Greenbrier Fact Sheet
Property: The Greenbrier is an award-winning resort located in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. A National Historic Landmark, The Greenbrier represents 230 years of history with its classic architecture, exquisite interior design, carefully sculpted landscape, impeccable service and outstanding amenities. This renowned property offers 721 rooms, including 33 suites and 97 guest and estate houses. The Greenbrier has 10 lobbies, over 40 meeting rooms and a complete conference center facility. Guests enjoy over 50 recreational activities including three championship golf courses, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a 40,000 square foot spa, and a wide variety of other amenities. The Greenbrier provides accommodations and activities to please individuals, couples, families and conference groups.
Location: The beautiful Allegheny Mountains in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia provide the setting for The Greenbrier’s 6,500 acre estate. Located just off Interstate 64, The Greenbrier is easily accessible from most major cities by air, auto or train.
History: In the late 1700s, the sulphur springs were discovered as a medicinal miracle and as word of their healing powers spread, more and more travelers came to the area. These visitors began building a cottage community in the early 1800s and in 1858, The Grand Central Hotel, commonly known as the Old White Hotel, was added to provide additional guest rooms and a dining room. In 1910, the C & O Railway purchased the property, including the cottages and hotel, for $150,000. That same year, construction began on the central portion of today’s Greenbrier. During World War II, the property was sold to the US Army and became known as Ashford General Hospital. After the war, C & O repurchased the property and hired the renowned interior designer Dorothy Draper to completely redecorate The Greenbrier. The resort boasts over two centuries of famous guests, including 26 presidents, royalty, business leaders, politicians and celebrities. The Greenbrier’s archives are maintained and displayed in the Presidents’ Cottage Museum.
Owner: CSX Corporation, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, operates the largest rail network in the eastern United States, and also provides intermodal, container-shipping and contract logistics services.
Awards: The Greenbrier has been awarded the AAA Five Diamond status since inception of the award and is one of only three properties to have earned this distinction for 32 consecutive years. The Andrew Harper Hideaway Report, the oldest readers’ poll of its kind, honored The Greenbrier as the #1 resort in the United States in 2001, 2003 and 2004. The Greenbrier is frequently named in readers polls such as Conde Nast Travelers’ Gold List and Travel + Leisure magazine’s World Best rankings. The Mobil Travel Guide awarded The Greenbrier Spa a Four Star rating in America’s Best Hotel and Resort Spas. The Andrew Harper Hideaway Report named The Greenbrier “Resort of the Century” in 1999.
Upper Lobby: Known at The Greenbrier’s living room, the stunning Upper Lobby is a series of lobbies and sitting rooms with the designing touch of Dorothy Draper. Decorated with antiques and historic paintings, bright colors and floral designs, the soaring ceilings and cozy fireplace make the Upper Lobby the ideal place to enjoy an afternoon tea and concert. Carleton Varney, president of the Dorothy Draper Company, oversees all interior design of The Greenbrier.
Dining: The Greenbrier cuisine is a delight like no other. From the formal Main Dining Room to the more casual Sam Snead’s at the Golf Club, dining is an event. Breakfast and dinner are served daily in the elegant Main Dining Room and are comprised of a delectable combination of classical, continental and American cuisine prepared by a team of chefs, many of whom were trained in The Greenbrier Culinary Apprenticeship Program. Draper’s, named for the famed designer Dorothy Draper, serves lunch and offers dessert and fountain soda specialties. At Sam Snead’s at the Golf Club, guests can enjoy lunch or dinner and a spectacular view of The Greenbrier’s three championship golf courses. The culinary delights at Sam Snead’s at the Golf Club are prepared in an open kitchen featuring a wood-burning oven. Also located at the Golf Club is Slammin’ Sammy’s, serving snacks with large screen televisions for sports viewing as well as billiards, foosball and other games. The Rhododendron Café, located adjacent to the indoor pool, and Tree Tops Cafe, at the Outdoor Pool, offer a wide range of snacks and beverages.
Conference Center: With many guests visiting as part of a conference, The Greenbrier is the ideal location for groups from 10 to 1200. Offering over 85,000 square feet of flexible, state-of-the-art meeting areas and more than 40 meeting rooms and event venues The Greenbrier’s dedicated conference services team is devoted to providing the best in conference management, amenities and service.
Guest Rooms: All Greenbrier guests enjoy lavish accommodations decorated by Carleton Varney, president of Dorothy Draper and Company, Inc., New York. The Greenbrier offers 721 guest bedrooms, including 33 suites and 97 guest and estate houses, all with full access to guest services.
Golf: Since 1910, golf has been an important part of life at The Greenbrier. With three championship courses and The Greenbrier Golf Academy, The Greenbrier is unmatched in its dedication to golfers. The first eighteen hole course, The Old White, was designed by Charles Blair MacDonald in 1913. The course was recently restored as part of a four-year project to return its original design by Lester George. The Greenbrier Course was built in 1924 and renovated in 1977 by Jack Nicklaus. In 1979 the Greenbrier Course hosted the International Ryder Cup Matches and in 1994, was the site of the Solheim Cup Matches. The Meadows Course, formerly known as the Lakeside Course, reopened in 1999 after a complete course redesign by Robert Cupp. Also in 1994, The Greenbrier named the legendary Sam Snead as the resort’s Golf Professional Emeritus, a position he held until his death in 2002. In 2005, Tom Watson became The Greenbrier’s second Golf Professional Emeritus. The Greenbrier’s golf facilities also include Sam Snead’s at the Golf Club and Slammin’ Sammy’s. The Golf Club prominently features Snead and Watson memorabilia.
Recreation: For guests who prefer other forms of recreation, The Greenbrier offers a variety of activities. The Greenbrier’s Culinary Arts Center offers hands on classes for children and adults. Guests may also enjoy The Greenbrier Off-Road Driving School, sporting clays, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, croquet, mountain biking, falconry, trap and skeet shooting, tennis, kayaking, whitewater rafting, bowling, hiking and jogging trails, horseback riding and carriage rides and fishing.
Spa: For more than two centuries, guests have been attracted to The Greenbrier's sulphur springs and the natural benefits of the minerals remain at the heart of The Greenbrier Spa experience. The Greenbrier Spa's treatments complement today's lifestyle, with greater attention to the healing powers of natural essences and minerals that have been trusted for centuries. Treatments include The Greenbrier Signature Treatment, Detox Kur, Ayurvedic Head Massage, Traditional Thai Massage, Body Scrub Odysseys and Mineral Body Mask. Other services include facials, hydrotherapy treatments, body fusions, manicures, pedicures and waxing services.
Shopping: No trip to The Greenbrier is complete without a bit of shopping. With over 30 stores, shopping at The Greenbrier is a delight all its own. Most of the shops are located in the hotel’s lower level, including The Greenbrier Shoppe and Newsstand, Carleton Varney Gift Gallery, Polo Ralph Lauren, The Greenbrier Gourmet Shop and many others. The Art Colony on Alabama Row features a collection of shops with unique handcrafted items and exceptional pieces of original art. Finally, The Christmas Shop at the Depot is located across from the main entrance and is open year round with gifts and decorations to make every Christmas special.
Contact:
Lynn Swann, Director of Public Relations
The Greenbrier
304-536-7857
800-624-6070
lynn_swann@greenbrier.com
