And I’d never heard of it.

Well, me and the wife might have to look for a different “promised land” for our retirement. Thanks for the heads-up, Phil. Glad to find this out now rather than after it’s too late.

Basically, the issue is this: not ALL land in WV has sold its mineral rights, but many have, often over 100 years ago. And it’s really difficult for citizens to be able to pay to do the research to find out if the rights on a particular parcel have been leased. Often they’ve been leased to more than one company, or one right (like coal) has been leased to one company, and another right (natural gas and/or oil) has been leased to someone else.) Oil/coal/natural gas companies have the money to do this research. And when the rights that someone owns on your land get sold at auction, the companies often show up and outbid ever private citizen.

Yuck.

Here’s more info on WV mineral rights, from a grass-roots organization that fights to help get rights back for private land owners, The West Virginia Surface Owner’s Rights Organization:
http://www.wvsoro.org/

One downside is the lack of MINERAL RIGHTS.

Therefore, some cold Tuesday, the owner of the mineral rights can come in and push the top off of your mountain to get the coal.

Check on it.

Other than that, he likes it really well.

Lows around zero F. but only a few days a year.
And no mosquitoes - per brother.
And, poor cell phone reception, which could be a bonus.

See you at the range.
Phil

More likely a goat!

I was actually thinking if we do this, I might build a small shed-like house or two, about a football field away from our house, and have a couple cool younger doods live there. Maybe start the “Michael Dean Writer’s Fellowship.” Aspiring writers can write an essay to win the chance to get to live on our land for a year, do 20 hours of yard work and errands (drive into town for food!) in exchange for room and slop. And every Sunday night, I’ll spend a few hours meeting with them and offering encouragement and mentoring on their writing (or filmmaking or whatever.)