OVERVIEW

The Totten Homeplace homesite was chosen to take full advantage of the rolling land and stunning surrounding mountain vistas.

The home’s design accommodates the lifestyles of an active household and the daily lifestyle associated with mountain living. The home’s many amenities add to the its warmth, coziness and livability.

The home’s indisputable curb appeal, a perfect design for entertaining, abundant glass doors and light-filled windows, multiple decks, patio, and porches complement the stunning looks and comfort of this home.

Small town hospitality meets maximum outdoor fun in Marlinton. Located perfectly between the free-flowing Greenbrier River and the famous Greenbrier River Trail. Marlinton offers all small-town amenities with shopping, hospital, modern schools, health and dental care, etc. The Greenbrier River offers numerous water based recreational opportunities including kayaking, swimming, tubing, snorkeling, wind surfing and some of the best small mouth bass fishing found anywhere. Snowshoe Resort is just ½ hours’ drive.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 7 acres of very nice laying land with a blend of fields and forest
• Land contains rich soils planted in native pasture grasses but great for gardens and crops
• 3,000+ sq. ft. home is very well maintained and overlooks the distant mountain ranges and estate grounds
• 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, dining area, great room, kitchen, home office, laundry room, 2 car attached carport, partial basement, sunroom, screened porch and tons of closet space
• Private master bedroom opens to an outdoor deck providing a private entrance
• Screened and covered front sitting porch and a covered front entry porch
• Enclosed sun porch provides a comfortable year-round entry
• Excellent access with 400’ paved private driveway leading to the home
• Very private and secluded – but not remote
• All small city amenities are 5 minutes away in Marlinton, the Pocahontas County Seat
• Excellent river fishing with a mix of deep holes, rapids and still water 5 minutes away
• Mature landscaping creates an interesting, diverse and aesthetically pleasing backdrop all year round – framed naturally by the mountain ranges and expansive grassed land
• All mineral rights in title will convey
• Public water and septic, electric, propane gas, cable internet, trash pickup, UPS FedX, USPS
• 4 heat sources – propane gas furnace, 2 Trane heat pumps, wood stove
• 3 bay storage building, outdoor patio, RV shelter, carport, basketball court, above ground swimming pool with surround decking
• A resident wildlife population rich in diversity and ever changing
• Fur bearing – deer, black bear, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox, chipmunk, opossum
• Neotropical songbirds, turkeys, eagles, hawks, owls, ravens, ravens, crows, and hummingbirds
• One hour to a jet airport and to the I-64 interstate at Lewisburg
• A rewarding off-grid permaculture lifestyle can be easily developed
• Superior access by state maintained paved roads
• Cell phone coverage can be spotty, but internet coverage is excellent
• Dark skies with little light pollution for star gazing and planet observation
• Low taxes, low population density
• ½ hour to Snowshoe Resort
• 1 Million Acre Monongahela National Forest nearby

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 38.252569°(N), -80.095801°(W)
Address: 20518 Seneca Trail, Marlinton, WV 24954
Elevation Range: 2400 ft. to 2480 ft. +/-

ABOUT THE REGION

The Totten Homeplace is located in central Pocahontas County in the mountains of southeastern West Virginia. The Pocahontas County region is renowned for its highland forests—woodlands that ascend to windswept summits more than 4,000 feet above sea level. Its highest peaks are among the highest in the Allegheny range of the Appalachian Mountain.

Though home to fewer than 9,000 residents, the county is among the largest in West Virginia at 942 square miles and includes vast areas of forest, much of which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Monongahela National Forest.

Much of the county lies within the National Radio Quiet Zone, an area of 110 square miles in Virginia and West Virginia in which radio transmissions are heavily restricted to facilitate scientific research at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank in northern Pocahontas County.
Heavy snows in the higher elevations may render forest roads impassable through much of the winter, though the valleys along the Greenbrier enjoy moderate winter weather. Heavy snows in December, January, and February help sustain tourism when more than 400,000 skiers and winter-sports enthusiasts visit Snowshoe Mountain, Silver Creek Resort, and the Elk River Touring Center.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOME 1978 – 2020

A certified Comprehensive Home inspection report will be coming soon. The inspection report will include water, septic pest, chimney, electric, plumbing, roof, foundation, etc. A separate inspection report will include a certified construction/structural engineering report.

The Totten Homeplace was constructed in stages over a 15-year period. Additions and refinements were made to meet the needs of an ever-growing family and their increasingly active lifestyle.

1978 – A new 14’x70’ Redman mobile home was purchased and placed on a permanent foundation.

1986 – A 14’x70’ stick-built addition was constructed incorporating the existing mobile home under one roof doubling the living space. At the time of the addition and incorporation, the mobile home was completely transformed with a new layout, new kitchen and bath, new stud walls and floor joists, drywall, insulation and upgraded electrical. An attached garage was completed at this time as well.

1989 – The spacious attached garage was remodeled and became the family room. A carport and sunroom were added.

1994 – A 24’x24’ addition was completed to include a master bedroom and 2 bathrooms.

2018 * 2019- A remodel of the kitchen area was completed to create a warm and airy open floor plan. New quartz countertops were installed. During the remodel, new engineered flooring was installed. The flooring has a waterproof core and a protective, resilient, durable vinyl wear layer. The exceptional underlayment blocks out chills and dampens noise.

2019 – New metal roof was installed.

BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS

SEE FLOOR PLAN DIAGRAM IN THE MAPS AND DOCUMENTS SECTION IN THE GOLD COLORED BOX NEAR THE TOP OF THE PAGE ABOVE

ROOM DIMENSIONS

• Living Room 30’ x 13’
• Kitchen/Dining 34’ x 13’
• Great Room 24’ x 22’
• Master Bedroom 18’ x 18’
• Master Bath 10’ x 5’
• #2 Bedroom 14’ x 13’
• #3 Bedroom 16’ x 13’
• #4 Bedroom 15’ x 13’
• Guest Bath 10’ x 5’
• Guest Bath 9’ x 9’
• Sun Porch 21’ x 9’
• Laundry area 4’ x 5’

Partial Basement (unfinished) 18’ x 11’
Covered Screen Porch 12’ x 26’
Covered Front Porch 25’ x 5’
Deck 50’ x 7’
Detached Garage 32’ x 36’
Attached Carport 29’ x 25’
Detached Carport 17’ x 30’

TOTAL LIVING SPACE 3,028 SQ. FT.

RECREATION AT TOTTEN HOMEPLACE

Totten Homeplace is located in an area which offers unparalleled recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the nearby Greenbrier River and the Monongahela National Forest.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the Greenbrier River ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing. Great fishing is found in the Greenbrier River with small mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie and bluegill present in good numbers. Ice skating is occasionally a fun activity during the winter months.

Nature viewing is first in line of recreational activities. Wildlife in the area include 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, duck, squirrel, raccoon, fox and rabbit also make up the resident wildlife population.

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

Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and Hiking are possible along the Greenbrier River Trail.

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has over 800 feet of frontage on US 219. The driveway for the property connects with US 219 within that frontage.

ZONING

Pocahontas County currently has no zoning outside of corporations and flood zone areas. However, all prospective buyers should consult the County Government and also the Health Department for any changes and details regarding zoning, building codes, and installation of water wells and septic systems.

DEED AND TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: DB 196 Pg. 227, DB 231 Pg. 204, and DB 271 Pg. 368 less DB 283 Pg. 175
Pocahontas County, West Virginia
Acreage: 7.38 acres.

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Pocahontas County (38), West Virginia
Edray District (3)
Tax Map 57 Parcels 8, 8.1, and 8.2; Class 2
2019 Real Estate Taxes: $540.46

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Pocahontas County School District
Public Elementary School:
Marlinton Elementary School

Public Middle School:
Marlinton Middle School

Public High School:
Pocahontas County High School

THE AREA

Pocahontas County
Totten Homeplace is located in Pocahontas County, “The Alaska of the East”, is set deep in the Allegheny Mountains, separating West Virginia from Virginia. Pocahontas County was created in 1821 from parts of Bath, Randolph, and Pendleton counties and was named in honor of Pocahontas, the daughter of Wahunsonacock, a chief of the Powhatan Indians. Its county seat is at Marlinton. Located in the Allegheny Mountains, the region almost entirely mountainous.

Many important rivers rise in Pocahontas County which is often referred to as part of the “Birthplace of Rivers” region. The Elk, Cherry, Gauley, Williams, Cranberry, Greenbrier, and Tygart Valley rivers, and the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River, all source in its highlands. Ski resorts on and near Showshoe Mountain attract thousands of tourists annually, as do state parks, national forest areas, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank. As of the 2010 census, the population of Pocahontas County was 8,719. The area is rooted in its crystal-clear streams, native brook trout, roaring waterfalls, and unique history.

Pocahontas County is a Mountain Playground. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound from Hunting on private lands and the Monongahela National Forest, and Fishing in the Greenbrier River, Shavers Fork, Buffalo Lake and the countless native trout streams, Snow Skiing at Snowshoe, and Mountain Biking at Seneca State Forest and the along the Greenbrier River Trail. Spruce Knob, Seneca Rocks, The Cass Scenic Railroad in Cass and the National Radio Observatory in Green Bank are other area attractions that make this region of the state one of the most sought after to live and play.

CITY OF MARLINTON

• Founded in 1749
• County seat of Pocahontas County
• Population about 1,000 in the city limits and some 8,500 county-wide
• Marlinton is located on highway US-219 approximately 10 miles north of Hillsboro, 30 miles south of Snowshoe, and 45 miles north of Lewisburg. The town is located on the Greenbrier River on the flank of the Monongahela National Forest. The Greenbrier River Trail courses through the town, which is part of the Snowshoe Mountain destination area during ski season.
• Local hospital and other health and dental facilities
• Retail businesses include hardware, building supply, grocery-deli, convenience-fuel, new and used car dealers, auto parts, fast food, spirts-tobacco, local restaurants, funeral homes
• Employment includes: State, Federal, County and Municipal government, hospitality, National and State Forests & Parks, Outdoor recreation, trucking, timber, sawmilling, quarrying, Dept of Education – school systems, Dept of Highways, Dept of Corrections, assisted living facilities, home health care etc.

QUIET ZONE
Totten Homeplace is located on the outskirts of the United States National Radio Quiet Zone which is a large area of land surrounding the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) at Green Bank, West Virginia, and especially the large Green Bank Telescope radio telescope. The Radio Quiet Zone is a rectangle of land approximately 13,000 square miles in size that straddles the border area of Virginia and West Virginia. This area was chosen because it has a hilly topography that screens out most incoming radio signals, allowing the Green Bank telescopes to receive signals that are otherwise too low in power to be heard over the normal radio background in North America. Due to the restrictions, the area has attracted people who suffer from Electromagnetic hypersensitivity.

A 2018 article in Motherboard explains that the nearby Snowshoe Mountain ski resort has been able to provide fast internet, WiFi, and cell phone coverage by having a custom system built which is specially designed so as not to interfere with radio telescopes.[7

Historic Greenbrier County
Lewisburg, (45-minute drive), which is the Greenbrier County seat, was voted the Coolest Small Town in America, combining the warmth of a close community with the sophistication of more urban locations. The thriving downtown historic district offers year-round live productions presented at the State Professional Theatre of WV, Carnegie Hall, distinctive dining venues, antique shops, award-winning galleries/boutiques, a year-round farmer’s markets. Greenbrier Valley Medical Center is a modern hospital and all attendant medical facilities, along with the many big box stores.

The county and city host several fairs & festivals throughout the year including The WV State Fair, a professional 4-weekend Renaissance Festival, Chocolate Festival, Taste of our Town Festival (TOOT), antique car shows, Jeep Rally’s, Airstream Rally, WV Barn Hunt Competition, PGA Tour @The Greenbrier, Lewisburg is also home to the modern Robert. C Byrd Medical Clinic (300 employees), the WV Osteopathic Medical School (600 students) and the New River Community and Technical College.

The area is a strong economic generator with a solid workforce employed in county/state government, tourism, hospitality, medical, education, retail, construction, wood products, mining and agriculture. The world-renowned Greenbrier Resort, with 800 rooms and 1600 employees, is located in the sleepy little town of White Sulphur Springs. The 4-Star resort has a subterranean casino and is home to the PGA tour, NFL Summer Practice Event, Tennis Exhibitions (Venus Williams, John McEnroe etc.). Several other area golf courses are available in the area – including Oakhurst Links, America’s first golf course, where guests play using old style hickory-handled clubs and ground-burrowing golf balls.

A picturesque Amtrak train ride from Hinton connects the area to DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, and many other locations. By car, DC is 5 hours away and Charlotte is only 3. Within a two-hour’s drive are located some of the finest recreational facilities in West Virginia. Winterplace Ski Resort, whitewater rafting / fishing on the New River and Gauley River, 2000-acre Bluestone Lake, Pipestem State Park and Resort and the 80,000-acre New River National Gorge National Park.

Five other area state parks and state forests offer unlimited hiking, horseback riding, ATV riding and rock climbing opportunities. Snowshoe Ski Resort is 90-minute drive through some of the most scenic country on the East Coast. The new 12,000-acre Boy Scout High Adventure Camp and home to the US and World Jamboree is an hour’s drive.

THE MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST

The Monongahela National Forest was established in 1920 and is encompasses about one million acres. Located in the north central highlands of West Virginia, the Monongahela straddles the highest ridges in the State. Elevation ranges from just under 1000′ to 4863′ above sea level. Variations in terrain and precipitation have created one of the most ecologically diverse National Forests in the country.

Visitors to this beautiful forest enjoy breathtaking vistas, peaceful country roads, gently flowing streams, and glimpses of the many species of plants and animals that inhabit the Forest. You will also see a ‘working’ forest, which produces timber, water, grazing, minerals and recreational opportunities for the region and nation.

The landscape goals for management of the Monongahela are for a largely natural appearing and diverse forest, which provides outstanding dispersed recreation opportunities and supporting developed facilities. Dispersed recreation opportunities abound for hiking, backpacking, fishing, hunting, mountain biking and so on. Developed sites provide the tourism destination facilities and base camps so important to the efforts of local Convention and Visitor Bureaus, local communities, and other non-government agencies. Forest Plan Management Prescriptions favor non-motorized recreation for ecological reasons.

The forest is noted for its rugged landscape with spectacular views, blueberry thickets, highland bogs and “sods”, and open areas with exposed rocks. In addition to the second-growth forest trees, the wide range of botanical species found includes rhododendron, laurel on the moist west side of the Allegheny Front, and cactus and endemic shale barren species on the drier eastern slopes.

There are 230 known species of birds inhabiting the MNF: 159 are known to breed there, 89 are Neotropical migrants; 71 transit the forest during migration, but do not breed there, and 17 non-breeding species are Neotropical. The Brooks Bird Club (BBC) conducts an annual bird banding and survey project in the vicinity of Dolly Sods Scenic Area during migration (August – September). The forest provides habitat for 9 federally listed endangered or threatened species: 2 bird species, 2 bat species, 1 subspecies of flying squirrel, 1 salamander species, and 3 plant species. Fifty other species of rare/sensitive plants and animals also occur in the forest.

Larger animals and game species found in the forest include black bear, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, gray and fox squirrels, rabbits, snowshoe hare, woodcock, and grouse. Limited waterfowl habitat exists in certain places. Furbearers include beaver, red and gray fox, bobcat, fisher, river otter, raccoon and mink. Other hunted species include coyotes, skunks, opossums, woodchucks, crows, and weasels. There are 12 species of game (pan) fish and 60 species of non-game or forage fish. Some 90% of the trout waters of West Virginia are within the forest.

THE GREENBRIER RIVER

The lower 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.

Along most of its course, the Greenbrier accommodated the celebrated Indian warpath known as the Seneca Trail (Great Indian Warpath). From the vicinity of present-day White Sulphur Springs the Trail followed Anthony’s Creek down to the Greenbrier near the present Pocahontas-Greenbrier County line. It then ascended the River to the vicinity of Hillsboro and Droop Mountain and made its way through present Pocahontas County by way of future Marlinton, Indian Draft Run, and Edray.

GREENBRIER RIVER TRAIL

The 77 mile long Greenbrier River Trail is operated by the West Virginia State Parks and is a former railroad grade now used for hiking, bicycling, ski-touring, horseback-riding, and wheel-chair use. The trail passes through numerous small towns and traverses 35 bridges and 2 tunnels as it winds its way along the valley. Most of the trail is adjacent to the free-flowing Greenbrier River and is surrounded by peaks of the Allegheny Mountains.