ITMANN, W.Va. — A tourist attraction in West Virginia's southern mountains, the landmark Itmann Company Store — also known as the "Castle in the Coalfields" — has returned to the real estate market and is attracting more interest than ever.
Parties negotiating the purchase of the property earlier in the year could not reach an agreement, but potential buyers are coming forward, according to David Sibray, agent for Foxfire Realty, who says the brokerage is actively working with several interested parties.
"I'm fielding requests for information about the property daily now," he said.
The increase in tourism in the region, even over the last year, has made the building far more enticing as a potential tourist attraction and commercial investment.
"Tourism is enjoying unmatched growth here," he said, "especially where off-road tourism is concerned. More than 1,000 visit the castle on ATVs and side-by-sides every month in peak season."
The Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority reports that off-road tourism continues to grow at a record-breaking pace.
The masterpiece stone structure built by Italian immigrants in the 1920s was designed by architect Alex Mahood to serve the needs of what was then an isolated mining community.
Coal magnate Isaac T. Mann employed Mahood to design a structure that would serve as a model for mining communities, functioning as both a store and offices.
"What they created was the ultimate coal company-store complex," Sibray said.
The complex, with more than 23,000 square feet, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is listed for sale at $250,000. Its historic status includes grants and tax credits conferred by its inclusion on the register and its location in a high tourism region.
For more information, visit the Foxfire Realty website at The Historic Itmann Company Store.
