January 17, 1940. That’s the day that the famous movie “Gone With The Wind” opened to theater-goers in the United States. And in a few of the scenes in that iconic film hangs an elaborate, 600-pound crystal chandelier; a true work of art that, believe it or not, now hangs in the Lobby Bar of the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Once upon a time, Margaret Mitchell wrote a best selling novel, and she titled it "Gone With The Wind." That was in 1936.
"When I was a small child listening to old ladies’ conversations," the letter reads in part, "so much was said about White Sulphur. So many of their romances had begun there. So many honeymoons had been spent there before the Civil War, and time and again I have heard them tell of how much they missed their annual trip there after the war and the great excitement when finally times were prosperous enough for them to go back and spend the summer!"
How fitting, then, that when Dorothy Draper redecorated The Greenbrier in the late 1940s, she was inspired in part by the movie "Gone With The Wind." Her successor, Carleton Varney, took the connection even further when he purchased a massive, exquisite chandelier that had been used in the film and had it installed in the Lobby Bar.
From whom did he purchase this stunning "Gone With The Wind" artifact? From none other than singer and actress Debbie Reynolds herself, who maintained an extensive collection of Hollywood movie memorabilia.
From Margaret Mitchell's mind to the big screen. From the set of "Gone With The Wind" to the home of Debbie Reynolds to the Lobby Bar at The Greenbrier. What a journey! And all so that you, when you visit The Greenbrier, can now snack on an appetizer or small plate while sipping a drink beneath this magnificent ceiling centerpiece.
Try a famous Greenbrier mint julep, the drink of choice at The Greenbrier since at least 1816 (although way back then, guests could enjoy one for just $.25!). You can find the Lobby Bar adjacent to the Upper Lobby in the main Greenbrier building. Enjoy!
Have you stayed at The Greenbrier? Did you know the significance of the gorgeous crystal chandelier hanging in the Lobby Bar? Now that you do, you’ll have to plan another trip (which begins with a visit to The Greenbrier website, of course!). And while you’re here, don’t miss the opportunity to explore The Greenbrier’s top secret bunker … if you dare.
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