Hers is a story of continuous transformation: the only true way to survive. After more than 200 years of change, The Greenbrier Resort and Spa continues welcoming guests drawn by the luxury, relaxation, charm and beauty that defines her — while absorbing a rich history that made the hotel what it is today.
From a social hub for the wealthy elite to a hospital during wartime, followed by a magnificent rebirth ushered by a famous designer and a secret underground bunker during the Cold War, the 710-room hotel set on 11,000 acres is an iconic destination like no other — and serves as the dreamiest setting for our November style shoot.
An enduring history
Lured by the healing powers of the local hot springs, families and friends have escaped to The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, since the late 1700s to restore their health in the “magical” wells that run deep in the Allegheny Mountains. Initially referred to as “The Old White Hotel,” the resort was built in 1858 on a Shawnee Indian hunting ground rich with mineral waters believed to dissolve symptoms of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. With the completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railroad in 1873, the resort — which held a reputation as a social gathering place for the wealthy — began expanding to welcome a wider clientele.
Krisha Chachra served eight years on the Blacksburg Town Council and has written for NRV Magazine for a decade. She is a member of The Mama Movement and a proud mom to a curious toddler. Krisha is a community advocate and connector and runs an event production organization that hosts Up on the Roof. Krisha has reported and hosted shows for public radio and television and has freelanced for USA Weekend Magazine, the Honolulu Advertiser and the Alexandria Gazette among others. Her book about returning to Blacksburg, Homecoming Journals, may be found online or in local bookstores.
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