Culture, History,
Outdoor Adventure:
Lewisburg
,
West Virginia
Lewisburg, the county seat of
Greenbrier County
,
West Virginia
has a long history, going back to its charter in 1782.
Lewisburg is located in the heart of
West Virginia
’s
Greenbrier
Valley
—a long valley formed by the
Greenbrier
River
through the scenic Allegheny Mountains. It
is an area rich in history and natural beauty, a remote “oasis” from the
bustling East Coast city life. Named
for Revolutionary War General Andrew Lewis, the town has a 235-acre historic
district, designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation,
encompassing more than sixty 18th and 19th century
buildings of historic and architectural significance. Those buildings include
the
General
Lewis
Inn
, the
North
House
Museum
and the
Old
Stone
Church
. Built in 1820, the
North
House
Museum
houses the collection of the Greenbrier County Historical Society.
Named
one of National Geographic’s “Best Small Town Escapes,” Lewisburg was also
named by the Trust for Historic Preservation as a “Distinctive Destination.”
The Greenbrier Valley Theatre, a state-of-the-art facility in downtown,
and Carnegie Hall bring many cultural events to the area.
The town center is an area of fine shopping with specialty stores and
galleries featuring crafts, quilts, books, gourmet food, contemporary art and
antiques. Walking tours of the town
are offered from the Visitor’s Center and City Hall.
Area outdoor attractions include the Greenbrier River Rail Trail
extending 77 miles north from
Caldwell
in
Greenbrier
County
to Cass in
Pocahontas
County
; this multi-use trail offers hiking, biking, and equestrian activities.
The trail is one of the nation’s longest stretches of rail-trail.
It crosses 35 bridges along the way, providing a connection between two
state forests (Greenbrier and Seneca) and two state parks (Watoga and Cass).
The
Greenbrier
River
is the longest free-flowing river in the eastern
United States
.
Greenbrier
State
Forest
offers 5,130 acres for hiking, camping, hunting, and swimming.
Beartown
State Park
is located 23 miles north of
Lewisburg along US Route 219 with a picnic area and 107 acres for exploration.
Calvin
Price
State
Forest
(30 miles north of Lewisburg along Rt. 219) features 9,482 acres for public
hunting and fishing. The forest
straddles the Greenbrier/Pocahontas County line and borders
Watoga
State Park
. Lake Sherwood Recreation Area has
campsites, hiking trails and a 165-acre lake.
Blue Bend Recreation Area and
Monongahela
National Forest
offer more outdoor options. Lost
World Caverns are another nearby attraction.
You may have noticed the proliferation of “forests” being listed.
West Virginia
is more than 75% forested, making it the third most forested state.
The
West Virginia State Fair is an annual event held in the nearby town of
Fairlea
each August. The fair always
features a variety of events from livestock shows, to horse-pulling contests,
tractor pulls, harness racing, and performances by major music stars.
“I’m amazed
at the availability and quality of the restaurants for such a small town,”
says Dee Wiley, a
Maryland
native. “The Tavern 1785
and Food & Friends are two of our favorites—and they sit across the street
from one another,” she adds. Dee
and her husband John Wiley retired to Lewisburg a year ago, after nearly 40
years living and working in the
Rockville
,
Maryland
area.
Dee
is not alone in her assessment of area restaurants.
The Food Network covered three Greenbrier County restaurants in 2004 as
part of its “Best of” series; the Greenbrier, the General Lewis Inn, and
Food & Friends. Lewisburg offers
a variety of dining experiences from the elegant Tavern 1785 to chain
establishments such as Applebee’s and Bob Evans.
The availability of affordable housing and the beauty of the area were
primary factors that influenced Dee and John in their decision to make Lewisburg
their retirement home. John, age 70,
stays busy with golf, church, the Masonic Lodge, the Elks, and yard work.
Dee
, age 62, is involved with the garden club, the bowling league and loves taking
in cultural events at Carnegie Hall. Dee
is a self-confessed “city girl” that has fallen in love with the country
ways of small-town
West Virginia
. That has a lot to do with the
cultural options found in Lewisburg.
Carnegie Hall,
originally built as part of the
Greenbrier
College
for women in 1902 as a gift from Andrew Carnegie, sponsors a performing arts
series, art galleries, art and dance studios.
Another place to catch live performances is the Greenbrier Valley
Theatre, the only year-round professional live performance theatre in
West Virginia
. The Greenbrier Bowling and
Recreation
Center
in downtown Lewisburg, offers billiards, amusements, bowling, a pro shop and
on-site dining.
“We came from an area in
Maryland
where a drive was always involved, and traffic was always a consideration [to
get to cultural events]. Here,
everything is so close—and reasonably priced, the cultural events are a real
plus,” Mrs. Wiley enthuses. When
asked what their biggest surprise was after moving to the area, they list “the
availability of cultural events, the safety factor, being able to walk around
with no worries, the kind gestures of community—like stepping into another
time. There is a wonderful sense of
community.” John then adds, “The
availability of medical facilities—that’s something very important to
retirees, and of course rest and relaxation.”
“Everything is here, amenities one would expect only in a much larger
metropolitan area. So much is
available in this little town. I
have real contentment and enjoyment. Shopping
is another plus, and one that must be considered for the ladies.
There are several upscale shops where specialty items are to be
found,”
Dee
says.
Since John was originally from
Greenbrier
County
,
Dee
had a familiarity with the area from visiting family and friends over the
years. John worked in the
Maryland
school system before retirement.
Dee
had work experience in customer service at Bloomingdales.
She has seen her share of “attitude.”
So, when she says, “People here are not at all demanding, no matter
their status—the rest of the country could take a lesson from Lewisburg on how
to be nice,” her statement believable. She
has had plenty of experience dealing with people.
Greenbrier
County
offers John a wide selection of courses for golfing.
The county boasts seven courses, including three championship courses at
the Greenbrier. Valley View Country
Club features a nine-hole course and an onsite restaurant.
The Lewisburg Elks Country Club features an 18-hole course with onsite
dining, outdoor pool and clubhouse. The
Greenbrier Hills Golf Club features a nine-hole course, and the Oakhurst Links
round out the seven county courses.
The first organized golf in
America
was in
Greenbrier
County
—in White Sulphur Springs in 1884, the year the Oakhurst Links was organized.
The original nine-hole course was restored in 1994.
Here one may have a unique golfing experience using hickory-shafted
clubs, “guttie” balls, and hit from sand tees.
Replica equipment, like that used by those original golfers is
manufactured in
St Andrews
,
Scotland
exclusively for Oakhurst Links. Use
of the equipment is included in the green fee.
Jack and Prudence Fox came to Lewisburg from
Seattle
,
Washington
nearly 12 years ago. Jack’s
career in publishing had taken them all around the
US
—with a long stretch in the
Boston
area. They also spent a good deal
of time in
New York
,
Philadelphia
and
Los Angeles
—living in several states over John’s 37 years in the publishing industry.
Prudence is originally from
Rochester
,
Minnesota
. She met Jack while attending
college in
California
, and they will soon celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary.
Jack is originally from Rainelle in eastern
Greenbrier
County
.
“Basically, we’ve lived everywhere, but I’ve always loved the
Greenbrier
Valley
. I consider it an oasis.
Like many others, I originally left to find employment,” Jack says.
“I love the beauty of the town. Everyone
takes pride in their place and that keeps the whole town looking beautiful.
We have great neighbors and I feel safe.
We’re close to everything,” says Prudence who is 71 years old.
Jack stays busy with outdoor pursuits, “I’m 74 but most people take
me for a much younger man. That’s
due to my active lifestyle.” He
cross-country skis in the winter, runs year-round, kayaks and goes trout fishing
at other times. He loves the
combination of the area’s accessibility and outdoor opportunities.
“Lewisburg has a unique charm with its history, culture and outdoor
opportunities.”
Prudence stays busy with church activities, the garden club and her
artistic outlet, painting. Jack
has taken up some teaching and ministerial work after his retirement.
“Lewisburg has presented me with an opportunity to put a capstone on my
wanderlust,” Jack states.
The Foxes have a great love of the tranquility they find in the valley.
They find the history, culture and outdoor opportunities of the area to
be ideal.
Josephine and P.J. O’Brien are
Greenbrier
County
natives that left the area because of work, only to later return for the love
of place. PJ’s job with the CSX
Corporation took them from Lewisburg in
1985 to
Waycross
,
Georgia
, then on to
Jacksonville
,
Florida
and
Richmond
,
Virginia
before their return to Lewisburg two years ago.
The O’Briens had a fascination with travel and wanted to explore other
areas.
Josephine says they always knew they had a place in the Lewisburg area,
they owned a farm. “We traveled
with his work, but the beach life wore off.
It was time to come home.” When
they returned, they built a log cabin on the farm.
They now enjoy the solitude and tranquility of nature sitting by their
pond or walking in the woods. PJ
still does some consulting work for the railroad and in October 2005, Josephine
opened a downtown Lewisburg specialty shop, The Very Thing.
The shop carries antiques, collectibles, gifts and artwork.
“I’ve found the people very supportive, gracious and giving,
especially after opening my store.”
When describing the
Greenbrier
Valley
, Jo says, “It really is almost heaven. I
love the fall and the change of seasons. It
is a wonderful place to live.” PJ
says his reason for moving back was, “I wanted to look at those beautiful
mountains, and I don’t want to see windmills” (an oblique reference to the
desire of some who wish to see wind turbines in the area as an alternative
energy source).
Josephine and PJ stay busy visiting the flea markets (held on Tuesday and
Saturday at the State Fairgrounds in Fairlea), auctions, family and
friends—and traveling back to Waycross where their son Greg still lives, to
visit their granddaughter Taylor.
They find the traffic surprising. “The
people don’t change much, but there’s a lot more traffic now days. It’s
not really surprising when you realize more people are finding out about what a
great place to live Lewisburg is.”
The Census Bureau ranks
West Virginia
as the sixth fastest growing destination for buyers of second homes (classified
as vacation, seasonal or recreational homes).
Price and proximity to major metropolitan areas are primary
considerations. People moving back
to
West Virginia
represents the largest group of retirees moving to
West Virginia
but those numbers are changing as more people find the tranquility of the
mountains and the desirable lifestyle available at a reasonable price.
Lewisburg combines recreational, historic, cultural, and environmental
advantages—all within a small town setting—advantages many larger
metropolitan areas don’t have to offer.
Lewisburg Information Box
Population of
Lewisburg and
Greenbrier
County
: 3,624 in Lewisburg, 34,886 in
Greenbrier
County
Location:
Lewisburg is located 112 miles East of Charleston, WV; 206 miles West of
Richmond, VA; 254 miles North of Charlotte, NC and 256 miles Southwest of
Washington, DC.
Climate:
High Low
January
39
22
July
83
59
Average Relative
Humidity: 70%
Annual Rainfall: 44.6
inches
Annual Snowfall: 46.2
inches
Cost of Living:
West Virginia
ranks in the lowest 1/3 of US states in cost of living
Average Housing
Costs The average three-bedroom falls into the $110,000 - $165,000 price
range. Newer homes average $160,000 - $450,000.
Sales Tax: 6%
state sales tax on all purchases except food.
There is a 5% sales tax on food.
State Income Tax:
Income tax is imposed on all income including state and federal pensions (with
the exception of police and firefighter pensions).
Taxable income is determined to be the federal adjusted gross income less
a $2000 per person deduction. Taxable
income under $10,000 is taxed at 3%. Income
of at $10,000 but less than $25,000 is taxed at $300 plus 4% of excess over
$10,000. Income of at $25,000 but
less than $40,000 is taxed at $900 plus 4.5 of excess over $25,000.
Income of at least $40,000 but less than $60,000 is taxed at $1575 plus
6% of excess over $40.000. Income in
excess of $60,000 is taxed at $2775 plus 6.5% of excess over $60,000.
Estate Tax:
There is no estate tax in
West Virginia
.
Property Tax:
West Virginia
counties operate on an ad valorem tax of both real and personal property.
The appraised value is multiplied by 60% to get the assessed value. That
figure is multiplied by current tax rate to determine the tax owed.
There are four classes of real and personal property.
Class I is all tangible personal property used exclusively in
agricultural production and all products of agriculture.
The Lewisburg taxation rate for Class I property is .0068095.
Class II property is all property owned, used, and occupied by the owner
or bona fide tenants exclusively for residential purposes. Farm and
Homestead
exemptions may be applied with the proper application to the Assessor’s
office.
Homestead
exemptions are for those 65 years old or older (or completely disabled).
Applicant must have been a resident of
West Virginia
for two calendar years. Applicant
must have lived on the property for at least six months.
The exemption is on $20,000 or the assessed value.
The Lewisburg taxation rate for Class II property is .013619.
Class III property is all property outside of municipalities with the
exception of Class I and II property. Lewisburg
has no tax for Class III property. Class
IV property is all real and personal property within municipalities with the
exception of Class I & II property. The
Lewisburg tax rate for Class IV property is .027238.
Religion: There
are 20 local denominational and non-denominational places of worship in and
around the Lewisburg area.
Education The
Greenbrier Community College (one of four major campuses of the New River
Community and Technical College offering 18 associate degree programs and seven
certification programs. The West
Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine provides education programs for primary
osteopathic physicians for rural and underserved communities in
West Virginia
Transportation
Interstate 64 crosses
Greenbrier
County
with eight exits in the county.
US Route
60 crosses the county east to west and US 219 crosses the county north to
south. The
Greenbrier
Valley
Airport
provides air service. Amtrak makes
stops in White Sulphur Springs and Alderson. Greyhound
Bus has a limited drop-off in Lewisburg; Greenbrier Valley Limousine provides
transportation from the
Greenbrier
Valley
Airport
.
Health: The
Greenbrier
Valley
Medical
Center
is a 122-bed acute care center with 80 physicians in 21 specialties.
The Robert C. Byrd Clinic primary and specialty care center at the WV
School of Osteopathic Medicine with 60 full and part-time employees, handles
more than 48,000 patient visits a year. The
Rainelle
Medical
Center
serves western
Greenbrier
County
. The Greenbrier Clinic located at
the Greenbrier Resort is a leading diagnostic clinic with 13 internal medicine
specialists. The Greenbrier
Physicians facility, located next to the
Greenbrier
Valley
Medical
Center
, features advanced medical equipment including a laboratory, mammography,
X-ray. The
Greenbrier
Valley
Cancer
Center
offers treatments including external beam radiation and three-dimensional
conformal therapies.
Housing Options:
Housing prices in
Greenbrier
County
range from a low of $9000 to a high of several million dollars.
The average three-bedroom falls into the $110,000 - $165,000 price range.
Newer homes average $160,000 - $450,000.
Antebellum and Victorian homes are frequently in the market and the price
varies widely with the condition of the home.
The rental market in the area is growing with new home construction.
Most rentals are handled by the owners, not real estate agents.
The Retreat is a 950-acre planned development three miles
outside Lewisburg (and three miles from the Greenbrier property).
The development will have a maximum of 165 home sites, all with security,
city water, underground power lines, natural gas lines, and high-speed fiber
optics. There is a $4 million
clubhouse on top of the mountain. Currently,
prices range from $150,000 - $300,000 per site.
Phone 304-647-5660 for information.
The Greenbrier Sporting Club is a series of intimate
development sites on the Greenbrier Resort’s 6,500-acre property.
There is a $120,000 initiation fee for the club, $8000 in annual dues,
and a $1,400 association fee. These
fees gain members access to the resort’s activities.
Prices for home sites start at $400,000.
Sites range from ¼-acre to 10 acres in size.
Phone 888-741-8989 for information.
Visitor lodging:
1,477 Rooms total (including 638 hotel rooms, 803 rooms at the Greenbrier
Resort, and 36 rooms at Bed & Breakfasts.
Average hotel prices are $90 per night.
Average Bed & Breakfast room prices are $105 per night.
Rooms at the Greenbrier start at $389 (April – October).
Phone the Greenbrier at 800-624-6070 or 304-536-1110
Information:
Greenbrier
County
Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Official Destination
Marketing Organization of
Greenbrier
County
540
N. Jefferson Street
-
Box
17
, Suite N
Lewisburg
,
WV
24901
Phone: 800-833-2068
Fax: 304-647-3001
www.greenbrierwv.com
If You Go:
1-2-440-10
1-2-440-5
1-2-440-11
1-2-440-16
1-2-359-2
1-2-426-15
1-2-425-12
1-2-426-2
1-2-426-20
1-2-362-10
1-2-363-2
1-2-425-11
1-2-427-5
