Five golf courses. 710 rooms. 11,000 acres in the Allegheny Mountains. A secret Cold War bunker beneath the West Virginia Wing. The Greenbrier is not a small place.
The Greenbrier has been welcoming guests to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia since 1778 — when visitors first came to “take the waters” of the natural sulphur springs. Two and a half centuries later it is one of the largest and most celebrated resort hotels in America: 710 rooms, 11,000 acres, five golf courses, 20 restaurants and lounges, a 40,000-square-foot spa, a casino, and a secret Cold War bunker beneath the West Virginia Wing that housed a classified congressional relocation facility for three decades before it was exposed in 1992. My parents came here in the springtime; for family holidays, they took us to The Homestead. Both have been part of our family’s story for as long as I can remember.
Is The Greenbrier Right for Your Trip?
America’s Resort — and what that actually means in practice.
Five Courses
The Old White TPC, The Greenbrier Course, The Meadows, the nine-hole Ashford Short Course, and the members-only Snead Course at the Greenbrier Sporting Club. The Greenbrier Course is the only resort course in the world to have hosted both the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup. Golf is the primary reason most people choose The Greenbrier over The Homestead.
Book at Greenbrier.comBold Dorothy Draper Design
The interiors were designed by Dorothy Draper in 1948 — bold floral wallpaper, vivid colors, a maximalist aesthetic that is either exactly your thing or not at all. The rooms are generous. The design is unmistakable. Nobody has ever called The Greenbrier understated.
Book at Greenbrier.comThe Bunker
For three decades, a secret congressional relocation facility sat beneath The Greenbrier — built to house the entire US Congress in the event of nuclear war. Exposed in 1992, now open for tours. One of the more extraordinary things you can do at an American resort hotel.
Book at Greenbrier.comBigger in Every Way
The Greenbrier has 710 rooms vs The Homestead’s 483. Five golf courses vs two. A casino The Homestead doesn’t have. More restaurants, more activities, more of everything. The Homestead is more intimate. The Greenbrier is grander. Both are worth knowing.
See the ComparisonThe Scale
The Greenbrier is not a small place. 11,000 acres in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. 710 guest rooms, including 33 suites, plus 96 guest and estate houses. Five golf courses. 20 restaurants and lounges. A casino. A full-service spa. A bowling alley, an arcade, a ropes course, horseback riding, fly fishing, falconry. The Greenbrier has been described as “America’s Resort” and the scale justifies the title.
The current main building dates to 1913 — though the property has been welcoming guests since 1778. The white columned facade, the manicured grounds, the sense of a place that has been doing this for a very long time and intends to keep doing it. The Greenbrier has hosted 27 US Presidents. It was used as a hospital during World War II. It housed a secret government bunker for thirty years. It has hosted the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup. It is genuinely one of the most storied resort properties in American history.
The Golf
Golf has been at the center of The Greenbrier experience since 1910 — and the courses available today make it one of the finest golf destinations in the country.
The Old White TPC
The historic course — designed by Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor and opened in 1914. Rebuilt after the 2016 flood, it hosted the PGA Tour’s Greenbrier Classic from 2010 to 2019 and later LIV Golf events. Tight, tree-lined, demanding. The most historic round you can play at The Greenbrier.
The Greenbrier Course
The championship course — originally designed by Seth Raynor in 1924 and redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in the late 1970s. The only resort course in the world to have hosted both the Ryder Cup (1979) and the Solheim Cup (1994). Mountain vistas throughout.
Golfer’s tip: The Greenbrier Course lost holes in the 2016 flood and currently plays as a 10-hole layout that can be looped as 9 or 18. If you want to play the Ryder Cup course specifically, ask about its current layout when you book your tee time.
The Meadows
Dramatically remodeled in 2017 — dynamic green complexes, mountain views, stacked sod bunkers. The most modern of the three main courses and the most visually striking.
The Bunker
Built between 1958 and 1961 and kept in constant readiness until 1992, a secret congressional relocation facility operated in a classified bunker beneath the West Virginia Wing of The Greenbrier — built to house the entire US Congress, their staff, and essential support personnel in the event of nuclear attack.
The bunker covered 112,000 square feet and included sleeping quarters for over 1,000 people, a decontamination chamber, a power plant, a broadcast studio, and everything needed to continue government operations after a nuclear strike. It was maintained in constant readiness for thirty years without the knowledge of most hotel guests or staff. The Washington Post exposed it in 1992, and the government shut the facility down within a few years. It is now open for public tours — one of the more extraordinary things available to do at an American resort hotel. Book the tour separately at greenbrier.com.
The Dorothy Draper Interiors
Interior designer Dorothy Draper redid The Greenbrier in 1948 — bold floral patterns, vivid greens and pinks, maximalist color that was controversial at the time and has become the defining visual identity of the resort. The rooms feature old-fashioned floral wallpaper and colorful carpets that are either exactly your aesthetic or emphatically not. Nobody arrives at The Greenbrier and calls it understated.
Planning a holiday trip? The Greenbrier’s holiday season is one of its biggest draws. See Christmas at The Homestead vs The Greenbrier.
Where to Book
Book The Greenbrier
The Greenbrier books directly through their own website — they are not listed on Hotels.com or other major booking platforms. Book at greenbrier.com for best rates and availability. Spring and early fall are the ideal seasons — mild weather, full resort operations, and the golf courses at their best.
The Greenbrier: Common Questions
Is The Greenbrier in Virginia or West Virginia?
West Virginia. It sits in White Sulphur Springs, just across the state line from Virginia, which is why it is so often paired with The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia.
How old is The Greenbrier?
Guests have been coming to the springs here since 1778. The current main hotel building opened in 1913.
How many golf courses does The Greenbrier have?
Five: the Old White TPC, The Greenbrier Course, The Meadows, the nine-hole Ashford Short Course, and the members-only Snead Course at the Greenbrier Sporting Club. Resort guests play the first four.
Can you tour the Greenbrier bunker?
Yes. The former congressional bunker is open for guided tours, which you book separately through greenbrier.com. Check the current tour schedule before you go.
How far is The Greenbrier from Washington, DC?
About 250 miles, roughly four hours by car via I-66, I-81 and I-64.
How many presidents have stayed at The Greenbrier?
Twenty-seven US presidents have stayed at the resort.
Is The Greenbrier or The Homestead better?
It depends on what you want. The Greenbrier is bigger, with more golf, a casino and the bunker. The Homestead is more intimate and more historic. Our Homestead vs Greenbrier comparison breaks it down.
Quick Reference: The Greenbrier
| Category | The Answer |
|---|---|
| Location | White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia — Allegheny Mountains |
| Founded | 1778 — mineral springs drew the first guests |
| Rooms | 710 rooms (incl. 33 suites) + 96 guest and estate houses |
| Acreage | 11,000 acres |
| Golf courses | 5 — including Old White TPC and The Greenbrier Course |
| Historic claim | The Greenbrier Course: only resort course to host both Ryder Cup (1979) and Solheim Cup (1994) |
| The bunker | Secret congressional facility, exposed in 1992, now open for tours |
| Interior design | Dorothy Draper 1948 — bold floral, vivid color, unmistakable |
| Casino | Yes — The Homestead does not have one |
| Best season | Spring and early fall — mild weather, golf at its best |
| From DC | ~250 miles, 4 hours via I-66, I-81 and I-64 |
| From The Homestead | ~45 minutes — The Homestead is in Hot Springs, VA |
| Book at | greenbrier.com directly — not on Hotels.com or VRBO |
My parents came to The Greenbrier in the spring and took us to The Homestead at Christmas. Both are right, for different people. The Greenbrier is grander, bigger, more of a golf destination, and has the bunker. The Homestead is more intimate and has the mineral baths Jefferson soaked in. The comparison post makes the case for both.