Have you heard of the Greenbrier Resort? It a gorgeous, historic hotel in West Virginia which has catered to the rich and famous since 1778. Twenty-six presidents have visited the hotel, and Joseph and Rose Kennedy even honeymooned there. Well, it looks like the economy has taken its toll on this fine resort, as it has been reported by the Washington Post on Friday, May 20th that the resort has filed for bankruptcy. Apparently, the 720-room resort might be purchased by the Marriott hotel chain for a reported $130 million.

This makes me sad, on one hand, but happy on the other. It’s great that the resort is going to (hopefully) survive, and that it won’t simply be bulldozed to make way for a newer, more modern property with less heritage and charm. I am, however, concerned that Marriott will end up changing the “feel” of the property, though the company has gone on record as saying that they have no intention of changing either the name nor the “overall identity” of the property. I hope not! This hotel is a true gem, and it has a lot of history. Plus, it’s an amazingly posh hotel – it’s a five diamond property, and I’d hate to see such a beauty be changed in any significant way.

There’s something remarkable about walking around a building that’s over 230 years old, and it’s fun to imagine what the hotel walls have seen and heard over the years. It’s something that can never be replaced if significant changes are made to a building, so here’s to hoping.

Photo Credits: uuzinger