from today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Greenbrier, a luxurious West Virginia resort that opened in 1778, has been purchased by West Virginia businessman James C. Justice II.
Mr. Justice, 58, of the Justice Family Group, bought the resort in White Sulphur Springs by acquiring the stock of The Greenbrier's holding company, which is owned by railroad company CSX Corp.
Mr. Justice also bought 80 percent of The Greenbrier Sporting Club, a private residential development at the resort.
Two days after the May 6 purchase, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin signed a bill that set rules and tax rates for a possible casino at the 6,500-acre estate.
The legislation would regulate gambling at the historic resort as it does the state's racetrack casinos. It also sets aside a portion of revenue to help The Greenbrier recoup employee benefits costs, which are substantial.
Mr. Justice told the Greenbrier's 1,283 employees that the resort's long-term growth may lie in gaming.
The Greenbrier, which has hosted 26 U.S. presidents, world leaders, celebrities and royalty, sought protection from its creditors by filing for bankruptcy on March 19. On May 8, Justice's lawyers moved to dismiss the bankruptcy; a hearing on that request will be held later this month.
Despite the news of the sale, Marriott International Inc. says it expects CSX to honor its contract reached in March to buy the resort, which was contingent upon renegotiating labor contracts with employees.
In recent years "America's Resort" has been struggling to maintain its stature in a fiercely competitive luxury travel market. In 2000, the Mobil Travel Guide stripped The Greenbrier of its fifth star after 38 years, citing a lack of amenities such as telephones in the bathrooms. Although The Greenbrier pumped $50 million into renovations to update the resort in 2007, it has continued to lose money.
Lynn Swann, a spokeswoman for the Greenbrier, said the resort is offering four packages to attract guests.
The discover package, available through October, offers overnight accommodations, daily breakfast, a $100 resort credit per room per stay and includes all taxes, resort fees and gratuities. If you book by July 31, the rate per person per night is $214.
The Reasons Package, so named because everyone has various reasons for getting away, is available through October and must be booked by July 31 to assure a per person, per night rate that starts at $194. The package includes two nights, a $200 resort credit and a complimentary bottle of wine.
The summer midweek getaway runs from June 1 through Aug. 31 and is available only from Sunday through Thursday. That $858 package covers two people in a room for two nights and a $100 resort credit.
A golf package includes two nights, unlimited golf on all three championship courses, daily cart rental, daily breakfast, 25 percent off all spa services and all taxes and service charges. The rate ranges from $256 to $287 per person, per night and is available through October when booked by July 31.
Resort credits can be applied to activities, meals nd services, such as the spa, but cannot be used to reduce the cost of a room.
Mr. Justice is a third-generation businessman from Beckley, W.Va.
In 1977, he started Bluestone Farms. Now called Justice Family Farms, it is a major cash grain operation that produced more than 50,000 acres of corn, wheat and soybeans last year in West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. That operation includes commercial grain storage, a John Deere farm equipment dealership, timber interests, cotton warehouses, land companies, two commercial turf farms and a Christmas tree farm.
