The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia, currently hosting the Iraqi national football team for training, conceals a 10,400-square-meter Cold War-era bunker designed to house the entire U.S. Congress in the event of a nuclear attack. According to The Washington Post, which first exposed the secret facility in 1992, the bunker remained operational and maintained for three decades while guests—and even long-term staff—remained unaware of its existence.
How did the U.S. government keep a bunker secret for 30 years?
The U.S. government maintained the secret by integrating a small portion of the facility into the hotel’s daily operations. While the majority of the structure remained classified, specific sections were leased for external conferences and exhibitions. According to bunker guide Margaret Bennet, who has worked at the resort for 39 years, employees were largely kept in the dark. The facility was officially commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 and completed in 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration, with its entrance hidden behind a simple yellow-patterned wallpaper.
Did you know? The bunker was built to accommodate 100 members of the Senate and 435 members of the House of Representatives, featuring 18 dormitories and two levels of living space.
Why does the location carry historical irony?
The juxtaposition of the Iraqi national team training at The Greenbrier highlights a complex historical irony. The bunker was constructed to protect U.S. leadership from nuclear threats during the Cold War. Decades later, the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 was predicated on the claim that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction—a justification that was later attributed to flawed intelligence. The resulting conflict fundamentally altered the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, leading to a long-term U.S. military presence that continues to evolve today.
What is the current status of U.S.-Iraq military relations?
The United States and Iraq are currently coordinating a gradual withdrawal of the approximately 2,500 American troops remaining in the country. According to official reports, the primary mission of these forces is to support Iraqi authorities in suppressing remnants of the Islamic State (IS). This transition marks a significant shift from the initial 2003 intervention, reflecting a move toward a more conventional security partnership between the two nations.
Pro Tip: Visiting Historical Sites
If you are interested in Cold War architecture, The Greenbrier offers guided tours of the bunker. Always book in advance, as these historical tours frequently sell out due to high public interest in the facility’s unique role in American political history.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the bunker at The Greenbrier still in use?
While no longer a secret government facility, the site is maintained and operates as a historical tour destination. - How large is The Greenbrier resort?
The resort spans over 710 guest rooms, 35 shops, and 20 restaurants, making it more than twice the size of the Royal Palace in Oslo. - Why was the bunker exposed?
Journalist Ted Gup exposed the facility in 1992 after receiving a tip and investigating the site while staying as a guest at the hotel.
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