Loudermilk Road , Crawley, WV 24931(Greenbrier County)

*Fur bearing wildlife - deer, bear, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, raccoon, fox, opossum

*Winged wildlife - eagles, hawks, owls, ravens, turkeys and Neotropical songbirds

*The trees, fields, and a variety of other plants produce life-giving Oxygen and store Carbon dioxide

*Plenty of space for incorporating a permaculture experience

*Perfect for recreational activities including shooting sports, ATV riding, horseback riding, hiking, camping, hunting and nature viewing

*Low taxes, low population density

*Long-range views of mountains and valleys from upper elevations of the property

*Very quiet: Little light pollution offers the opportunity for incredible star gazing

*The county nature of the property provide an exceptional quality of life

*Minutes to Lewisburg's jet airport with flights to Chicago & Washington DC

*20 minutes to Walmart, Lowes, a hospital, fast food, fine dining, most anything else

*Cellphone coverage is excellent

*Elevation Range: 2561' to 2718'

*Proximity to the Greenbrier River, 2000-acre Bluestone Lake and the New River, offer a gateway to water recreation

*Lewisburg, the seat of Greenbrier County, is 20 minutes away. Often described as an ideal small town, *Lewisburg offers fine dining, boutique shops, galleries, a golf course, an 8-screen cinema and a lively arts scene at Carnegie Hall and the Greenbrier Valley Theatre. Annual events include the State Fair of West Virginia in nearby Fairlea, food-themed street festivals, literary festival, Christmas, New Years, and MLK day parade. The town is home to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, and a campus of New River Community and Technical College.

The Greenbrier, in White Sulphur Springs, is one of the worlds top luxury resorts. The hotels offerings include multiple golf courses, a spa, a tennis complex, a casino, boutique shopping, an artist colony, and 10 restaurants. Many of its amenities are open to the public.

The nearby Greenbrier River and New River draw anglers and kayakers, and the 75-mile Greenbrier River Trail is popular with hikers and bicyclists. Snowshoe Ski Resort is the largest ski complex in the Mid-Atlantic States, and offers extensive mountain biking trails and numerous festivals and special events in the off-season.

LOCATION

Google Coordinates: 37.916079(N), -80.590512(W)

Address: Loudermilk Road, Crawley, WV 24931. The sale area is a portion of a larger tract. A separate 911 address has not been assigned to the sale area.

Elevation Range: 2561 ft. to 2718 ft. +/-

FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES

The forests 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 Black Walnut, Sugar Maple, Poplar/Basswood, Red Oak Group, White Oak/Chestnut Oak, Soft Maple, Hickory, and a host of associated species (sourwood, black gum, beech).

The predominant timber stand contains 20-140-year-old trees ranging in size of 10-40 dbh. A few Heritage Trees are scattered throughout the forest and old field edges. These ancient trees, some 100-200 years old, have withstood the test of time, weathering ice, wind, lightning strikes and fire.

The forest is healthy and there are no signs of pest infestations of Gypsy Moth . 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 are a few fruit trees scattered about which were part of the areas early homesteads. Crops of black walnuts, acorns, beechnuts and hickory nuts are produced each year.

Honeybees do well here, and it would be possible to produce maple syrup from the sugar and red maple trees growing on the property.

AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES

*The 2.25 acres of hayland produces several round bales each year

*Potential of a fruit orchard would flourish here anchored with a favorable climate and rich soils

*Potential honey production is also a well-established industry in the area

*Potential to produce Maple Syrup from the forests maple trees

*Black walnuts, beechnuts, and hickory nuts could be gathered

WILDLIFE

There are many animals that live year-round and at other times in the areas rivers, lakes, ponds and streams, including beavers, otters, minks, 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 create the perfect wildlife habitat. The miles of edge effect created between farm fields, creeks, 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 the 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.

At least seventy kinds of mammals inhabit West Virginia, including Virginia big-eared bats, West Virginia northern flying squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and black bears, the state animal. Wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, barred owls, bald eagles, cerulean warblers, and ruby-throated hummingbirds are among the three hundred species of birds that live in the state.

Fence lizards, stinkpots (a kind of turtle), rattlesnakes, and five-lined skinks are some of the reptiles that slither and skitter through West Virginia. Amphibians such as tiny cricket frogs, mountain chorus frogs (Spring peepers), Allegheny Mountain dusky salamanders, newts, and West Virginia spring salamanders also live throughout the state.

Some of West Virginias most common trees include oaks, poplar, hickory, maples, Black Walnut, and hemlock. The state also has many native wildflowers such as Black-Eyed Susans, Joe Pie Weed, bluebells, buttonweed, Virginia potato (which has edible roots), and wild strawberry.

WATER

A small pond is located on Tract 1. A few ephemeral streams are present.

MINERAL RESOURCES

All rights the owner has in title will be conveyed with the property.

BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY

The division of the property is subject to boundary survey prior to closing. The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.

UTILITIES

Water: water well could be drilled

Sewer: private septic could be installed

Electricity: roadside

Telephone: roadside

Internet: Starlink could be installed

Cellphone Coverage: excellent

ACCESS/FRONTAGE

Country Farm Lane Tract 2 consists of 7 +/- acres and has about 320 feet of frontage on Country Farm Lane and about 1/4 mile of frontage on Loudermilk Road. Actual distances will be revealed by the survey.

ZONING

Greenbrier 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

7 +/- acres contains about 2.25 acres of field and about 4.75 acres of forestland.

(This summary 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.)

DEED and TAX INFORMATION

Deed Information: Part of DB 682 Pg. 624

Greenbrier County, West Virginia

Acreage: 16 acres +/- in the whole sale area (Division Tract 1 = 9 +/- Acres; Division Tract 2 = 7 +/- acres)

Real Estate Tax Info:

Greenbrier County (13), West Virginia

Williamsburg District (18)

Tax Map 54 part of Parcel 2; Class 2

2025 Real Estate Taxes for the whole tax parcel of which the sale area is a portion: $215.26

SCHOOLS

Greenbrier County School District

Public Elementary School:

Smoot Elementary School

Property location may readily permit attending Alderson Elementary School, Smoot Elementary School, or Lewisburg Elementary School.

Public Middle School:

Western Greenbrier Middle School

Property location may readily permit attending Eastern Greenbrier Middle School.

Public High School:

Greenbrier West High School

Property location may readily permit attending Greenbrier East High School.

Colleges:

New River Community and Technical College (Lewisburg campus)

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Private Schools:

Greenbrier Community School (PK-8)

Greenbrier Valley Academy (2-8)

Lewisburg Baptist Academy (PK-12)

Renick Christian School (2-7)

Seneca Trail Christian Academy (PK-12)

A MOST PLEASANT CLIMATE

The property experiences an enjoyable four-season climate ideal for growing grapes, berries, apples, peaches, flowers, gardens, hay, and all kinds of row crops. The elevation and surrounding mountains contribute favorably to their growth. Honey, maple syrup, and molasses production all thrive exceptionally well in this climate, as do livestock, poultry, and people.

Summers are noticeably cooler than areas to the east, with average high temperatures in the seventies and eighties. During the winter, high temperatures reach the 50s and 60s, with lows dropping to the teens. Spring and fall feature spectacular weather that highlights the brilliant colors of the changing seasons, and temperatures average in the sixties. Annual rainfall is approximately forty-four inches, while annual snowfall is approximately thirty-nine inches.

BUTTERFLIES

The property is an exceptional habitat for all butterflies, especially the Monarch. The monarch is highly dependent on the milkweed plant and will always return to areas rich in milkweed to lay their eggs upon the plant. The milkweed they feed on as caterpillars is actually a poisonous toxin and is stored in their bodies. This is what makes the monarch butterfly taste so terrible to predators

The property is an exceptional habitat for all butterflies, especially the Monarch. The monarch is highly dependent on the milkweed plant and will always return to areas rich in milkweed to lay their eggs upon the plant. The milkweed they feed on as caterpillars is actually a poisonous toxin and is stored in their bodies. This is what makes the monarch butterfly taste so terrible to predators.

Of course, other butterflies visit the property, including the eastern tiger and spicebush swallowtails, silver-spotted skipper, and a variety of sulphurs and whites.

One other interesting insect to visit the property is the Black Saddlebag Dragonfly, a regular guest of the creeks and wetlands with all the frogs, salamanders, crawdads, and turtles.

RECREATION

The property offers unparalleled recreational opportunities. Numerous soft recreational activities are anchored by the proximity to the Greenbrier River, New River, Bluestone Lake, Lake Moomaw, Lake Anna, Bluestone River, and Summersville Lake.

Nature viewing is first in line of recreational activities. Attentive wildlife management has been geared not to just game animals. Equal consideration has been extended to increasing the numbers and diversity of species including neo-tropical songbirds, butterflies, turtles, frogs, rabbits, chipmunks, dragonflies, owls, and hawks.

Stargazing-Planet Observation

Complete or near darkness can still be found on most of the property, thereby affording the opportunity to view the night sky in all its brilliant wonder.

Water-sports enthusiasts will find the nearby Greenbrier River and New River ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding and windsurfing.

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: Grandpas old 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 forests terrain.

Dirt bikes can also be a lot of fun and they come in all sizes and horsepower to fit anyone who enjoys the adrenaline rush offered on forest trails.

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.

Hunting is a first-class experience. White tail deer, black bear, red/gray fox, bobcat, wild turkey, grouse, duck, squirrel, raccoon, fox and rabbit make up the resident wildlife population. It is hard to find a property that has a better mix of wildlife.

SELF-SUSTAINING LIFE OFF THE GRID

Just like two hundred years ago, when the first mountaineers settled the area, the property would be self-sustaining in times of necessity even without electricity.

Fresh water for drinking and cooking would come from drilled water wells (hand drawing water from the wells using a cylinder well bucket). Mountain spring can be developed.

The forest would provide fresh food (deer and turkey).

The agricultural lands flat to rolling topography would be used to raise livestock of all kinds (chickens, pigs, cows, sheep, goats, rabbits etc.) and could be farmed with horse drawn equipment. The land would support vegetable gardens, berry patches, fruit orchards, and row crops of corn, oats and barley.

Beehives would provide honey and beeswax for candles.

The forest would provide firewood for heating and cooking, lumber for building, basket splints, maple syrup and pounds of nuts (walnuts, beechnuts and hickory nuts).

FOREST FARMING

The most common crops are medicinal herbs and mushrooms. Other crops that can be produced include shade-loving native ornamentals, moss, fruit, nuts, other food crops, and decorative materials for crafts. These crops are often referred to as special forest products.

Here are some specific examples of crops in each category that are currently being cultivated:

Medicinal herbs: Ginseng, goldenseal, black cohosh, bloodroot, passionflower, and mayapple

Mushrooms: Shiitake and oyster mushrooms

Native ornamentals: Rhododendrons and dogwood

Moss: Log or sheet moss

Fruit: Pawpaws, currants, elderberries, and lowbush blueberries

Nuts: Black walnuts, acorns, hazelnuts, hickory nuts, and beechnuts

Other food crops: Ramps (wild leeks), maple syrup, and honey

Plants used for decorative purposes, dyes, and crafts: Galax, princess pine, white oak, pussy willow branches in the spring, holly, bittersweet, and bloodroot and ground pine (Lycopodium)

PERMACULTURE FARMING

The three core tenets of permaculture are:

*Care for the earth: Provision for all life systems to continue and multiply. This is the first principle, because without a healthy earth, humans cannot flourish.

*Care for the people: Provision for people to access those resources necessary for their existence

*Setting limits to population and consumption: By governing our own needs, we can set resources aside to further the above principles. This includes returning waste back into the system to recycle into usefulness. The third ethic is sometimes referred to as Fair Share, which reflects that each of us should take no more than what we need before we reinvest the surplus.

Permaculture design emphasizes patterns of landscape, function, and species assemblies. It determines where these elements should be placed so they can provide maximum benefit to the local environment. Permaculture maximizes useful connections between components and constructive interaction of the final design. The focus of permaculture, therefore, is not on each separate element, but rather on the relationships created among elements by the way they are placed together; the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Permaculture design therefore seeks to minimize waste, human labor, and energy input by building systems, and maximizes benefits between design elements to achieve an elevated level of interaction. Permaculture designs evolve over time by considering these relationships and elements and can evolve into extremely complex systems that produce a high density of food and materials with minimal input.

The design principles, which are the conceptual foundation of permaculture, were derived from the science of systems ecology and study of pre-industrial examples of sustainable land use. Permaculture draws from several disciplines including organic farming, agroforestry, integrated farming, sustainable development, and applied ecology. Permaculture has been applied most commonly to the design of housing and landscaping, integrating techniques such as agroforestry, natural building, and rainwater harvesting within the context of permaculture design principles and theory.

SURROUNDING AREA

Lewisburg, 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 farmers markets.

Greenbrier Valley Medical Center is a modern hospital with 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, Airstream Rally, WV Barn Hunt Competition, and numerous fun parades.

Lewisburg is the home to the Greenbrier Country Public Library, a fantastic, ultra-modern public library that is open 7 days a week. The librarys services include Reading Areas, References, Notary Public, Local History Room, Tax Forms, Fax Service, Photocopies, Digital Printing, Inter Library Loans, Internet/Computer Access, Audio Books, eBooks, Story Hour, Video & DVDs, Paperback Book Exchange, Literacy Tutoring, Databases, Computer Classes, Book Discussions, Childrens Programming and Online Catalogue.

Lewisburg is also home to modern Robert. C Byrd Medical Clinic (three hundred employees), the WV Osteopathic Medical School (eight hundred 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 eight hundred rooms and 1600 employees, is in White Sulphur Springs. The Four-Star resort has a subterranean casino and is at times the home to the NFL Summer Practice Event, and Tennis Exhibitions. Several other area golf courses are available in the area including Oakhurst Links, Americas first golf course, where guests play using old style hickory-handled clubs and ground-burrowing golf balls.

A picturesque Amtrack train ride from White Sulphur Springs connects the area to DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, and many other locations. By car, DC is four hours away and Charlotte is four.

Within a two-hour 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 Gorge National Park & Preserve. Five other area state parks and state forests offer unlimited hiking, horseback riding, ATV riding and rock-climbing opportunities. Snowshoe Ski Resort is a 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 hours drive.

SIX RIVERS AND FIVE LAKES

The property is in the heart of a biological, historic, and recreational mecca.

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 1880s. 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.

All rivers and lakes are within a two hours drive from the property. The area encompasses the New River, Greenbrier River, Gauley River, Cherry River, Meadow River and Bluestone River. Within this vast watershed lies the 2000-acre Bluestone Lake and 3000-acre Summersville Lake. Lake Moomaw, and Lake Anna.

The rivers and lakes are major contributors to the local ecosystem richness and diversity for both plants and animals. There are many animals that live year round and at other times in the water and around the edges of the rivers/lake, including beavers, otters, minks, raccoons, opossums, blue herons, Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, king fishers, minnows, native fish, turtles, salamanders, newts, crayfish, muskrats, bull frogs, eagles, owls, hawks and redwing blackbirds.

Great fishing is found in the river and lakes with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill present in good numbers.

The New River is the second oldest river in the world, preceded only by the Nile; it is the oldest river in North America. The New River is unique because it begins in Blowing Rock, N.C. and flows north through Virginia into West Virginia. The Nile and Amazon are the only other major rivers that also flow north. Year after year, it produces more citation fish than any other warm water river in WV. Smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, sunfish, hybrid striped bass, and muskie are all common species of fish found in the New River and Bluestone Lake.

Bluestone Lake is over two thousand acres at summer pool and is the states third largest body of water. Great hunting and fishing opportunities abound at the 17,632-acre Bluestone Wildlife Area adjacent to the park and nearby Camp Creek State Forest. Summersville Lake is over three thousand acres at summer pool and is the states largest body of water.

ARCHEOLOGY AND GEOLOGY

The property is nestled between the folded Ridge and Valley Province to the east and the younger Allegheny Plateau to the west. The Greenbrier River flows 162 miles southwest through the valley and empties into the worlds third oldest river, the New River.

The areas rich farmland is made fertile by the Greenbrier Limestones, known locally as the Big Lime. These limestones were formed from shallow seas some 350 million years ago during the Mississippian geological period. The quarrying of limestone for dimension stone, fill-rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and agricultural lime is an important industry in the area.

Just a few miles west of the property, you can take a trip through time riding on I-64 from Dawson to the WV/VA boundary highlighting outcrops from the younger Mississippian formations to the older Devonian mountains.

The rich coal fields lying a few miles to the north were formed about three hundred million years ago during the Pennsylvanian and Permian periods when the West Virginia area was south of the equator and moving north. Coal, a combustible sedimentary rock, formed when the area was covered with huge, tropical, swampy forests where plants giant ferns, reeds, and mosses grew. When the plants died, they piled up in swamps. Over time, heat and pressure transformed the buried materials into peat and into various forms of coal. These prehistoric coalfields continue to provide energy and industry to residents of West Virginia, the nation, and the world.

The area exhibits a karst topography due to the underlying Greenbrier Limestone. Karst is characterized by numerous caves, sinkholes, fissures, and underground streams. This interesting topography forms in regions of plentiful rainfall where bedrock consists of carbonate-rich rock, such as limestone, gypsum, or dolomite, which is easily dissolved. Mildly acidic rainwater slowly dissolves the soft limestone over millions of years creating geological fascinations like Lost World Caverns and Organ Cave, carved from the Greenbrier Limestone.

The property has many interesting riches from the earth in the form of limestone, agates, fossils, geodes, and curious rock outcrops.

The Droop Sandstone, an extremely hard, quartz-rich rock originally deposited as sand beaches along an ancient shoreline, is especially prominent in the area. The erosion-resistant Droop Sandstone creates numerous sheer rock cliff formations. Locally, the Muddy Creek Mountain quarry produces decorative sandstone from the Droop that is known worldwide for its beauty and durability.

The area is well known for the healing waters of the numerous Sulphur Springs. During the 1800s and early 1900s, several Sulphur Springs Resorts flourished in the area. Most notably and still in existence are White Sulphur Springs, Warm Springs, and Hot Springs. Others included, Sweet Springs, Blue Sulphur Springs, Red Sulphur Springs, Green Sulphur Springs, Salt Sulphur Springs, Pence Springs and Sweet Chalybeate Springs.

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 seventy-seven 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 many of the important cities in the watershed 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 State Park is operated by the West Virginia State Parks and is a former C&O railroad grade now used for hiking, bicycling, ski-touring, horseback-riding, and wheel-chair use. The trail passes through numerous small towns and traverses thirty-five bridges and two 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.

THE MONONGAHELA NATIONAL FOREST

The Monongahela National Forest was established in 1920 and 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 natural appearance and diverse forest, which provides outstanding dispersed recreation opportunities and supporting developed facilities. Dispersed recreation opportunities abound for hiking, backpacking, fishing, hunting, and mountain biking. Developed sites provide 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.

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 twelve 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.

There are 230 known species of birds inhabiting the MNF: 159 are known to breed there, eighty-nine are Neotropical migrants; seventy-one 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: two bird species, two bat species, one subspecies of flying squirrel, one salamander species, and three plant species. Fifty other species of rare/sensitive plants and animals also occur in the forest.

THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL 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 fifty-three miles (85 km) from just downstream of Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted. The Park was officially named Americas 63rd national park, the U.S. governments highest form of protection, in December of 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a relief bill.

West Virginia is home to parts of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, a footpath 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 fifty-three miles of the gorge, has earned the governments 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 countrys best whitewater rafting, from the Cunard put into 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 sixty-six 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.

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.

Visitors should begin their experience with a stop at Canyon Rim Visitor Center, which is situated on the edge of the gorge, for maps, current information, and chats with a park ranger. You can learn any pertinent safety protocols and visit the bookstore.

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.

NEW RIVER REGION OVERVIEW

The New River is shared by boaters, fishermen, campers, park visitors, and local neighbors. The waters of the New River system contain a mosaic of hydrologic features and aquatic habitats that support a highly productive aquatic ecosystem that includes distinct populations of native fish, mussels, crayfish, and a broad array of other aquatic life, including rare amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

The 320-mile New River rises in the Blue Ridge region of North Carolina and flows northeastward through the Appalachian uplands to Radford, Va., where it turns northwestward and passes through a series of narrow valleys and gorges into southern West Virginia. It ends where it joins the Gauley River to form the Kanawha River. In WV, the New River is entrenched in a steep and narrow valley, the narrowest part of which is known as the New River Gorge.

In 1998, because of historical, economical, and cultural importance, President Clinton signed into law the New River as one of the very first American Heritage Rivers. Much of the rivers course through West Virginia was designated as the New River Gorge National River. In 2021, the area was designated as the United States newest National Park.

The New River is recognized as the second oldest river in the world and is estimated to be between ten and 360 million years old. Its headwaters begin near Blowing Rock, NC, and is one of the few rivers in North America that flows northerly.

Class I, II, III, IV, and V rapids dot the entire 320 miles of New River making it a great paddling, tubing, and white rafting adventure. Beautiful cliffs, bluffs, and mountain views make it one of the most scenic rivers on the east coast.

The New River Gorge National Park includes fifty-three miles of free-flowing New River, beginning at Bluestone Dam, and ending at Hawks Nest Lake. The New River typifies big West Virginia-style whitewater. Within the park, it has two quite different characters. The upper (southern) part of the river consists primarily of long pools and easy rapids up to Class III. It is a big powerful river, but incredibly beautiful, always runnable, and providing excellent fishing and camping. There are several different river access points, and trips can run from several hours to several days.

The lower (northern) section of the river is often referred to as the Lower Gorge. In a state that is justifiably renowned for colossal rapids, the Lower Gorge has some of the biggest of the big with rapids ranging in difficulty from Class III to Class V. The rapids are imposing and forceful, many of them obstructed by large boulders which necessitate maneuvering in powerful currents, crosscurrents, and hydraulics. Some rapids contain hazardous undercut rocks.

Prior to the rise of the Appalachian Mountains, the New River cut its bed at a time when the land sloped to the northwest. Amazingly so, as the Appalachians gradually rose around the river, the New River wore away the bedrock at the same rate the mountains formed, leaving behind towering cliffs and prominences that hover hundreds of feet about the water level.

Accounts claim that Indians referred to the New River as the river of death, however this origin story is legend. Native Americans and early European settlers regarded the New and Kanawha rivers as being one single waterway. The name New may have been derived when the river upstream was discovered by European explorers as the first new river found flowing westward.

Native American Indians used the New River as they traveled west years before the pioneers arrived. In the 1600s explorers navigating the New River thought they were close to the Pacific Ocean because of its westerly flow.

In 1671 the Batts-Fallam expedition, by way of the New River, came through to the Lurich area and ended there because the Indian guides refused to take them any farther. They carved their initials in a tree and claimed the territory for King Charles II of England. This was the first proclamation of English territory west of the Alleghenies making the New River the first gateway into the west.

Fast water, big rocks, and lazy/slow stretches are features of the New River. Water sports enthusiasts will find the New River ideal for swimming, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, tubing, snorkeling, paddle boarding, and windsurfing. Great fishing is found in the New River with bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and rock), flathead catfish, channel catfish, muskie, walleye, and bluegill present in good numbers. Year after year, it produces more citation fish than any other warm water river in WV.

The New River Gorge was a vast and unsettled wilderness until the C&O railroad was built on the eastern side of the river in the 1880s. The railroad opened 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.

The gorge was impassable before the completion of the New River Gorge Bridge, near Fayetteville, WV, in 1978. The river within its gorge is one of the most popular whitewater rafting destinations in the eastern U.S. Much of the New between Hinton and Gauley Bridge is managed by the National Park Service as the New River Gorge National River.

Principal tributaries of the New in West Virginia include, from south to north, the East River, the Bluestone River, and the Greenbrier River.

Many former mining communities located on the New River in its gorge have since become ghost towns. These include Sewell, Nuttalburg, Kaymoor, Fayette, South Fayette, Hawks Nest, Cotton Hill, and Gauley, Beury, and Claremont.

SNOWSHOE SKI & RESORT DESTINATION

From Richlands 338 Snowshoe Mountain Resort is an hour and thirty minutes drive and is among the most popular ski resorts in the east-central U.S. The resort, at 4848 elevation, includes two ski areas, two terrain parks, and fifty-seven downhill slopes that uniquely descend from the ski villages at the top of the mountain. The resort is also among the chief destinations for mountain biking in the Virginias. The International Mountain Bicycling Association has designated the Snowshoe Highland Ride Center as a silver-level destination. The resort boasts twenty-three restaurants and pubs, thirty-four lodges and cabin villages, and supports many off-mountain lodging venues year-round.