodlands at the top of the property affords stunning views of the surrounding woodlands and distant mountain peaks and may be ideal for additional cabin sites or a home site.
• Approximately 40 acres of woodland within the boundary supports of diverse habitat of upland flora and fauna, including maturing species of oak-hickory forest trees.
• The retreat is a 20-minute drive from Summersville Lake, a 20-minute drive from Summersville (pop. 3,322), and a 30-minute drive from the New River Gorge Bridge and Fayetteville (pop. 2,762).
• The massive sandstone cliffs that line the gorges of the New, Gauley and Meadow rivers attract thousands of rock climbers annually. Many have established homes and businesses nearby.
• Convenient for frequent whitewater kayakers, the retreat is a drive of some 20 minutes from rapids on the Gauley and Meadow rivers and 30 minutes from rapids on the New.
• Trout fishing is popular on the region’s many highland streams. Notably, the Elk, Cranberry, and North Fork of the Cherry River are all a drive of less than an hour from the camp.
• Many square miles of public hunting land may be found nearby in the Monongahela National Forest and in several state wildlife management areas.
• Many exceptional restaurants operate in the area, notably at nearby Fayetteville. Small-city amenities are only minutes away in Summersville.

THE FARM / RETREAT

Entrance Field and Cottage

Built as a one-story farmhouse in 1951, the cottage sits near the center of a field of about eight acres off the Old Nicholas Road in a bottom that was formerly fenced for livestock. It includes two bedrooms, a mudroom with laundry center, a living room with a dining area, a full bath with a shower and tub, and a cozy country kitchen with a view. Its front and rear porches include pleasant vistas and accommodate convenient outdoor living most of the year.

Farm outbuildings near the cottage and the entrance field have been used most recently for the storage of wood and equipment. A fire-ring, a tire-swing, and the small pond alongside the cottage are favorite field areas. Adjacent to the field, a browse-plot of about two acres in saplings and young trees helps maintain diverse habitat for wildlife, including deer and turkey, seen almost daily on the property.

Cottage Dimensions

First Floor = 942 square feet

Living / Dining 31 x 10 feet
Kitchen 10 x 23 feet
Bedroom 9 x 11 feet
Bedroom 9 x 11 feet
Bath 7 x 11 feet
Laundry / Mudroom 7 x 15 feet

Total Living Space = 942 square feet

Outbuilding Dimensions

Outbuilding 1: 10 x 10 feet with 10 x 20-foot open shed
Outbuilding 2: 8 x 9 feet
Outbuilding 3: 8 x 25 feet
Outbuilding 4: 8 x 22 feet

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 38.152613°(N), -80.784793°(W)
Address: 82 Bank Lane, Mount Nebo, WV 26679
Elevation Range: 2096 ft. to 2406 ft. +/-

BENEFITS OF LIVING IN NICHOLAS COUNTY

ALL ABOUT 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.

Launch ramps for the boating enthusiasts and fishermen are located at Battle Run, Salmon Run, Long Point Area and Picnic Area. There is a $3.00 Day Use fee for boat launching. Frequent boat launchers may purchase an Annual Day Use Pass. Golden Age and Golden Access passports may be used for a 50% discount at all Federally operated areas where a fee is charged.

Camping at Summersville Lake is restricted to developed camping areas only – there is not random camping. Battle Run Campground is a class A Corps operated campground which has day-use facilities, a boat launching ramp, access to fishing, showers, trailer waste disposal facilities, a playground, universally accessible restrooms, parking, swimming, and picnic areas. Battle Run Campground is now part of the National Recreation Servation System. Reservations can be made by dialing 1-877-444-NRRS or on the web at ReserveUSA.com. For more information during recreation, season call the campground at (304) 872-3459.

Universally Accessible Facilities are provided at the Project Office, Dam site and picnic area, Battle Run Area, and Long Point Area.

Foot trails (Hiking) are located at Battle Run, Salmon Run, and Long Point.

Summersville Lake Marina is located at the Long Point Area. The marina number is (304) 872-1331. Additional information can be found at Summersville Lake Marina & Sarge’s Dive Shop. There is a $3.00 Day Use fee for boat launching.

A swimming beach is located at the Battle Run Area. Lifeguards are not provided. Swim at your own risk. Swimming is prohibited on launch ramps.

• 4 season climate, the fall of the year is spectacular and summers warm and breezy
• Water sports: 2,700-acre Summerville Lake, Gauley River, New River
• Outdoor recreation: Hiking, rock climbing, white water rafting, snow skiing
• Historic Route 60 is the ancient Midland Overland Trail (buffalo, Native American, Pioneers)
• New River Gorge Bridge is the western hemisphere longest arched bridge
• Monongahela National Forest and New River Gorge National River Park are nearby
• Babcock and Hawks Nest State Parks
• Nicholas County Veterans Memorial Park
• Summersville Arena and Convention Center
• I-79 30 min to the north
• I-77 40 min to the south
• I-64 45 min to the south or 50 min to the east
• Major shopping Beckley- 40 min, Charleston- 90 min Clarksburg- 90 min.
• Modern schools
• Rich logging and mining history
• Modern hospital at Summersville

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

Upland Field and Forest

A winding trail climbs gently through maturing woodlands from the cottage to an upland field area, which consists of two adjacent openings of several acres that are maintained as mowed grassland. Views of the surrounding mountains and hillscapes extend to the northwest and southwest. The upper, larger opening, which is the most west-facing, enjoys spectacular sunsets year-round. Both offer incredible views of the night sky. Footpaths and trails that can accommodate ATVs wander the property. Timber Inventory and the Capital Timber value have not been assigned by the owner at this time.

HISTORY

The retreat property fronts on the Old Nicholas Road, one of the early wagon roads that led between the Gauley and Greenbrier valleys. A paved country road today, principally two-laned, the route is part of a favorite regional tour for scenic drives. Several generations of the McClung family that settled in the Greenbrier Valley in the late 1700s opened farms along the old road, including the diamond-windowed “Old White House,” built-in 1845. The road extended westward to Carnifex Ferry and eastward to Hominy Falls.

WILDLIFE

The mixture of mature forest cleared land, and the pond water supply, has created a phenomenal wildlife habitat. The hardwood forest produces tons of acorns, hickory nuts beech nuts, and black walnuts. Whitetail deer, wild turkey, black bear, coyote, squirrel, raccoon, bobcat, fox, and many species of songbirds and raptors make up the resident wildlife population.  The interior trails create a linear food plot stocked with blackberry, raspberry, and autumn olive bushes, native grasses, and browse-ready herbaceous plants.

WATER

A small spring-fed pond of approximately .2 acres supports a small group of bass and carp. Public water is metered.

MINERAL RESOURCES

WV is one of the states in the US that has two separate ownership titles: those being SURFACE RIGHTS and MINERAL RIGHTS. This property is being sold as SURFACE ONLY.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property was surveyed in January 2009 and is shown on a plat prepared from that survey.  The metes and bounds description from that survey are used in the owner’s deed. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: A public water meter is set at the frontage.
Sewer: Septic
Electricity: Available (First Energy)
Telephone: Available (Frontier or Hughes Net)
Internet: Available (Frontier or Hughes Net)
Cellphone Coverage: Spotty. However, text messages can be received and sent.

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.  All prospective purchasers are encouraged to contact the Nicholas County Health Department and the Nicholas County Flood Zone Administrator regarding the installation of septic systems, water wells, and flood insurance requirements.

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property fronts on Old Nicholas Road RT 13, and the driveway for the property intersects with Old Nicholas Road within that frontage, providing access to the public road system.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

Recreation

The mix of forest land and cleared land provides an excellent balance for wildlife.  The wooded land provides a great opportunity to hunt for all game West Virginia has to offer.  The cleared land provides an excellent location for a safe, long-range shooting range for rifle shooting.  This area also provides opportunities for sporting clay fun as well as handgun shooting and archery and crossbow activities.

The property is within minutes of the Summersville Lake boat launch areas.  Summersville Lake is the 2nd largest rock-fill dam in the Eastern United States and the largest lake in West Virginia.  Bring your boat and jet skis to spend days of recreational fun on this 2,700-acre lake with over 60 miles of shoreline.  Fishing, boating, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, and rock climbing are just some of the recreational opportunities that can be found at the Summersville Lake Recreational Area.  Other opportunities such as whitewater rafting, zip-line activities, and tree canopy tours are in the New River National Recreational Area which is only 30 minutes from this fantastic property.

The property has internal roads and forest trails that are perfect for experiencing the property from an ATV or UTV. These exciting machines handle the wide variety of the property’s terrain.  The riders can go from down along the fields, wind through hardwood forests, and climb up to the highest ridges.

DEED AND TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: DB 450 Pg. 745
Nicholas County, West Virginia
Acreage: 68.543 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Nicholas County (34), West Virginia
Wilderness District (9)
Tax Map 23 Parcel 43.1; 68.543 ACS SUR WTS ANGLINGS CK; Class 2

2020 Real Estate Taxes: $533.12

SCHOOLS

Nicholas County School District

Public Elementary School:
Mount Nebo Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Summersville Middle School

Public High School:
Nicholas County High School

Private Schools:
New Life Christian Academy
Seventh-Day Adventist School

Colleges:
New River Community and Technical College (Summersville Campus)