About the carousel timeline at Opryland - I worked right across from this spot in 1992 and it was a music show at that point. No carousel. Just a musical comedy show. It was actually fairly funny, but then I got to hear it EVERY DAY and it grew tiresome. Maybe the new carousel came in after that year? Honestly I only remember the original one and I assumed that spot simply became a show venue until the park closed, but I stopped going to the park around 94.
Also, Pete Owens has been on the news a lot here. He's talking up the freezing and snow technology they'll be using to keep the snow park with snow even during the heat of the summer. But no word on actual attractions/rides, of course.