The Greenbrier's new owner has hired a Connecticut architect with southern West Virginia roots to design a casino for the historic resort.

Michael Oliver McClung says he got the job by sending information about his firm, Shope Reno Wharton, and its work to Jim Justice, shortly after he bought The Greenbrier from railroad operator CSX Corp.

Justice has described adding a high-class casino as a centerpiece of his plans for making The Greenbrier profitable again.

McLung, a Lewisburg native, says his firm knew about the project earlier because he was keeping track of hometown news when Justice bought the hotel out of bankruptcy.