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Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center facts for kids
| Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center | |
 The Delta Atrium in 2022 |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Coordinates | 36°12′41″N 86°41′40″W / 36.21139°N 86.69444°W |
| Opening date | November 24, 1977 |
| Architect | Earl Swensson Associates |
| Management | Marriott International |
| Owner | Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. |
| No. of restaurants | 21 |
| No. of rooms | 2,888 |
| of which suites | 172 |
| No. of floors | 7 |
The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, often called Gaylord Opryland, is a huge hotel and convention center in Nashville, Tennessee. It's known for its amazing indoor gardens and a river you can ride a boat on! This special place is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties and managed by Marriott International.
Contents
Discover Gaylord Opryland Resort
A Look Back: How It Started
Grand Opening and Early Days
Gaylord Opryland first opened its doors on November 24, 1977. It was built right next to the Opryland USA amusement park. The main idea was to support the Grand Ole Opry, a famous country music show.
When it first opened, the hotel had 580 guest rooms. It also had a beautiful Magnolia Lobby. This lobby looked like a grand Southern mansion. It even had a fancy staircase and a sparkling chandelier.
Growing Bigger: New Atriums and Rooms
Over the years, the hotel grew much larger. In the early 1980s, more than 400 rooms were added. A special area called the Garden Conservatory was also built. It looked like a beautiful Victorian garden. This atrium always stays at a comfy 71 degrees. It is home to over 10,000 plants!
In 1988, the hotel added another 797 guest rooms. The amazing Cascades Atrium was also created. This area has a huge waterfall, over three stories tall! It also features more than 8,000 tropical plants.
A big expansion in 1996 made the resort twice as large. About 1,000 more guest rooms were added. The most exciting part was the Delta Atrium. This atrium has a quarter-mile-long indoor river! Guests can ride flatboats along the river. They pass by water features that dance to music.
Changes Over Time
From Theme Park to Shopping Mall
In 1997, the hotel's owners decided to build more hotels. They planned new "Opryland Hotels" in Florida and Texas. So, the original hotel became "Opryland Hotel Nashville." This helped tell it apart from the new ones.
On December 31, 1997, the nearby Opryland Themepark closed down. It was later taken apart. In its place, the Opry Mills shopping mall was built. It opened on May 12, 2000.
In 2001, the hotel's name changed again. It became the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. The owners felt the "Gaylord" name sounded more fancy. It better matched the hotel's high quality.
Surviving the Flood and Rebuilding
On May 2, 2010, a big flood hit Nashville. Gaylord Opryland was badly damaged. Guests had to leave as floodwaters rose. In some parts of the hotel, the water was as high as 10 feet!
The hotel closed for renovations. It reopened on November 15, 2010. Workers repaired and updated everything. They added five new restaurants. The beautiful atriums and guest rooms were restored.
In 2012, the company that owned Gaylord Opryland made a big change. They partnered with Marriott International. Marriott now manages the hotel. The owning company changed its name to Ryman Hospitality Properties.
Splash into Fun: Soundwaves Water Park
On January 25, 2017, Ryman Hospitality Properties announced a new project. They would build a $90 million indoor/outdoor water park! This exciting water park is called "Soundwaves."
Soundwaves opened on December 1, 2018. It's a special treat for guests staying overnight at the resort. It offers lots of slides, pools, and water fun!
More Fun Places Nearby
Gaylord Opryland is connected to other cool places in Nashville. These are also owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties:
- Grand Ole Opry: A world-famous country music show.
- General Jackson Showboat: A large paddlewheel boat offering dinner cruises.
- Ryman Auditorium: Known as the "Mother Church of Country Music."
- Ole Red: A lively downtown nightclub and event spot.
- WSM Radio: A historic radio station.
- Opryland USA: The amusement park that used to be next door.