OVERVIEW

Looking for a spot to get away from it all, Stony Ridge Forest can provide that for you. Enjoy the numerous trails and recreational activities on this 100.4+/- acre property and the local area. Located on the south face of historic Droop Mountain, home to Beartown State Park and the Battle of Droop Mountain, the last major American Civil War conflict in West Virginia. The property has the potential for a great viewshed of the Greenbrier River Valley.

ATTRIBUTES AND HIGHLIGHTS

• Convenient access to the town of Lewisburg and the amenities of the Greenbrier Resort
• The properties privacy and rural character make it an accessible retreat with broad appeal
• Greenbrier County is the state’s 2nd largest county and one of the least populated
• Trails add to the recreational aspects of the forest
• 90 minutes to the Snowshoe Resort, WV largest ski resort and events destination
• All mineral rights in title will convey
• Suitable for Off – Grid and a rewarding permaculture lifestyle
• Access by state maintained paved roads – FedEx, UPS and USPS delivery
• Timber species include oaks, poplar, maple and hickories
• Fur bearing wildlife – deer, bear, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox, opossum
• Winged wildlife – eagles, hawks, owls, ravens, turkeys and Neotropical songbirds
• The forest, grasses, & berry bushes produce life-giving Oxygen and store Carbon dioxide
• Spectacular long-range views, with tree removal from a home site area
• Ideal for recreational activities: shooting sports, ATV & horseback riding, hiking, camping, and nature viewing
• Low taxes, low population density

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 38.034248°(N), -80.265452°(W)
Address: Julia Road, Renick, WV 24966. No 911 address is assigned to property without structures.
Elevation Range: 2600 ft. to 3260 ft. +/-

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 mineral rights are believed to be intact and 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 is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

ACCESS

The property has access to the 4-season paved Julia Road Rt. 7/1 via a deeded right-of-way (ROW).  The right-of-way follows an existing developed road for approximately 600 feet, then a forest road to the property line for remaining distance – approximately 900 feet. This ROW travels through two adjoining landowners properties prior to entering the subject property.

UTILITIES

Water: Private well could possibly be developed
Sewer: Private septic system could possibly be developed
Electricity: Approximately 800 feet from property line
Telephone: Along County Road
Internet: DSL, Starlink Satellite System is available
Cellphone Coverage: Good

ZONING

Greenbrier County is subject to some zoning and subdivision regulations. All prospective buyers should consult the County Commission and the Health Department for details regarding zoning, building codes and installation of septic systems.
Information can be found at the county website: http://greenbriercounty.net/ordinances.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The property is all forestland.

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information:
Deed Book 502, Page 687
Acreage: 100.4+/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
Falling Springs District
Tax Map 48, Parcel 34.2

2024 Real Estate Taxes: $1919.74

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Greenbrier County School District

Public Elementary School:
Frankford Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Eastern Greenbrier Middle School

Public High School:
Greenbrier East High School

Colleges:
New River Community and Technical College (Lewisburg campus)
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Private Schools:
Greenbrier Episcopal School (PK-8)
Greenbrier Valley Academy (2-8)
Lewisburg Baptist Academy (PK-12)
Renick Christian School (2-7)
Seneca Trail Christian Academy (PK-12)

RECREATION

The property offers great on and off-site recreational opportunities. Numerous recreational activities are anchored by the nearby Greenbrier River, New River, New River Gorge National Park and the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake in West Virginia and the Jackson River, James River and Lake Moomaw in Virginia.

Cold Water Fishing can be found throughout the region. Many of the tributaries of the Greenbrier River are stocked with trout. The head waters hold the native Brook Trout. Several special regulation sections of some streams offer fly-fishing only areas. The Cranberry Back-Country area hosts 16 miles of secluded trout fishing and may only be accessed by non-motorized transportation. The Jackson River above and below Lake Moomaw is stocked and has some reproducing populations of Brook, Rainbow and Brown trout in the upper river area.

Warm Water Fishing in the Greenbrier River, New River, Jackson River and James River are some of the best in the region. Smallmouth bass and muskie are the big draws. The Greenbrier Jackson and James Rivers are great for the novice kayaker or canoeist to fish, the New River is for the more experience boaters only but has the best fishing for trophy sized fish. The New River has an excellent population of the native Eastern Highlands walleye. This walleye subspecies grows faster and produce quicker than their northern cousins. Great fishing is found on both rivers for crappie, catfish, pike and bluegill.

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

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 be still be found on the property, thereby affording the opportunity to view the night sky in all its brilliant wonder.

All Terrain Motorsports
Experience 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. Please check WV DMV regulations. 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 and Hiking
The land may be used for mountain biking or hiking and the area offers several state and national parks geared for these activities.

Rock Climbing on the Meadow and New Rivers 183 routes with opportunities for easier traditional routes as well as hard sport routes and some mixed routes as well.

WILDLIFE

The nearby Greenbrier River, Meadow River, New River, and Bluestone Lake in West Virginia, the Jackson River, James River and Lake Moomaw in Virginia 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.

The miles of “edge effect” benefit all the resident wildlife. In addition to those listed above, white tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, fox, and chipmunk, make up the resident wildlife population.

Area winged wildlife includes Neotropical songbirds, turkey, grouse, eagles, herons, hawks, woodcock, owls, ravens, king fishers, ravens, crows, ground nesters, and hummingbirds and many types of waterfowl.

Of equal importance, there is the insect and microscopic world including butterflies, dragonflies, water skaters, water beetles, damselflies, hellgrammites, tadpoles and various insect larvae.

Great fishing is found in the Meadow River, Greenbrier River, New River and Bluestone Lake in West Virginia and the Jackson and James Rivers in Virginia with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill present in good numbers.

The 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.

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)

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The timber resource is well positioned for future timber income over the coming decades. The 100.4+/- acre forest has trees in the 20 to 100+ year-old range. The forest resource is composed of upland Appalachian species. The species composition consists primarily of Poplar, Red Oak, White Oak and Hickory.

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

THE AREA

Stony Ridge Forest is an easy drive to higher population areas of Charleston, Charlottesville, Roanoke, Blacksburg, Beckley, White Sulphur Springs and Lewisburg.

Nearby White Sulphur Springs and Lewisburg offer grocery stores, restaurants, banks, auto parts stores, hardware, hospital, dentists and most other city amenities. Lewisburg is the Greenbrier County seat and is the economic and governmental hub of the county.

Charleston is West Virginia’s state capitol (2.5 hours). 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 most major hubs.

Nearby interstates I-77, I-64 and I-81 offer easy access to Washington DC, Richmond, Charlotte, Pittsburgh, Charleston and Cincinnati.
The surrounding area offers unlimited recreational activities including white water rafting, golfing, fishing, camping, hiking, bird watching and rock climbing and snow skiing.

Highlights:

• 20-90 min to Beckley, Princeton, Lewisburg, 80,000-acre New River Gorge National Park, 2,000-acre Bluestone Lake, Pipestem Resort and Bluestone State Park, Sandstone Falls, Snowshoe Ski Resort, Winterplace Ski Resort and the 4-Star Greenbrier Resort, 3000-acre Summersville Lake and 2500-acre Lake Moomaw
• A picturesque Amtrak train ride from White Sulphur Springs connects the area to DC, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, and many other locations
• Washington, DC is 4.5 hours, Richmond is 3.5 hours and Charlotte 3 hours
• Charleston (2.5 hr.), Beckley (90 min.), Lewisburg (35 min.) airports offer jet service to major hubs
• Charleston, the WV state capitol, and Charlottesville, VA are just over 2.5 hours’ drive and offer all large city amenities
• Easy access to I-64, I-77, I-79, US 19, US 220
• 90 minutes to the New River Gorge National Park and Reserve
• The Bechtel Summit Reserve, the12,000-acre Boy Scouts of America’s high adventure camp (90 min)
• The 14,000-acre Bluestone Wildlife Management Area and New River Gorge National Park are 90 minutes
• The 2,385-acre Meadow River Wildlife Management Area is 60 minutes
• The 47,815-acre Cranberry Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest is 60 minutes

THE GREENBRIER RIVER
The Greenbrier River possesses the excitement of life on one of the nation’s great wild rivers. The focus of a vast outdoor-recreation destination, it flows untamed out of the lofty Alleghenies, attracting anglers, paddlers, and naturalists from across the globe.

At 172 miles long, the Greenbrier drains over 1.5 million acres and is the longest undammed river left in the Eastern United States. It is primarily used for recreational pursuits and well known for its fishing, canoeing, kayaking and floating opportunities. Its upper reaches flow through the Monongahela National Forest, and it is paralleled for 77 miles by the Greenbrier River Trail, a rail trail which runs between the communities of Cass and North Caldwell.

It has always been a valuable water route, with the majority of the important cities in the watershed being established river ports. The river gives the receiving waters of the New River an estimated 30% of its water volume. Over three-fourths of the watershed is an extensive karstic (cavern system), which supports fine trout fishing, cave exploration and recreation. Many important festivals and public events are held along the river throughout the watershed.

The Greenbrier is formed at Durbin in northern Pocahontas County by the confluence of the East Fork Greenbrier River and the West Fork Greenbrier River, both of which are short streams rising at elevations exceeding 3,300 feet and flowing for their entire lengths in northern Pocahontas County. From Durbin the Greenbrier flows generally south-southwest through Pocahontas, Greenbrier and Summers Counties, past several communities including Cass, Marlinton, Hillsboro, Ronceverte, Fort Spring, Alderson, and Hinton, where it flows into the New River.

GREENBRIER RIVER TRAIL STATE PARK
The Greenbrier River Trail is an increasingly popular hiking, bicycling, ski-touring, and horseback-riding route that extends more than 77 miles from near I-64 at Lewisburg, in the south, to Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, in the north. Especially on weekends, the trail-access parking area at the Clover Lick depot may be busy with recreational enthusiasts.

The trail was named by Backpacker magazine one of the top ten hiking trails in the U.S. The depot is also a popular river launch site for kayakers and canoers. At less than a 1% grade, this trail is perfect for families.

Take your family on a bicycle ride – forget the city, the traffic, and the rush. Relax, enjoy the scenery and the wildlife here in Pocahontas County along one of West Virginia’s most successful rail-to-trail conversions.

Beginner and intermediate mountain bikers will appreciate the packed gravel surfaces on the majority of the Trail. More advanced bikers will find greater challenges on the adjoining mountain trails and abandoned logging roads that characterize the national forest bordering the Trail.

Horseback riders will find days of exhilarating fun from one end of the Trail to the other and back again. Amenities along the Greenbrier River Trail include potable water and primitive campsites. Restroom facilities are located every 8 to 10 miles.

CRANBERRY 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

NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND RESERVE
The Newest National Park in America at your back door… Just a short 60-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.

THE NEW RIVER AND BLUESTONE LAKE
The property is located in the heart of the recreational mecca area and is 60 minutes to the New River, 80,000-acre New River Gorge National Park and 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.

MEADOW RIVER WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
The Meadow River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is owned by WVDNR and WVDOH and managed by WV Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Section. It was formerly known as the Meadow River Public Hunting & Fishing Area.

In the upper vale of the Meadow River, the 2,698-acre Meadow River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) ranges across wetlands and bottoms along the river and its tributaries and climbs gentle slopes into the surrounding Allegheny foothills.

Game traditionally associated with the management area includes deer, grouse, squirrel, raccoon, turkey, woodcock, and waterfowl. Other wildlife residents include Bobcat, Coyote, Red Fox, Beaver, Mink, Muskrat, Opossum, and Fox.

The Meadow River Wildlife Management area is located in western Greenbrier County five miles south of Rupert and 15 miles northwest of Lewisburg. The area is accessible from exits on expressway I-64 at Dawson, WV, or Sam Black Church, WV. Larger tracts are accessible off highway US-60 on Tommy Hall Road (CR-60/18) near Rupert.

LAKE MOOMAW
Lake Moomaw is among the most popular developed recreation areas in the George Washington National Forest and provides an endless array of activities including boating, fishing, hiking, biking and camping. The 2,500 acre lake is renowned for its excellent fishing yielding citation size brown and rainbow trout, as well as good bass, pan and crappie.

Lake Moomaw is the second largest impoundment in western Virginia. It covers 2,530 surface acres and has a maximum depth of 152 feet. The impoundment is “drawn down” between 10-15 feet annually, beginning slowly in June and reaching its lowest level usually by September. There are 43 miles of undeveloped, wooded shoreline. There are 5 U.S. Forest Service Campgrounds around the lake, 3 boat launches and a marina.

The Gathright Dam is a massive earthen structure that backs up the Jackson River for over 12 miles, forming Lake Moomaw. A U. S. Army Corps of Engineers project, Lake Moomaw was constructed for downstream flow augmentation (water quality), flood control, and recreation. The idea for a lake above the City of Covington was suggested just after World War II, but the project was not completed until the early 1980’s. The backwater of the Jackson River flooded acres of bottomland once owned by Thomas Gathright. The project was pushed forward by Covington businessman Benjamin Moomaw, after which the lake was named.

The reservoir is deep enough (152 feet) for both warm water fish (bass, catfish, sunfish, crappie), and coldwater fish (trout). The lake was stocked with thousands of largemouth bass, bluegill, Redear sunfish, and channel catfish in 1980. The Jackson River was already home to wild populations of smallmouth bass, rock bass, and chain pickerel, so it was understood that these species would acclimate to their new surroundings. Black crappie and yellow perch were later additions to the fishery.

Lake Moomaw is also known for its trout fishery. A layer of cold, oxygenated water lies 15 feet below the surface. It is in this zone that stocked rainbow, brown, and brook trout thrive. Alewives, members of the herring family, were stocked in the early 1980’s in order to establish a plentiful food base for both trout and other predators. These small, silvery fish are truly the “backbone” of the lake’s sport fishery. They are abundant, ubiquitous, and, seemingly the prey of choice for trophy fish that are caught from Lake Moomaw.

Approximately 35,000 McConaughy and 35,000 brown trout finglerlings are stocked each year. Fingerlings switch to natural food quickly and reach quality size in a couple of years. Neither a trout license nor National Forest Stamp is required at Lake Moomaw. There are no boat motor restriction

JACKSON RIVER
The Jackson River is a major tributary of the James River in Virginia, flowing 96.4 miles. The James River is formed by the confluence of the Jackson River and the Cowpasture River.

The Jackson River rises in Highland County, Virginia, near the border of West Virginia. It flows south between Back Creek Mountain and Jack Mountain, entering Bath County, where it continues to flow south. The Jackson River is impounded by Gathright Dam in Alleghany County, creating Lake Moomaw. From the dam, Jackson River flows south and then east through Alleghany County, through the city of Covington and the town of Clifton Forge, before joining with the Cowpasture River to create the James River.

The river is named for the first European settler on its banks, William Jackson, who received a grant of 270 acres from King George II in 1750. Jackson was possibly an acquaintance of Alexander Dunlap, the first settler on the Cowpasture River.