The Greenbrier

Our family has been coming to The Greenbriar for the last 40 years. My in-laws took cooking classes here with Julia Child and have raved about the quality of service and standards of The Greenbriar. Our last visit will be our last unless major changes occur. Our daughter found a pair of dirty women’s underwear in the floor of our room upon arrival. The only compensation was removal of the historic fees for one day. The bed was the worst mattress I’ve ever slept on and is in dire need of replacement. As well as a complete room refresh/paint and tile. Main dining was disappointing and seemed to have a very cafeteria quality of food. Despite the extremely high price tag and small portions labeled as “fine dining”. Tea time was the high light of the day. Thankfully the pool was open. The spa however was scaled back and very few products or items were even available. The hotel seems to be running as a skeleton of what it used to be. But on the same price tag. Skip it until it’s updated.

Beautiful facility, lots of fun activities and the staff is super helpful. Rooms are clean and the food quality is very good (it should be for what they charge -- at Draper’s Café we had a cheeseburger, a chicken pot pie and one Miller Lite bottle and the total was $75)

Since 1778, visitors from Ulysses S. Grant to Robert E. Lee to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to Dwight D. Eisenhower have traveled to the Greenbrier in the Allegheny Mountains near White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, to "take the waters" at one of the world's most luxurious resorts. Situated on 11,000 acres of land with 710 guest rooms, 20 restaurants and lounges, a casino, more than 35 retail shops and more than 55 indoor and outdoor activities and sports to choose from, the Greenbrier has become a go-to destination for families for generations. The list includes golf, tennis, swimming, bowling, ice skating, fishing, biking, horseback riding and carriage rides. A spring of sulphur water is at the center of the property, surrounded by the white-columned spring house, topped by a green dome that has been the symbol of the Greenbrier for decades. In 1858, the Grand Central Hotel or "The White" or "The Old White" was built. The current Greenbrier was built in 1913 was built by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway until West Virginia coal baron Jim Justice purchased the property in 2009. The state's future governor and U.S. Senator promised to restore the hotel to its former status as a five-star resort. And he kept his promise, building a casino, becoming a stop on the PGA golf tour and luring World Tennis players for an event. This is my fifth visit to the Greenbrier, the first of five days. I booked much in advance so I would be assured of staying in my favorite room, 6188 on the sixth floor. This gorgeous Dorothy Draper-designed suite features a king-sized bed, two bathrooms with tub-showers, two TVs, two sets of drawers, a mini-bar, two closets, a sofa, a work desk and chair and an iron/ironing board. Dry cleaning and laundry, a necessity for a traveler at his fifth stop of a five-stop vacation, is swift and efficient -- and not as expensive as you might think. In 1974, the Greenbrier was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Mediocre accommodations high prices Food is mediocre Prices for activities are unreasonable Beautiful property Service is also great Overall not worth it considering it’s in the middle of nowhere.

A lovely historic resort with a gorgeous natural setting, which values its history. It has a remarkable history from 1778 into the 1990s with secrets, now revealed. The food is excellent and the service is unparalleled by many folks in the small town whose families have worked there for generations. Upkeep is a challenge and there is some evidence of that, but it is worth the cost.