Several weeks ago the hubs and I snuck off for a two night stay at The Greenbrier. Ben had been before on a golf trip, but I had yet to visit America’s Resort. The Greenbrier had been on my bucket list for years and I am happy to report that the property totally lived up to my expectations.
If you’re unfamiliar with The Greenbrier, here’s a snippet from their web site (https://www.greenbrier.com/):
Located amid the breathtaking mountains of West Virginia, The Greenbrier is a National Historic Landmark and world-class resort that has been welcoming guests from around the world since 1778. The natural mineral springs that drew our first guests over 235 years ago continue to lure visitors to our 11,000 acre luxury retreat today. With a guest list that includes 28 of our country’s 45 Presidents, America’s Resort has long been a favorite destination of royalty, celebrities and business leaders. Today, The Greenbrier invites a new generation to come out and play. Enjoy relaxing pastimes, start treasured traditions, or set out on an amazing adventure together. You’ll find endless vacation possibilities at The Greenbrier.
I can’t imagine there’s ever a bad time to visit the Greenbrier, but seeing the hills in all of their fall glory was spectacular. The days were sunny and comfortable, nights chilly and clear.
Chapel and golf course
My main reason for wanting to visit was to see all of the Dorothy Draper goodness in real life. Dorothy Draper’s work fascinates me! Her pattern mixing, bold colors and black and white combinations are the stuff of my decorating dreams. Take a look for yourself…
Dorothy Draper (The Greenbrier)
I couldn’t get enough! The decor is such a feast for the senses. Here’s a bit of backstory on Ms. Draper:
Dorothy Draper (Wikipedia)
Dorothy Draper (November 22, 1889 – March 11, 1969) was an American interior decorator. Stylistically very anti-minimalist, she would use bright, exuberant colors and large prints that would encompass whole walls. She incorporated black and white tiles, rococo scrollwork, and baroque plasterwork, design elements now considered definitive of the Hollywood Regency style of interior decoration. The Wikipedia entry is fascinating….indulger yourself by clicking here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Draper
Even the pool at The Greenbrier is fabulous!
My husband was as enamored with the casino as I was with the decor. Not gonna lie, I was more than happy to hang out in this spot, too. We played a lot of roulette and spent even more time in the sports betting area. This is where I got to watch my Irish win AND the Braves clinch the National League title.
Casino
Besides the Dorothy Draper decorations, The Greenbrier is perhaps most famous for the once secret bunker on property. Unfortunately, no photos are allowed, but tours are offered throughout the day so the public can see firsthand this incredible piece of history. The tours must be booked in advance and they definitely fill up. The fact that the existence of the bunker was unknown to even the hotel employees for decades is mind blowing. If you visit The Greenbrier, book the tour. From the Greenbrier web site:
The declassified Bunker at The Greenbrier is a must-see experience that takes you behind the scenes and walks you through a fascinating period in the resort’s history. Carved deep into the mountainside beneath our West Virginia Wing is an emergency Cold War fallout shelter. Once a top secret U.S. government relocation facility for Congress, The Bunker is now open to anyone interested in reliving a legendary piece of The Greenbrier history. Bunker Tours provide a unique and in-depth look behind the hidden doors and let you explore an aspect of The Greenbrier that no other resort can claim.
So many other activities are offered at the resort that I wish we’d had more time! I hope to go back with the kids in tow and check out more of the recreational experiences. Ben and I did manage to squeeze in a lesson at the gun club. My arm was sore the next day!
Gun Club
Biking, bowling, Polaris rides, Jeep excursions, zip lines, falconry, golf, spa, ice skating, fishing, horseback riding…the list goes on and on. I can’t wait to go back!
As Ben and I were strolling the grounds killing time before our bunker tour, we stumbled upon a Model A club meeting. What a fun surprise! These old cars looked so cool all lined up in front of the grand hotel.
Model A Club
Ben and I enjoyed some delicious meals during our stay. My favorite of the entire trip was probably the fried green tomato sandwich I ate for lunch at Draper’s. Oh my stars…it was delicious. We also loved our steaks at Prime 44 (Jerry West’s steakhouse) and club sandwiches at Slammin’ Sammy’s (named for Sam Snead, located at the golf clubhouse). Another gem was pizza at The Forum. Again, I wish we’d had more time! I didn’t take a single photo of any of the restaurants because I was soaking up rare alone time with Ben.
The shopping in the hotel shops is nothing short of wonderful. The shoe store in the lobby is top notch. I couldn’t get over the inventory they had available! Oh, and a doggie boutique is also on the premises. Obviously I had to get Gipper and Knute Greenbrier collars. I treated myself to a Christmas ornament. Ornaments are my favorite souvenir.
Shopping at The Greenbrier
If I had one complaint about the hotel it’s this: the bathrooms in the rooms need to be updated in a major way. The resort is old and timeless, but the bathrooms could definitely handle some modern upgrades. However, this is not anything that would ever deter us from visiting again. The Greenbrier covers all of the bases and would be an excellent destination for a family trip, couples trip, guys trip or girls trip. There’s something for everyone!
Every single staff member we encountered during our stay was delightful, which always make a trip more enjoyable! Many of the employees have been there for years, if not decades.
I think that sums it up….I wish I’d done a better job taking pictures of things other than the decor, but I was so enthralled I couldn’t help myself.
Happy Tuesday!
