Twain Lumber To Reopen Teal Jones Sawmill In Virginia

Twain Lumber Co. will invest $7.4 million to purchase and reopen the former Teal Jones sawmill operation in Henry County, Virginia. With the property secured, Twain Lumber Co. will purchase new production machinery and upgrade equipment, enabling the sawmill to increase initial operational capacity from 80MMBF to 108MMBF annually at full capacity. This increased capacity will make it one of the largest southern yellow pine sawmills in Virginia. 

“Twain Lumber Co. is excited to begin operations in Henry County and become part of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s manufacturing and forestry community,” says Harrison Wicks, Twain Lumber, Mill Manager. “This facility has a long history in the region, and we are proud to help bring it back to life after more than a year of inactivity. Restarting the mill and restoring approximately 74 jobs represents an important step for the local economy, and we appreciate the support we have received from the Commonwealth, local leaders, and the broader Martinsville community. We look forward to making long-term investments in the facility, our employees, and the region.” Twain Lumber is headquartered in Antlers, Okla., specializing in the production of high-quality dimensional southern yellow pine lumber.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Spanberger approved a $150,000 performance-based facility grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, and the Tobacco Commission approved a $150,000 Tobacco Region Incentive for Agribusiness Development Grant, both of which support projects sourcing Virginia-grown agriculture and forestry products. The Governor also approved a $59,200 grant from the Virginia Jobs Investment Program to support workforce training.  

“This investment is a huge win for Henry County and our entire Commonwealth,” says Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger. “Since 2024, this facility has sat empty, representing an untapped opportunity to grow our forestry industry and create new opportunities for Virginians in the region. Today, I am proud to welcome Twain Lumber Company to Henry County and thank them for the significant commitment they’re making to our Commonwealth.”

Earlier this year, Governor Spanberger signed bipartisan legislation creating the Commonwealth’s first-ever Farm & Forest Prosperity Plan. The law directs the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry to develop and implement a comprehensive strategic roadmap focused on strengthening agriculture and forestry—the Commonwealth’s number one and number three private industries.

In April 2026, the Governor formally established the Virginia Wood Council through Executive Directive 2, tasked with rebuilding markets for forest products, growing a strong and resilient forestry industry, and addressing the challenges and opportunities facing Virginia’s forestry sector.