Bastian features clean air and mountain landscapes
Bastian is in the heart of Appalachia, among the mountain peaks and family farms of Bland County. “We cater to a rural, rustic lifestyle, where children run barefoot and it’s safe to be outside — where the air is clean and the landscape is beautiful,” says resident Cameron Burton, the Bland County Administrator. “Sometimes it takes a while to get places, but local shopping isn’t too far away.” For many people, Bastian is a convenience store stop during long trips on Interstate 77 or hikes on the Appalachian Trail. But those who stay a little longer can find a quiet community and plenty of space to call their own.
Rural homes with space for horses
The median single-family home sale price is $270,000, but smaller ranch-style homes might sell closer to $90,000, and larger properties with over 100 acres can reach $800,000. Most homes have at least an acre of land, and many are set back on private roads. “If someone doesn't want to live in a traditional neighborhood because they want some land, a garden, or a couple of horses, they can still find that here,” Burton says.
Some homes have public water and sewer, but anything with significant acreage will run on well water and private septic tanks. Burton says that by the end of 2025, all residents on the county’s power line will get fiber internet, a solution to the spotty service out here in the country. “If people want to work remotely, they will have blazing-fast internet and still be able to live in a rural setting,” Burton says.
Hiking, hunting and fishing in the Appalachian Mountains
Bastian is located within the Appalachian Mountain range, surrounded by national forest and crystal-clear creeks. “If you enjoy hiking, hunting, fishing and outdoor-adventure type of living, then this is a great place to live,” Burton says. Hunting Camp Creek is known for its trout fishing, and George Washington and Jefferson National Forests have deer and small game during hunting season. The Appalachian Trail runs 2 miles south of Bastian, drawing visitors into the small community for supply runs at the Bushy Mountain Outpost.
Bland County High seniors can get two free years of college
Kids can attend Bland County Elementary School, rated B-minus by Niche. Seventh through 12th graders attend Bland County High, rated B. All students who graduate from Bland County Schools receive two years of free tuition at Wytheville Community College, if they choose to go there. “That’s a big deal for a lot of people,” Burton says. “Students can earn their associate degree for free, and Wytheville has great vocational training.”
A few retail options along Interstate 77
North Scenic Highway is Bastian’s small commercial corridor right off Interstate 77. It features a truck stop, a gas station and Pit Stop Italian, one of the county’s few restaurants. The area also has a small medical center and the Wolf Creek Indian Village & Museum, a reconstructed Native American community that attracts visiting school groups.
“Bastian is kind of a central location for the county,” Burton says. “Thousands of cars go up and down the interstate every day, so it’s where we get our tax dollars.” Following I-77 about 5 miles south, residents can find a Grant’s IGA Supermarket and a Dollar General in the small village of Bland. The county’s priority is to preserve its rural backroads, so Burton notes that any development will typically be focused along the interstate.
Nearby city amenities and hometown employers
Bastian residents can head north into West Virginia to reach a larger city. Both Bluefield and Princeton are around 20 miles away, and thanks to I-77, the trip typically takes less than 30 minutes. Wytheville is a similar distance away to the south, along the interstate. All three cities have a hospital. It’s just over 90 miles to get to the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport.
Major regional employers include Bland County Correctional Facility, Hitachi Energy and Wilderness Mountain Water Company, which is known for supplying the water in cans of Liquid Death.
Written By
Catherine Lashley
