RONCEVERTE W.Va. (WVDN) – The long legal dispute between the City of Ronceverte and the American Heritage Music Hall, Inc. (AHMH) over ownership of the Island Park Roller Rink building has ended. The Circuit Court of Greenbrier County ruled completely in favor of the City.
Based on court documents obtained by The West Virginia Daily News, the Circuit Court granted the City’s motion for summary judgment in an order filed on November 26, 2025. This judgment affirms that the City of Ronceverte is the legal owner of both the land and the building.
The ruling rejects all claims made by the American Heritage Music Hall. This includes their argument that they owned the property under certain legal doctrines and their request for compensation for money spent on the property.
The court based its decision on established West Virginia property law, which holds that a building that is permanently fixed to real estate becomes part of the land and belongs to the landowner.
The order established that the City of Ronceverte has owned the land where the building sits since 1967. Crucial to the ruling, the court found no evidence of any legal conveyance by the City granting AHMH, or any other party, an ownership interest in the structure.
The court found that two separate “Charitable Gift Agreements” (from 2006 and 2023) purporting to transfer the building to AHMH were legally invalid because the parties attempting the transfer had no legal right to the property to donate in the first place.
AHMH’s claim of equitable estoppel, the legal doctrine arguing that the City allowed AHMH to act as if it owned the property, was rejected. The court reaffirmed that, with rare exceptions, property rights cannot be obtained against a governmental entity operating in its official capacity. The court also found no clear evidence of wrongdoing or misrepresentation by the City.
Ronceverte Mayor Deena Pack issued the following statement: “I am pleased with the Court’s decision in this matter. The City is looking forward to working with our local residents to determine how to best utilize the building for our community for the future, keeping in mind that the arts and entertainment is a vital part of our city.”
The court’s decision officially quiets the title and reaffirms the City’s ownership of both the land and the building at Island Park Roller Rink, bringing the longstanding legal conflict to a definitive close.
