The Greenbrier Resort (Greenbrier County, West Virginia), originally founded in 1858 as White Sulphur Springs, received important political figures throughout its history, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi as well as US presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
After changing hands multiple times between the Confederation and the Union in the Civil War, the resort became a frequented social place. It was officially renamed The Greenbrier in 1913 after its purchase by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway in 1910. The successor of the company, CSX Corporation had to place the hotel into bankruptcy in 2009, after years of heavy losses. Eventually, it became the property of Jim Justice, who issued measures to save it, including the establishment of a casino in the basement of the hotel, which originally functioned as a bunker.
In the late 1950s, the bunker was built 15 metres (c. 50 feet) deep under the building for the Congress and government members to hide in the case of a nuclear war. Although it was never used, it was kept full of supplies and guarded by the US Navy. It is protected by a meter-thick door and was able to house 1,000 people; it featured bedrooms as well as cafeteria, hospital, laboratory, library, radio and TV studios and a Congress floor. It was supplied with electricity by its own generator and was designed to keep its inhabitants alive and comfortable for two months. After its existence came to light, it was renovated and opened for public as a museum.
Door of the bunker
In November 2008, voters of the state of West Virginia approved a resolution to organise casino-style gambling at the hotel. After May 2009, when the law detailing rules and regulations as well as tax rates was signed, it became possible to open the casino. The Casino Club at the Greenbrier opened its gates on 2nd July, 2010.
Interior of the bunker
I hope this short history lesson didn’t bore you much; I chose to write on the subject because I hope that one day the resort will host some major tournament. Who wouldn’t want to play poker in a Cold War bunker while residing in the room of presidents, after all?
