This City Has a Major Nuclear Bunker That Was Kept Secret for Years

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A Secret Nuclear Bunker Beneath a Hotel

Imagine an intricate plot straight out of Hollywood: a secret nuclear bunker hidden beneath a little-known hotel in an obscure American town.
This is not mere fiction but a historical reality that has been passed down from president to president at the White House for decades.

The location itself seems the stuff of thrillers: White Sulphur Springs, a tiny town of about 3,000 residents in West Virginia, roughly a four-hour drive from Washington, D.C.
So, why is there a bunker buried 220 meters underground that can accommodate up to a thousand people in White Sulphur Springs? The answer is straightforward: it has been a covert sanctuary for American presidents during the looming threat of a nuclear attack from Russia.

A Legacy of the Cold War

This bunker, a haunting remnant from the Cold War era, began construction in 1958 and was completed in 1962, coinciding with the Cuban Missile Crisis, a pivotal moment that nearly led to direct confrontation between the U.S.
and Russia.
Alarmingly, the specter of such global tensions resurfaces as the two superpowers inch toward potential conflict.

The Fascinating History of the Bunker

Located just 300 kilometers from Washington, White Sulphur Springs is a secluded speck on the map, overshadowed by the magnificent Greenbrier Hotel.
This vast 700-room establishment is enveloped by a sprawling 4,500-acre park.
During World War II, the hotel served as a military hospital and was later returned to its original railroad company owners in 1946.
Locals grew suspicious in the 1950s when military personnel began overseeing construction efforts.

Over the years, many residents whispered theories about the hotel, which has played host to a staggering twenty-eight U.S.
presidents.
The bunker remained a well-guarded secret until a 1992 article in the Washington Post revealed its existence.
Despite their hunches about hidden secrets, most locals, many employed at the hotel, had no clue about the refuge beneath them.

Designed for Congressional Safety

The underground facility was intended to shelter Congressional members during a Russian strike, providing a secure environment for governmental operations even in the chaos of nuclear warfare.
Every detail was meticulously planned; the bunker could support over a thousand people with essential supplies, including its own electricity and water sources, a six-month food stockpile, and even a hospital and dining area for 400.

Furthermore, it featured two large assembly chambers—one accommodating 470 for the House of Representatives and another with 130 seats for the Senate.
It was fortified with a 60-centimeter thick concrete wall and secured by reinforced 25-ton steel doors, effectively transforming it into a subterranean Capitol Hill.

Complete with a radio and television studio for addressing the nation in times of crisis, this costly haven has remained largely unused since its inception, with the government eventually expressing regret over the extravagant expenditure.
Today, the bunker lies dormant beneath the Greenbrier Hotel and is open for tours, with part of the facility even repurposed as a server farm.

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