Tin Road Forest is a 285 acres +/- multi-use property located within 10 minutes of the Cherry River, Cranberry River, and Gauley River, in the heart of the New River Gorge recreational mecca, giving access to unlimited recreational opportunities.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Contiguous 285 +/- acre multi-use parcel
• 10 minutes to the Gauley, Cherry, and Cranberry Rivers
• The property has seven major hollows with several ephemeral creeks creating a diverse and interesting topographically
• Superb recreational opportunities in the heart of the New River Gorge water sports mecca
• One million-acre Monongahela National Forest nearby
• 5 rivers and 3 lakes are within an easy 1 to 1-1/2 hour’s drive. These include the New River, Gauley River, Cherry River, Cranberry River, and Greenbrier River, and Summersville Lake, Summit Lake and Bluestone Lake
• A blue line stream, flows through the property for 4/10 mile
• Miles of internal forest management roads, plus miles of forest trails, offer excellent access to a large portion of the forest
• Perfect for shooting sports, ATV riding, horseback riding, hiking, camping, hunting and nature viewing
• City of Summersville is a 20-minute drive
• 35 minutes to Summersville Airport
• High percentage of commercially – operable ground supporting forestry, recreation and potential for numerous future cabin sites
• Elevations range from 2147 ft. to 2455 ft. +/-
• Potential conservation value
• Low taxes, low population density, little or no light pollution
• Great fishing is found in the 5 rivers and 3 lakes. Species include small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill
• The rivers and lakes are ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing
• Forest is a steady producer of life-giving Oxygen and silently works to sequester carbon
• Over 40 years of professional forest and wildlife management
• Harvest-ready hardwood timber available to offset holding costs
• Jet airports less than 90 minutes away
• Potential for leasing carbon credits

DESCRIPTION

Tin Road Forest, with 285 acres+/-, shares the regional area with several public lands’ giving access to over one million acres of managed wilderness and parks.

Area National and State recreational properties include:

• Summersville Lake
• Summersville Wildlife Management Area
• New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
• Monongahela National Forest

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 38.305854°(N), -80.629693°(W)
Address: 1528 Schindel Rd., Craigsville, WV 26205
Elevation Range: 2147 ft. to 2455 ft. +/-

DIRECTIONS

From Craigsville, WV: 2.4 miles +/- (5 minutes +/-)<p>
From Walgreens, travel Rt 20 North for a short distance; turn right onto Woodbine Road; travel 1.6 miles; turn right onto Schindel Road; travel 7/10 miles to Mt. Zion Church on the left; property road entrance is on the left just past Mt. Zion Church.

WATER

A blue line stream begins on the property and runs within the property for about 4/10 mile. There should be water flow, especially during rain events and snow melt.

MINERAL RESOURCES

Various mineral rights have been either reserved or conveyed by prior deeds of record, and the property is being sold SURFACE ONLY.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: Pubic water is nearby
Sewer: Septic systems would need to be installed
Electricity: Available nearby
Telephone: Available nearby
Internet: May be available through cable, satellite or cell phone
Cellphone Coverage: Excellent with 5G

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has frontage on Schindel Road Rt. 94/3, Tin Road Rt. 94/4, and Woodbine Road Rt. 15/6.

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 installation of septic systems, water wells, and flood insurance requirements.

Nicholas County ordinances and contact information can be found at the following website:
http://www.nicholascountywv.org/ordinances/default.aspx

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

The property has various ages of forestland, from areas of fairly recent harvest to full canopy stands.

(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: A portion of DB 502 Pg. 455
Nicholas County, West Virginia
Acreage: 285 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Nicholas County (34), West Virginia
Beaver District (1)
Tax Map 25 Parcel 85; Class 3

2022 Real Estate Taxes: $913.86

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Nicholas County School District

Public Elementary School:
Mt Nebo Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Summersville Middle School

Public High School:
Nicholas County High School

Nicholas County Career and Technical Center

RECREATION AT TIN ROAD FOREST

The Tin Road Forest offers many recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the proximity to the recreation mecca of the New River Gorge.

Nature viewing –   Attentive wildlife management has been geared not just to game 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, hawks.

Stargazing-Planet Observation-Astrophotography-Starwalking
Complete to semi-complete darkness can be still be found on most of the property, thereby affording the opportunity to view the night sky in all its brilliant wonder.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the nearby Summersville Lake, Gauley River, New River, Cranberry River and Cherry River ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing. 3000 acre Summersville Lake is within a 40-minute drive.  The 5 rivers and the 2000 acre Bluestone Lake are all within an easy one hour’s drive. Great fishing is found in the 5 rivers and 3 lakes. Species include small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill.

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: Grandpa’s old 22 single shot rifle and a few tin cans make a fun day

All Terrain Motorsports
Tin Road Forest has several forest trails that are perfect for experiencing the property from an ATV or UTV, and Rock Crawlers. 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
Along with ATV riding, existing forest trails may be used for conventional and mountain biking, hiking or horseback riding.

Hunting is a first-class experience. White tail deer, black bear, 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.

FIVE RIVERS AND THREE LAKES

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 rivers and lakes are about an 1 to 1-1/2 hour’s drive from the property: Tin Road Forest is located in the heart of the recreational mecca area encompassing the Gauley River, New River, Greenbrier River, Cranberry River and Cherry River. Within this vast watershed lies the 3000-acre Summersville Lake and Summit Lake.

Great fishing is found in the rivers and lakes with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill present in good numbers.

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. Summersville Lake is over 3,000 at summer pool and is the state’s largest body of water.

CARBON SEQUESTRATION & CARBON CREDITS

The 285 +/- acres forest is a tremendous producer of Oxygen and sequester of Carbon Dioxide. Carbon Sequestration is the act of processing carbon dioxide through sinks and stores and releasing them into the atmosphere as oxygen. With some 285 acres, the vigorously growing forest is sequestering thousands of tons of Carbon Dioxide each per year and producing tons and tons of life-giving Oxygen.

This natural process allows the owner (and family/friends) the opportunity to potentially enjoy a carbon neutral footprint.

The leasing of “Carbon Credits” to environmental mitigation companies is a rapidly emerging financial opportunity for the property owner to receive income without placing any burden on the land. The leases can be for as little as one year.

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The property has various ages of forestland, from areas of fairly recent harvest to full canopy stands. The distinguishing features of Tin Road Forest’s timber resource is its unusually high hardwood pre-commercial and pole stocking with a solid basal area per acre. This stocking is well above average for the region. This well managed timber resource can provide a great deal of flexibility to the next ownership in terms of potential harvest revenue and can be managed to provide cash flow opportunities to offset holding cost and long-term asset appreciation.

Capital Timber Value and a forest-wide timber inventory have not been established by the owner at this time.

The forest’s predominately well-drained upland terrain has led to a resource dominated by hardwood species. Overall, the species composition is highly desirable and favors Appalachian hardwood types, consisting primarily of White Oak/Chestnut Oak, Red Oak Group, Poplar/Cucumber/Basswood, Sugar Maple/Soft Maple and a host of associate species.

Stocking, Stem Quality, and Forest Structure:

Forest-wide, most stands are fully stocked, providing the next ownership with a great deal of flexibility in shaping their own silvicultual legacy. Stem quality forest-wide can be considered excellent with the forest containing an abundant future veneer source.

The Tin Road Forest timber component has been professionally managed over many decades.  The predominant timber stand of the forest contains 2-35 year old stems ranging in size of 2-12” dbh.

The second distinct stand is comprised of 80+ year old trees that represent mature forest stands scattered throughout the boundary along the creeks and streams.

Some trees are well over 150 years old and classify as “Heritage Trees”. These amazing trees have withstood the test of time and lend an air of grace and permanency to the property.

The forest is healthy and there are no signs of pest infestations of Gypsy Moth. The Emerald Ash Borer and the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid are present and the majority of the Ash and Hemlock trees are severely stressed and will die out over the next decade. There have been no forest fires in the recent memory.

WILDLIFE

The mix of mature timber, emerging forests, linear food plots, creeks and streams creates 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 lots 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 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. It is exciting to see and hear the large and very vocal Pileated Woodpecker, with its bright red crest dressed in a black and white tuxedo, sweep through the tall canopy in search of a morning snack.

The section of dense forest, with its closed canopy, is home to a variety of songbirds, owls, ravens, buzzards, woodpeckers and hawks. 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 area’s rivers 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.

The nearby Summersville Lake, Gauley River, Cherry River, Cranberry River, New River, and Greenbrier River 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/lakes, 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.

Great fishing is found in the rivers and lakes with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill present in good numbers.

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 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)

SELF-SUSTAINING LIFE OFF THE GRID

Just like 150 years ago, when the first mountaineers settled the area, the property would be self-sustaining in times of necessity – even without electricity

• Fresh water for drinking and cooking would come from mountain springs
• The forest would provide fresh food (deer, and turkey)
• The flat to rolling land could be cleared for agricultural land raise livestock, 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, lumber for building, maple syrup and pounds of nuts (walnuts, beechnuts and hickory nuts)

BENEFITS OF LIVING IN NICHOLAS COUNTY

• 4 season climate, the fall of the year is spectacular and summers warm and breezy
• Water sports
• 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’s longest arched bridge
• Monongahela National Forest and New River Gorge National River Park are nearby
• Nicholas County Veterans Memorial Park
• Summersville arena and convention center
• Proximity to I-79
• Proximity to I-77
• Proximity to I-64
• Major shopping Beckley- 75 min
• Modern schools
• Rich logging and mining history
• Modern hospital at Summersville

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.

Marina
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 $5.00 Day Use fee for boat launching.

SUMMERSVILLE

Summersville is the county seat of Nicholas County, West Virginia. Summersville was formed in June 1820, and was primarily a farming community. During the winter of 1864-65, both Union and Confederate armies were encamped in Summersville or nearby. It was during that winter that the town and all its buildings were burned to the ground. Although the war ended soon after, the destruction of the town was discouraging, and citizens were very slow to return and rebuild. By 1884, Summersville was again home to over 100 citizens, and slowly became the commerce center of the county.

Centrally located in the mountains of West Virginia, Summersville offers endless opportunities for fun-filled days enjoying beauty, adventure, history and relaxation. There are a host of festivals in the summer and fall and check out the event schedule at the Summersville Arena & Conference Center. Summersville is easy to navigate and offers a large selection of lodging to match any budget. Restaurants range from fast food to fine dining. Winter, spring, summer or fall, Summersville has something to offer couples, families, adventure seekers, historians, or just those seeing relaxation
Summersville has many quaint shops that are ideal for browsing and finding the perfect gift or souvenir. There are many primitive shops, specialty shops, antiques, sporting goods, department stores, and collectibles and food items unique to the area. Summersville also offers several “big box” stores including Big Lots, Lowes, Peebles, Sears, Grand Home Furnishings, and Walmart.

Summersville also offers the Summersville Arena & Conference Center, which is a 73,000 square foot multi-use facility constructed jointly with the City of Summersville and the West Virginia Army National Guard. The facility offers a 24,000 sq. ft. arena, 2,000 seats for events such as basketball games, an additional 2,400 seats available for a “staged” event, and a 3,600 sq. ft. convention area. Summersville has a public library.

There is also a modern hospital and all attendant medical facilities. Summersville Regional Medical Center is located on Route 19 in Summersville, West Virginia. In operation since 1968, SRMC has served Nicholas County and the surrounding area for over four decades and is the second largest employer in the county.