The Greenbrier
In 1778, Mrs. Anderson adopted a local Native American tradition to relieve her chronic rheumatism by taking the waters of a sulphur spring in West Virginia. This single act launched over two centuries of visitors seeking health benefits from the mineral-rich water. The resort remained known as White Sulphur Springs for its first 125 years while serving summer travelers escaping coastal heat and disease. A prominent Baltimore family called the Calwells later acquired the property and developed it into a destination selling cottages to Southern elites. Notable guests during the early 19th century included Martin Van Buren and Henry Clay who visited the growing establishment. In 1858 builders constructed a massive hotel building on the site that came to be known as The Old White. During the Civil War Confederate and Union forces fought over the property nearly burning the resort to the ground. After the war Major Cornelius Boyle reopened the facility as a place for Southerners and Northerners alike to vacation together. The White Sulphur Manifesto published by Confederate General Robert E. Lee advocated merging the two societies at this location. Beginning in 1869 direct railroad service arrived at the resort gates transforming it into a center of regional post-war society.
The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway purchased the resort property in 1910 and began constructing additional amenities including a new bath wing that opened in 1911. Frederick Julius Sterner designed a colossal six-story 250-room hotel building that forms the central wing of today's structure. This new hotel officially opened on the 25th of September 1913 converting what had been a summer-only establishment into a year-round luxury destination. The name changed from White Sulphur Springs to the Greenbrier after the neighboring county which had incorporated in 1909. A full 18-hole golf course designed by Charles B. Macdonald opened at the Greenbrier in 1913 introducing the game to the property. That original course is now known as The Old White TPC while the historic Old White Hotel structure was demolished in 1922 for failing fire codes. In 1931 completion of the north wing nearly doubled the size of the hotel crossing the original 1913 wing like a T shape. Dorothy Draper oversaw every element of the design when she completely redecorated and restored the Greenbrier over two years following World War II. Her trademark style combined bold colors classical influences and modern touches throughout the entire property.
On the 17th of December 1941 the resort served as a relocation center for Axis diplomats who were interned as enemies of the United States. German detainees arrived first before being joined later by Japanese diplomats previously held at The Homestead in Hot Springs Virginia. The hotel functioned as a diplomatic detention center until the 8th of July 1942 when it briefly reopened for the summer season. The U.S. Army soon commandeered the facility for use as a hospital paying $3.3 million for property valued at $5.4 million. Control transferred to the military on the 1st of September 1942 when they converted the resort into Ashford General Hospital named after Bailey Ashford. This 2000-bed hospital opened on the 16th of October 1943 treating nearly 25,000 patients before closing on the 30th of June 1946. The property sold back to the C&O railroad for just under the $3.3 million paid during the war. Following the conflict the hotel reopened celebrating its return from April 15 to 18, 1948 with international social events. Notable attendees included the Duke of Windsor and his wife Wallis Simpson Bing Crosby and members of the Joseph Kennedy family.
In the late 1950s the U.S. government approached the Greenbrier for assistance creating a secret emergency relocation center to house Congress after nuclear holocaust. Project Greek Island was built underground between 1959 and 1962 alongside the West Virginia Wing above-ground addition to the hotel. Although kept stocked with supplies for 30 years the bunker never served as an emergency location even during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Ted Gup of The Washington Post reported the existence of the facility in a 1992 story breaking decades of secrecy. Immediately after publication the government decommissioned the bunker which has since been renovated into data storage by CSX IP for private sector use. Visitors can now tour the declassified facilities known as The Bunker as part of the resort's attractions. The classified nature of the project meant that no official acknowledgment existed until the reporter exposed it publicly. This hidden infrastructure represented one of the most elaborate Cold War contingency plans ever constructed within a commercial property.
On the 20th of March 2009 the resort filed for bankruptcy listing debt up to $500 million and assets at only $100 million. Years of heavy losses had led to declining traffic as patrons shifted to destinations reachable by automobile rather than train. The resort lost $35 million in 2008 and laid off 650 employees representing half its workforce in early 2009. On the 7th of May 2009 the Justice family purchased the resort for $20 million after settling with Marriott Corporation. Jim Justice owned extensive farm and mining operations across West Virginia Virginia North Carolina and South Carolina through his Justice Family Farms group. The hotel closed briefly following the 2016 West Virginia flood before reopening on the 12th of July 2016 offering rooms to flood victims. In 2024 the hotel narrowly avoided foreclosure auction when JP Morgan sold their loan to Beltway Capital which declared it in default. Tax liens have been placed on other Justice properties for non-payment while the family has faced court battles over unpaid debts suggesting bailing out the property remains difficult.
The original nine holes were designed by Alexander H. Findlay before Sam Snead became head golf professional at Greenbrier in 1944. The resort hosted the Ryder Cup in 1979 marking the first competition under the format of United States against Europe that continues today. It also held the Solheim Cup in 1994 making it the first location to host both men's and women's team competitions between the nations. The PGA Tour arrived in 2010 with the Greenbrier Classic obtaining a favorable date starting in 2012. On the 28th of March 2011 The Old White Course became a TPC course though the PGA Tour cancelled its TPC affiliation in 2020. All four golf courses suffered damage during the 2016 flood leading to a modified layout opening the 12th of July 2016. The resort hosted a LIV Golf event at the Old White Course in August 2023 after years of hosting various tournaments including the Senior PGA Tour from 1985 through 1987. Tom Watson and later Lee Trevino have held the title of pro emeritus following Sam Snead's retirement.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did the Greenbrier resort open as a year-round luxury destination?
The new hotel officially opened on the 25th of September 1913 converting what had been a summer-only establishment into a year-round luxury destination. Frederick Julius Sterner designed this six-story 250-room building that forms the central wing of today's structure.
What happened to the Greenbrier during World War II regarding its use as a hospital?
Control transferred to the military on the 1st of September 1942 when they converted the resort into Ashford General Hospital named after Bailey Ashford. This 2000-bed hospital opened on the 16th of October 1943 treating nearly 25,000 patients before closing on the 30th of June 1946.
Who discovered the secret underground bunker at the Greenbrier and when was it revealed?
Ted Gup of The Washington Post reported the existence of the facility in a 1992 story breaking decades of secrecy. Immediately after publication the government decommissioned the bunker which has since been renovated into data storage by CSX IP for private sector use.
When did the Justice family purchase the Greenbrier resort following bankruptcy proceedings?
On the 7th of May 2009 the Justice family purchased the resort for $20 million after settling with Marriott Corporation. Jim Justice owned extensive farm and mining operations across West Virginia Virginia North Carolina and South Carolina through his Justice Family Farms group.
Which golf tournaments have been hosted at the Greenbrier throughout its history?
The resort hosted the Ryder Cup in 1979 marking the first competition under the format of United States against Europe that continues today. It also held the Solheim Cup in 1994 making it the first location to host both men's and women's team competitions between the nations.