OVERVIEW

Sweet Springs Mountain Valley Farm – An expansive 600 +/- acres working farm with incredible views, flat fertile bottom land, and the privacy only a protective mountain can provide. Nestled in the beautiful and historic Sweet Springs Valley this working farm spans the flat Valley bottom all the way to the top of Peter’s Mountain. This farm has hundred of acres of pasture and hay fields to provide for all types of agriculture as well as a stream and several springs.

A large barn is conveniently located in the bottom land just off of Route 3 and provides storage and work space for the farm. The driveway for the farm is just across Route 3, is nicely paved, and leads up the mountain towards some of the higher fields. There is a cabin and several other barns on this main parcel of the farm which can be utilized for agricultural purposes. There are many good locations to build a home but there is a special one that sits on a level hay field overlooking the property that has the most spectacular view the farm has to offer. The view overlooks the whole valley and across many ridge lines into Southern West Virginia. As you travel further up the mountain the pastures give way to mixed timber land that climbs the ridge almost all the way to WV/VA state line at the top of the mountain. The opportunities that this property offers are nearly endless. From ATV trails and horseback riding to hiking and hunting this property can provide it all. The size of the property alone lends to its special and rare nature. There are no other farms in Monroe County of this scale and caliber for sale.

The neighboring town of Gaps Mills offers several amenities including The Cheese N More General store and a wonderful bakery. The nearby historic town of Union has restaurants, a public pool, shopping, services, a summer Farmers Day, an annual Autumn festival, and a Christmas parade. Union is also close to Moncove Lake State State Park which offers a variety of outdoor recreation. Close by, Lewisburg, voted the Coolest Small Town in America, offers an almost endless variety of events including the Lewisburg Chocolate Festival, Taste of our Town, the WV State Fair, and the Lewisburg Literary Festival to name just a few. Lewisburg is also the home to several fine dining restaurants, fun local eateries, a variety of shopping in the walking downtown, and easy access to outdoor retreats such as the Greenbrier River Trail.

LOCATION

911 address: 323 Mountain Valley Ln Gap Mills , WV
Property entrance coordinates: 37.61747, -80.26122
Elevation: 2,055 feet to 3,050 feet

Driving Times (approximate)

Towns:
Alderson: 50 minutes
Athens and Concord University: 1 hour 25 minutes
Beckley: 1 hour 40 minutes
Blacksburg, VA and Virginia Tech: 1 hour 20 minutes
Bluefield: 1 hour 30 minutes
Covington, VA: 35 minutes
Lewisburg and Osteopathic School of Medicine: 45 minutes
Peterstown: 55 minutes
Princeton: 1 hour 20 minutes
Roanoke, VA: 1 hour 15 minutes
Union: 25 minutes
White Sulphur Springs: 25 minutes

Airports:
Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg: 40 minutes
Mercer County Airport, Bluefield: 1 hour 30 minutes
Raleigh County Memorial Airport, Beckley: 1 hour 20 minutes
Roanoke – Blacksburg Regional Airport: 1 hour 10 minutes
Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport, Blacksburg, VA: 1 hour 20 minutes

Recreation:
Golf – Black Knight Golf Course, Beckley: 1 hour 15 minutes
Golf – Elks Club, Lewisburg: 45 minutes
Golf – Fountain Springs Golf Course: 50 minutes
Golf – Pipestem Resort State Park: 1 hour 30 minutes
Golf – The Greenbrier: 30 minutes
Golf – Willow Wood Country Club Golf Course: 1 hour 5 minutes
Lake – Bluestone Lake, Hinton: 1 hour 10 minutes
Lake – Moncove Lake State Park, Gap Mills: 20 minutes
Lake – Summersville Lake: 1 hour 50 minutes
Nature Trail – Mill Creek Nature Park Trails, Narrows, VA: 1 hour 10 minutes
Resort – Glade Springs: 1 hour 20 minutes
Resort – Pipestem Resort State Park: 1 hour 30 minutes
Resort – The Greenbrier: 30 minutes
Skiing – Winterplace Ski Resort, Ghent: 1 hour 30 minutes
State Park – Camp Creek State Park & Forest: 1 hour 30 minutes
State Park – Bluestone State Park, Hinton: 1 hour 10 minutes
State Park – Moncove Lake State Park, Gap Mills: 20 minutes
State Park – Pipestem Resort State Park, Pipestem: 1 hour 30 minutes
State Fair of West Virginia, Fairlea: 40 minutes

SCHOOLS

Monroe County School District

Public Elementary School:
Mountain View Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Mountain View Middle School

Public High School:
James Monroe High School

Higher Education:
Monroe County Vocational Center

ZONING

There is currently no county zoning in Monroe County. All prospective purchasers are encouraged to contact the Monroe County Health Department for answers regarding installation of septic systems and water wells. Further information on county zoning may be answered by contacting the Monroe County Commission.

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.

DEED AND TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: DB 275 Pg. 296
Monroe County, West Virginia

Acreage: 600 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Monroe County (32), West Virginia
Sweet Springs District (6)
Tax Map 14 Parcels 12 & 12.1; Class 2
Tax Map 15 Parcels 1.1, 22.2, 23; Class 2

2024 Real Estate Taxes: $1460.80

SURROUNDING AREA

SWEET SPRINGS RESORT

Sweet Springs Resort is located just a few miles northeast of the property and founded in 1792.  Once known as Old Sweet Springs, this historic resort hotel is currently undergoing renovation by the nonprofit Sweet Springs Resort Park Foundation. The property enjoys notoriety for its natural hot spring.

The area is well known for the healing waters of the numerous “Sulphur Springs”. During the 1800’s and early 1900’s, several “Sulphur Springs Resorts” flourished in the area. Most notably and still in existence are White Sulphur Springs, Warm Springs and, Hot Springs. Others included, Salt Sulphur Springs, Blue Sulphur Springs, Red Sulphur Springs, Green Sulphur Springs, Pence Springs and, Sweet Chalybeate Springs.

During the height of wealthy families’ summer treks to the Virginia springs resorts—from roughly 1800 until the Civil War—one popular circuit encompassed “the fountains most strongly impregnated with minerals, heat, fashion, and fame,” according to one chronicler. For those arriving from eastern Virginia and points northeast, the circuit started at Warm Springs northeast of Lewisburg, in the Allegheny Mountains. From there, it ran south and west to the Hot, the White Sulphur, the Sweet, the Salt Sulphur, and the Red Sulphur, then back in the opposite direction.

The waters of Sweet Springs were asserted to assist aged persons, free from organic disease, would “find youth and vigor and elasticity at the bottom of this noble fountain,” and with a daily plunge could live to the “fabled age of the crow.”  It was cautiously recommended the Sweet Springs be used for certain cases of uterine functions, dyspepsia, and nephritic affections.

MONROE COUNTY

The property is located near the charming village Gap Mills and Union is less than a 15-minute drive, which is the Monroe County seat. Banking, healthcare facilities, drugstore, grocery, hardware, auto parts and farm supply are readily available in nearby Union. There are no fast food restaurants but there are the local restaurants that are great places to meet friends and enjoy a great home cooked meal.

Some of the friendliest people in West Virginia can be found in Monroe County. With a population of about 13,000 residents and Monroe County does not have a stoplight and has more cattle and sheep than people. Monroe County is a special area with interesting folks, both “born and raised” and newer members from many different states. People from all walks of life reside in harmony in this lovely pastoral setting. Located east of Union, near Gap Mills, the parcel offers those from urban areas the opportunity for a rural retreat well within a 4-hour drive to Washington, DC and Charlotte, NC.

Shortly after Monroe County was created, James Alexander offered 25 acres of land, including a lot for a courthouse which in time became the town of Union. On January 6, 1800, the Virginia Assembly passed an act creating the town of Union. The Monroe County Historical Society preserves several historic structures in the town, including the Caperton Law Office, Owen Neel House, Clark-Wisemen House, Ames Clair Hall, and the Old Baptist Church. The Union Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

The village of Gap Mills is 2 minutes from the property.  The community has developed local made bakery, cheese and furniture stores.  The name of the community is a portmanteau of the natural pass, or “gap” in the adjacent Gap Mountain.  Fort Henry commander Abraham Wood sent the first recorded English expedition to reach the area in 1671.

Other notable figures from the community were: Col. Andrew S. Rowan of Spanish American War fame was a native of this community. First Lieut. Percy Pharr of the World War and W. J. Humphrey, Physicist of the Meteorological Bureau, Washington, D. C., were born in Gap Mills village. L. R. Neel, manager of Middle Tenn. Experiment Station was born and reared one mile from the village of Gap Mills.

MONCOVE LAKE STATE PARK

Moncove Lake State Park offers a peaceful setting for families to enjoy the outdoors. The park is a popular destination for outdoor social gatherings, quiet strolls, camping and water recreation. This 250-acre park contains a larger, 500-acre wildlife management area. Located in the hills of the southeastern edge of the state, near Union in Monroe County, the park offers many opportunities for fishing, hunting, boating, swimming, birdwatching and hiking.

The Moncove Lake area was established in 1960, following the damming of Devil Creek in eastern Monroe County. The lake was built as part of the Moncove Lake Hunting and Fishing Area. In 1991, 250 acres were set aside as a state park. The remainder of the land continues to be managed as a wildlife management area. The park has since been expanded to 896 acres. The park sits on the shores of 144-acre Moncove Lake, and underneath the flyway of the Fall Hawk migration.

Moncove Lake State Park’s campground includes 48 tent and trailer sites, 25 of which have electric hookups. There are picnic tables and fire rings with grill surfaces, drinking water, a dump station and a central bathhouse with showers. Firewood is available for purchase upon your arrival. West Virginia State Park campground reservations are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year. Campgrounds are open on a first-come, first-serve basis through October 31.

Three picnic shelters are available to reserve, fully equipped with grills and tables. Playgrounds, restroom facilities, and a swimming pool open from Memorial Day to Labor Day will make your gathering complete!

More than 160 species of birds have been seen around Moncove Lake. The area is a birding hot spot due to nearby Peter’s Mountain and the ridge-and-valley section of the Appalachian Mountains. These ridges act as funnels for birds migrating in the fall and present excellent chances to glimpse birds that are considered rare or unusual for this region. On Peter’s Mountain during peak days in September, Broad Winged hawks are counted by the hundreds, and migrating hawks of nearly every eastern species and numerous songbirds can be seen throughout the month of September and into October. Witness the annual migration of birds of prey as they travel the eastern flyway passing through Monroe County, WV. Migration typically begins in early September through October, however, late September usually brings the most sightings.

GREENBRIER VALLEY

Historic Lewisburg is located just 35 minutes to the North with all the charm of a small town and all the amenities of a larger city. Designated the “Coolest Small Town in America”, fine dining, arts and entertainment flourish in the Lewisburg area while “big box” stores like Walmart and Lowes are also available along with the Greenbrier Valley Medical Center and other medical services.

Lewisburg is also home to Carnegie Hall, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, the WV School of Osteopathic Medicine, a community college, and is the county seat for Greenbrier County. The Greenbrier Valley Airport with daily flights to Chicago, Atlanta and Washington, DC is located just outside of Lewisburg. The world famous Greenbrier Resort is 1 hour drive and Snowshoe Ski Resort is within a 2 hour drive as well.

Within an hour to two hour drive are located some of the finest recreational facilities in West Virginia. Snowshoe Ski Resort, whitewater rafting / fishing on the Greenbrier, New River and Gauley River, 2000-acre Bluestone Lake, 919,000 acre Monongahela National Forest and the 80,000 acre New River National Gorge National Park and Preserve. Five other area state parks and state forests offer unlimited hiking, horseback riding, ATV riding and rock-climbing opportunities.

GREAT EASTERN CONTINENTAL DIVIDE

The property is situated near continental divide between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.  The waters of Kitchen Creek flow to the Gulf of Mexico and the waters of Sweet Springs Creek flow to the Atlantic Ocean.

Kitchen Creek is part of the Second Creek drainage area which flows into the Greenbrier River between Ronceverte and Alderson.  The waters from Kuhn’s Haven make their way down the Greenbrier River to the New, Kanawha, Ohio Rivers to the mighty Mississippi and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.

Sweet Springs Creek flows into Dunlap Creek which is part of the James River drainage area which flows across the State of Virginia and enters the Chesapeake Bay, then the Atlantic Ocean.

Prior to about 1760, north of Spanish Florida, the Appalachian Divide (Eastern Continental Divide) represented the boundary between British and French colonial possessions in North America. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 separated settled lands of the Thirteen Colonies from lands north and west of it designated the Indian Reserve; the proclamation border ran along the Appalachian Divide but extended beyond its Pennsylvania-New York terminus north into New England.