Fall Weekend at The Greenbrier Resort
West Virginia is beautiful in the fall as the leaves begin to the turn and the weather is still mild. My husband and I got to enjoy just that as we headed to The Greenbrier for a manager’s retreat for his company. This experience happened to fall right between our two birthdays and we were only responsible for our transportation to the resort, so it was a win-win situation.
My husband had been there once before but this was my first experience to both The Greenbrier and West Virginia. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised.
What is The Greenbrier Resort?
The Greenbrier is an 11,000 acre resort situated in White Sulphur Springs, WV. The accommodations range from hotel rooms to cottages throughout the property as well as activities ranging from clay shooting and fly fishing to one of the world’s best spas. The Greenbrier earned the nickname, “America’s Resort” as it has hosted the likes of American presidents, Princess Grace and the Duke & Duchess of Windsor.
The well appointed décor is compliments of the one and only, Dorothy Draper and her protégé Carlton Varney. You can’t miss the distinct patterns and colors that fill The Greenbrier commons areas and guest rooms throughout the property that leave you with an experience you won’t forget. Classic American charm with heavy dose of elegance. This is the type of place where you feel right at home dressed to the nines.
The Cottages
During this weekend, our home for the next few days would be Legacy Cottage E in South Carolina Row.
The first thing we saw was the massive front porch complete with rocking chairs worthy of iced tea and a good book on a warm summer day. Such a warm welcome.
Once we found and walked into the front door (there are lots of look alike doors across the front of the cottage) we walked into a wide family style area with couches fireplace and dining table. The area is perfect for socializing or serving as a meeting place with the other couples staying in the cottage.
Each room was a nice size with a king sized bed, sitting area, dresser with Keurig machine (and K-cups), closet and full bathroom. Each room had it’s own Dorothy Draper inspired design.
We chose a room at the back of the cottage which also has access to the back patio.
Activities
The Greenbrier encompasses the true meaning of resort with activities to suit any taste. Once thing I realized is that you can be as active or relaxed as your want. There is no expectation other than, enjoy your time at your pace. It is also great for groups where there are different interests. From outdoor sports to eating decadent meals, it is all presented at the highest quality.
Afternoon Tea
Since we arrived early afternoon, once we settled in, we headed over to the main lobby for afternoon tea. The tea included hot and cold unsweetened tea with full sweetening station (sugar, honey, milk and lemon) as well as miniature cookies and cakes that hit the perfect spot for a hold over before dinner. They were delicious.
The entertainment was a perfect compliment to the tea and cookies. The first afternoon was classical and jazz piano. The highlight was the second afternoon. As the singers graced us with classic Disney movie songs and show tunes, we watched a little girl, around 2 years old, who was mesmerized by the princesses singing Beauty and the Beast. Just to watch her filled my heart with joy.
Around the Hotel
I knew the Greenbrier would be a great place to relax however I wasn’t sure what to expect when it came to things to do around the hotel. I was pleasantly surprised as we explored all that was there to do.
Pool and Fitness Center
The pool area is absolutely beautiful and a bit unexpected. Taking a brief walk from the pizza shop, we turned a corner and quickly realize that we were actually in the indoor pool area. There were large comfortable chairs in the main area for those not swimming and tons of loungers for those using the pool. Directly next to the pool is the 24 hour fitness area, which has a direct, open view of the pool. Definitely not like your normal hotel where the pool and fitness center are tucked away on some obscure floor.
Bowling Alley
Steps away from the pool area, is the bowling alley and arcade. We spent a bit of time with our group here for a friendly competition. There are only 6 lanes however it wasn’t super busy during anytime we were there (except when the 49ers rented it out for a private event when they arrived). Inside the bowling alley, there is a bar, a few video game machines and the typical prize drop type arcade machines. It’s great if you wan to keep the kids entertained or show off your skills on the lane. Turkey anyone?
Mineral Spa
Next door to the bowling alley is where I visited the Mineral Spa. Voted one of the best spas, in the world, I can attest that it is for just cause. From the time I walked in the the spa shop, I began to unwind. After checking in, I slipped into my plush robe and slippers and headed over to the relaxation area to wait for my massage therapist.
The first thing I noticed was the huge chandelier in the middle of the room and the relaxing music. Before sinking into one of the large plush chairs, I checked out the snack area where I had my choice of a selection of snacks and drinks including infused water, tea and fruit juice.
I decided to indulge in the hot stone massage for the first time and it was oh so glorious. After the session was over, I was given the opportunity to spend some time in either the steam room or the sauna, but I opted to go back to relaxation area and just sit for a little longer. My only regret is that I didn’t bring a book!
The Shops ofThe Greenbrier
Shopping was not even on my radar when I thought of the activities at The Greenbrier resort. After tea time, a couple of the ladies and I went to peruse the shops and I as pleasantly surprised. We spent most of our time in Bellisma, where I fell in love with a coat dress (that is only a dream) and Yarid’s, where the shoe lover in me was awakened. These are the types of shops where you can get whatever you want, but you will definitely pay the price.
Ice Cream and Casinos
We had a cocktail hour with heavy hors d’oeuvres (sushi, lamb lollipops, mini potpies, etc) early in the evening, so we decided to top of the night with a milkshake from Draper’s. We had the option to choose from the menu or make our own from a selection of handmade ice creams. I chose butter pecan while my husband had the peanut butter banana. I must say it was one of the best milkshakes I have ever consumed.
While enjoying this delectable treat, we continued exploring into the casino which is next to Draper’s. The casino is just as elegant as the rest of the hotel, with double staircases and a giant clam shell to welcome you. The only thing typical about this casino were the tables. The décor was filled with art, photographs of previous celebrity guests and a huge dance floor. Even if you aren’t a gambler, it is worth a gander.
Excursions
Being in West Virginia, the Greenbrier offers lots of activities from fly fishing and clay shooting to a round of golf on a Sam Snead course. While quite a few people in our group decided to take Polaris RZRs through the trails (and mud), we played it safe and chose to go off-roading in a Jeep 4×4.
What a great decision! When our guide first took us into the woods, we thought this isn’t too bad. When he told my husband to drop the Jeep into first gear and let it roll down the hill, we thought, ummm okay this is a bit crazy. By the end when it looked like we would drive directly into a tree, the side of a dirt wall and ended up bumping down a creek bed, we thought, we have never done anything like this before.
The views were beautiful and our guide definitely knew what he was doing. I would do it again any day.
Around the Hotel
Every inch of the Greenbrier is dripping in Dorothy Draper inspired décor. When you first walk into the hotel, it may catch you off-guard because it there are colors and patterns, lots and lots of colors and patterns. Don’t let it overwhelm you, but really appreciate it for all that it really is.
As we walked through the Trellis Lobby into the Cameo Ballroom, I felt the air of elegance, as I could picture ladies in full ball gowns and gentlemen in their tuxedos as normal weekend wear. Even in 2022, I felt like it would be nearly impossible for me to be overdressed and I took full advantage of that as we had dinner later that evening. I mean, how many opportunities do we really have to get fancy and feel like we aren’t standing out like a sore thumb?
One of the most beautiful areas in the hotel is the Windsor Club. Named after the Duke and Duchess of Windsor who spent quite a bit of quality time at The Greenbrier, the entire area is absolutely exquisite. Even the ladies room is amazing with an expansive sitting room.
The accommodations in the Windsor Club includes the Presidential Suite with 7 bedrooms, formal dining room, grand staircase and can entertain up to 200. It is rumored that the Duchess of Windsor had a sage installed in the floor for her jewels. Today, the Windsor Club used for wedding, large groups and dignitaries from all over the world.
Outside of the Hotel
The exterior of the hotel is just as well appointed as the interior. The grounds are immaculate in the fall with beautiful mums everywhere. As we took the interior tour, the guide told us that they have a different covering for each season.
As we took a stroll we also visited the Springhouse, where visitors used to go to draw the healing waters from the sulfur springs. You can still see the springs in the middle of the spring house with a sulfur haze. I don’t believe visitors still draw the waters, however it is a very relaxing place to just spend a few hours in the afternoon.
Chapel
Not too far from the Springhouse is The Greenbrier Chapel. During our stay, there was a wedding set up in the chapel. The decorations were simplistic yet beautiful. It seems like the ideal place for a fall wedding with the changing lives, weather that wasn’t too warm and your choice of ballrooms and areas for a reception of any size. If I had to do it again, I would definitely consider The Greenbrier.
Performance Sports Center
While on the way to the Jeep off-roading adventure, we passed The Greenbrier Sports Performance Center, a training facility to national and college teams through out the country. This is a perfect location with turf fields, natural gas fields and state-of-the-art equipment with a scenic view of the mountains of West Virginia.
Throughout the weekend, we saw lots of preparation for the next team which would call The Greenbrier home for the week, the San Francisco 49ers. The team had 2 east coast games back to back, so instead of flying back to California, they were able to hold all of their practices at the Performance Center.
The Bunker
Outside of all of the amazing decor, food and activities at The Greenbrier, one of the main attractions is the declassified government bunker. During the cold war, the US government secured spaces throughout the country for our governmental leaders to take cover in case of a nuclear attack.
The Greenbrier was chosen as one of those locations due to it’s proximity to Washington, DC and that it is on the train line. The US government was able to contract the resort to build an underground bunker in plain sight which was also very important to keep it secret.
Now that the site is declassified, the hotel allows public tours of the bunker with the full story of why it was built, how it was built and the path to declassification. There are no cell phones or cameras allowed on the tour as this area is now used for secure servers. I definitely recommend taking the tour.
All in all, it was a weekend I will not forget. I truly learned how to just relax and breathe. I can see why it is called America’s resort. When you couple the history of the Greenbrier with the extravagance of the décor, it provides a unique experience that you can really only appreciate once you have spent time at The Greenbrier.
The blessing in this all is that we were able to take advantage of this experience as a reward for hard work. When it comes to living life after debt, it has allowed us to see that there is more out there that we have not experienced. It allowed us to refocus on what is important to us as a couple, what we truly enjoy and to prioritize how we choose to budget our money to include a break to breathe every now and then.
That is the beauty of being on the other side of debt. Exposure allows you to see what you have been missing and being financially free gives you the wherewithal to finance those experiences. We still have a ways to go but this weekend gave us a goal and motivation to keep moving forward.
