FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Heston Farm, a local farm, distillery and tourist attraction, is up for sale.
The farm is being sold in two lots for a total of $2,383,000 and comes with three buildings, a storage bunker, and access to the Tygart River on 26.07 acres.
Owners Mickey Heston and Julie Smith said they are committed to working with whoever purchases the property to continue developing Heston Farm as a regional tourism attraction.
There are also an additional 132 acres that are not part of either parcel, but selling them isn’t out of the question, the couple said.
Between the winery, distillery and restaurant and hosting events the property attracts around 16,000 people a year, Smith said.
Despite being only a mile from the highway, Smith said the farm really does feel like your grandparents farm.
“You don’t have to travel two hours to get that West Virginia experience,” Heston said.
Smith said people love being able to get away without having to go far and visitors have told her they can’t believe they found something like Heston Farm in the area.
Before Smith and Heston turned the farm into a tourism attraction it primarily raised cattle, Heston said.
A single pavilion built for family use was the start of attracting visitors and eventually, the creation of the event hosting aspect of the business, Heston said.
The farm has been in Heston’s family since World War II and his family has a long history of making alcohol, he said.
His grandfather was busted for making whiskey before even his father was born and he learned to make wine and beer from his great uncles at “10, 11 or 12, somewhere in there,” he said.
“They were teaching me a trade,” Heston laughed.
Heston said he plans to continue making wine after the sale, moving off-site if needed while Smith said her newly started health care communication business will keep her busy.
The property is being listed by Black Diamond Realty and interested parties can contact Jeff Stenger at 304-413-4350 or [email protected].
This story, written by Will Dean, first appeared in the Dominion Post.