Greenbrier 1/2

Traveling the World with Christie Cruise and Travel Masters
Alison Christie

The Greenbrier

The Greenbrier, called America's Resort since 1778, is located amid the breathtaking mountains of West Virginia Sulphur Springs. It is a National Historic Landmark and was known for years for the natural mineral springs that continue to lure visitors to the resort for its spa services and endless vacation possibilities. The Greenbrier is widely regarded as one of the finest luxury resorts around the world. Surrounded by the wondrous Allegheny Mountains, it offers exclusive services and amenities such as championship golf, fine dining, tennis, more than 55 activities, designer boutiques, and a 103,000 square foot casino. It has morphed over the years from its initial beginnings as an "Old Southern" world resort renowned for hosting famous people and at one time, all the living United States Presidents had stayed at the resort. A total of 26 American Presidents have stayed at the Greenbrier and Joseph and Rose Kennedy (parents of President John F. Kennedy) travelled from Boston for their Honeymoon to the Greenbrier in 1914. Today it is a high class spa, casino and resort that is home to one of the top golf tournaments in the United States, The Greenbrier Classic, with a Concert Series that has everyone scrambling for tickets. Not to leave the tennis fans wanting, The Greenbrier also hosts the Greenbrier Tennis Champions Classic series and is showcasing some outstanding tennis events as well. I'm sure the older staff at The Greenbrier says under their breath, "These times, they are a changing".

My first experience at The Greenbrier was shortly after I got married, during the old southern charm days. I was 24 years old and my husband, John, worked for Ben Williamson Supply Company as a salesman. C & O Railroad was one of his customers. At that time, C & O Railroad owned the Greenbrier and every year, they had a C & O Suppliers Group Meeting that was sort of mandatory for suppliers to attend. Lucky for the employees and their spouses who got to go, not so much for the owners of the small companies that sold merchandise to C & O Railroad who had to pay for the very expensive accommodations at the luxurious resort. The weekend was a well-planned fun, activity filled event with prizes awarded for first, second, and third place for a variety of tournaments. I entered the tennis, bridge, trap, and skeet tournaments. All of these events took place on Saturday so I would have to hustle fast between events, changing clothes and grabbing a quick shower after the tennis tournament, which was usually first thing in the morning. The only tournament that I did not enter was the golf tournament, and that was because I did not have enough time, AND because I didn't know how to play. But that didn't stop me from entering the trap and skeet shooting contest. I had never shot a shotgun before. I had shot a rifle before but not a shot gun. But I figure I could learn. I'm glad I had the Trap contest first. I got the hang of the gun there and you really don't have to lead the clay pigeons very much. Just kind of aim at them and shoot. They are going straight out and away from you and you do kind of have to figure out a little bit of lead time but not nearly like skeet. But I broke 18 out of 25 clay pigeons, so I didn't think that was anything of which I should be ashamed. Especially when one of the ladies in the group brought her own shotgun with her in a very special travel bag. Well, la te da!! I couldn't wait to see what she was going to shoot. She didn't waste her time with Trap. She was only entered in the Skeet Competition, which I later found out is "The One" that really matters. So, off I go to the Skeet range (without my own personal gun, mind you) and get ready for the tournament. They did let us have a partial practice round, thank goodness. I had a very kind gentlemen who must have worked on "Kate's Mountain" for quite a number of years, where the gun club and gun range at The Greenbrier is located, who had seemed to taken a liking to me. He must have seen through the city girl clothes and my unsure handling of the shotgun to the real me. The former country girl who still changes out of her "school clothes" to her "play clothes" after work or church faster than she can still hear her Mom say it in her head. And thank goodness Good Old Mr. Kate's Mountain liked me and gave me pointers at every station or I would have been a complete laughing stock. At a few of the stations, you have to lead the clay pigeon by at least 4 or 5 feet!!! Really. I'm not kidding. Once I knew how far that I had to lead the pigeon at each station, I found out I was a pretty good shot. Actually, I'm sure it was just dumb, blind beginners luck. But, wait. The story gets better. All of the women get ready for the tournament and I think there were about 11 of us. There were actually more ladies who brought their own guns, not just the one lady that I saw earlier. They divide us into groups and we get started. Good Old Mr. Kate's Mountain along with several other men stay with each group of ladies, probably making sure everyone practices gun safety. I don't think there were any other greenhorns other than me but I don't think the Greenbrier wanted any accidental deaths that day. It was pretty easy to remember the first station or two but it got more complicated the further out as we got so I ask for a little advice from my new friend, Mr. Kate's Mountain, which apparently wasn't against the rules. When the smoke cleared and all shots were fired,  I HIT 21 OUT OF 25 CLAY PIGEONS!! MY FIRST EVER ROUND OF SKEET!! To say I was thrilled, was putting it mildly. Especially because I had to compete against ladies who brought their own guns for the little competition.

To be continued...