Owners Mickey Heston and Julie Smith said they are committed to working with whoever purchases the property to continue developing Heston Farm ad a regional 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, restaurant and hosting events, the property attracts around 16,000 people per 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 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 to 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 even before his father was born and 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 JStenger@BlackDiamondRealty.net
Click the following link to view the detailed marketing flyer for this property: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/59769682/heston-farms-marketing-flyer
Article by William Dean, The Dominion Post