The Greenbrier
resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, will reopen on July 12 after being shut down for more than two weeks
because of flood damage.
The flooding
damaged the tennis facility, chapel, spa, golf courses, grounds and some
buildings. The resort canceled the Greenbrier Classic professional golf
tournament, originally set for July 7 to 10.
“We had some major damage in different parts of
the hotel, and it’s taken a lot of work to get the Greenbrier back to the
standard that our guests expect,” said Jim Justice, the
Greenbrier's owner and CEO. “But my dad once told me that if you can’t get it done in 24 hours
a day, then you’re gonna have to work nights. We’ve worked a lot of
nights, because we know just how important it is to have the Greenbrier up and
running and guests coming here to visit.”
With nearly 2,000 employees working during the
summer, the Greenbrier’s peak season, the resort is one of the largest
employers in the area.
“For this region and this state to get back on its
feet, the people need to be working,” said Justice. “A number of team members
at the Greenbrier lost everything, and they can’t rebuild if they don’t have a
place to work. That’s why we’ve worked so hard to get the Greenbrier’s doors
back open as quickly as possible.”
Since the floods hit two weeks
ago, the Greenbrier has housed and fed more than
700 displaced residents.