Tawney Farm, West Virginia

You can't get any more "agri-tourism" than a sheep farm with primitive camping in the Gauley River National Recreation Area!

The Tawney Farm is a small-scale sheep farm located next to the beautiful Gauley River National Recreation Area in the Mountain Lakes region of central West Virginia. Our 120 acres lie 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 I process the fiber and either sell it to other fiber artists or felt it into crafts and hats myself. Our farm is also home to miniature horses, chickens, and of course dogs and cats.

The farm also offers primitive camping by reservation with the Gauley River Wild & Woolly Primitive Campground and our primitive cabin, The Nut House. The farm is also an outdoor venue for special events such as family reunions, weddings, private parties, music festivals, corporate retreats or group meetings with or without camping. Bird watchers and nature lovers will find our farm the perfect place to visit with access to nature trails with over 37 species of birds identified.

Enjoy beautiful views of the Gauley River gorge and hike our nature trails while experiencing the sights and sounds of a real working farm. Hike up our trail to the mountaintop to camp in a huge field and experience incredible night skies. Or if you aren’t up to the full hike, pop up your tent at one of the shady, wooded campsites along the trail. You can even camp in one of our scenic pastures. If you're like me and sleeping on the ground is just not in your best interest, we do have a cabin for rent. While still primitive (there is no running water, indoor plumbing, refrigeration or cook stove so you will still need to bring your camp stove or grill and a cooler), it's a cozy little cabin that you'll appreciate on a rainy day or chilly night.

We’ve added just enough amenities to make your “roughing it” camping experience not so rough. Common Area fire pits are provided as campfires or fire pits are not permitted at campsites, and BBQ grills are provided at four locations in the Common Areas. Small portable grills are permitted at the campsites. Clean Portajohns are provided as well as an outdoor hot water shower! Potable water is also provided. Firewood is free!

Close to the New River Gorge, Summersville Lake & Dam, Carnifex Ferry State Park and just minutes from the beautiful Gauley River, you're sure to find something fun to do while camping with us. Janie's Hole is a beautiful waterfall at the Mason Branch takeout of the Gauley River that you can hike beside of or in!

Tawney Farm LLC was established in 2010 but we've been living here since 2002. The "farm" has a two-story barn built in the early 1900's that is home to our Merino and Jacob sheep. You'll love the layout and design of the barn with its handcut stone foundation. Our farm is also home to three miniature horses, chickens and of course, dogs and cats. There's also a tractor barn with corn cribs, an old wooden garage/tool shed and several other utility buildings, one of which we've converted into our camping registration booth. We've also built a stage onto the old sawmill to present live music.

Our farm is located off Panther Mountain Road. The Panther Mountain area is rich in history. It's name comes from a story about a hunter who had killed two deer in the area known as High Rocks. Not being able to carry both deer home, he hung one of the deer he had killed in a tree to retrieve the next day. When he did return, he found two panthers at the foot of the tree eating his deer. He shot one panther and the other one turned on him. Not having time to reload his gun, he threw gunpowder in the eyes of the panther as it started to attack him, causing the panther to retreat some distance away until he got his gun loaded and shot it also.

There are many Civil War stories about the area as well with several small skirmishes taking place between our farm and the little white church at the top of the hill. There's a beautiful farm house built in 1888 within a 1/4 mile of our farm that's been beautifully preserved.

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.