The Greenbrier

We have stayed at The Greenbrier numerous times over the past 10+ years and have always enjoyed our time at the resort. The building is nicely maintained and the ground are very pretty. Unfortunately, the product being delivered is not up to past standards. We reserved a Draper Suite, which is actually more of a large hotel room rather than a suite. It was spacious and nicely decorated. The bathroom was large and had a door dividing the two sinks. We noticed some wear and tear on the furniture and some of the soft pieces weren't very comfortable. We also noticed some gaps between some pieces of wallpaper, indicating sloppy application. Daily housekeeping is provided there there isn't a turn down service. There was a mini bar with ridiculous prices that didn't even chill very well. We visited with the intention of spending a couple of nice September days lounging by the pool. The weather was great and at this time of the year, the pools aren't over run with children. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we were told that the pool is only open in Friday and Saturday in September. This is inexcusable for a resort at this price point. In my view, it should be open every day that the weather allows, particularly in September, which is still summer. I could have stayed at a Hampton inn and found the pool open. More importantly, the pool at the Homestead, the direct competition to The Greenbrier, is open almost all year. Whoever made the decision to limit pool hours has no business working at a resort. There is an indoor pool (it's nice) but that's not the same. When we stay at resorts, using the outdoor pool is generally a primary activity. There really isn't much reason for us to return to The Greenbrier.

Iconic place...the grounds are PHENOMENAL. The history of the place is amazing. The bunker tour was very interesting. The excursions were fun - although not inexpensive (gun club was great, falconry felt like a middle school field trip). We read the reviews and knew the place needed upkeep.....(our motto was 'just don't look too close') . We loved dressing up and appreciated that MOST (not all) patrons followed the dress code. Getting portraits done in the lobby was cool in a cheesy way. Our room was huge and comfortable. Finally a hotel with enough hooks in the closets and baths! Walking around the grounds was the best... the new chapel which they leave open to check out, is beautiful, the walking paths are gorgeous. The golf club sports bar is nice (although they couldn't play WVU football on the TV? in WV? and had no bar stools, had to sit at a table) Many of the staff were incredibly friendly and nice.. including all the bellmen, concierge, room cleaning, most servers, tour guides, bus drivers, the sporting good store staff, and others.... but when they were not, it was bad! The bartender at the lobby bar in particular was truly disgruntled. She stuck hands in drinks..complained loudly about her employer...it was a total vibe-killer. The decor all needs a good scrub and the resort just felt a bit empty overall. The worst experience, by FAR, though, was the Main Dining room. SKIP IT. The waiter, bless his heart, had no fine dining experience. The restaurant was more than half empty but we sat by a pole and were told it would be slow as it 'was so busy.' The fish and corn risotto dish was objectively terrible. The steak was okay, as was the soup, but it was not at ALL worth the price for the experience or the cuisine. Be aware, EVERY transaction, even souvenirs, add a 9.75% "historic preservation fund" - adding hundreds to your bills. In the casino, many machines were broken. The cabaret was a night out. Overall, everything felt as tired as others report, but the place is iconic, it's cool to walk around and explore, and definitely worth seeing before it shuts down (which I hope doesn't happen!!! but it kind of felt imminent to be honest). Overall, I'd go again but with even more tempered expectations than this trip.

It's what you would expect from a grand old icon - huge, grand, old, and expensive. Our mid-range room was spacious and well kept, with an updated bathroom. The public rooms are grand. The main dining room was closed for dinner midweek, so we had dinner at the steakhouse, which was great. Good food and great service. The breakfast buffet in the main dining room was extensive, but not amazing. There are lots of adventures to explore, but don't miss the bunker tour. It's fascinating. Splurge if you can for the private tour, so it moves at your group's pace and gives you lots of interaction with the guide. Ours, at least, was excellent.

The setting of a Greenbrier is absolutely stunning. There is no question as to why the hotel was built there in the first place. The hotel itself is wonderful but dated. It is currently undergoing a change in ownership and unfortunately this is evident. We took a father and son golf trip and were surprised that there was availability at the Greenbrier for the golf package. Almost everywhere else was booked. I will say that the golf course was in good condition and that there were numerous staff members that have been serving at the Greenbrier for 20, 30 or even 40 years. However, the property does not live up to its five star status. It is too expensive for what you get. There are tons of hidden fees like the historic preservation fee, which is basically a 10% surcharge for the hotel because it is old. It does not appear that they’re spending the historic preservation fee on the facility, however. If you’re thinking about going, I would probably wait until the new ownership has had time to invest in the physical plant as well as the operations. It could be a wonderful hotel but right now but it is simply too expensive for what you get.

The resort had been on our bucket list for years. It was a fave of my parents back in the 80's, so we scheduled a weekend trip. It's truly magnificent, and yes, it is an older property, but that's part of the charm! The staff are professional, fun and quirky. They can help you with anything, and they are happy to. Prime 44 West was incredible. The filet I had....it was so tender. I have no words. Get the Caesar made at your table! There are endless dining options, and with multiple weddings/events and a fully booked resort, they make it all look seamless. The breakfast buffet was easy and excellent. The rooms are beautiful and the "Draper" style is super unique. We had one of the suites in the main hotel, and it was spacious and well appointed. There really is something to do for everyone, and we particularly enjoyed using the pool and walking the property. We highly recommend the Bunker Tour, our tour guide was Margaret. She's fantastic. A special shout out to the BEST Bellman we had the luck of finding, Jay G. He went well above and beyond to help us with an issue, and he's really kind. Because of him and so many other employees, we will be back again soon. Yes, it's expensive at points, but it's worth it. 100%. Schedule the trip! You won't regret it.