Greenbrier Bunker

Useful Information

Location:	Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs. Sign for tours at the Activities Desk, North Entrance Lobby. Departure from the North Entrance Lobby.
Open:	02-APR to 03-NOV daily 9:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30. 03-NOV to DEC daily 13:30. Reservations are required. [2007]
Fee:	Adults USD 30, Children (10-18) USD 15, under 10 not permitted. [2007]
Classification:	Secret Bunker
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=90 min, V=33,000/a[2007].
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	The Greenbrier, 300 W. Main Street, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986, E-mail: Reservations Department, Tel: +1-800-624-6070, Bunker Office, Tel: +1-304-536-7810.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

12-DEC-1958	an article in a West Virginia newspaper stated: "Chesapeake and Ohio Railway announced plans today for the construction of an Exhibit Hall adjacent to the auditorium of the Greenbrier hotel. The cost of the project was not disclosed.".
1959	construction started.
1962	construction completed.
1992	Washington Post revealed the existence of the bunker.
1995	first tours of the bunker exclusively for Greenbrier guests.
1997	opened to the public.

Description

The Greenbrier is a luxurious Southern resort, located about 400 km south of Washington DC in the mountains of West Virginia. This nice spot has a secret, which was not known to the thousands of visitors of this place. During the Cold War the United States government maintained a top-secret underground bunker here. It was intended to house the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate in case of nuclear war.

During the Eisenhower-era, at the height of the Cold War, this facility was built with the code name Project Greek Island. The Greenbrier happened to be extending its guest facilities and was constructing the West Virginia wing for their diagnostic clinic. The bunker was built directly underneath this wing at the same time, which covered the secrecy. A problem was to explain the amount of concrete that was being poured. To do this, it was openly acknowledged that the Greenbrier was expanding their conference service facilities and an exhibit hall, which was designated as a fallout shelter. At this time it seemed normal to build a private nuclear bunker.

The 12 to 15 government employees responsible for the maintenance and operation of the bunker, worked down here under the cover of Forsythe Associates. They said to be a management/electronic consulting firm, responsible for providing audio/video support to the hotel. But they spent only about 20% of their time working for the hotel and about 80% in maintaining the bunker.