Finding a property that combines a home, substantial acreage, privacy, and the possibility of a small farm is becoming increasingly unusual. In Orlando, West Virginia, one property stands out for exactly that combination: a manufactured home situated on approximately 120.65 acres of private land in Braxton County.
Located at the end of Happy Hollow Road, the property offers a very different lifestyle from what many buyers encounter in suburban neighborhoods. Instead of a small yard surrounded by neighboring houses, this property provides expansive wooded acreage, pasture areas, a stream, farm buildings, fencing, and space for gardens and animals.
The home itself dates to 1965 and has undergone significant improvements over the years, including a major renovation in 1975 and additional additions that expanded the original structure. Current listing information describes approximately 2,085 square feet of total space, including above-ground living areas and a partial basement. The home features three bedrooms and one full bathroom.
For buyers interested in rural living, homesteading, recreation, or simply having more land and privacy, this property offers an intriguing combination of possibilities.
A Home Surrounded by More Than 120 Acres
The first thing that makes this property unusual is its size.
At approximately 120.65 acres, the property provides an enormous amount of land compared with a typical residential lot. Much of the acreage is wooded, while other sections include pasture, garden space, and areas that have been prepared for livestock.
The property also has a stream and scenic views of the surrounding countryside. Listing information describes views that include woods, mountains, farm areas, and the stream.
That combination creates a setting where the land itself becomes one of the property's most important features.
For someone who wants privacy, the acreage could be particularly attractive. The home is located at the end of Happy Hollow Road, creating a secluded atmosphere away from busy residential development.
The surrounding land also provides opportunities for outdoor activities. Depending on a buyer's plans and applicable local rules, the acreage could potentially be used for gardening, keeping livestock, recreation, or simply enjoying the natural landscape.
A Manufactured Home With a Long History
The house was originally built as a mobile or manufactured home in 1965. Rather than remaining in its original configuration, however, the property was expanded and improved over the years.
Listing records indicate that improvements were made in 1975, with multiple additions added to the original home. The result is a residence that offers considerably more space than the original structure would have provided.
The property is described as a one-story home with approximately 1,629 square feet of above-ground living space and another 456 square feet in the partial basement, bringing the listed total to about 2,085 square feet.
This history is important because the property is not simply an untouched older mobile home. It has evolved over decades, with additions and improvements intended to make the residence more practical for everyday living.
The exterior includes vinyl siding and a metal roof, while the property also has an attached garage.
Three Bedrooms and a Practical Interior
Inside, the home provides three bedrooms and one full bathroom.
The layout includes a living room, den or office area, kitchen, laundry space, and a first-floor primary bedroom. The main-floor design can be especially convenient for people who prefer to avoid stairs for everyday activities.
The kitchen is described as an open kitchen with laminate countertops. Appliances listed with the property include an oven or range, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, washer, and dryer.
The flooring includes carpet and linoleum, reflecting the practical character of the home rather than a highly modern luxury design.
That distinction is worth emphasizing. This property is primarily about land, privacy, utility, and lifestyle. Someone searching for a newly constructed luxury residence may have very different priorities.
But for a buyer who values acreage and the ability to live close to nature, the property's existing improvements may offer a useful starting point.
The Partial Basement and Attached Garage
Another practical feature is the partial basement.
The listed basement area is approximately 456 square feet. Basement space can be useful for storage, workshop activities, equipment, seasonal belongings, or other purposes depending on the buyer's needs and the condition of the space.
The attached garage adds another valuable feature, particularly for a rural property.
Having covered parking and storage can make a significant difference when a property includes extensive land. Rural homeowners often have equipment, tools, gardening supplies, outdoor gear, and maintenance materials that require additional storage.
The combination of garage, basement, barns, sheds, and other outbuildings gives this property several layers of practical storage.
Free Gas Adds an Interesting Advantage
One of the property's most unusual features is the availability of free natural gas.
According to the listing, the free gas can be used for several household functions, including heating, the cookstove, water heater, dryer, and generator.
For a rural property, access to a gas supply can be an important consideration.
Energy costs are a major part of household expenses, and having a property with an established gas arrangement may provide a meaningful practical benefit. Of course, buyers should independently verify the exact terms, restrictions, ownership arrangements, and continuing availability of any gas rights or free-gas arrangement before purchasing.
The home also has multiple heating options listed, including baseboard, forced air, and radiant systems, along with central air conditioning.
Two Wells and Rural Utilities
The property also reflects its rural setting through its water system.
A private well provides water to the home, while a second well is located near the garden shed. The listing also identifies septic service rather than a municipal sewer system.
Private wells can be attractive to buyers who want independence from municipal water systems, although they also mean that buyers should understand well capacity, water quality, maintenance, and testing requirements.
For anyone considering the property as a small farm or homestead, having an additional well near the garden area could potentially be useful.
As with any rural property, buyers should have all wells, septic systems, utilities, and related infrastructure professionally inspected before completing a purchase.
A Small Farm Already Takes Shape
Perhaps the most compelling part of the property is that the land is not simply empty acreage.
The property already includes several structures associated with farming and outdoor use.
Listing descriptions mention a haybarn with stalls, two pasture sheds for livestock, a garden shed, a 20-by-24-foot storage building, and a chicken house with a fenced run. There is also livestock fencing around portions of the pasture, garden area, and small orchard.
For someone dreaming about a small farm, these features could represent years of work that has already been completed.
A buyer could potentially use the existing infrastructure for animals, gardening, storage, or other agricultural activities, subject to local regulations and the condition of each structure.
The fencing is especially valuable because establishing pasture areas from scratch can require considerable time, labor, and expense.
Room for Gardening and an Orchard
The property also includes a garden area and a small orchard.
For people interested in growing some of their own food, this can be an attractive feature.
Gardening on a large rural property can become more than a hobby. It can become part of a broader lifestyle centered around self-sufficiency and outdoor living.
The existing garden space means a future owner would not necessarily be starting from a completely undeveloped landscape.
The orchard also adds another dimension to the property. Mature landscaping and established trees can provide character that is difficult to replicate quickly on a newly purchased parcel.
Wildlife and Natural Beauty
Another recurring theme in descriptions of the property is wildlife.
The seller's description mentions deer moving through the pastures, along with chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, and songbirds around the home.
For people who enjoy nature, these details can be as important as the number of bedrooms.
The changing seasons also create a different experience throughout the year.
Winter can transform the landscape with snow-covered trees, while spring brings blooming dogwoods and flowers around the home. The wooded acreage provides a natural backdrop that changes throughout the year.
Living in such an environment can appeal to buyers who want to step away from the noise and density of urban life.
Privacy Is One of the Biggest Attractions
Privacy may ultimately be one of the property's strongest selling points.
A home with more than 120 acres offers a level of separation that is difficult to achieve with conventional residential properties.
Instead of looking across a small backyard at another house, residents can experience wooded land, fields, a stream, and mountain scenery.
The location at the end of Happy Hollow Road further contributes to the secluded character.
That kind of privacy can be appealing to families, retirees, hobby farmers, outdoor enthusiasts, and people looking for a quieter lifestyle.
At the same time, prospective buyers should understand that rural privacy comes with responsibilities. Maintaining roads, fences, buildings, acreage, wells, septic systems, and wooded areas can require significant time and money.
A Property for More Than One Kind of Buyer
The versatility of this property is another reason it stands out.
A family could use it as a primary residence.
A buyer looking for a weekend retreat could potentially enjoy the land as a private escape.
Someone interested in small-scale agriculture could make use of the barns, pasture, garden, orchard, and fencing.
An outdoor enthusiast could appreciate the woods, stream, wildlife, and mountain views.
A person interested in homesteading could see the combination of acreage, wells, garden space, outbuildings, and existing utilities as a foundation for a more self-sufficient lifestyle.
In other words, the property does not have to serve only one purpose.
The Importance of Inspecting an Older Property
While the property has many attractive features, its age should also be considered carefully.
The original home dates to 1965, meaning buyers should conduct thorough inspections before making a final decision.
A professional inspection should examine the home's structure, roof, foundation, electrical systems, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, basement, additions, garage, and other improvements.
Because the property includes extensive acreage and numerous outbuildings, buyers should also inspect barns, sheds, fencing, wells, septic systems, driveways, drainage, and other infrastructure.
Older rural properties can offer tremendous character and potential, but they can also require ongoing maintenance.
Understanding those responsibilities before purchasing is essential.
The Value Is in the Combination
According to current listing information, the property has been marketed in the high-$300,000 range, with one active listing showing a price of $394,000 and another listing source showing $398,000. Pricing and availability can change, so prospective buyers should verify the current listing directly with the agent.
Regardless of the exact asking price at any particular moment, the property's appeal comes from the combination of home and land.
It is not simply a three-bedroom residence.
It is approximately 120.65 acres of wooded and open land, a stream-front setting, a residence, garage, basement, agricultural structures, garden areas, fencing, wells, and established outdoor features.
That combination is much harder to find than any one of those features individually.
A Different Definition of Home
For many people, the idea of home is changing.
A home does not always have to be a newly constructed house in a subdivision with a small lawn and close neighbors.
For some buyers, home means waking up surrounded by trees.
It means having enough land for a garden.
It means watching deer cross the pasture.
It means keeping chickens, growing vegetables, maintaining an orchard, or simply walking through the woods at the end of the day.
This property in Orlando, West Virginia, represents that alternative vision of home.
The residence itself may not be the newest or most luxurious house on the market, but the surrounding land provides something that new construction cannot easily reproduce: space, history, privacy, and an established rural environment.
Final Thoughts
The manufactured home at 496 Happy Hollow Road in Orlando, West Virginia, offers an unusual opportunity for buyers looking beyond conventional residential real estate.
With approximately 120.65 acres, three bedrooms, one full bathroom, about 2,085 square feet of total listed space, a partial basement, attached garage, private well, stream, wooded areas, pasture, farm buildings, fencing, garden space, and an orchard, the property combines residential and rural features in one package.
Its biggest attraction may not be any single room or feature. Instead, it is the lifestyle that the entire property makes possible.
There is room to garden, room for animals, room for storage, room to explore, and perhaps most importantly, room to breathe.
For buyers dreaming of a quieter life surrounded by nature, this West Virginia property demonstrates why large rural properties continue to capture the imagination of people searching for something different.
It offers a glimpse of a lifestyle where the land is not merely an address—it is part of the home itself.
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