OVERVIEW
North Hills 290 is a 290 +/- acre multi-use, timber investment, recreational, and residential property located in the heart of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve's recreation mecca. North Hills 290 sprawls across a mountain covered in timber. Miles of internal trails provide access to nearly every corner of the property
Owning a mountain represents an opportunity to create a classic family ownership legacy for the next tenure. Onsite recreation includes ATV riding, hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing, and star gazing.
HIGHLIGHTS
290 +- acres multi-use property
Miles of trails wind throughout the forest providing a wide range of recreational pursuits
Minutes to Walmart, Lowes, restaurants, and city amenities
In the heart of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve recreation mecca
The sprawling mountain forest is managed to sustain a thriving wildlife population
The sustainable forest has been managed by a professional forester for many years
Diverse and abundant residential wildlife population
Four season climate
Near total darkness and minimal noise pollution
Cultural & educational opportunities throughout the region
Shooting sports, ATV- horseback riding, hiking, camping, hunting, nature viewing
Suitable for residential or cabin development
Elevations range from 2011 ft. to 2517
Low taxes, low population density
Easy access to interstates north, south, east, and west
Jet airports - Charleston, Beckley, and Lewisburg
An opportunity to create a classic family ownership legacy for the next tenure
LOCATION
Google Coordinates: 38.014971(N), -81.149232(W)
Address: Towne Hollow Road, Lochgelly, WV 25866. A 911 address has not yet been assigned.
Elevation Range: 2011 ft. to 2517 ft. +/-
FOREST/TIMBER RESOURCES
A professional forester has managed the property for many years. Management goals include timber, wildlife, recreation, and water. About twenty years ago, the forester prepared a timber harvest plan that included thinning the larger trees, allowing the residual trees a chance to become healthier and grow faster. The selective thinning created stands of differing age classes. The predominant timber stand consists of trees aged between 30 and 140 years, with diameters ranging in size of 10 to 30 inches at breast height (dbh).
The abundant timber resource is well positioned for 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 resource is rich in quality Appalachian hardwoods. This timber resource offers a great deal of flexibility to the next ownership in terms of potential harvest revenue that could be leveraged to offset holding costs and contribute to long-term asset appreciation. The capital timber value of the timber and pulpwood has not been determined at this time.
The forest's 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 Black Walnut, Sugar Maple, Poplar/Basswood, Red Oak Group, White Oak/Chestnut Oak, Soft Maple, Hickory, Black Cherry, and a host of associated species (Birch, Sourwood, Black Gum, and Beech), enhancing the forests overall appeal and value.
Forest-wide, most stands are well stocked, offering the next ownership great flexibility in shaping their own silvicultural legacy. Stem quality forest-wide can be considered good.
Diameters are well represented across the commercial spectrum, with a notable mature size class, abundant pole-size timber, and growing stock. Several "Heritage Trees" are scattered throughout the forest and old field edges. These ancient trees, some of which are 200-300 years old, have withstood the test of time, weathering ice, wind, lightning strikes, and fire.
The forest is healthy, with no signs of Gypsy Moth pest infestation. However, the Emerald Ash Borer, which has inundated the entire Northeast US is present, and the Ash component is expected to decline significantly over the next decade. Additionally, the Eastern Hemlock species is under siege by the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, which has led to a substantial decrease in hemlock populations. Fortunately, 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.
The area is conducive for beekeeping as honeybees thrive well here. Also, the sugar and red maple trees growing on the property present the potential for producing maple syrup.
AREA WILDLIFE
White tail deer, black bear, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, bobcat, fox, chipmunk, and many species of songbirds and raptors make up the resident wildlife population.
Of equal importance, there is the insect and microscopic world including butterflies, dragonflies, water skaters, water beetles, damselflies, hellgrammites, tadpoles and various insect larvae.
Great fishing is found in the areas lakes and rivers with small and large mouth bass, crappie, catfish, muskie, walleye, pike and bluegill present in good numbers.
The hardwood forest of the surrounding mountains 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.
WATER
There are the beginnings of 4 separate dashed blueline streams on the property for a total of about 1 mile of combined flow distances inside the property before they leave to flow into larger streams. Those intermittent streams should have periodic water flow, especially during rain events and periods of snow melt.
MINERAL RESOURCES
Ownership of the mineral rights appears to have been severed by prior deeds since the property is taxed as SURFACE. All rights the owner has in title will convey with the property.
BOUNDARIES AND SURVEY
The property is being sold by the boundary and not by the acre.
UTILITIES
Water: Public water is nearby
Sewer: Private Septic
Electricity: Onsite
Telephone: Unknown
Internet: Available through Starlink Satellite
Cellphone Coverage: Good to excellent depending on carrier
ACCESS/FRONTAGE
The property has frontage on Towne Hollow Road, and the property road connects directly to Towne Hollow Road.
ZONING
Fayette County and towns are subject to zoning and subdivision regulations. All prospective buyers should consult the County Government and the Health Department for details regarding zoning, building codes, and installation of water wells and septic systems.
PROPERTY TYPE/USE SUMMARY
The property has been managed as forestland.
(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.)
DEED and TAX INFORMATION
Deed Information: Part of the property in DB 337 Pg. 333
Fayette County, West Virginia
Acreage: 290 acres +/-
Real Estate Tax ID/Taxes:
Fayette County, West Virginia
New Haven District (1)
Tax Map 69 part of Parcel 2; Class 3
2024 Total Real Estate Taxes: $1836 estimated
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Fayette County School District
Public Elementary School:
Fayetteville PK-8
Public Middle School:
Fayetteville PK-8
Public High School:
Oak Hill High
Public College:
Fayette Institute of Technology
CLIMATE
The New River Gorge area sustains a microclimate more typical of warmer and more southerly latitudes, due partly to the sheltering nature of its valley. Though the river may appear a cool mountain stream, by the time it reaches the gorge it has already traveled more than 300 miles from the summits of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina and has heated over that distance. As its warm microclimate accommodates a longer growing season. Mean annual precipitation at the property is estimated at 37 to 47 inches, mean annual air temperature at 50 to 52 degrees, and its frost-free period at 140 to 170 days.
ON-PROPERTY RECREATIONAL AMENITIES
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
Near total darkness can be still be found on the property, thereby affording the opportunity to view the night sky in all its brilliant wonder.
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 forests terrain. Dirt bikes can also be a lot of fun and they come in all sizes and horsepower to fit anyone who enjoys being on two wheels.
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.