A second troubled icon of the Washington DC region is The Greenbrier, a major resort near Hot Sulphur Springs West Virginia that has existed under its current name since 1913, and was owned and operated since then by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad (now CSX). It's on the National Register of Historic Places, it's a designated National Historic Landmark, and it has on its premises a special bunker designed as an emergency go-down for the U.S. Congress during the cold war. Quite a place, as you can see.
But The Greenbrier has been in the news lately, not in a good way, having lost $133 million last year and having trouble filling its 700+ rooms. Owner CSX, like many companies these days looking to reduce costs by cutting adjunct businesses, decided to throw it into bankruptcy. Marriott Corp. was seemingly prepared to buy it when a West Virginia coal and real estate magnate, James C. Justice II, stepped in with a better offer. The good news for the resort (probably) and the people in the surrounding area (most definitely) is that Justice says he won't operate the place in "standard hotel mentality" - presumably meaning to keep its unique features.
While the locals are understandably excited about the prospect of in-state ownership and a better chance of keeping their jobs, it remains to be seen whether the resort can return to profitability. The current economy has only exacerbated trends that were already in play, most importantly declining bookings. Maintenance costs must be immense, and the facility, according to some, needs serious updating. Even if major renovation were to occur, it's unclear whether it would be enough; the place is a dinosaur, built to meet the expectations of a very different era.
His name is Jim Justice, not James Johnson. You obviously don't know much about The Greenbrier or this transaction.
Posted by: Kate Miller | May 20, 2009 at 04:14 PM
Thanks for the timely correction. Justice is done. No idea where I came up with "Johnson."
Posted by: Jhawk23 | May 20, 2009 at 04:42 PM