Walla Halla Retreat is in the heart of the New River Gorge recreation mecca. The pristine 408 +/- acres offers rural estate qualities with the upside potential for future development. Walla Halla is one of the larger forest ownerships within this region and, therefore, represents an opportunity to create a classic family ownership legacy for the next tenure.

Walla Halla Retreat shares a common boundary with the 70,000-acre New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The custom-built main residence sits high atop a backbone ridge overlooking the vast New River Gorge and its mighty river below. With a well-managed mix of hardwoods and hemlock, this property has been managed for decades to support and sustain thriving wildlife populations, resulting in exceptional recreational opportunities. Miles of forest trails wind their way across the sprawling mountain with an opportunity to visit enchanting waterfalls.

History in this area runs deep and the property’s address – River Road – is a reference to a historic commerce road that connected many of the farms and estates in the area to the New River and C&O Railroad, key economic conduits of the second half of the 1800’s.  The old road was basically carved out of the New River Gorge’s solid sandstone outcrops and near vertical shale banks. Recently, the narrow and very crooked road was widened to two lanes and state of the art retaining walls were installed to keep the mountain side from caving in.

Figure 1 Mill Branch runs through the property

WALLA HALLA RETREAT

Watch as the colors shift with the light and the seasons. Expansive views across the awe inspiring New River Gorge and the New River, the second oldest river on the planet.  Exceptionally well constructed and anchored by a towering floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, the great room welcomes with warmth, grandeur, and craftsmanship that commands attention. Vaulted ceilings, wide plank wood floors, and abundant windows flood the space with natural light, framing breathtaking vistas from every angle. Evenings are well spent nestling around the wood-burning fireplace, sharing memories with loved ones. The stylish kitchen features stainless appliances, custom cabinetry, and a spacious walnut topped breakfast bar with seating. The great room opens to a generous deck, expanding the main level living area and creating the ideal setting for dining alfresco or enjoying happy hour with friends and neighbors. The home’s three bedrooms offer peaceful havens and welcomed respite. Early morning brings magnificent sunrises that spark excitement for a new day. At nearly three thousand feet elevation, breathing the fresh mountain air is invigorating and revitalizing.  On the lower level, a large family room offers a relaxed space to hang out while a second expansive deck provides another vantage point to soak in nature’s beauty. Also on this level is a full bath, wet bar, and mechanical room. Off the lower deck, a custom stone patio becomes the heart of everyone’s outdoor experience where roasting s’mores with grandkids, sharing stories with friends, and savoring peaceful evenings beneath the stars quickly becomes a lifestyle. Live and play where the sky meets the ridge lines, and peace meets possibility.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 408 +/- acres adjoins the 70,000-acre New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
• Mountain retreat style home looks across the expansive New River Gorge and its mighty river below
• Mill Branch is a blue line stream that runs for 1.3 miles through the property.
• Opportunity to create a classic family ownership legacy for the next tenure.
• The sprawling mountain forest is carefully managed to sustain a thriving wildlife population
• The sustainable forest is fully stocked with world renowned Appalachian hardwoods
• Miles of trails wind throughout the forest providing a wide range of recreational pursuits
• Mulberry, the original 1800’s homestead, is constructed with hewn logs and cut stone
• Little to no light pollution and the high elevation means millions of stars fill the night sky
• The pace of life in the area is much slower and less hectic than that of the cities

LOCATION

Walla Halla Retreat is in the New River Gorge near the historic railroad town of Hinton. This area is in the picturesque mountainous region of southeastern West Virginia. The surrounding landscape is part of the Ridge and Valley Region, a scenic tapestry of elongated Allegheny and Appalachian Mountain ranges. Much of the area remains undeveloped and is characterized by its scenic farm valleys, small communities, and large expanses of hardwood forest.

• GPS Coordinates:  37.734163°(N), -80.915549°(W)
• 1500 feet of road frontage on County Highway 26 (River Road)
• The address at the historic Mulberry House is 1100 Mill Branch Road
• Elevations range from 1381 ft. to 2561 ft. +/-

Walla Halla Retreat is one of the larger forest ownerships within this region and, therefore, represents an opportunity to create a classic family ownership legacy for the next tenure, or to carefully craft a rural residential project for future cabin sites. Terrain is typical of the region and considered rolling to mountainous, with upland hardwood flats and ridges separated by narrow hollows that flank the lower lying stream drainage.

I-64, Sandstone-Hinton Exit 139: 25 minutes
Beckley: 40 minutes
Lewisburg: 1 hour
Hinton: 10 minutes
Charleston: 1 hour 45 minutes
Blacksburg, Virginia Tech: 1 hour 30 minutes
Morgantown: 3 hours 25 minutes
Roanoke, VA: 2 hours

Airports

Beckley – Raleigh County Memorial Airport: 45 minutes
Bluefield – Mercer County Airport: 1 hour 10 minutes
Charleston – West Virginia International Yeager Airport: 1 hour 45 minutes
Lewisburg – Greenbrier Valley Airport: 1 hour
Roanoke – Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport: 2 hours

DIRECTIONS

Contact the Foxfire Office at 304-645-7674 to visit this property.

From Hinton: 5.8 Miles +/- (approximately 10 minutes)

Cross the Route 20 bridge over the New River from the main town Hinton, turn right onto Sandstone Falls River Road Rt. 26; travel 5.8 miles; the property road entrance is on the left.

MAIN RESIDENCE

Walla Halla Retreat was designed specifically for and custom-built on a “backbone ridge” to capture the incredible view of the “Big Bend” of the New River below, thus giving the home an elevated feeling of a tree house.

The home was built using construction materials and architectural design features to eliminate or reduce maintenance costs. The block and stucco foundation, concrete shingle clad siding, metal roof, and composite decking make the house resistant to the effects of sun, wind, and rain.

The interior has many upgrades and special touches. The handcrafted wide-plank black walnut flooring creates a warm feeling throughout the home. The owners had the flooring custom milled from lumber stored in a barn for over 30 years. The solid black cherry bar top was crafted from a tree that had fallen on the Walla Halla property. The wide solid oak stairways create an efficient and easy flow from level to level.

The accordion doors in the great room open the entire wall to the outside deck and surrounding forest allowing in soft summer breezes and the sound of birds singing, accentuating the feeling of tree house living. All other doors and windows open fully offering a chance to open up the entire home and to enjoy nature undisturbed. The design of the home and placement of the windows take advantage of passive solar gain throughout the winter as well as optimizing the view of the river and surrounding mountains during the seasons from all three levels of the home.

Both beautiful fireplaces currently have gas logs.  The chimney is masonry so each fireplace could burn firewood instead. The chimney starts on the lower floor and runs side by side (but separately) with the main floor chimney to the top. If desired, one fireplace could burn firewood and the other could continue using gas logs. The chimney mason, who has many years of experience, said it was the tallest chimney he had ever laid.The lower level was designed to accommodate several forms of recreation:  shooting pool, playing ping pong, playing video and board games, or watching sports on the big screen. The mechanical room is located on this floor. The lower level has a large, covered porch and a terrace with an outdoor firepit.

The three spacious bedrooms have lots of light and were positioned to provide privacy and a quiet space away from the rest of the home.

The three 3/4 bathrooms are exceptionally well done with custom tile work and upgraded fixtures. Large windows on the two upper floors create a  very relaxed and spacious feeling.

The fire pit and terrace/patio were added on the west side of the home to take advantage of the long views of the mountains and river below. The stone mason incorporated native sandstones from the property with cultured stone creating a very special place to enjoy an evening around the fire.

ROOM DIMENSIONS
TOTAL LIVING AREA – 2,414 SQ. FT. (excludes decks and patios)
[Sizes are approximate]

First Floor(Lower Level) – 723 Sq. Ft. Living Area
Recreation Room – 32’5” x 13’9”
Wet Bar – 12’10” x 7’9”
Bath – 4’7” x 8’2”
Hall – 7’1” x 9’11”
Storage – 13’2” x 13’9”

Main Floor – 942 Sq. Ft. Living Area
Living Room – 19’3” x 14’8”
Dining Room – 12’11” x 14’6”
Kitchen – 12’11” x 8’4”
Bedroom 2 – 12’11” x 12’4”
Bath – 4’10” x 7’6”
Foyer – 6’2” x 6’10”
Hall – 3’3” x 7’6”
Pantry – 3’3” x 7’6”
Porch – 6’6” x 8’8”
Expansive Balcony – 30’1” x 23’2”

Third Floor – 687 Sq. Ft. Living Area
Primary Bedroom – 13’3” x 14’8”
Bath – 3’7” x 2’9”
Bath – 10’ x 7’5”
Bedroom 3 – 10’5” x 11’2”
Hall – 7’1” x 3’6”; 13’8” x 11’4”; 18’5” x 4’4”
Expansive Balcony – 29’11” x 23’3”

HISTORIC MULBERRY HOUSE

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.

Figure 2  Modern kitchen in newer section of Mulberry House

Figure 3   Dining area in newer section of Mulberry House

A visit to Mulberry House, sitting on the edge of a high mountain meadow, is a step back in time about 150 years. This early farmstead is an excellent example of how the early settlers lived and is testament to their hard work, perseverance, and ingenuity. Mulberry House was named after the ancient Mulberry tree growing near the barn. The mulberry tree produces berries suitable for pies, wines, tarts, and cordials. The leaves are the sole source of food for silkworms. Manpower, horsepower, and willpower were the tools of the trade in the late 1800’s.

Figure 4  “Ike’s Field” named for the original 1800’s homesteader

“Ike’s Field” surrounds Mulberry House and is the product of immeasurable hours of backbreaking work. The clearing work is preserved in several stone walls, some of which are three courses thick, found around the property.

Figure 5  Manpower. Horsepower and will power were the tools of the trade in the 1800’s

The original hand-hewn chestnut log cabin has been preserved. A massive hand-cut fireplace, chimney, and hearth, carved from native sandstone, provided the heat and cooking for the original cabin, whose foundation sits on its original hand-cut foundation stones. The fireplace features a mantle salvaged from a nearby historical house reputed to have been a brothel and bootleg house in the 1920’s.

Figure 6 Original 1800’s Log Cabin

The two-story addition to the log house was constructed later by the descendants of the original homesteaders, the Bragg family. It has been restored as well, with new flooring and new electrical system. The sunny kitchen has been updated with new appliances, cabinets, and a kitchen island. Water for the home is provided by a mountain spring that has been in use for several generations. This spring also serves the main residence.

Figure 7 Inside original log cabin features a massive hand cut stone hearth and chimney

Figure 8  Renovations of old log cabin

Figure 9 Hand hewn chestnut log barn

Figure 10 Original Pole Barn

There are two barns near the house built of chestnut logs and one near the pond. There are a few other outbuildings including a woodshed, a spring house, a storage building and a small frame building near the house.

A spring fed pond was constructed in 2006 and stocked with bass. Kids of all ages have fun fishing and skipping stones across the pond. Several large bullfrogs enjoy the pond as well and their nightly singing is a welcome sound.

As is quite common on old mountain farms, there are two family cemeteries on the property to which the owners have granted access for families wishing to visit their ancestors’ graves.

ACCESS AND BOUNDARIES

Figure 11 Entrance to Walla Halla

The property fronts about 1500’ along the paved state-maintained River Road. From the River Road, a private gravel driveway winds 1.2 miles along Mill Branch and its waterfalls through the most scenic area of the property. The drive ends at the main residence high atop the backbone ridge overlooking the New River below.

Serving the historic homestead and upper meadow is a gravel lane originating on Mill Branch Road on the western side of the property. There is also a private connecting road from Mulberry House to the Walla Halla home.

Figure 12  Walla Halla driveway is 1.2 miles long

The property is made up of four contiguous parcels. The individual parcels were surveyed separately many years ago and there are metes and bounds descriptions for each property on record. The boundary has never been surveyed in its entirety. The 408 acres is thought to be accurate, but all prospective buyers should consult a licensed surveyor for a determination of the property’s boundary lines and acreage.

Figure 13 Map shows the location of Driveway, Main Residence and Original Cabin

Some of the boundaries have been surveyed by the National Park Service and other adjoining property owners. Old chestnut rail and wire fences, field edges and stone walls can be found along the other property lines.

In addition to the mile-long main driveway, interior access is provided by an efficient network of permanent trails. These trails are on good grade and make for enjoyable hiking, horseback riding and ATV riding.

UTILITIES

Currently there is electricity and telephone service to the property serving the main house and the historic home.

Due to the mountainous topography, cell phone coverage can be spotty in the hollows but is excellent on the ridge tops and at the houses.

The Starlink Satellite System could be installed by the new owners. This system offers Wi-Fi and internet service. Cell phones work well at both homes.

Water for the houses is provided by an abundant mountain spring that has been in service for several generations. Private septic systems serve both homes. There is no public water or sewer is currently unavailable in the Sandstone area.

Weekly trash pickup, and daily mail delivery are available at roadside. UPS and FedEx service this area also.

THE FOREST AND ITS RESOURCES

Figure 14  Old Growth Soft Maple

Forty acres of the forest was set aside to be preserved as an “Old Growth” forest. Some of the oldest trees in this preserve are believed to be more than 150 years old.  The trees in this area are mature and very large and support a great population of woodpeckers, songbirds, owls, squirrels, and chipmunks. This section has an abundant amount of merchantable timber ready for harvest with many trees that will classify as Veneer and Overseas export logs. Remnants of the original homestead’s chestnut rail fence can be found in this area.

Figure 15 Healthy Forest with a wide variety trees of different ages

Figure 16  40-year-old yellow poplar stand grew up in an abandon field

The high elevation and many north and east facing slopes result in the property producing high-quality timber. Tulip Poplar, Basswood, White Oak, Red Oak, Sugar Maple, Hickory, Black Walnut, and Black Cherry are the predominant species comprising the forest.

A selective harvest was conducted on portions of the forest in 2003 under the close supervision of a professional forester. The thinning operation left thousands of high quality, vigorous, and rapidly growing trees. This forest should be a solid long-term investment as Mother Nature supplies the rain and sunshine to help the trees grow in the rich mountain soils. The residual trees have responded exceptionally well to the thinning, growing at a rate of about 5% per year. The forest is healthy and there is no evidence of Gypsy Moth. The Hemlock Wooly Adelgid and Emerald Ash Borer, pest introduced from Asia are present.  The Eastern Hemlock is relatively healthy, however the Ash trees have been overcome and reduced to stump sprouts.

The forester also made certain the wildlife “Den Trees” were left throughout the forest to ensure the resident wildlife have ample trees to nest and raise families in.

At the conclusion of the timber harvest, all timber trails constructed for the harvest were reseeded and erosion control measures were put in place along the trails. Native blackberry and red raspberries are now growing wild along these trails as well as poke berry and honeysuckle vines.

MINERAL RESOURCES

The Marcellus Shale and Utica Shale are understood to underlie the property at a depth of 5000 feet+ and 10,000+ feet, respectively. The east coast Marcellus Shale Region is believed to contain enough natural gas to power the United States for over 100 years.

The owner has not leased the oil and gas rights and all mineral rights the seller has in title will be transferred to the purchaser at closing. There are no known coal reserves underlying the property. All prospective purchasers are encouraged to have an attorney do a title search prior to purchasing.

WATER RESOURCES

Figure 17 One of several waterfalls on Mill Branch

Mill Branch is a blue line stream that runs for 1.3 miles through the property. The stream begins at the property entrance on River Road and terminates at the National Park property line nearly 7,000’ upstream. This mountain stream drains nearly 250 acres (60%) of the property by itself. Mill Branch has some very nice waterfalls created over the centuries.

One other smaller blue line stream and countless ephemeral streams make up the balance of the drainage on the property.

The mountain spring that supplies clear cold water to both homes has been in use since the 1890’s.

There is a nice pond higher up on the mountain that has been stocked with fish.

ZONING

Raleigh County has some zoning and subdivision regulations. All prospective buyers should consult the County Government and the Health Department for regulations regarding zoning, building codes, and installation of water wells and septic systems.

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: DB 5023 Pages 7315 & 7346, DB 5031 Page 832
Raleigh County, West Virginia

Acreage: 408.43 acres +/-

Real Estate Tax ID/Taxes:
Raleigh County (41), West Virginia
Richmond District (7)
Tax Map 16 Parcels 12, 18, 31.1, 34; Class 3

2024 Real Estate Taxes: $10,058.86

ON-SITE RECREATION AT WALLA HALLA

The property offers unparalleled recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the nearby New River, New River Gorge National River Park & Preserve, 2000-acre Bluestone Lake, and the Greenbrier River.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the nearby lakes and rivers ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing. Great fishing is found for small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill.

Nature viewing is next in line of recreational activities. Wildlife viewing is not just for larger animals. Equal consideration is given to a diversity of species including 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, geese, squirrel, raccoon, fox and rabbit make up the resident wildlife population.

Stargazing-Planet Observation

Lots of darkness can be still be found on the property, thereby affording the opportunity to view the night sky in all its brilliant wonder. Ideal for star walking and astrophotography too.

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
• 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 all public roads that do not have a painted dividing line and 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.

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

MEET YOUR NEIGHBER – THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK and PRESERVE

Figure 18  Walla Halla adjoins New River Gorge Nation Park and Preserve

The 70,000-acre New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is a unit of the United States National Park Service (NPS) designed to protect and maintain the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains. Established in 1978 as a national river, the NPS-protected area stretches for 53 miles from just downstream of Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted. The park was officially named America’s 63rd national park, the U.S. government’s highest form of protection, in December of 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a relief bill.

Figure 19 Long view of the New River Gorge

West Virginia is home to parts of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, a foot path that stretches more than 2,100 miles between Maine and Georgia; the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, which cuts through 16 states for 4,900 miles; the Bluestone National Scenic River; and Harpers Ferry National Historic Park. Now, over 70,000 acres of land, bordering 53 miles of the gorge, has earned the government’s protection.

The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is rich in cultural and natural history and offers an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities. New River Gorge is home to some of the country’s best whitewater rafting, mainly from the Cunard put-in to the Fayette Station take-out and is also one of the most popular climbing areas on the East Coast.

Home to the New River, which drops 750 feet over 66 miles, with its Class V rapids, has long drawn adventuresome rafters and kayakers to this whitewater area. The New River, which flows northward through low-cut canyons in the Appalachian Mountains, is one of the oldest rivers on the planet.

Figure 20  Rock Climber on the  park’s world famous “Endless Wall”

Rock climbing on the canyon walls, mountain biking and hiking on trails that flank the river, and wildlife viewing—bald eagles, osprey, kingfishers, great blue herons, beavers, river otters, wild turkeys, brown bats, snakes, and black bears—are all popular activities within the park.

Figure 21  New River Gorge Bridge completed in 1977

The New River Gorge Bridge is a work of structural art. Construction of the bridge began in 1974, and was completed in 1977. The Bridge spans 3,030 feet in length and is the third highest bridge in the U.S., at 876 ft. During Bridge Day, an annual one-day festival celebrating the construction of the Bridge, BASE jumpers launch off the 876-foot bridge and parachute down to the New River. New River Gorge is the only national park in the U.S. that permits this extreme activity.

President Jimmy Carter signed legislation establishing New River Gorge National River on November 10, 1978. As stated in the legislation, the park was established as a unit of the national park system “for the purpose of conserving and interpreting outstanding natural, scenic, and historic values and objects in and around the New River Gorge and preserving as a free-flowing stream an important segment of the New River in West Virginia for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations.” The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Designation Act was incorporated into the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, changing the designation to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Less than 10% of the original national river was re-designated as a national park, where hunting is no longer permitted, while the remainder is a national preserve with little change.

ABOUT THE REGION

Figure 22 White water rafters going beneath the New River Gorge Bridge

Walla Halla is centrally located in one of the most popular outdoor recreation destinations in the U.S.  More than three million visitors tour the region annually, climbing rocks, paddling streams, hiking, biking, and running on miles of scenic trails. Interestingly, the Boy Scouts of America established its National Jamboree site here because of its unparalleled access to world-class outdoor recreation. In the winter, the area attracts another clientele—skiers bound for the slopes at Winterplace and Snowshoe Mountain.

Additionally, the property’s location benefits from its proximity to Adventures on the Gorge, one of the most popular outdoor adventure resorts in the U.S. As a pioneer in the whitewater rafting industry, the resort has played a crucial role in driving high-end economic development in the region, making it a hotspot for adventure seekers.

The area also enjoys more than its share of singular shops, pubs, and restaurants, many of which cluster around Hinton.  Additional exceptional eateries and retail destinations, can be found as you explore in Charleston, the state capital, and historical Lewisburg, which, according to the National Geographic Magazine, is ranked one of the most livable small towns in the U.S.

The region is perhaps best known as one of the most popular rock-climbing destinations in the world. Thousands of climbers annually scale the more than 60 miles cliff on the gorges of the New, Gauley, and Meadow rivers. Outside Magazine rated the New River Gorge the third most popular climbing area in the U.S. in 2019. It includes some of the most attractive sports climbs in the Western Hemisphere. Notably, the American Alpine Club maintains an ecologically integrated campground for climbers less than a mile from the frontage.

Figure 23  Biking in the Gorge is becoming a favorite activity

In recent years, the region has also witnessed a rise in the number of hikers, paddlers, and bicyclists attracted to its limitless recreative landscape. USA Today, in 2015, named the Endless Wall Trail the best hiking trail in the U.S. national park system. Whitewater rafting has long been a mainstay of tourism on the New and Gauley Rivers, though kayaking has grown tremendously throughout West Virginia, outpacing the growth of the pastime nationally.

The region is also renowned as a paradise for golfers, boasting more than a score of courses within just an hour’s drive. This includes four at the famous Greenbrier, which sometimes hosted both the PGA and LIV tour and three at nearby Glade Springs Resort. Also, the Oakhurst Links, the first course in the U.S., is just over an hour’s drive.

Accessing the area is easy. The US-19 expressway travels through the heart of the region, and Interstates 77 and 64 area are an hour drive by expressway to the south at Beckley. Interstate 79 is a 90-minute drive by expressway to the north. The state capital, Charleston, is a 1 hour 45 minutes’ drive west and accessible by several routes.

For train travel, the Amtrak passenger stations on the Chicago-New York route are located half an hour to the south near Beckley and an hour’s drive east and west at Charleston and White Sulphur Springs.

Public airports that offer jet service are located 40 minutes to the south at Beckley and an hour west and east at Charleston and Lewisburg. For smaller aircraft, local airfields within a five-minute drive from the property accommodate small and private planes, providing options and convenient access for all types of travel.

Figure 24 2000 acre Bluestone Lake

Amidst the beautiful scenery of southern West Virginia lies the long, narrow 2,000-acre Bluestone Lake. This reservoir, the third largest lake in West Virginia, is popular for its fishing and other recreational activities. Bluestone Lake was formed by a concrete dam built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers across the New River to reduce flooding. Although the dam was started in 1941, its construction was delayed because of World War II, and it was not fully completed until 1952. The lake is nearly eleven miles long, with an area of 2,040 acres during summer pool, though the water level does change frequently. Water levels are drawn down four feet in winter to make room for melting snow and spring rain.

Figure 25 Outflow from the Bluestone Dam

Bluestone Lake, Greenbrier River, Bluestone River, and the New River are great places for fishing, and it is said that New River is the best warm-water fishery in the state. Some of the species of fish available in the lake and river are bluegill, catfish, crappie, muskellunge, and various types of bass. New River bass have set some West Virginia state records.

In addition to fishing, Bluestone Lake is fantastic for enjoying all sorts of water activities, including boating, canoeing, water skiing, and wake boarding. The lake has several boat ramps and a commercial marina for the boater’s convenience, and there are no limits to the size of boats or motors that can be on the lake.

Bluestone Lake is part of the Bluestone Wildlife Management Area, which covers an area of 18,019 acres. The Wildlife Management Area is known for having some of the best hunting in the area, and hunters and trappers will be able to catch a variety of game including white-tail deer, turkey, fox, and other animals.

One great place to enjoy the lake is at Bluestone State Park. The park has ample accommodations for those who want to stay overnight. There are a variety of camp sites – or, if you prefer a more comfortable stay, there are 26 cabins with TV’s, showers, and other modern conveniences. Park visitors can take a walk on the hiking trails, play in the swimming pool, or rent game equipment to play croquet or horseshoes. The park also has weekly events with lots of fun activities.

In addition to all the fun activities on the lake, there’s plenty more to do in the surrounding area. There are several other parks nearby, where you can enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities. You can experience some great whitewater on the New River. And the New River Gorge is well-known as a great place for rock climbing, with its many hard sandstone cliffs. If you want a break from outdoor activities, the nearby town of Hinton has many attractions. There are a variety of restaurants, shops and antique stores to browse, and museums to visit.

Historical and recreational interest located in the Bluestone – Flat Top area includes the outdoor musical dramas “Hatfields and McCoys” and others shows performed at Grandview Park, near Beckley. Pipestem Resort with its myriad recreational facilities is only nine miles to the south and the 70,000 acres New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, center of some of the state’s best whitewater rafting and canoeing plays an integral part of the area. Of special note are Sandstone Falls and the Visitor Center, just north of Hinton; and Bluestone National Wild and Scenic River, which flows into Bluestone Lake within the park boundaries.

LOCAL COUNTY OVERVIEW

Historic Summers County
Hinton, the county seat of Summers County is a 10-minute drive. Hinton, founded in 1871, grew rapidly as the hub of a growing railroad industry serving the New River coal fields, passenger travel and coast to coast freight lines. Today, Hinton serves the growing tourist and technology industries.

Hinton West Virginia

Summers County (2014 population—13,417) is in the southeastern region of West Virginia, scenically placed between the beautiful Greenbrier and New River Valleys. The City of Hinton (2013 population—2,588) serves as the county seat and is the sole municipality within Summers County.

Figure 26  The Greenbrier and Bluestone join the New River in Hinton WV

The railroad boom of the early 20th century helped to build Hinton and Summers County. However, the county’s current economy is based primarily on tourism thanks to the Bluestone Dam and Lake along with the Bluestone, Greenbrier, and New Rivers which converge in Hinton. Further, the New River Gorge National River begins at Hinton and flows northward into neighboring Fayette County.

Figure 27  Pipestem is just one of many state parks in the area

Summers County is also home to Bluestone State Park, Pipestem Resort, and a number of other facilities that provide lodging, camping, and a variety of recreational activities. The Hinton Railroad Museum, the Graham House, the Campbell Flanagan Murrell House, and other museums provide glimpses into the county’s history. The architecture of buildings in Hinton’s nationally registered historic district is of interest to many. A solid core of retail stores and professional service providers meet the needs of residents and visitors alike.

Residents of Summers County enjoy a wonderful small-town, laid-back quality of life. Service clubs such as the Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary, and Ruritans support a number of community initiatives, school programs, and special events. The Summers County Library supports the county school system and provides visitors with Internet access and other services. There are several denominations of churches in the area.

Summers County is served east-west by Interstate 64 and by north and south connections to Interstate 77. The New River Parkway, when completed, will improve access to Sandstone Falls by upgrading River Road from I-64 near Exit 139 Sandstone into Hinton. West Virginia Routes 3, 12, 19, 20, and 107 are the primary highways within the county. Amtrak also provides an important transportation link to Summers County with its Cardinal line from New York to Washington DC to Chicago. Stops are made three times per week to pick up and disembark passengers at Hinton’s historic Rail Depot.

The Summers County Appalachian Regional Hospital provides a fully-staffed emergency room and a variety of medical services. Summers County Emergency Services provides ambulance service. Law enforcement is provided by the Summers County Sheriff’s Department, a detachment of the West Virginia State Police, the City of Hinton’s Police Department and park rangers with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service, and the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources. Similarly, the City of Hinton has a new fully-manned and equipped fire station complemented by six other volunteer fire departments throughout the county.

Figure 28  Amtrack stops in Hinton

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.

Historic Greenbrier County

Figure 29  Downtown Historic Lewisburg

Lewisburg, (60-minute drive), which is the Greenbrier County seat, has been 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 of Charleston Area 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, and WV Barn Hunt Competition.

Figure 30  West Virginia State Fair

Lewisburg is also home to 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.

Figure 31  The Greenbrier Resort since 1778

Since 1778, visitors have traveled to this part of the state to “take the waters” of the area. Today, the Greenbrier is situated on 11,000 acres (4,500 ha) of land with 710 guest rooms, 20 restaurants and lounges, more than 55 indoor and outdoor activities and sports, and more than 35 retail shops. 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 a 55,000 sq. ft. Greenbrier Sports Performance Center which has hosted several NFL teams’ practice events.  The Resort will also host a college basketball tournament in its Greenbrier Tip-Off event.  The Greenbrier Resort features four championship-caliber golf courses.  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.

GEOLOGY

Figure 32  Sandstone cliffs on property thought to be 320 years old

The New River Gorge is one of the world’s oldest river systems, estimated by some geologists to be 320 million years old. The river’s formation predates the uplift of the surrounding mountains, through which the river has cut its winding channel. The defining feature of the gorge is its sharply defined rim, along which massive cliffs are outcropped. Extending for some ten miles along the river from Sewell to Hawks Nest, the gorge lends its name to the New River Gorge National River, which includes much of the formation as well as the steep-walled New River Valley that extends upstream to near Hinton.

The cliffs along the rim of the gorge are made up of extremely durable sandstone, the durability of which has resisted erosion, creating tablelands that extend for miles beyond the rim. This durability, vertical cracks, and cliff height exceeding 100 feet in some areas have helped make the gorge a premier rock-climbing destination in the U.S.