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Prayer Mountain

Welcome to Southern West Virginia off grid farm. Where you'll get luxury camping and personal animal farm. We house farm and exotic animals that are completely hands on. Wake up to a hot cup of coffee and fresh chicken eggs to eat on the griddle. Enjoy the scenery in a queen size bed with beautiful sunshine in the morning that breaks through the trees. Experience and experience unlike no other with a traditional outhouse like the elders did many years ago in Wv. Enjoy hiking, target range, and even big game hunts if you come during season. 

Hico

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Tawney Farm's Wild & Woolly

What says agritourism more than a primitive campground on a sheep farm in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia?  Here you’re only a short drive from the New River Gorge National Park where you can  go whitewater rafting or take a hike and experience the stunning beauty of the gorge, swim or paddleboard in Summersville Lake or go rock climbing on one of around 150 routes on the crags of the lake.  In addition, you’ll be within walking distance of the Gauley River with all it’s wild untamed beauty where you can kayak, swim, fish, paddleboard, or splash in a waterfall.  Not to mention being on a sheep farm, you can have the opportunity to learn about wool and wool processing.  You can even learn how to felt wool and take home your creation!  

The Tawney Farm is a small-scale wool sheep farm adjacent to the beautiful Gauley River National Recreation Area and just a short drive to the New River Gorge National Park.  Our 126 acre farm lies nestled in between two beautiful mountains, one of them named Panther Mountain, in the Gauley River gorge. Here we raise Merino and Jacob sheep for wool where we process the fiber and either sell it to other fiber artists or felt it into crafts and hats ourselves. Our farm is also home to a miniature horse, chickens, and of course dogs and cats.

In addition to the NRG and Summersville Lake and Dam, also close by are Carnifex Ferry Battleground State Park where you can see where a crucial civil war battle took place, as well as Babcock State Park with its iconic grist mill and waterfall.

Our region has it all!  But why stay in an overcrowded, commercial campground?  Leave the beaten path and enjoy peaceful and private, safe and secure primitive camping on our mountain farm.

We provide 7 sites on our farm for every camping style, from dry RV to tent, each with a table, fire pit and grill.  All sites are spaciously separate from one another for privacy and perfect for couples who want to get away from it all, or for families or groups of friends who want to reconnect and catch up.

Get away from it all! Experience the wilderness and wonder of West Virginia as only a native West Virginian could. Fry up some farm fresh eggs over the campfire or grill. Park-style grills, fire pit grills and tables are provided for your use. Very affordable firewood is available.  And to make your "roughing it" camping experience not so rough, we've added a few amenities! Clean portajohns are provided as well as a common area with a dishwashing station and a "to die for" outdoor hot water shower (above-freezing temperatures permitting)! 

Drink in the beautiful views of the Gauley River gorge while hiking our nature trails and experience the sights and sounds of a real working farm. Green and lush in the summer and brilliant hues of red, gold and orange in the fall.  Come see what the mountain lakes region of West Virginia has to offer at the Tawney Farm.

DURING GAULEY WHITEWATER SEASON (SEPT. 6 - OCT. 15), THE PRICE IS DISCOUNTED TO $35/NIGHT AS ​WE BEGIN FESTIVAL-STYLE CAMPING.  TENT, VEHICLE AND SMALL RV CAMPING (DRY-ONLY) ARE STILL PERMITTED, BUT THE ONLY DESIGNATED SITES AVAILABLE WILL BE THE WALK-IN AND HIKE-IN (MTN. TOP) SITES. ​

West Virginia Mtns & Woodlands

It's been settled as a farm on and off since the 1700's and it's been vacant for the past 20 years so it has all been reverted back to woodland. We have a waterfall and natural springs and have a 1000ft change from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the mountain. We are a certified sustainable forest farm and would love to share our way of life with you! Learn more about this land:Pick a nice camping spot in our designated camping area you can hike down to the waterfalls or the river you'll get a beautiful Mountain sunrise and South Mountain Sunset wild Untamed no traffic peacefulWe also offer educational hikes for wild edibles and medicinals. As with any property. No harvesting of woodland plants is permitted. Unless on a supervised walk

Smokie thinking “that’s a big dog” 

New River Gorge Lodging

Retreat to our tiny houses that look like miniature log cabins inside & enjoy the freedom of having the whole space to yourselves.  Just like the kind in the TV shows, we built these last year.  Our 18'x8'  tiny house can sleep up to four.  We are located right off of the main highway, in a campground/RV park ***off to the side in our own area where we have 4 tiny houses in total**. All  are self contained and on grid with full electric & water. **No children under  age 10 and not pet friendly**WE CLOSE THEM DOWN FOR THE WINTER FROM OCT 22, 2023  to MAY 1, 2024***

We are located exactly 2 & 1/2 miles north of the New River Gorge Bridge which is the edge of town of Fayetteville. We are close to the location that Airbnb put us, but due to West Virginia addressing it is the closest we could show on their map.  Please ask us any questions you may have prior to booking about location, the tiny houses, activities, or anything!! ** No children under age of 10 and all tiny houses are not pet friendly**

We love the location being 2 minutes from the New river and close to all national parks. The Gorge is an awesome site and we hope others enjoy are area as much as we do. Close to white water rafting and rock climbing areas too. 

Guests have access to the parking lot and the yards in back of the cabins. Feel free to bring a frisbie! Also have free access to free washing machines and dryers on the property as well. 

***PLEASE NOTE*** Even though they can sleep up to 4 people, it may be very cramped inside with that many.**** Please note the tiny house is 18' X 8'. The first floor approximately 126 square feet including the bathroom. The second floor loft is approx. 80 square feet.  Our water is city water on tap. 

ALSO, there are 4 of the tiny houses  on that part of the campground. EVERY tiny house has it's own picnic table and fire ring. You will never share anything with any other tiny house guest. This is like the new tiny house hotels! All 4 of them are listed on Airbnb. Ask us for the Airbnb links to the others! 

Built just last year, our 18'x8' tiny house can sleep up to four. **Our tiny house ceilings are low, with just 6’2’’ in the kitchen.  Clearance in the loft is about 4 feet.  There’s a steep, narrow ladder into the open loft, which has a small railing, and doorways are narrow at 24 inches wide.** We have 4 tiny houses in total.  We are located right off of the main highway, in a campground/RV park ***off to the side in our own area***. All of our tiny houses are completely self contained and on grid with full electricity and running water. ***Please note*** Even though they can sleep up to 4 people, it may be cramped inside with that many.**** Please note the tiny house is 18' X 8'. ***IN THE EARLY  SPRING AND AGAIN IN THE FALL UNTIL END OF OCTOBER**There is a space heater and also a wall heater. Please note that these may not warm up to 80 degrees or more***

 ***PLEASE NOTE****The couch on the first floor has 3 sections that are stacked and are made out of a regular 8 " memory foam , full size bed mattress. The mattress was cut into 3  sections and each section covered. This can sleep 2 people but please note it is a full size mattress, not a queen size.  The 3 sections lay next to each other & become a regular full size mattress on the floor. *****The fitted sheet included in the bedding will keep all the pieces put tightly together side by side*** Please ask us any questions you may have prior to booking if you are unsure. 

There is a regular home mattress that is queen size in the loft as well.  Both are very thick memory foam, regular bed mattresses with all pillows and bed linens provided. The bedding for the first floor bed will be laid out on the couch when you come in. 

There is a folding card table and 2 metal folding chairs in the tiny house. 

The full bathroom has a shower, toilet, and sink.  We include towels, toilet paper, and hand soap. Usually the towel sets are underneath the bathroom sinks. 

You will have access to the laundry building where washers and dryers are free to use. 

Kitchenette has a  kitchen sink with running water, mini fridge, coffee maker, microwave and a hot plate. We include a Mr Coffee type coffee maker, filters, coffee and styrofoam coffee cups. We have one pot, one pan (which are specific to the hot plate), paper plates, paper bowls,  plastic ware -knives, forks, and spoons, & plastic cups. We also provide liquid dish soap and paper towels.  

There is a television but no satellite, cable or local stations. Feel free to bring your own DVD player, games, etc. and cords. We do not supply cords for your devices. **Please Note** There is NO wifi. The entire New River Gorge area does not have a good service provider yet. 

Cell service in our area is usually very good for most carriers,  as we are high up and off the main highway. Your cellular hot spot should work very well. 

Outside the tiny house, there is a picnic table and fire ring that you’re able to use to cook and push aside the grate later to sit around a fire.  Firewood is for sale for $5 per bundle if you call the phone # on the door. They will deliver it in a short period of time.  You may want to bring lawn chairs as I do not supply them. Also any outdoor cooking utensils would be good to bring as well. 

Love playing games?  This is the place for you!  More than enough space outside to play bags, horses, washers, frisbee, soccer, kickball...you name it!  Ask me about our space! 

There is plenty of parking to include trailers and toys. Our tiny houses are along the side on the inside of a campground.  Feel free to have a friend camp outside the tiny house. We have no parking rules, feel free to park right by your tiny house. 

**Our tiny house ceilings are low, with just 6’2’’ in the kitchen.  Clearance in the loft is about 4 feet.  There’s a steep, narrow ladder into the open loft, which has a small railing, and doorways are narrow at 24 inches wide.**

We clean and sanitize your space according to Airbnb’s enhanced cleaning protocol that was developed Internationally with EcoLab. 

Here are a few highlights:

We sanitize high-touch surfaces, down to the doorknob. We use cleaners and disinfectants approved by global health agencies, and the cleaning team wear protective gear to help prevent cross-contamination. We clean each room using extensive cleaning checklists. If you would like extra cleaning supplies, please call us, do not message or email. We also comply with local laws, including any additional safety or cleaning guidelines. Please ask us any questions you may have. 

We have also own 7 cabins on one property about 2 miles north of the tiny houses. They are also listed in Airbnb, if you can't find their listing please message and I will send you the link to their listings.  All are listed in Airbnb. Great for groups or family get togethers! 

Our intention is for the tiny house to be affordable and work with your schedule. If the price you see for the dates you want is not available, please message us and let us know what would work for you so we can try to accommodate you.

**PLEASE NOTE** Our general area has a few food delivery services. However, most restaurants will also have carry outs available for you to pick up. Also our guests have ordered groceries at our local Walmart for pick up. This is very handy for groups.

Beaver Lakes Campground LLC.

Property was owned by my great grandfather , He lost 150 acres in the early 1900's due to a bad debt from neighboring landowner. Was so happy to be able to repurchase the 150 acres back in 2016,now own the original land tract and added more. 250 acres in total. Portions were strip mined around 1978-1982 creating some flat fields and access to all property. I might add that strip mining if done properly can and does enhance the property. Ponds were built to catch runoff and several new animal species moved in waterfowl ,muskrats, and beavers. The beavers have constructed large dams on property further adding to the beauty. Have seen several bald eagles on and around the property. 

Channel Catfish , Blue Gill ,Crappie and Large Mouth Bass catch and release only. 

Great Blue Heron grand daughter named him smitty

Meadowcroft

Meadowcroft is a semi-primitive cabin on the bank of the beautiful Meadow River. Swim, fish, and hang out with the river otters. It's like camping, but with a roof over your head, WiFi, A/C in the summer, and a cozy wood stove in the winter. A large lawn with fire ring fronts a long section of lazy river (perfect for paddleboarding, tubing, canoeing, etc.), with worldclass whitewater beginning about a mile downstream. Premium bouldering is two miles away, Meadow sport climbing 10 min., Summersville Lake 15 min., and all other NRG-area climbing within a 25-min radius. 

Like Camping, But a Cabin

The cabin is a lovingly souped-up Amish-built shed. Like camping, you bring your own sleeping gear and most of your cooking gear, and you pack everything out and tidy up after yourself. ***Please take all trash with you when you leave. THERE IS A $100 CHARGE FOR TRASH LEFT BEHIND***

This is a self-cleaning cabin, which means *you clean up after yourself to prepare for the next guest* (not that it cleans itself, unfortunately). This keeps the costs down for all the guests. 

We provide:

-WiFi (slow, but good enough for Zoom meetings and Netflix)

-Ample electrical outlets

-A very clean portapotty

-An outdoor spigot with excellent treated river water

-A two-burner propane campstove on the porch

-A refrigerator and freezer

-An electric kettle

-Folding tables and eight folding chairs for indoor use

-A/C in hot weather

-Wood stove or space heaters in cold weather (your choice)

-Firewood (for purchase)

-Cleaning stuff

The cabin and property do *not* have:

-Beds/bedding (so bring your sleeping bags and pads)

-Plates/utensils/cups/bowls, etc., etc. (so bring what you need to cook and serve food)

-Indoor running water

-Sink

-Microwave

-Oven

-Shower

-Camp chairs

Learn more about this land:

The level, grassy lot is perfect for boaters, fishers, and climbers. The property is on a two-mile section of lazy river that is perfect for paddle boarding, tubing, swimming, and wading. Just a mile and a half upriver from the first Meadow River technical rapids. Put in here and take your whitewater boat all the way down to the Gauley. Just 10 minute drive from the lower and upper Meadow climbing areas, 15m from Summersville Lake, and 20m to Fayetteville. The property is right on Wilderness Highway, which is a 55 mph road. It doesn’t have a lot of traffic and it’s almost completely quiet after 10 PM. There are neighbors across the road but no neighbors within view on either side of the property. All of the neighbors are very friendly. 

There is basically no cell service on the property. If you have Verizon, you might be able to do some texting intermittently. The closest reliable cell service is about 10 min. north on Rte 41 / Wilderness Hwy. 

Closest amenities are also 10 minutes north on 41. A left on Riviera Road will take you to the Dollar General and U-Save truck stop, both sources of basic necessities and beer/wine. Stay on Rte 41 for The Tractor Bar, which has a beer/wine/liquor off-license store. Behind The Tractor Bar is The Brownstone Mill General Store, which has a deli. A minute further north, at the intersection with Rte 19, are the Appalachian Coffee House (good wifi) and Craft Kings (incredible sandwiches and other fare from local ingredients).  There is also a Dollar General 10 min. south, via Rte 41 S to Rte 60 E. That direction will also get you to Rte 19 S (14 min.), and the famous Midland Trail Exxon at the intersection of 19 and 60--famous among climbers for its breakfast sandwiches and baked goods.

More Details

Cabin Orientation

• **Flood Awareness**

In 120 years of record-keeping, the river has risen far enough to endanger the cabin only once. But that was 2016, and conditions are changing. A July 2022 flood came up to the second porch step. Rampant recent clearcutting means flooding happens more quickly and more often than in the past. Fortunately, it's easy to know when to take action, using this tool: https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/03190000/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D. You want to be on the lookout when there is &gt;3 in. of rain in 12 hours and/or river reaches 12 ft. The flood of July 2022 reached 17.21 feet without endangering the cabin. We estimate it would have to reach 19 ft. to get the cabin wet. That said, the water rises *fast* in these scenarios (several ft./hr.), so if it gets to 12 ft. and it's still raining with more rain forecast, you probably want to evacuate. At 15ft, Rte 41 S will probably be closed, so N is the way to go. 

•	Lofts: The loft over the porch is for the hosts’ stuff. Please do not use that area or its contents. The other loft is for you to sleep in or store stuff.

•	Shelves: A section of the back shelves, clearly labeled, is for guests’ storage. Another section, clearly labeled, has some accessories you might want to use. A third section, also clearly labeled, is for the hosts’ stuff; please don’t use this area or its contents.

•	Refrigerator/freezer: You are welcome to use it. There’s a “hosts’” shelf in the fridge where we keep a few condiments that we ask you don’t use. And there might be some items in the freezer in a bin labeled “Hosts.’” Please don’t leave anything that wasn’t already there. 

•	Water: There’s a pump-like spigot across the yard. It’s “city water,” pumped from the Meadow River and purified at the treatment plant just down the road. We think it’s pretty good. The tire/odd panels around the spigot are to keep it from freezing in the winter. Please try to leave them in place. 

•	Doing Dishes: Please use backcountry camping methods to do your dishes, since there is no plumbing, we have a beautiful, river nearby, and we don’t want to attract critters. 

o	Wipe off all dishes with a paper towel (not provided) before washing so that nearly all food waste goes in the trash (which you pack out).

o	Use small quantities of biodegradable soap (provided) to wash dishes in the rubber collapsible washbasins (provided). 

o	Dump wastewater (which has no food in it) in the sunken area below the road to the right of the driveway (if you are facing the cabin from the road). This is a natural leachfield.

•	Stove: The propane camp stove on the porch is there for you to use. You will need to turn on the canister by turning the knob counter-clockwise until it stops. Please clean after each use:

o	Grease tray must be wiped clean after each use (the local critters love grease and although we love them, too, we don’t want them making the porch their own).  

o	Skillet can be cleaned with soapy water, but should be immediately dried over the flame and treated with a thin layer of oil. 

o	Stove must be covered when not in use.

o	There are two propane canisters. If the connected canister runs out, please flip the sign on it from “Full” to “Empty” and let us know in the app that it needs to be replaced. 

o	Before you leave, turn off the gas on the canister (knob clockwise).

•	PortaPotty is emptied, thoroughly cleaned, and restocked with TP once a week by Triple T Septic Service in Summersville (304-880-8993). They are not on a regular schedule, so it’s possible they will not have serviced the toilet between the last guests’ departure and your arrival. For this reason, we ask that you wipe down the toilet surfaces with provided disinfecting wipes before you leave, and restock with provided TP, if necessary. 

•	Firewood: We have well-seasoned hardwood in the wood rack on the far side of the property. Feel free to use the hatchet and splitting maul as needed. Firestarters are highly recommended: even though we have excellent wood, it’s still ridiculously  difficult to start a fire most of the year in the rainforest of WV. Firewood is $0.75/piece, or $7.50/dozen, on the honor system (this typically works out to about half the price of Lowe’s or a gas station, by mass). Firestarters (on the guest shelf) are $1/piece. If there’s a supply of newspaper, feel free to use it. Please keep track of how much firewood/firestarters you use, and when you leave, send that amount through your booking app, or Venmo, etc.

	Retreat-Maker Box: If you really want to get away, we provide a lockbox that you can put your phone in. Obviously, you have the key, but it’s a surprisingly helpful ritual way to break free for a while. Leave the laptops locked in the car. 

Rules

•	No smoking inside the cabin. 

•	No use of illegal drugs on the property. This includes marijuana, which is illegal in the state of WV. We have great relationships with our neighbors, and they don’t appreciate pot smoke in the area. WV cops *will* bust you, especially if you are not local. 

•	No use of firearms on the property.

•	Use the provided fire pit for fires.

Before You Leave: Checklist

	Remove any food you brought from the refrigerator/freezer, or in the cabin.

	Clean the inside and outside of the refrigerator.

	Clean the counter.

	Sweep and Swiffer the floor and loft floor, if you used it. Cleaning supplies located on back righthand shelves.

	Pack out all trash.

	Make sure all windows are closed, lights and AC/heaters turned off.

	Make sure the porch stove is clean and covered, and the propane tank turned off. Clean area around stove if needed. 

	Sweep off porch if needed.

	Check that you didn’t leave any of your own stuff on the shelves or in the loft. 

	Text a photo of the clean cabin to Ryan when you depart, along with any other relevant details (repairs needed, supplies depleted, etc.).  412-326-7649. Or via the booking app. 

	Settle up on firewood, if you used any (instructions above).

	Leave doorknob unlocked and use your code to lock the smart deadbolt.

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