OVERVIEW

Walden Wood is a 14.520 acre parcel in wild and wonderful Greenbrier County in the historic Nickell’s Mill area of the Second Creek watershed. The property is in a park-like setting, the old homestead dates back into the 1800’s. Nature has reclaimed the old house and barn leaving only the cellar walls as evidence of human habitation.

Trees abound in all sizes and varieties. Oaks, maples, cherries, walnuts, hemlocks, locusts and other species range from saplings to a remnant of an ancient hemlock nearly 12 feet in circumference. At least one rare plant, known to natives as ground pine, covers a large area on the east side. The terrain is level, gently sloping, steep; and a hollow lies on the east and west slopes. A small spring fed branch meanders along the western edge of the property.

Walden Wood is a little patch of the good earth where beauty and tranquility prevail. The only drama is the splendid variations of the four seasons that West Virginia offers.

LOCATION

McClung Road, Ronceverte, WV 24970. A 911 address has not been issued.
GPS Coordinates: 37.697461°(N), -80.507951°(W)

UTILITIES

Electric service: Line is located on McClung Road
Internet and telephone: Can be provided by Frontier
Cell phone coverage: Fair
Television service: Can be provided by Frontier, DirectTV, Dish Network or HughesNet
Trash: Curbside
Water: None, well or spring would be needed for a dwelling
Sewer: None, Septic system would be needed for a dwelling

ZONING

The 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.

DEED AND TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: Deed Book 490, Page 12
Greenbrier County, West Virginia

Deed Acreage: 14.520 acre +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Acreage/Taxes:
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
Irish Corner District

TM 23 Parcels 23 and 36
2017 Real Estate Taxes: $447.20

THE SURROUNDING AREA – RESOURCE AND HERITAGE

SECOND CREEK

The birth place of Second Creek is from various crystal clear springs at the base of Peters Mountain.  It then travels through nearly 30 miles of Eastern Monroe County and a small portion of Greenbrier County in West Virginia to empty into the wild and untamed Greenbrier River.  Second Creek has had a huge impact on the settlers and modern day residents that are located on its body and water shed.  It has provided beautiful bottom land, water, shelter, food, power and a travel route along its course.  At one time or other it is said that more then twenty mills were located along its length providing grain products, powder, wool, lumber and iron.  There is no record of how many small farms powered equipment from the generous and ever flowing waters.  One of these grist mills is still in operation today and is known as Reed’s Mill, located near the Second Creek P.O.  Also the springs of Second Creek have become a source for commercial water, bottled and sold on the open market, hauled in bulk to fill local cisterns and also piped to the county seat of Union for its residents.

Second Creek is an excellent trout stream although the native brook trout is in greatly reduced numbers compared to the brown trout and rainbow trout recently introduced. Rodgers Mill is a fly fishing only site. Second Creek is stocked every April. Fly anglers can access the waters using County Route 219/3 and County Route 3/7 from US Route 219.

At one time in its history, more than twenty mills for powder, grist, lumbering and finishing were on this creek. Reed’s Mill and the Nickell Homestead and Mill are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

GREENBRIER VALLEY

Walden Wood is located near Ronceverte, West Virginia, and is more than just beautiful real estate as it comes with a great community known for its friendly residents and laid-back lifestyle. Ronceverte is French for which is the Gallic equivalent for “Greenbrier”. The Greenbrier River is still inseparable from the culture of the town itself, considered one of the earliest significant river ports in the Greenbrier River watershed.

The Greenbrier Valley is richly blessed with a wide array of cultural events that keep life in the valley interesting and satisfying. A year round live theater, Carnegie Hall (one of four in the USA), fine dining, art galleries and boutiques make up the thriving downtown historic district in Lewisburg.

In 2011, Lewisburg was named Coolest Small Town in America and is just a 5 minutes’ drive to complete shopping, churches, schools, medical-dental facilities, fine dining, and a modern hospital. The airport, with the longest runway in the state is just 10 minutes away and has daily flights to Atlanta and Washington DC.

Lewisburg is also the county seat of Greenbrier County and home to 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, education, retail, construction, wood products, mining and agriculture.

For the water enthusiast, the Greenbrier River is the last un-dammed river east of the Mississippi and offers a great float/canoe/kayak experience. The fishing for small mouth bass is considered excellent. The Greenbrier River trail is an 86-mile rails to trails system and offers exceptional hiking and biking opportunities along the scenic Greenbrier River.

Within an 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 a 2 hour drive through some of the most scenic country on the East Coast. The new 10,600 acre Boy Scout High Adventure Camp and home to the US and World Jamboree is an hour fifteen minute drive.

The world renowned Greenbrier Resort, home of the PGA tour, is just 15 minutes’ drive. Several other area golf courses are available in the area. Rock climbing, ziplining, horseback riding and the 100 + mile long Hatfield-McCoy ATV trail makes for a very active recreation area.

THE GREENBRIER RIVER

At 162 miles long, the Greenbrier is the longest untamed (unblocked) 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 riverports. 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.