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House Beautiful once listed the most famous hotel in every state, and for West Virginia, it’s The Greenbrier. But not only is The Greenbrier Resort the most famous hotel in the state; it’s also one of the most historic places you’ll ever sleep!
The Greenbrier is a National Historic Landmark perched among the Allegheny Mountains in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
There has been a resort of some sort here since 1778, when people were drawn from around the world by the natural sulphur mineral springs located on the property. Long before that, Native Americans enjoyed the healing properties of these waters.
The first hotel built here was constructed in 1858 and known as the Grand Central Hotel, a change from the resort's previous moniker of "White Sulphur Springs." It was affectionately nicknamed "The White" or "The Old White."
Eventually, a railroad was built right to the resort, and the property was acquired by the C&O railroad. The current six-story Greenbrier Resort building was constructed in 1913 by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, at which time the name was changed to Greenbrier.
During WWII, the Greenbrier was used as a relocation center for German and Japanese diplomats who were being detained in the United States. It was also used by the U.S. Army in WWII as a hospital (the Ashford General Hospital).
The resort is currently owned by a company of West Virginia governor Jim Justice.
Over the course of its history, this 11,000-acre resort has hosted 28 American presidents as well as royalty (a Duke of Windsor, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, and others), celebrities (Bing Crosby, Lou Gehrig, and more), and other famous notables in its 710 rooms.
Plus, there's fun to be had at the resort's championship golf course. There are delicious meals to eat in their restaurants. There are boutique shops to browse, a mineral spa to relax in, and dozens and dozens of activities to try.
Have you visited the Greenbrier before? To learn more or book a stay, visit the resort’s website here or Facebook page here. For more Greenbrier history, head over to this article to learn about the top-secret bunker underneath the Greenbrier Resort.
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