SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA'S BEST KEPT SECRET!
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10/12/2023
I moved here several years ago from a major metropolitan area. I have lived in several areas including PA, TN, NC, DC & MD. Southern West Virginia is beautiful, and the cheapest in utilities, groceries, gas and taxes of any state I have lived in. The people are friendly, and help one another. Housing is cheaper here but rising quickly as the area is growing. The new 121 Coal Fields Expressway which runs from the City of Beckley (20 miles from Mullens) is a GORGEOUS drive with long range mountain views! This expressway is slated to expand to TN, KY and VA which will really raise the values of homes here due to the new access. Just to give you an example, Mullens is about 4 1/2 hours from Knoxville, TN. When the expressway blows through the mountain (instead of having to travel north to Beckley and then south) to Bristol, TN which is where I think they are talking about connecting too?? Not sure but that is what I heard... Once that is completed? I could get to Knoxville in 3 1/2 hours! I think the landing point when it goes to Virginia will be Tazwell. In Kentucky? I heard Lexington but again? Unsure as this was just word on the street I heard. We also have the TWIN FALLS STATE PARK HERE! Yes! A resort complex with a pool, hot tub, hotel/cabins, dog friendly too and they have a Restaurant and a shop there as well. Oh and yes... they have a GOLF COURSE!
Let's talk homes now... The homes here vary widely in value. The homes higher in elevation have the best views and are more expensive but still very reasonable. They range from $20K in the heart of the city (lower level) to $400K. If you can find one up on the hill with a mountain view, grab it! They go fast and are under $250K average. Most of the homes were built mid century, 50's-70's. If you are lucky enough to find one built in the 1950's or 1960's? They are built like a tank! Thick walled, typically plaster with metal mesh, archways, pocket doors, solid wood doors with crystal hardware, gas fireplaces, solid wood cabinets, and basements. Mine even has a built in floor to ceiling cabinet with a secretary desk! Amazing architecture! Beautiful hardwood floors with wide base moldings too. Ceilings are typically 8-1/2 to 9 feet tall. I am a former Realtor, GRI so if that gives any credibility to these statements, then let it be so.
Why buy here? Safe from Tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and far away from any "nuke" zones or fallout. Great "bug out" location and long growing season if that is important to you. We haven't seen any bussed in border crossers here either. Safe Community! And? The values are rising big time! The expressway as it continues to 3 other states are really going to make the homes here explode in value. Hence the reason I purchased here.
OK... Let's talk community... Mullens is a small city/large town. Family oriented, God loving, mostly conservative and West Virginia is a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary State. Lots of hunting, fishing, golfing and 4 wheeling goes on here. Lots of festivals, concerts, and community gatherings. They have line dancing, yoga and other classes weekly too.
Lets talk SHOPPING & FOOD! We have a Walgreens (Fed ex is there too) , Family Dollar, Dollar general, various shops and boutiques, gym, multiple gas stations, Churches, American Legion, Moose lodge, fire and police departments, post office, car repair, dog groomers, salons, Mobile phone store, Insurance agencies, law offices, IGA Grocery store, and alot of cute "Mom & Pop" type shops and a medical center.
We have awesome restaurants here - The popular ones include: The REBEL STEAKHOUSE, RUSTED MUSKET, and 2nd STREET CAFE. Those are all locally owned (some others too) and then we also have a Dairy Queen, Subway and a new one coming too I heard. People travel here on vacation for the Hatfield/McCoy 4 wheeler trails, hiking, fishing - river flows through town; that people come in to eat at from surrounding areas. The area is growing as it is Southern West Virginia's best kept secret..... but someone let the secret out! :)
OK... Weather! LOVE IT! Best of all worlds! If you like it hot and humid? You will love summer... 80's and 90's are the norm. It typically rains in the afternoons during the summer. Reminds me of a sub-tropical type of climate which is super for growing fruits, veggies and any plantings. Evenings are cooler as you are in the mountains here. Spring is gorgeous and we have the annual "DOGWOOD FESTIVAL" in late spring. Lot's of vendors, live music, great food, games and rides for the kids, great family fun! There is usually an October Festival as well. There is a community pool that residents pay a small fee to join. Autumn is STUNNING here! I have an incredible mountain view and the trees with all of their colors are just breathtaking! The temps are moderate... anywhere from 50's to 70's during the day and 30's to 60 at night in the Fall. No heat or air conditioning needed this time of year! Speaking of which? If you like NATURAL GAS heat? Almost all of us here have it. It is the warmest heat I have ever had... way better than heat pump for certain! And CHEAP! Yes, Electric, gas, water, trash and sewer are super cheap here! So are property taxes! Winter is awesome here! Again, breathtaking views and it doesn't get super cold here.... It averages upper 20's to 40's in the winter. The coldest I have seen was 10 degrees and that was cold! Snow varies... last winter we didn't get much but the winter before we got enough to break out the shovel. The sun (being at a higher elevation) helps to melt it fast here too. We have longer autumns here and winter kicks in around the Holidays in December and hangs around until the end of February. Spring is elongated too but by June it starts getting hot with August being the hottest month in my opinion. You will definitely need Air Conditioning here or you will bake in the summer humid heat! Although I will say it is not as humid as MD and NC.
Ok... Crime... Crime is everywhere but here in Mullens the crime is lowest of any of the surrounding cities in my opinion. You rarely hear any police sirens and a lot of police for both city, county sheriff and state, live here too which makes it nice to have them as your neighbors.
Beckley, in the next county over? (not so much in the shopping district which by the way they have every store you could ever need or want... Lowes, Kohls, Panera Bread, Sam's Club, Big Lot's multiple big name restaurants, shops, the list is just way too long... Nice place to shop but you don't want to live there...) has a very high crime rate especially in the downtown area. The shops mentioned above in Beckley are not in the high crime area... but you don't want to live in Beckley....at least I wouldn't. But it's nice that it's close enough to go shopping and then bail the place for the peace and tranquility of Mullens~ ;)
OK, Medical Facilities... The major hospitals are located in Beckley 20 miles away and in Charleston (State Capitol), which is about an hour and 15 minutes from Mullens. There is a Medical Center in the City Center of Mullens. It is typically open Mon-Sat. (Unless their hours have changed?) They have Doctors, PA's and a full staff. I have been there and have had excellent care. It is a walk in clinic type place or you can schedule appointments. We do have ambulance service here, so anything needing an emergency? That is nice to know.
OK, Churches! This is the Bible Belt Baby! God fearing people here, hence the Family friendly atmosphere. There are MULTIPLE Churches, one on just about every corner. United Methodist, Baptist, Church of God, Non-Denominational and I think there is a Presbyterian Church as well... Not sure on that one but there are a lot of Churches here. What isn't here? You can definitely find in Beckley such as Mormon, 7th Day Adventists, Temple, etc.
OK... Diversity - Not so much... I would say 97% White/Caucasian here. However there are some residents that are LGBTQ if that is important to you. And I have met other families who have transplanted here from New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, and other states as well. The secret is out!! LOL!!
IN SUMMARY:
PROS:
Mullens, West Virginia in Wyoming County is a wonderful place to live to raise kids, retire (like me), or if you work remotely (High Speed Fiber optic, cable and satellite are here) as it is cost effective for small budgets, has beautiful mountain views, reasonable housing costs and utilities, good schools, and a family friendly atmosphere.
CON's:
Verizon phone service does not work here at all! At least it didn't when I first moved here. Unknown if any newer towers have changed that?? But I had to switch upon moving here. I couldn't even send a text! The best service here that works is AT&T and T-Mobile, Sprint and some have satellite phones.
The sun is strong in the summer... Remember in the mountains, higher elevations are hotter and you can burn more easily. Bring sunscreen!
It gets icy here in the winter. Make sure you have good tread on your tires. The good news? Mullens is really good about scraping and salting the roads to make them safe.
Anyways, I hope this gives you enough basic information to make a choice as to whether you would want to live here or not. No place is perfect but there are many more PRO's than CON's. It is a welcoming community to ALL.
Transplant | Mullens, WV