Paul Bugas in the bunker beneath the Greenbrier Hotel (Photo from the Greenbrier)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Paul Bugas, the director of the United States’ formerly secret doomsday bunker within the Greenbrier Resort, has died.
He died on July 1 in Virginia at the age of 96.
Bugas directed operations at the secret bunker that was made in case of a nuclear attack during the time of the Cold War. The large bunker, which sat beneath the resort, was built between the late 1950’s and early 1960’s to protect Congress members if the nation was under attack. The Greenbrier was adding a wing during this time, which was a good cover for the construction of the bunker.
The bunker contained a large cafeteria, over 1,000 beds, a room for a joint chamber, and medical rooms for operating and dental care. The bunker was protected by blast doors.
Bugas began working as the leader of the bunker after serving in the military for two decades. He was identified as a regional manager for the company “Forsythe Associates.”
Bugas did occasionally work on television sets and electronics within the Greenbrier part-time, but his main duty was to lead the effort to keep America’s leaders safe if the Soviet Union launched a nuclear attack.