The Greenbrier Resort- a Historical Perspective

By Victoria Boster –

Can you keep a secret? The people at the famous Greenbrier Resort did— for over 30 years!!

Since 1778 people have been traveling to White Sulphur Springs in West Virginia to take advantage of the “healing waters” there. Starting out as a collection of row houses- the resort grew steadily until by the eve of the Civil War, the property had earned a reputation as the most fashionable resort in the Southern States.

During the Civil War- the resort was closed. As a result of the conflict- both sides of the war actually took turns occupying the grounds. The North first used the property as a military hospital. Then the South used the property as a military command headquarters.

The resorts prominence was enhanced after the war with the arrival of the C&O railroad. For the next 100 years, the White Sulphur Springs resort would be one of the most famous classic railroad resorts in the country.

In 1910 the Chesapeake and Ohio railway purchased the historic resort and embarked on a major expansion. The property was renamed the Greenbrier Resort and in 1914 President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson spent their Easter holiday there. That same year Joseph and Rose Kennedy traveled to the Greenbrier for their October honeymoon.

During World War II the Greenbrier resort was utilized by the US government.

After the US entered the war, Japanese and Italian diplomats and their families were housed there until they could be exchanged for American diplomats who were stranded overseas.

In 1942 the US Army utilized the resort as a 2000 bed hospital. The resort was renamed the Ashford General Hospital and over a 4 year period over 24000 soldiers were admitted and treated at the facility.

In 1946- the railway bought the property back from the government and once again made major enhancements. A comprehensive redecoration was made on the interior by noted interior decorator Dorothy Draper. The decor of the resort today remains true to that of the 1946 enhancements.

The Greenbrier was officially reopened in 1948. That same year, Sam Snead used his influence to design a golf course on the property thereby establishing the resort as one of the foremost golf resorts in all the world.

In the late 1950’s- the US government ask the folks at the Greenbrier for a favor. This favor became one of the most famous top- secret stories to ever be kept by a large group of civilian persons—

Buried deep beneath the newly built West Virginia wing of the resort – the US government built a 112,544 square foot bunker (bomb shelter.) Built between 1959 and 1962, the top secret, classified underground facility was to be used to house the US Congress in the event of war.

The bunker had a 25 ton blast door, decontamination chambers, 18 dormitories, a power plant, water storage facility, a communications center, a hospital, cafeteria and House and Senate meeting rooms. For 30 years the bunker was maintained in a constant state of readiness in case emergency protection was needed for the senate.

Above ground- life went as normal as the resort continued to grow and develop into one of the most famous luxury resorts in the world. Part of the bunker was used as a conference center by the hotel- people came and went everyday – no one realizing that they were standing in a unique part of a nation’s wartime protection plan. Only a handful of people knew the secret and for over 30 years no one was the wiser.

On May 31, 1992 the Washington post broke the story to the world. The day after the story was published the government began phasing out the facility. Today the bunker remains almost exactly as it was when it was built over 30 years ago- a testament to the consequences and fears of a Nations government during wartime.

A recent girl-trip to the Greenbrier gave me the opportunity to visit this great resort, walk around the beautiful hotel and grounds, and take the historical bunker tour. Today people come to the Greenbrier not only to enjoy the resort, world famous spa, and nationally known golf course— but to take a tour of the now famous bunker. A tour of the bunker will introduce you to the underground world where our Congress and Senate once planned to escape a war. You will learn the history, hear the stories, see the city beneath the ground- from a historical standpoint – it was a fascinating experience.

How many people do you know that can keep a secret for 30 years?

The Greenbrier
300 W. Main Street,
White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986
www.thegreenbrier.com

Victoria Boster- An empty nester who now spends many hours crafting knitted artisan “nests”, Vicki is passionate about her hobbies, her travels and her busy life. Vicki states that she loves to travel and that she and her husband are always either just getting back or just getting ready to go someplace. Between travels Vicki works full time as a Neonatal Nurse in Huntington, West Virginia. Her career spans over 35 years of Neonatal Nursing.

You can visit Vicki at her blog www.vicki-2Bagsfull.blogspot.com where she shares her crafts, travels, and all the happenings in her Sacred Yarn Room! “My suitcases are always in a state of readiness, one for my clothes, and one for my knitting – 2 Bags Full.”