How do you build a secret, hidden facility large enough to hold the entire United States Congress and their chief aids in the event of a nuclear war? In the Eisenhower administration, the United States Congress did it by constructing a hidden bunker underneath a five star resort considered the play ground of the rich. The
bunker was built as part of a renovation of the Greenbrier.
The Greenbrier is a 6,500 acre, award-winning resort located in the Allegheny Mountains in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The hotel is designated as a National Historic Landmark, only partially because of the now abandoned cold war Congressional bunker.
Greenbrier history. The sulfur springs on the Greenbrier campus were discovered in the late 1700s. The springs quickly became a popular travel destination for their healing powers. The Greenbrier began as a cottage community built in the early 1800s. The Old White Hotel was added in 1858. The C & O Railway purchased the Greenbrier for $150,000, expanded the hotel facilities and added a rail stop at the entrance of the hotel. The US Army purchased the property and used it as the Ashford General Hospital. After the war, C & O repurchased the property and began an extensive renovation spear headed by interior designer Dorothy Draper during the Eisenhower Administration.
Building a Government Relocation Facility. The renovation both expanded the Greenbrier facilities and acted as a front to build the facility large enough to house the government should it need to flee Washington, DC. The West Virginia wing was cleverly designed to be both functional resort space and a hidden government facility. The Government Relocation Facility was a top secret of the Cold War and was code named Greek Island. Building of the government relocation facility began in 1958 and was completed in 1961.
The renovation included a 16,544 square foot exhibit hall used for countless conventions at the Greenbrier. Unbeknownst to most Greenbrier visitors, the entire exhibit hall sat behind a hidden blast door and was designed to be the work space for members of Congress and their support staff to conduct the business of government. The 133 seat auditorium in the convention wing known as the Mountaineer Room was designed to be the emergency meeting room for the US Senate. The 440 seat auditorium in the convention space known as the Governor's Hall was built to be the meeting room for the House of Representatives.
Maintaining a Cold War Top Secret. Greek Island was maintained as an emergency facility by a small cadre of government employees working under the name of Forsythe Associates from 1961 until May 31, 1992 when the Washington Post published a story exposing the secret facility. The government began to phase out the facility the day after the story broke. In July 1995, the United States government terminated the lease of the bunker space.
About the Secret Bunker. The abandoned bunker is buried 720 feet into the hillside under the West Virginia Wing of the Greenbrier Hotel. They ceiling and walls of the facility are made from three to five feet thick reinforced concrete. The bunker is built below 20 to 60 feet of dirt covering between the substructure and the West Virginia Wing.
The bunker below the Greenbrier consisted of 112,544 square feet of space on two levels divided into a total of 153 rooms. The space was designed to protect 1,100 people for up to 40 days. The Greek Island kitchen had a 60-day stockpile of provisions. The bunker was built with four entrances. Each entrance is protected by a large steel and concrete door designed to withstand a modest nuclear blast approximately 15 to30 miles away. The bunker is also designed to prevent radioactive fallout from entering the facility when it is sealed off. Two of the entrances are vehicular tunnels into the facility. One entrance is through the Exhibit Hall Foyer of the Greenbrier hotel. The final entrance is a vertical point of entry deep within the self contained power plant built to support the bunker in the event of an emergency.
Touring the Greenbrier. The Greek Island bunker space can be toured by appointment during the summer season. Tours take about 90 minutes. No cameras, cell phones or electronic equipment are currently allowed in the space. For reservations, call the Reservations Department 800-624-6070 or the Bunker Office 304-536-7810, or email the_greenbrier@greenbrier.com.
Other Greenbrier Exhibits. Many famous guests have stayed at the Greenbrier over the years, including 26 United States presidents, royalty from around the world, important business leaders and movie stars. During the summer months, the Greenbrier keeps memorabilia from important visits displayed in the Presidents’ Cottage Museum, a historic two-story building.
Where to stay: The Greenbrier is a world class resort with multiple places and styles to eat on the premises. The food is often outstanding. Guests still dress up for dinner in the main dining hall. In the warm weather months, the cottages are wonderful lodging.
If you would like to visit the historic Greek Island relocation facility but do not have a Greenbrier stay in your budget, then consider camping in the nearby 5,100 acre
Greenbrier State Forest. The camp grounds are on the same fabulous topography as its resort neighbor at a fraction of the cost. The camp ground has a pool, although the public pool is not as spectacular as the pool at the Greenbrier. Book ahead if you want to rent a cabin in the Greenbrier State Forest.
The Greenbrier Valley is about a four hour and twenty minute drive from downtown Washington, DC. The Greenbrier and the retired government relocation facility are located at 300 W Main St, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986, just off Interstate 64.