554.37 Acres in Camp Creek, WV - $825,000

From miniature plants to gigantic trees, biodiversity is exemplified by an incredible variety plants and animals

An estimated $208,000 in valuable timber is ready for immediate harvest producing cash flow to offset purchase and holding costs

Classic two over two farm house dating to the late 1800's to early 1900's

Mature hardwood forest is comprised of Red Oak, White Oak, Hickory, Poplar, White Pine, Hemlock, and Maples

Numerous home or cabin sites including forested and fields with long range views of mountains and valleys

Miles of forest trails provide access to nearly every corner of the property

Elevations range from about 2017 ft. to 2569 ft - making for a diverse topography

Perfectly sized to create a wonderful country retreat private but not remote

Laurel Creek, a blue line stream runs through the property for 1 mile

Four intermittent streams supporting Laurel Creek lie inside the property for a total of about 1.8 miles.

ATV riding, hiking, camping, hunting, star gazing, and nature viewing

Perfect location to enjoy all water sport activities supported by the nearby New River, Greenbrier River, Bluestone River, and the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake

Amazing resident wildlife population rich in diversity and ever changing

Area fur bearing wildlife - deer, black bear, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, coyote, fox, chipmunk, opossum

Area winged wildlife includes eagles, Neotropical songbirds, turkey, grouse, eagles, herons, hawks, owls, ravens, king fishers, ravens, crows, and hummingbirds

The mature forest soaks up tons of Carbon Dioxide and produces tons of life-giving oxygen

A rewarding off-grid permaculture lifestyle can be easily developed

Abundant mosses, lichens, liverworts, and ferns add to the biodiversity of the land

Deep shady coves, nearly two miles of interior streams, rock outcrops, wildlife viewing areas, abandoned farm fields, 600 vertical elevation change all combine to create a dynamic and interesting topography.

Electric, landline telephone, and cell coverage, on site.

Starlink Satellite is available in the area

An easy drive to higher population areas of Princeton, Blacksburg, Roanoke, Beckley, Lewisburg and Charleston, 4 jet airports, and 4 major interstates

5 minutes to the 6,000-acre Camp Creek State Park and Forest

Bluestone National Scenic River is just a couple of miles away

18,000-acre Bluestone Wildlife Management Area is close

Proximity to 70,000-acre New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Americas newest national park

City amenities 30 minutes to Princeton, 40 minutes to Beckley

1 hour 40-minute drive to Charleston - WV's State Capitol and largest metro area & jet service

Low taxes, low population density

DIRECTIONS

From I-77 Camp Creek Exit 20: 4.6 miles (15 minutes)

At the end of the exit ramps, turn onto US 19 South; travel a short distance; turn left onto Eagle Crest Road; travel 2.2 miles; turn right onto Ellison School Road; travel 1.4 miles; turn sharp left onto Sugar Maple Drive (gravel road); travel 9/10 mile; old homeplace driveway is on the left.

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.509380(N), -81.062590(W)

Address: 425 Sugar Maple Drive, Camp Creek, WV 25820

Elevation Range: 2017 ft. to 2569 ft. +/-

Drive Times (approximate)

Towns and Colleges

Athens and Concord University: 30 minutes

Beckley: 40 minutes

Blacksburg, VA and Virginia Tech: 1 hour 20 minutes

Bluefield: 40 minutes

Charleston, WV: 1 hour 40 minutes

Charlotte, NC: 3 hours 15 minutes

Lewisburg: 1 hour 25 minutes

Princeton: 30 minutes

Roanoke, VA: 2 hours

Washington, DC: 5 hours 25 minutes

White Sulphur Springs: 1 hour 30 minutes

Wytheville, VA: 1 hour

Airports

Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg: 1 hour 20 minutes

Mercer County Airport, Bluefield: 45 minutes

Raleigh County Memorial Airport, Beckley: 40 minutes

Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport: 1 hour 55 minutes

Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport, Blacksburg: 1 hour 15 minutes

Recreation

Golf - Elks Golf Course, Princeton: 40 minutes

Golf - Fountain Springs Golf Course: 50 minutes

Golf - Pipestem Resort State Park: 45 minutes

Golf - The Greenbrier: 1 hour 30 minutes

Lake - Bluestone Lake: 50 minutes

Resort - Pipestem Resort State Park: 45 minutes

Resort - The Greenbrier: 1 hour 30 minutes

National Park - New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, Sandstone: 55 minutes

Skiing - Winterplace Ski Resort: 25 minutes

State Fair - West Virginia State Fair, Fairlea: 1 hour 30 minutes

State Park - Camp Creek State Park & Forest: 20 minutes

State Park - Pipestem Resort State Park: 45 minutes

THE OLD HOMEPLACE

The original two-story home was constructed in the classic two over two farmhouse style. Dating to the late 1800's to early 1900's, the home features two hand cut native sandstone chimneys on either end, kitchen bathroom, bedrooms, living room, and a full length screened in front porch.

The home has a newer metal roof. In an undated renovation, it is believed the vinyl siding was installed over the homes original chinked hand-hewn logs or perhaps solid poplar shiplap siding.

In addition to the home, there is a vintage wooden barn with metal roof, a wooden storage building, and a nice cinderblock outbuilding (possibly built as a hen house).

A quaint wooden footbridge crosses the creek.

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The 555 acres +/- timber resource is well positioned for current timber income as well as value appreciation over the coming decades. With an attractive species mix, adequate stocking levels, and favorable diameter class distribution, the timber amenity represents a strong component of value to the investor.

The forest of Johnson Mountain has been well managed. A 2024 forest-wide inventory shows a projected commercial harvest value of about $208,000 (the landowners share) that might be paid by forest products companies in a competitive sealed-bid sale.

The forest resource is composed of quality Appalachian hardwoods. This timber resource can provide a great deal of flexibility to the next ownership in terms of potential harvest revenue and could be managed to provide cash flow opportunities to offset holding cost and long-term asset appreciation.

The land is very productive for growing hardwoods with annual ring growth up to 1/2 inch. The timber runs consistently throughout and is good quality hardwood sawtimber and veneer with a nice component of native Eastern Hemlock and White Pine. There is a market for this timber in the area.

The abundant timber resource is well positioned for future timber income as well as value appreciation over the coming decades. With an attractive species mix, adequate stocking levels, and favorable diameter class distribution, the timber amenity represents a strong component of value to the investor.

The property has various ages of forestland, ranging from 40-year-old emerging forest in naturally regenerated old farm fields to 100-year-old full canopy stands of mature forest. The forest features a timber resource with impressive commercial and pole stocking with a solid basal area per acre. This stocking is average to above average for the region.

Diameters are well represented across the commercial and pre-commercial spectrum with a mature size class, as well as abundant pole size timber and growing stock. Average diameter with all products combined is considered average to above average for the area.

There are some trees well over 150 years old and classified 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. Emerald Ash Borer and the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid are present and most of the Ash and Hemlock trees are severely stressed and will continue to decline over the next decade. There have been no forest fires in recent memory.

The forest floor is home to several types of mushrooms, medicinal plants, wild ginseng, ferns and cool green mosses. There may be a few fruit trees scattered about, which were part of the early homestead. Honeybees will do very well here.

TIMBER INVENTORY

Timber data in this report are based upon a 2024 timber inventory that was conducted by an experienced professional forestry consultant.

The forester took 92 systematic samples using a basal area factor of 15 across the forest. The inventory shows 882,835 board feet of hardwood and pine/hemlock sawtimber and veneer 12" dbh and larger. The trees were measured for diameter at breast height (dbh) applying the Doyle Scale, Form Class 78 & 80.

The inventory shows forest wide 21,432 tons of pulpwood & future growing stock.

Species composition:

The forests 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:

19% White Oak/Chestnut Oak - 168 MBF

11% Red Oak Group - 103 MBF

29% Poplar/Cucumber/Basswood - 260 MBF

21% White Pine-Hemlock - 184 MBF

7% Hickory- 63MBF

11% Maples - 95

2% A host of associate species (Birch, Beech, Sycamore, Black Gum, Locust,) 18-MBF

DISCLAIMER: The above-listed volumes are estimates only for the benefit of the owners and are not guaranteed. Due to variations in timber utilization and logging techniques, potential buyers should make their own determination of the quantity, quality and commercial value of the timber.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

There is some open area for the original farmstead. The balance of the property is nearly all forestland containing various ages of trees.

AREA WILDLIFE

Years of wildlife management practices have created the ideal wildlife preserve. Early on, management goals promoted overall wildlife health, facilitated the harvest of game, developed wildlife viewing areas, increased carrying capacity, and increased species diversity.

The miles of ephemeral stream and along with a varied topography is a major contributor to the local ecosystem richness and diversity for both plants and animals. The propertys associated streams, and feeders, create a water supported community with a wide variety of wildlife. Some of the margins of the creeks are fringed by wetlands. These wetlands support the aquatic food web, provide shelter for wildlife, and stabilize the streambanks. Some of the plant life associated with the wetland includes rushes, sedges, cattails, duckweed, skunk cabbage, and algae.

There are many animals that live year-round, and at other times, in the water and around the edges of the areas lakes, rivers, ponds, creeks and streams. These include raccoons, opossums, blue herons, Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, minnows, native fish, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrats, bull frogs, eagles, hawks and redwing blackbirds.

There is the insect and microscopic world including butterflies, dragonflies, pond skaters, water beetles, damselflies, tadpoles and various insect larvae.

The diverse tree species, coupled with the abundant water supply, create the perfect wildlife habitat. The miles of edge effect created between the access roads, forest trails, hollows, ridges, and rock outcrops benefit all the resident wildlife. Bald eagles, white tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox and many species of songbirds, owls and raptors make up the resident wildlife population.

The hardwood forest provides an essential nutrient source and produces tons of hard mast including acorns, hickory nuts, beech nuts and black walnuts. Soft mast includes stag horn sumac, black cherry, tulip poplar seeds, maple seeds, autumn olive berries, and blackberries.

WATER

Laurel Creek, a blueline stream that should have waterflow nearly year-round, runs through the property for about a mile. Four intermittent streams supporting Laurel Creek lie inside the property for a total of about 1.8 miles. The intermittent streams should flow during rain events and periods of snow melt.

MINERAL RESOURCES

West Virginia is one of the states in the US that has two ownership titles, those being SURFACE RIGHTS and MINERAL RIGHTS. This property is a SURFACE ONLY ownership. The deeds to this property define various minerals and associated rights that have been excepted and reserved.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The property is comprised of separate adjoining tracts of land that have separate descriptions in the deeds. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: well could be drilled

Sewer: private septic could be installed

Electricity: Onsite

Telephone: Cell phone coverage is good

Internet: Starlink is available in the area

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property has about 200 feet of frontage on Eagle Crest Road Rt. 3/1, and about 200 feet of frontage on Ellison School Road Rt. 3/2. Sugar Maple Drive Rt. 1/4 runs through the property for about 4/10 mile.

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.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

There is some open area for the original farmstead. The balance of the property is nearly all forestland containing various ages of trees.

(This 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.)