Story Ideas
The Greenbrier County CVB’s Public Relations Department is glad to help you develop your story. Here are a few ideas to get you started! For more information or ideas, please contact Rachael Stebbins, Director of Marketing & Communications, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (304) 645-1000 (media inquiries only please).
Fairs and Festivals
Fairs and festivals have become an integral part of the tourism industry. Here in The Greenbrier Valley, the State Fair of West Virginia, along with a number of other festivals such as Taste of Our Town, The Chocolate Festival and The Dandelion Festival all add to the community’s economy and cultural identity. Explore the region and talk to business owners who revel in the fair and festival life as well as the tourist who frequent them.
Lewisburg Flavor … Why It’s America’s Coolest Small Town
Lewisburg, WV has a lot of character for such a small town. Get a glimpse of the area as it is seen by local businesses, families who have lived in the town for multiple generations as well as new residents who moved here for the quality of life. From merchants at successful businesses such as Harmony Ridge Gallery, to members of the arts community there are plenty of people who work hard to make Lewisburg America’s Coolest Small Town.
Swimming Holes … A Greenbrier Valley Tradition
Nothing says summer quite like a day trip to a local swimming hole. Take a tour of the local’s favorite places for family fun in the sun by the water side, and see why swimming in the great outdoors is a Greenbrier Valley tradition. The region is home to many well know swimming areas including Blue Bend, Lake Sherwood and several stops along the Greenbrier River.
Taste of our Town: Foodie Paradise
Greenbrier Valley is more than a scenic region it is also a foodie’s paradise. The county is home to several thriving farmer’s markets, Swift Level, a grass fed beef ranch, blueberry farms bursting with family fun, and several bakeries, and nationally recognized restaurants. During the spring season many flock to the area to forage the ground for morels and ramps and local cafes and dinners often serve up local foods. Find out the true taste of our town.
Downtown Lewisburg…More than Meets the Eye
Lewisburg may well be the most honored of West Virginia’s small towns, winning numerous awards over the past five years including being named one of a “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and earning the distinction of being “One of the Best Small Arts Towns in America.” Offering a quaint downtown atmosphere with an eclectic mix of galleries, specialty boutiques and dining, there is more to Lewisburg than meets the eye.
Our Hills Are Alive with Amazing Live Music and Theatre…
The arts scene is alive and well in Lewisburg, especially since its very own Greenbrier Valley Theatre has been named the “Official State Professional Year-Round Theater of West Virginia.” With a fantastic line-up, mixing live theatre and musical performances, there is always something new happening at the Greenbrier Valley Theatre.
Carnegie Hall, which happens to be only one of four still in continuous use in the world, is a nationally recognized center for performing arts, award-winning arts education programming and a showcase for works by local and regional artists.
Greenbrier River Trail is a Hiker/Biker Paradise
The Greenbrier River Trail is a 77-mile stretch that was once part of the C&O Railroad and has now been converted into West Virginia’s longest hiking and biking trail. The trail winds its way through some incredibly beautiful countryside along the Greenbrier River starting at North Caldwell and ending one mile south of Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. The Greenbrier River Trail offers something for just about every outdoor enthusiast including hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing and cross-country skiing.
Greenbrier County is the Perfect Place “Fore” Golfers
When you think of top east coast golf destinations, what comes to mind? Myrtle Beach? Hilton Head? Maybe you should be thinking Greenbrier County, West Virginia. We offer everything from world-class championship golf at The Greenbrier to top-notch public courses and the oldest organized golf club in the United States at Oakhurst Links, all in a beautiful, idyllic mountain setting.
The Greenbrier
Located in White Sulphur Springs, The Greenbrier’s performance continues to win top ratings year after year including the AAA Five Diamond award since its inception, as well as the Mobil Four-Star Award. Offering more than 700 guest rooms and estate houses, three championship golf courses and over 50 recreational activities, it is no wonder The Greenbrier is known as America’s resort.
The Bunker at The Greenbrier
Experience an incredible piece of Cold War history. The former U.S. Government Relocation Facility has reopened for tours. Explore the labyrinth beneath the West Virginia Wing that was one of America’s best-kept secrets until The Washington Post revealed its location in 1992.
Underground Adventures
Greenbrier County is home to two caverns that offer traditional tours along with “wild caving” excursions that allow visitors to head far beyond the end of the commercial cave for a unique experience. At Lost World Caverns in Lewisburg, wild cave excursions head more than one mile past the commercial cave and require participants to negotiate through passageways with names such “The Birth Canal” and “Fat Man’s Misery”. Organ Cave in Ronceverte offers special expeditions to such sites as the “Throne Room” and “Rock Slide.”
Greenbrier County Awards
2008
The Greenbrier – Best Hotel in the Southern United States
The Greenbrier was selected by readers of Global Traveler as the Best Hotel in the Southern United states during the publication’s fifth annual GT Tested Reader Survey. More than 31,000 distinguished readers responded to the magazine’s annual survey of airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel related products in 55 categories.
Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Events
The Lewisburg Chocolate Festival and the Battle of Lewisburg Living History and Reenactment were selected by the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) as two of the Top 20 Events for Spring 2008.
AAA Five Diamond Award
The Greenbrier resort earned the AAA Five Diamond Award for 2009. The resort has receivd the Five Diamond distinction since the award’s inception in 1975.
The Greenbrier’s Main Dining Room – Best of Award of Excellence
The Main Dining Room at The Greenbrier was recently honored by Wine Spectator magazine with the Best of Award of Excellence, which recognizes the exceptional quality and breadth of the resort’s wine collection
The Greenbrier – Named #7 U.S. Resort by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report
Readers of Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report named The Greenbrier the #7 U.S. Resort in their 27th annual survey of sophisticated travelers, as published in the September issue. The annual reader survey is the longest running and most reliable of its kind among affluent and sophisticated travelers.
The Greenbrier – SpaFinder 2008 Reader’s Choice Awards
The Greenbrier was named among the top ten best spas in the world for Best for Cooking Classes, Best for Golf, Best Medical Program, Best for Men and Best for Mineral Springs by the readers of SpaFinder. In addition, Edward Kearney, a 14-year veteran of The Greenbrier Spa, was named one of the top ten Favorite Spa Therapists.
The Greenbrier - Distinctive Achievement Award
Association Conventions & Facilities voted The Greenbrier a winner of the 2008 Distinctive Achievement Award.
Lewisburg Chocolate Festival - Mountaineer Award
The Lewisburg Chocolate Festival was awarded the Mountaineer Award for most innovative marketing campaign during the 2008 West Virginia Governor’s Conference on Tourism.
The Greenbrier – Paragon Award
The Greenbrier was honored by Corporate Meetings & Incentive with the Paragon Award.
The Greenbrier - Gold Tee Award
Meetings & Conventions magazine awarded The Greenbrier the Gold Tee Award for excellence.
The Greenbrier Spa – Mobile Four Star Rating
For the fourth year in a row, Mobile Travel Guide named The Greenbrier Spa as one of America’s Best Hotel and Resort Spas and gave the spa a four-star rating.
Best Genuine Mountain Shopping
The city of Lewisburg was selected for Best Genuine Mountain Shopping on the Mountain Homes - Southern Style Best of the Mountains list.
American Bus Association Top 100 Events
The State Fair of West Virginia was named as one of American Bus Association Top 100 Events. Each year this important list highlights the top festivals, fairs, celebration, parades and exhibits in North America.
Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Events
The State Fair of West Virginia was recently selected by the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) as one of the Top 20 Events for Summer 2008.
Best New Remodeled Course in the Country
Golf Digest honored The Greenbrier’s Old White Course as the Best New Remodeled Course in the Country.
Top Hotels in the U.S.
The Greenbrier resort was named on Conde Nast Traveler‘s list of the Top Hotels within the United States.
ConventionSouth Readers’ Choice Award
ConventionSouth magazine honored The Greenbrier with the prestigious annual Readers’ Choice Award.
The World’s Best Hotels
Travel + Leisure‘s The World’s Best Survey listed The Greenbrier among the Top Hotels in the United States.
Top 10 Golf Resorts
The Greenbrier was ranked as one of the Top 10 Golf Resorts in GOLF MAGAZINE‘s Annual Readers Poll.
2007
The Greenbrier – Inner Circle Award
The Greenbrier was recognized by readers of Association Meetings magazine with the Inner Circle Award.
Taste of Our Towns Festival - Mountaineer Award
Carnegie Hall’s Taste of Our Towns Festival (T.O.O.T.) was awarded the Mountaineer Award for most innovative marketing campaign during the 2007 West Virginia Governor’s Conference on Tourism.
The Greenbrier – Premium Circle Award
The Greenbrier was selected by readers of Financial & Insurance Meetings Magazine for the Premium Circle Award.
The Greenbrier – Merit & Distinction Award
The Greenbrier was honored by the readers of Medical Meetings magazine with the Merit & Distinction Award.
1,000 Places to See in the US and Canada Before You Die
Lewisburg and The Greenbrier were included in Patricia Schultz’s book, 1,000 Places to See in the US and Canada Before You Die, which highlights the top destinations in the US and Canada.
Certified Arts Community
The City of Lewisburg received this designation in late 2007 from the WV Commission on the Arts.
Top 100 Hotels / Top 25 Hotel Spas / 500 Greatest Hotels in the World
The Greenbrier resort was named in Travel + Leisure‘s The Best of 2007 edition as one of the Top 100 Hotels in the US and Canada. The Greenbrier Spa was also named as one of the Top 25 Hotel Spas. The resort was also the highest rated U.S. golf resort on the magazine’s 500 Greatest Hotels in the World list.
2006
GolfStyles Washington named The Greenbrier on their 100 Must-Plays of the Middle Atlantic
The Greenbrier was named to Conde Nast Traveler‘s Gold List for the World’s Best 700 Places to Stay
Meetings & Conventions magazine awarded The Greenbrier the Gold Tee Award for excellence
Meetings South included The Greenbrier in their Annual Planners’ list of Best Bets
The Greenbrier received the Best of the South award from MeetingsMedia
Past Recognitions
Greenbrier Valley Theatre named West Virginia’s Official Year-Round Professional Theater
Travel + Leisure Golf recognized The Greenbrier as #3 Best Golf Resort, #3 Best Resort for Family Trips, #1 Best Restaurants and #2 Best Spa/Gym on their World’s Best 2005 Reader Survey
Lewisburg was recognized by National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the Dozen Distinctive Destinations, 2004
Andrew Harper Hideaway Reports ranked The Greenbrier as #1 on the list of Top 20 US Resort Hotels in both 2003 and 2004
Lewisburg was featured in Larry Brown’s book America’s Most Charming Towns and Villages, 2003
Lewisburg was mentioned in National Geographic‘s Best Small Town Escapes, 2000
Lewisburg was featured in John Villani’s book, 100 Best Small Art Towns in America, 1998
Greenbrier County Media
Located in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains, Greenbrier County offers visitors a true taste of the best of West Virginia. Conveniently located within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the nation’s population, Greenbrier County provides the necessities for a perfect getaway. World-famous resorts, quaint small towns, fabulous outdoor recreation and wonderful art and theatre embody this beautiful mountain region.
Our online press room provides easy access to information on Greenbrier County including story ideas, press kits and stock photography. For additional information or to plan a visit to the area, contact Rachael Stebbins, Director of Marketing & Communications, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (304) 645-1000.
