Opryland USA facts for kids
Opryland USA logo used from the late 1980s to 1997
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| Location | Nashville, Tennessee, United States |
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| Coordinates | 36°12′30″N 86°41′43″W / 36.20833°N 86.69528°W |
| Status | Removed |
| Opened | May 27, 1972 |
| Closed | December 31, 1997 |
| Owner | Gaylord Entertainment Company |
| Slogan | "Home of American Music" "America's Musical Showpark" "The Original Country Hit!" "Great Shows! Great Rides! Great Times!" |
| Area | 120 acres (0.49 km2) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 27 |
| Roller coasters | 6 |
| Water rides | 3 |
Opryland USA was a fun theme park located near Nashville, Tennessee. It was open for visitors from 1972 to 1997, usually from March to October. For a few years, it even opened for a special Christmas celebration in December. In its best years, almost 2.5 million people visited Opryland annually! The park was known as the "Home of American Music" because it had lots of musical shows along with exciting rides like roller coasters.
Contents
History of Opryland USA
Why Opryland Was Built
The idea for Opryland started because the famous Grand Ole Opry radio show needed a bigger and newer home. The old place, the Ryman Auditorium, was getting old and too small for the huge crowds. So, the company behind the show, WSM, Inc., decided to build a new, modern auditorium with plenty of parking in a new area of Nashville.
The president of WSM, Inc., Irving Waugh, visited another theme park called AstroWorld in Texas. He saw how the park brought in lots of visitors even when other attractions were closed. This gave him the idea to build an amusement park next to the new Grand Ole Opry House. This way, the area would be busy and fun all week long! So, WSM, Inc. bought a large piece of land by the Cumberland River in Nashville, and plans for Opryland were announced in 1969.
Opening and Early Years (1970s)
Opryland USA first opened its gates on May 27, 1972. The new Grand Ole Opry House opened a bit later, in 1974, with a visit from President Richard Nixon. The park was named after a radio show called "Opryland USA." Even though it had "Opry" in its name, the park celebrated all kinds of American music, not just country. You could find jazz, gospel, bluegrass, pop, and rock and roll shows and attractions.
Opryland was special because it focused more on its amazing musical shows than just rides. This made it popular with both adults and kids. It was often called a "showpark" instead of just an "amusement park." Some of the first big rides included the Timber Topper roller coaster and the Flume Zoom log flume.
In 1975, Opryland added a "State Fair" area with carnival games and new rides like the Wabash Cannonball roller coaster. However, a big flood from the Cumberland River delayed the park's opening that year.
Opryland quickly became a huge success in the mid-1970s. It was the most popular tourist spot in Nashville, bringing in almost two million visitors every year. Many families from nearby states would visit for a fun vacation. In 1977, the Opryland Hotel (now Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center), a huge resort, opened right next to the park. This made it even easier for visitors to stay and enjoy everything.
In 1979, the Roy Acuff Theater opened next to the Grand Ole Opry House. This theater hosted big musical shows, and you didn't need a park ticket to see them.
Changes and Growth (1980s and 1990s)
In 1981, Opryland added a new area called "Grizzly Country" which featured the Grizzly River Rampage, a fun river rafting ride. A band called the Grizzly River Boys was formed to promote the ride. This band later became the famous country group Diamond Rio!
In 1984, the park added its third roller coaster, The Screamin' Delta Demon, in the New Orleans area. This also added a second entrance to the park.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, new theme parks like Kentucky Kingdom and Dollywood opened nearby. To keep attracting visitors, Opryland offered package deals that included hotel rooms and tickets to the park and the Grand Ole Opry. The park also kept adding new attractions like the General Jackson Showboat and new roller coasters. The last big ride added was The Hangman roller coaster in 1995.
In 1992, the Chevrolet-Geo Celebrity Theater was built. This new theater allowed Opryland to host concerts with top country music stars, which were included with park admission. Later, they even had famous artists like Alabama and George Jones perform there.
In 1993, the TV game show Family Feud taped several episodes at Opryland, featuring country music stars and local families. This was the only time the show ever taped episodes outside of a studio!
In 1994, the park's official name changed to "Opryland Themepark." The name "Opryland USA" then became the name for all of Gaylord Entertainment's properties in Nashville, including the hotel and the Grand Ole Opry.
In 1996, a new gate was added that allowed people to walk directly between the Opryland Hotel and the theme park, which was very convenient for hotel guests.
Closing and Demolition
Even though Opryland was making money, it faced some challenges. Its location meant it couldn't easily expand with new rides, and it was sometimes affected by floods. Also, Nashville's cold winters meant the park couldn't be open all year, and it was getting harder to find enough seasonal workers.
In 1997, the company decided to close the park and replace it with a large shopping mall called Opry Mills. They wanted a place that could be used all year round. The news was shared in November 1997, just after the park's regular season ended.
The 1997 "Christmas in the Park" season was the last chance for people to visit Opryland. Many of the big rides were already being taken apart. The park officially closed forever on December 31, 1997. In early 1998, the park sold off its remaining items like merchandise and signs in a big tent sale.
Many of Opryland's rides, including all five roller coasters, were sold to another company. Some rides were moved to other parks. For example, The Hangman roller coaster went to California and became "Kong." The Rock n' Roller Coaster was moved to Six Flags Great Escape in New York and is now called Canyon Blaster. Other rides were stored but eventually scrapped.
By July 1998, the Opryland Themepark site was cleared and paved to become a parking lot for the new Opry Mills mall. The mall itself was built where the park's old parking lot used to be.
After the Park Closed
Opry Mills mall opened on May 12, 2000. While the theme park was gone, some parts of the original Opry Plaza area remained. The Grand Ole Opry House, the Roy Acuff Theater, and the Grand Ole Opry Museum stayed open.
For many years, you could still see parts of the Grizzly River Rampage water ride's path between the mall and the hotel. But by November 2011, all the last visible pieces of the theme park were gone.
Later, some leaders of the company that owned Opryland said that closing the park was "a bad idea." They felt there wasn't a good reason to shut down a park that was still successful.
2010 Nashville Floods
In May 2010, the Opryland area was hit by a big flood when the Cumberland River overflowed. Many buildings on the property were badly damaged. Some were torn down, like the Roy Acuff Theater and the Gaslight Theater.
The Gaylord Opryland Hotel, the Grand Ole Opry House, and the General Jackson Showboat were closed for several months for repairs but reopened later that year. The Opry Mills mall also had to close for a long time for repairs, finally reopening in March 2012.
As of 2021, only a few buildings from the theme park era remain, like the Grand Ole Opry House.
Opryland's Themed Areas
Opryland had nine different areas, each with a special theme, mostly based on different kinds of American music.
Opry Plaza
This was the main entrance and exit for Opryland. Most of Opry Plaza was outside the park gates, so you didn't need a ticket to visit. It looked like old Southern buildings and played music from Grand Ole Opry stars. The Grand Ole Opry House was the main building here. This area connected to Hill Country, Doo Wah Diddy City, and the parking lot.
Hill Country/Opry Village
This area was themed around bluegrass and folk music, looking like the Appalachia mountains. It had the Folk Music Theatre and the Dulcimer Splash log ride. The Grinder's Switch Train Station was also here, where you could catch a train ride to the American West Area. This area connected to Opry Plaza and New Orleans Area.
New Orleans Area
This area celebrated jazz music, with buildings that looked like the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. It had the New Orleans Bandstand with live jazz shows. The Screamin' Delta Demon roller coaster was added here in 1984. One of the two Skyride stations was in this area, taking you to Doo Wah Diddy City. This area connected to Hill Country, Riverside Area, and the parking lot.
Riverside Area
This area didn't have a specific music theme but was named because it was next to the Cumberland River. It had the American Music Theater, which was the park's only indoor show venue. The Opryland Carousel was here, along with K.C.'s Kids' Club, one of the park's areas just for children. This area connected to New Orleans Area and American West Area.
American West Area
This area celebrated the American frontier and featured Western music. The buildings looked like an old town in El Paso, Texas. It had the Durango Theatre, which hosted a musical show called "Way Out West." The Tin Lizzie antique car ride was here until 1994, when it was replaced by The Hangman roller coaster. This area connected to Riverside Area and Lakeside Area.
Lakeside Area
This area celebrated modern country music and was home to the Theatre By The Lake, which had a long-running musical show called "Country Music USA." It featured Eagle Lake, a man-made lake that had the Old Mill Scream water ride. The Barnstormer airplane ride was also by the lake. This area connected to State Fair and American West Area.
State Fair
Added in 1975, this area looked like the midway at a typical state fair. Its main ride was the Wabash Cannonball roller coaster. It also had a petting zoo, Bump Cars, and the Tennessee Waltz swing ride, plus lots of carnival games. This area connected to Lakeside Area and Grizzly Country.
Grizzly Country
This was Opryland's last big expansion, added in 1981. It was built mainly for the Grizzly River Rampage river rafting ride. Chaos, an indoor roller coaster, opened here in 1989. In 1996, a new park gate was added here, allowing people to walk between the park and the Opryland Hotel. This area connected to State Fair and Doo Wah Diddy City.
Music of Today ("Mod")/Doo Wah Diddy City
This area first celebrated modern pop and rock music. In 1979, it was re-themed and became Doo Wah Diddy City, celebrating pop and rock and roll from the 1950s onwards. It was home to the Rock n' Roller Coaster, Opryland's first thrill ride. The Little Deuce Coupe, a spinning ride, was also here. A Skyride station offered one-way trips to the New Orleans Area. This area connected to Opry Plaza, American West Area, and Grizzly Country.
Major Shows at Opryland
| Year(s) | Show Title | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| −1981 | Country Music USA | Roy Acuff Theatre |
| 1982– | Country Music USA | Theatre By The Lake |
| −1981 | I Hear America Singing | American Music Theatre |
| 1982– | I Hear America Singing | Roy Acuff Theatre |
| 1977–1981 | For Me And My Gal | Gaslight Theatre |
| 1982– | For Me And My Gal | American Music Theatre |
| ? | The Big Broadcast | American Music Theatre |
| ? | And The Winner Is | American Music Theatre |
| ? | Music, Music, Music | Roy Acuff Theatre |
| ? | Way Out West | Durango Theatre |
Exciting Rides at Opryland
| Ride | Park area | Year built | Year demolished | What happened to it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hangman | American West | 1995 | 1997 | A thrilling roller coaster. Now called Kong at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in California. |
| Wabash Cannonball | State Fair | 1975 | 1997 | A roller coaster with corkscrews. It was moved but later scrapped. |
| Rock n' Roller Coaster | Doo Wah Diddy City | 1972 | 1997 | A mine train roller coaster, first called "Timber Topper." Now called Canyon Blaster at Great Escape in New York. |
| Chaos | Grizzly Country | 1989 | 1997 | An indoor roller coaster. It was moved but later scrapped. |
| Screamin' Delta Demon | New Orleans | 1984 | 1997 | A bobsled-style roller coaster. It was moved but later scrapped. |
| Grizzly River Rampage | Grizzly Country | 1981 | 1997 | A river rapids raft ride. Now called Raging Rapids River Ride at Kentucky Kingdom in Kentucky. |
| Old Mill Scream | Lakeside | 1987 | 1997 | A big boat ride that made a splash. Now called Lumberjack Falls at Wild Waves Theme Park in Washington. |
| Dulcimer Splash | Hill Country | 1972 | 1997 | A log flume ride, first called "Flume Zoom." It was moved but later scrapped. |
| Tin Lizzies | American West | 1972 | 1995 | An antique car ride. It was removed to make space for "The Hangman." |
| Barnstormer | Lakeside | 1978 | 1997 | A tall spinning airplane ride. |
| Opryland Railroad | Hill Country American West |
1972 | 1997 | A train ride that went through and around the park. |
| Skyride | New Orleans Doo Wah Diddy City |
1972 | 1997 | A sky ride with cabins that moved above the park. |
| Little Deuce Coupe | Doo Wah Diddy City | 1972 | 1997 | A spinning "drunken barrels" ride inside a dome. |
| Tennessee Waltz | State Fair | 1975 | 1997 | A classic swing ride. |
| Sharp's Shooters | Professor U.B. Sharp's Kids' Club (Lakeside) | 1972 | 1997 | A small roller coaster for kids. |
| Ryman's Ferry Raft Ride | Lakeside | 1972 | 1986 | A simulated ride on wooden rafts. It was the first ride removed from Opryland. |
| Skycoaster | Lakeside State Fair (1995–1996) |
1995 | 1997 | A suspended swinging ride that cost extra to ride. |
| Country Bumpkin Bumper Cars | State Fair | 1975 | 1997 | Classic bumper cars. |
