70 Acres in Flat Top, WV - $289,000

Electric and telephone service nearby, and cell phone service with 5G coverage

Easy access to I-77, I-64, US Route 19 and US 460

Daily jet flights from the 3 nearby airports including Charleston, Beckley and Lewisburg

Exceptional fishing in the nearby mighty New River, the East Coasts whitewater rafting and watersports mecca

Land legacy of wildlife management and forest stewardship

Spectacular long range views approaching 20 miles

Nice laying ground supporting forestry and recreation with the potential for numerous residential homes or cabin sites

Elevations range from 1987 ft. to 2477 ft.

Excellent year-round state maintained access

Potential conservation value

Low taxes, low population density

Little or no light pollution offers unparalleled star gazing and planet observation opportunities

There are several types of mushrooms, medicinal plants, wild ginseng, ferns and mosses

The Hatfield-McCoy Trail is nearby

Exceptional regional wildlife populations of white tail deer, wild turkey, black bear, eagles, beaver, otter, mink, heron, duck raccoon, butterflies, muskie, bass & pike

Interior hiking trails and many established wildlife trails

OVERVIEW

The 70-acre +/- Schoolhouse Road Forest represents an opportunity to create a classic family ownership legacy for the next tenure, or to carefully craft a rural residential project for future home 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 drainage of the beautiful stream.

The property is near the heart of the recreation mecca of the Greenbrier River and New River Gorge, the property offers rural estate qualities with the upside potential for future residential development.

Spectacular long views from the upper reaches rival any in WV. There is little light pollution, and the night sky is filled with millions of stars for hours of serenity in your personal mountain retreat.

The ridges and high knobs tower above the valley floor with elevations approaching 2500'. Spectacular distant views from the upper reaches are reminiscent of the vistas in West Virginias northeastern highest mountains.

Not surprising, the trees, shrubs and pasture grasses are highly productive in producing tons and tons of oxygen while at the same time eliminating huge amounts of Carbon Dioxide; Natures way of reducing our Carbon Footprint.

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.542349(N), -81.078137(W)

Address: Old School House Road, Flat Top, WV 25841. A 911 address is not assigned to a property without active residential structures.

Elevation Range: 1987 ft. to 2477 ft. +/-

Drive Times

Towns/Interstate Highway Exit

Athens and Concord University: 30 minutes

Blacksburg, VA and Virginia Tech: 1 hour 15 minutes

Beckley: 45 minutes

Princeton: 35 minutes

I-77 Camp Creek Exit 20: 20 minutes

Airports

Mercer County Airport, Bluefield: 50 minutes

Raleigh County Memorial Airport, Beckley: 45 minutes

Recreation

Bluestone Lake: 45 minutes

Camp Creek State Park & Forest: 25 minutes

Pipestem Resort State Park: 40 minutes

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

In addition to forestland, the property had some fields during its active farm days. Those fields are slowly returning to forestland due to lack of recent use. Some work could restore them to active production.

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

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 White Oak/Chestnut Oak, Red Oak Group, poplar/Cucumber/Basswood, Sugar Maple/Soft Maple and a host of associate species.

Forest-wide, most stands are fully stocked, providing the next ownership with a great deal of flexibility in shaping their own silvicultural legacy. Stem quality forest-wide can be considered excellent with the forest containing an abundant amount of vigorously growing trees.

The timber component consists of various age classes ranging from 5 year to 120 year old stems, ranging in size of 4-28 dbh. This stand was thinned a few years ago as prudent forest management called for. This stand will eventually grow into higher-value sawtimber diameter classes over the coming decades. The forest represents a quality hardwood resource with a small pine component and will be reaching economic maturity in the next 60 years.

The Red Oak group, White Oak group, Yellow Poplar/Basswood and the Maples, dominate the species composition. The remaining species are spread across a diverse range of species including Hickory, Beech, White Ash, Black Walnut, Hemlock and other associates. There is a component of young White Pine scattered throughout the forest, mainly in the areas that were once cleared for fields.

The recently harvested forest contains abundant pole size timber and growing stock.

A few trees are well over 100 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. 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.

The forest floor is home to several types of mushrooms, medicinal plants, wild ginseng, ferns and cool green mosses. One could spend a lifetime getting to know this inviting environ.

WATER

Mountain Creek, a blueline stream, flows along the southern boundary of the property, which should have water flow nearly all year.

MINERAL RESOURCES

All rights the owner has will in title will convey with the property. West Virginia is one of the states in the US that has two ownership titles, those being SURFACE RIGHTS and MINERAL RIGHTS. A title search for mineral rights ownership has not been conducted. A mineral title search could be conducted by a title attorney at the same time when the surface title search is being conducted.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

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

UTILITIES

Electric - nearby

Propane - available locally

Landline Phone - nearby

Internet - may be possible through phone cable, satellite, or cell phone hotspot

Cable TV & Internet - DirectTV or Dish Network

Sewer - No public sewer available at this time. Septic system commonly used

Water - Drilled water wells are commonly used or develop springs

Trash Pickup at curbside

Cell phone coverage is fair to excellent in this area

USPS and Overnight Couriers deliver to the area

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

The property is accessed by Old School House Road Rt. 19/2. The property road connects directly to Old School House Road. The access to the property is a four-season, state-maintained road.

ZONING

Mercer County is subject to some zoning and subdivision regulations. All prospective buyers should consult the County Commission and also the Health Department for details regarding zoning, building codes and installation of septic systems.

PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY

This farm had several large fields during its active days, many of which are returning to forestland due to lack of active use.

(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.)