Homes for Rent in Speedwell-Cripple Creek, Rural Retreat

Named for the two unincorporated communities it comprises, Speedwell-Cripple Creek offers a rural lifestyle in the heart of Appalachia. Once home to stone furnaces that melted down iron ore mined in the valley, Cripple Creek loosely carves out the northern border of the community and is a source of natural beauty and outdoor recreation in the area. Local Realtor Joan Collins of Collins and Associates says Speedwell’s bucolic setting and rolling farmlands appeal to homebuyers looking for a slowed-down pace. “It’s a beautiful area with big, beautiful farms,” says Collins, who has been selling homes for 23 years. “There are more dairy farms in that area than anywhere else in southwestern Virginia.” While its location allows its agricultural roots to continue to thrive, Speedwell-Cripple Creek also provides easy access to outdoor recreation, with proximity to scenic waterways of the New River and Cripple Creek and the dense woodlands of the Jefferson National Forest. “It happens to have a lot of recreational opportunities because of its rural nature and location,” Collins adds. U.S. Highway 21 bisects the community, allowing residents to fulfill daily shopping needs in nearby Rural