An exceptional 103 acre multi-use farm and woodland property located in quiet rural setting.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Residential – Recreation – Agricultural
• 31 +/- acres gently rolling hay field and pasture
• 72 +/- acres of forestland
• 3/4 mi +/- frontage on state maintained road
• Public water, electric, cable and good cell phone service
• Gentle laying land with roads and trails providing excellent access
• 10 minutes to Rainelle with shopping, restaurants, hardware & auto stores, Medical facilities, pharmacies and other small town conveniences
• 1 hour to Beckley, 35 min to Summersville Lake, 2 hours to Charleston, 45 minutes to Lewisburg
• Perfect for residential, recreational activities and wildlife development
• FedEx, UPS and USPS delivery, trash pickup, newspaper delivery
• Cell phone coverage is excellent with 4G service
• Ephemeral creeks create a nice habitat
• Rich and diverse resident wildlife population
• Network of interior provide hiking, horseback riding or ATV’ing
• Elevations range from 2801 ft. to 3038 ft.
• Low taxes
• Dynamic forest with some old growth trees estimated to be 100-150 years old
• Surrounded by farms and woodland tracts
• Timber species include beautiful oaks, black walnut, poplar, maple and hickories
• Interesting and very diverse geology with amazing rock outcrops
• The beaver pond creates a rich and dynamic aquatic and wetland habitat

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.966904°(N), -80.823869°(W)
Address: White Oak Road RT 41/7 (aka Smailes Road), Rainelle, WV 25962. No 911 address is assigned to property without structures.
Elevation Range: 2801 ft. to 3038 ft. +/-

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The 72 acre forest is comprised of many different age classes and tree sizes.  The forest resource is composed of Appalachian hardwoods and hemlock. The species composition consists primarily of Black Walnut, Birch, Red Maple, Poplar, Red Oak, White Oak, Hickory, and a host of associated species (Ash, Hemlock, Sourwood, Black Gum, Beech, Ironwood and Hop Hornbeam). A very selective timber harvest was recently completed on a small portion of the forest. Just a few trees were carefully removed in order to improve forest health, increase future productivity and enhance wildlife habitat.

Several “Heritage Trees” are scattered throughout the forest and old field edges. These ancient trees, some 100-150 years old, have withstood the test of time, weathering flood, 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, some of which were part of the early homestead. Crops of black walnuts are produced each. Honeybees will do very well here.

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)

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

The open land consists of 31 acres of fertile hay fields and pastures, with some excellent garden spots. The land is flat to rolling and very useable. Gardens and row crops will do well here as there is very little rock in the soil.

The well-maintained agricultural lands conserve water and filter out manure and nutrients, keeping them from entering the nearby riparian zones, thus protecting water quality, human health, and animal health.

WILDLIFE

The mix of mature timber, emerging forests, farmland, miles of linear food plots, creeks and and a beaver pond combine to create the perfect wildlife habitat. It is hard to find a property that has a better mix of wildlife and there has been intense game management for many years. The abundance of wildlife can be fully appreciated by spending a few hours hiking, looking and listening for all the forest has to offer.

The forest produces tons and tons of acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, wild grapes, blackberries, beechnuts, poplar and maple seeds. Because there is such an amazing food source, there is a variety of wildlife, including wild turkey, white tail deer, black bear, raccoon, opossum, rabbit, grouse, coyote, squirrel, chipmunk beaver and bobcat.

Many species of songbirds and woodpeckers thrive in the special habitat that large older trees and younger emerging stands create and make their home in this special forest environ. The healthy forest, with its varied canopy stage, is home to a variety of neotropical song birds, owls, ravens, buzzards, woodpeckers and hawks, and woodpeckers. Many of these birds nest in the “den trees”, which are full of holes and cavities. The birds feed on a variety of insects, including hundreds of thousands small caterpillars that inhabit the upper reaches of the canopy.

A number of Bald Eagles have been spotted up and down the New River and are a thrill to see with wingspans of 6-7 feet.

A wide variety of insects, reptiles and amphibians are represented across Nature’s spectrum.

SURROUNDING AREA

The area is one of the most popular outdoor-recreation destination areas in West Virginia — a paradise of natural and cultural amenities found in few other places in the eastern U.S. More than a million visitors toured the region in 2019, according to the National Park Service, climbing rocks, paddling streams, and hiking, biking, and running miles of scenic trail. Winter in the mountains attracts yet another recreational clientele — skiers bound for the slopes at Winterplace, a drive of 40 minutes to the south, and Snowshoe Mountain, a drive of two-and-a-half hours to the northeast.

The waters of the New River system contain a mosaic of hydrologic features and aquatic habitats that support a highly productive aquatic ecosystem that includes distinct populations of native fish, mussels, crayfish, and a broad array of other aquatic life, including rare amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Nearby is Adventures on the Gorge, one of the most enduring and popular adventure resorts in the U.S., a pioneer in the whitewater rafting industry that has helped set the stage for high-end economic development in the region.

As a result of its burgeoning tourism market, the area also enjoys more than its share of singular shops and restaurants, many of which cluster around Fayetteville, a drive of five minutes from the villa. Other exceptional eateries and retail destinations are located an hour west at Charleston, the state capital, and an hour east at Lewisburg, one of the most livable small towns in the U.S., according to National Geographic. The region is also renowned for great golf, and more than a score of courses are located within a short, including three at The Greenbrier, home of the PGA tour, and Oakhurst Links, the first course built in the U.S.

The region is easy to access. As remote as the region may seem, an expressway courses through its center, spanning the gorge by way of the New River Gorge Bridge only a few miles away. Interstates 77 and 64 and US 19 and US 60 are only a half hour’s drive. Amtrak passenger stations on the Chicago-New York route are located 40 minutes away.  Jet airports are located an hour away at Beckley, Charleston and Lewisburg.

The Town of Rainelle  (See Rainelle Fact Sheet under Maps & Documents Section in gold colored box)
The Crookshanks Farm is near Rainelle, WV.  Rainelle is a quaint rural community with a population of about 1,500 residents. Nestled in the beautiful hills of western Greenbrier County, this quiet community sits on the historical Midland Trail (US Highway 60). Rainelle is probably most famous for being the home of the Meadow River Lumber Company, the largest hardwood lumber band mill in the world during its years of operation. A little less known, but significant, feature is the Rainelle United Methodist Church, still holding regular services, which is thought to be the largest structure in the world built entirely of American Chestnut lumber. Although being a small country town with only one traffic light, Rainelle has much to offer those who make this area their home.

Rainelle was named for the Raine family. Thomas and his brother John Raine moved there from Pennsylvania in 1906 to begin the harvest of the large stand of virgin hardwoods abundant in the eastern United States. Their Meadow River Lumber Company operated for 60 years, and at one time was the largest hardwood sawmill in the world. In 1970, the owners sold it to Georgia-Pacific Corporation, which dismantled it and built a modern mill just across the Meadow River.

Town of Fayetteville
Fayetteville’s historic district is both charming and one of the most attractive locations for outfitters shops, boutique shops, and specialty restaurants in West Virginia. More than a dozen antiques shops were operating in the Fayetteville area in summer 2017, and five independent restaurants in the district were offering an outstanding selection of unique cuisine. Fayetteville is central to the travel-destination area as well as the legal center of the Fayette County. Its population in 2014 was estimated at 2,892.

City of Oak Hill
Oak Hill is Fayette County’s largest municipality and its economic center. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 7,730. Plateau Medical Center, the largest hospital in the county, is located off the US-19 expressway on Main Street in its downtown. The city has recently increased its investment in recreational and quality-of-life improvements and has acquired land for the new outdoor-adventure park approaching the edge of the New River Gorge.

The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve
As a result of unrivaled access to recreation, the Boy Scouts of America established its national Jamboree site here encompassing 12,000 acres and has invested over $300,000,000 in the acquisition and buildout of the site.

The Summit is the home of the World Jamboree as well as the National Scout Jamboree. The Summit is the national leadership center for the Boy Scouts of America as well as one of the organization’s five high-adventure bases. More than 50,000 scouts and leaders from all over 40 countries attended the World Jamboree in 2019.

RECREATION

The 103 acre property offers unparalleled recreational opportunities.  Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the nearby New River.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the New River ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing. Great fishing is found in the New River with bass (largemouth, smallmouth and rock), flathead catfish, channel catfish, muskie and bluegill are present in good numbers. Ice skating is occasionally a fun activity during the winter months.

Nature viewing is first in line of recreational activities. Attentive wildlife management has been geared not to just larger 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, eagles and hawks. White tail deer, black bear, beaver, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, grouse, duck, squirrel, raccoon, fox and rabbit make up the resident wildlife population. It is hard to find a property that has a better mix of wildlife.

Stargazing-Planet Observation
Total or 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.

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
• Plain ole’ plinking with an old 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 the property’s numerous interior trails and all public roads that do not have a painted dividing line – 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 being on two wheels.

Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and Hiking
The land may be used for conventional and/or mountain biking, hiking or horseback riding. The area offers several state and national parks geared for these activities.

NEW RIVER OVERVIEW

The New River is shared by boaters, fisherman, campers, park visitors and local neighbors. The waters of the New River system contain a mosaic of hydrologic features and aquatic habitats that support a highly productive aquatic ecosystem that includes distinct populations of native fish, mussels, crayfish, and a broad array of other aquatic life, including rare amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

The 320-mile New River rises in the Blue Ridge region of North Carolina and flows northeastward through the Appalachian uplands to Radford, Va., where it turns northwestward and passes through a series of narrow valleys and gorges into southern West Virginia. It ends where it joins the Gauley River to form the Kanawha River. In WV, the New River is entrenched in a steep and narrow valley, the most narrow part of which is known as the “New River Gorge.”

In 1998, because of historical, economical, and cultural importance, President Clinton signed into law the New River as one of the very first American Heritage Rivers. Much of the river’s course through West Virginia is designated as the New River Gorge National River.

The New River is recognized as the “second oldest river in the world” and is estimated to be between 10 and 360 million years old. Its headwaters begin near Blowing Rock, NC and is one of the few rivers in North America that flows northerly.

Class I, II, III, IV and V rapids dot the entire 320 miles of New River making it a great paddling, tubing, and white rafting adventure. Beautiful cliffs, bluffs, and mountain views make it one of the most scenic rivers on the east coast.

New River Gorge National River includes 53 miles of free-flowing New River, beginning at Bluestone Dam and ending at Hawks Nest Lake. The New River typifies big West Virginia style whitewater. Within the park it has two very different characters. The upper (southern) part of the river consists primarily of long pools, and relatively easy rapids up to Class III. It is a big powerful river, but very beautiful, always runnable, and providing excellent fishing and camping. There are a number of different river access points, and trips can run from several hours to several days.

The lower (northern) section of river is often referred to as “the Lower Gorge.” In a state that is justifiably renowned for colossal rapids, the Lower Gorge has some of the biggest of the big with rapids ranging in difficulty from Class III to Class V. The rapids are imposing and forceful, many of them obstructed by large boulders which necessitate maneuvering in very powerful currents, crosscurrents, and hydraulics. Some rapids contain hazardous undercut rocks.

Prior to the rise of the Appalachian Mountains, the New River cut its bed at a time when the land sloped to the northwest. Amazingly so, as the Appalachians gradually rose around the river, the New River wore away the bedrock at the same rate the mountains formed, leaving behind towering cliffs and prominences that hover hundreds of feet about the water level.

Accounts claim that Indians referred to the New River as the “river of death,” however this origin story is likely legend. Native Americans and early European settlers regarded the New and Kanawha rivers as being one single waterway. The name “New” may have been derived when the river upstream was discovered by European explorers as the first “new” river found flowing westward.

Native American Indians used the New River as they traveled west years before the pioneers arrived. In the 1600s explorers navigating the New River thought they were close to the Pacific Ocean because of its westerly flow.

In 1671 the Batts-Fallam expedition, by way of the New River, came through to the Lurich area and ended there because the Indian guides refused to take them any farther. They carved their initials in a tree and claimed the territory for King Charles II of England. This was the first proclamation of English territory west of the Alleghenies making the New River the first gateway into the west.

Fast water, big rocks and lazy/slow stretches are features of the New River. Water sports enthusiasts will find the New River ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing. Great fishing is found in the New River with bass (largemouth, smallmouth and rock), flathead catfish, channel catfish, muskie, walleye and bluegill present in good numbers.

The gorge was practically impassible before completion of the New River Gorge Bridge, near Fayetteville, WV, in 1978. The river within its gorge is one of the most popular whitewater rafting destinations in the eastern U.S. Much of the New between Hinton and Gauley Bridge is managed by the National Park Service as the New River Gorge National River.

Principal tributaries of the New in West Virginia include, from south to north, the East River, the Bluestone River, and the Greenbrier River.

Many former mining communities located on the New River in its gorge have since become ghost towns. These include Sewell, Nuttalburg, Kaymoor, Fayette, South Fayette, Hawks Nest, Cotton Hill, and Gauley, Beury and Claremont.

FAYETTE COUNTY

Recreation is a high-income producer for Fayette County and the bordering counties of Nicholas, Raleigh, Summers and Greenbrier, located in southern West Virginia, renowned for its dramatic landscapes, small communities, and outdoor recreation amenities. White water rafting, the 80,000-acre New River National Park, 4,000 acre Babcock State Park, 9,000 acre Beury Mt. Wildlife Management Area, 14,000 acre Boy Scout High Adventure Camp, ACE Adventures OTG and many other attractions bring the out-of- area and out-of-state population to the area. Along with this, many people want to have a vacation spot, recreation home or other tie to the area. Hunting and fishing is very popular as well as ATV adventuring on the Hatfield-McCoy Trail.

WATER

The headwaters of an intermittent stream has three sections, two of which are separate branches, located in the property for a total distance of almost ¾ mile. There will be water flow during rain events and snow melt.

The beaver have created a fantastic pond on the property as well as a series of additional ponds further down the creek on adjoining landowners.  This is just one cool area to visit and spend time in as it is completely in its own small world.

MINERAL RESOURCES

The mineral rights do not convey with the surface and the property is being sold SURFACE ONLY.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The metes and bounds descriptions of tracts comprising the property are shown in recorded deeds. Some of the property boundaries are evidenced by fencing. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water:   Public water available
Sewer:   A septic system would need to be installed
Electricity:  Available nearby
Telephone:  Frontier is available nearby
Internet:  Available through nearby Frontier, or DishNetwork, DirecTV, Hugnes.net
Cellphone Coverage:  Good

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has about ¾ mile of frontage on White Oak Road RT 41/7, which is also locally known as Smailes 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 has been used as pasture and as forestland. There is a large section of field containing about 29 acres and a smaller separate field of about 2 acres. A small 1-acre mowed section in the southeastern edge of the property supports a community cemetery. There are about 72 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: WB 82 Pg. 526; DB 209 Pg. 62 less conveyances
Fayette County, West Virginia

Acreage: 103.85 acres +/- by calculation of tracts and conveyances
Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:

Fayette County (10), West Virginia
New Haven District (1)

Tax Map 89 Parcel 71; SURF 103.86 AC SURF N OF SEC RT 41/7 GLADE CK SEW MT; Class 2

2019 Real Estate Taxes: $358.94

SCHOOLS

Fayette County School District
(Additional Fayette County schools are listed on the West Virginia Department of Education website https://wvde.state.wv.us/ed_directory)

Public Elementary Schools:
Meadow Bridge Elementary School
Mount Hope Elementary School
Rainelle Elementary School (Greenbrier County)

Public Middle Schools:
Ansted Middle School
Collins Middle School
Western Greenbrier Middle School (Greenbrier County)

Public High Schools:
Midland Trail High School
Oak Hill High School
Greenbrier West High School (Greenbrier County)

Public Colleges:
Fayette Institute of Technology, WVU Tech (Beckley), Concord University, WVU and Marshall University.