Anthony visits the Allegheny Mountains and the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. It has existed for 230 years and has played host to 26 American Presidents. He goes from a black-and-white lobby to a oak-paneled bar, admiring the design. Anthony meets with the staff starting with Frank Mosley, who has worked at the Greenbrier longer than any other employee: 56 years. Frank says that the nicest celebrity who met there was actor Bob Hope, and the Kennedy family are also nice. He has never called in sick and Anthony puts him on his short list for five-star favorite.
Next, Anthony meets with the concierge, Debbie, who escorts him to the Presidential Suite, which goes for $25,000 a night. The 14-room suite has seven bedrooms, a private dining room, two studies, and a living room. Debbie says that Dwight D. Eisenhower threw the most famous party there. They go to the dining room which looks like it was just prepared.
Back at the main building, Anthony visits an underground decommissioned nuclear fallout shelter built by Eisenhower in the 50s. In case of emergency, it was capable of housing every member of Congress and their teams. The resort is remote but close to the capital, and they were able to cover it up by building a new hotel wing. Now the shelter is a popular tourist attraction. The shelter's other exit leads out to the lobby via a concealed partition.
The resort president, Jeff Kimmick, take Anthony back to the Presidential Suite and says that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor frequented the resort. There's a hidden safe that the Duchess had designed for her personal use, and it hasn't been opened since she left. Anthony dials a combination but nothing happens. Jeff says that a team member is going to drill the safe open so that they can see what's inside.
Two workers come in and while they work, Anthony goes to the kitchen. There are six full-time restaurants, and guests gather fresh fruit and vegetables from the resort grounds for meals. Anthony meets with executive chef Bryan Skelding, who is working on a historical menu based on the meals of previous guests. The hotelier tries Eisenhower's turtle soup and is impressed. The wine director comes by and shows Anthony a bottle of wine appropriate to the Eisenhower era. Each glass costs $160, and the director pours Anthony a glass. Anthony takes a sip and leaves.
Next, Anthony meets with the resort's in-house historian, Robert Conte. They go to a well and Robert explains that in 1778, a local settler bathed in the water and was cured of her rheumatism. People have been coming there ever since to drink the water. Anthony takes a sip despite the foul odor and taste. Back at the resort, Anthony checks out the antique furniture and notes that it looks brand new. He goes to the warehouse devoted to maintaining all of the furniture and talks to the man in charge, James. James explains how they reholster the furniture and how he served a four-year apprenticeship before he could work there.
Back at the Presidential suite, the locksmiths have discovered that they need something that can cut the inner door of tempered steel. While they work, Anthony picks his five-star favorite in front of all of the employees: Frank. The hotelier presents Frank with his $5,000 supertip and everyone applaud as Frank says that he's going to use the money to buy a pickup truck.
Back at the suite, the locksmiths crack the safe and Jeff pours champagne. There's nothing inside and Anthony makes a toast to the Greenbrier's legacy.
Written by Gadfly on Nov 2, 2016