Luxury Resort Hides a Cold War Bunker for the Entire US Congress?
The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, circa 1930-1945. Postcard published by the A.W. Smith News Agency, produced by Tichnor Bros., Inc. Public domain.
Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, The Greenbrier resort harbors a secret as luxurious as its sprawling grounds — a vast nuclear bunker intended for the entire U.S. Congress. Hidden since the Cold War, this clandestine sanctuary tells a story of opulence intertwined with national security.
The Birth of a Bunker
In the late 1950s, beneath the lush expanses of The Greenbrier resort, a project of unprecedented secrecy began to take shape. Designed during the Cold War to house Congress in the event of a nuclear holocaust, the bunker, codenamed "Project Casper," was constructed with robust 720-foot underground facilities. Complete with 1,000 beds, a 400-seat cafeteria, and even a crematorium doubling as a trash incinerator, the bunker was a masterpiece of discreet engineering.
Dual Existence: Luxury Above, Shelter Below
While guests above enjoyed golf courses and garden parties, the bunker below was equipped to become a fortress. Features included a fully operational hospital, an operating room, and a stocked pharmacy. The Greenbrier continued its legacy as a haven for royalty and politicians to the unassuming eye, all while preparing to become a governmental stronghold in secrecy.
The Secret's Revelation and Transformation
Despite its readiness, the bunker remained unused even during the Cuban Missile Crisis and was only publicly acknowledged after a 1992 exposé by The Washington Post. Since being decommissioned, The Greenbrier's underground has found new life as a data storage facility, though tours of the once-secret bunker continue to echo its eerie legacy.
Even with the secret out, the aura of mystery continues to draw curiosity and awe.
