Opryland U.S.A.

Rideslover · February 1, 2008

Wow, look very rare history. I went once a time at there about 1987 in Tennessee. I don't remember this all and only I remember the barnstormer and the barrels tea cup rides.

GoBigMac82 · February 27, 2008

A friend just sent me this website. OMG!!! I miss Opryland! Thanks for bringing back those memories.

I had a summer pass to the park every year from the very first summer it opened! Oh, I am showing my age. I spent 6 summers working there!

Gaylord....ah, what I would like to say. We call Opry Mills "The Hell Mall" in our family. LOL!! I go back to visit family every few months. And everytime we drive down McGavock Pike and pull into the mall...I want to cry because I miss Opryland and wish my youngest could have gone there once.

I remember the summer that a maintenance guy way working on the track of the Rock N Roller Coasters and the coaster decapitated him. Ugh!! That was long before the Hangman ever existed!!

ratdogg68 · February 27, 2008

When did you work there Gobigmac, I worked there also 94 and later.

bsherron · May 3, 2008

I am the kid in the ball crawl. This picture was also on the back of the Cheerios Box in 1982-1983. I have been looking for this box for many years. If anyone has one, please let me know. I am willing to pay for this box if necessary. It means alot to me. Email me at busyb64@aol.com. Also, I would love to have a copy of the program as well if anyone has one that they would depart from.

TheRapidsNerd · May 3, 2008

Got word this week that demolition has started or will shortly on what's left of Grizzly River Rampage. I'm headed up there tomorrow (sat, may 2) to get some last minute pics and vids before it's all gone. Will probably be there at Grizzly at 9 am. I'm wearing a green shirt, green Aussie hat (just like Guy T Koepp's), and a grey hip pack if anyone wants to meet up.

Shane, my appologies on this this rude threadjack. No offense intended and thank you all of the outstanding Opryland pics and vids of late.

montezooma · May 3, 2008

Hey, not rude at all, I am glad you posted this. I had no idea there was any shred left of the park. I am surprised to hear that Grizzly River Rampage is still there.

I would love to see pictures of the state the ride is now. Please post pictures here of what you find tomorrow.

^^ I have no idea what that post is about. cereal box? ball crawl??

TheRapidsNerd · May 3, 2008

Ask, and you shall receive. Here's my PTR from March 2007.

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37776&highlight=opryland

You can see 1 of 3 videos from the trip here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdKkGCzDrjE

I first heard the original demo rumor in Feb 2007, and meant to get back there a few times well before now. In short, the original plaze is still there as a tribute, and Grizzly's ride channel was turned into a little park area, but it's been crumbling since 1997. The corner rock still looks good, but the rest looks pretty rough. Surprised they didn't start demo sooner. No clue what I'm in for tomorrow, but will post a PTR and get video.

Is it cool to post the PTR here vs. starting a new thread? You have a great foundation started on the topic, and I'd love to contribute.

Thanks and Best, Michael

montezooma · May 3, 2008

Hey Michael-

Thanks for that link, I can't believe all that stuff is still there. That was a great photo trip report and I can't wait to see what you find there today.

It is such a shame what happened to this place! But it does leave Nashville an open market for a new theme park. With the opening of Hard Rock Park I am hoping it will spark a new interest in building new parks in viable markets such as Nashville & Houston.

Yes please post anything you want to this thread. Since you did yesterday and it brought it back to the top from the bowels of pages 5 or lower, it reminded me that I had this bit on the Screamin' Delta Demon to post....

packfanlv · May 3, 2008

Hey, not rude at all, I am glad you posted this. I had no idea there was any shred left of the park. I am surprised to hear that Grizzly River Rampage is still there.

I would love to see pictures of the state the ride is now. Please post pictures here of what you find tomorrow.

^^ I have no idea what that post is about. cereal box? ball crawl??

I visited this area for the first time last year. My family and I went to see the Gaylord Opryland and the Grand Ole Opry building. When walking from the hotel to the mall I saw what was leftover from the rapids ride. Having never known there was a theme park there before I was curious.

I eventually went on the internet later on and found out about Opryland. The entire ride is not still there, but I believe most of the area is. It is quite strange since it sits along a walkway from the Gaylord hotel to the mall. The last thing you would expect to see if you didn't know the history was an abandoned theme park ride. The area has become very overgrown with plants and is fenced off. I believe I read last year they were going to remove it to make room for further expansion of the hotel.

Skramp · May 3, 2008

Here's what you can see left of it in Google Earth.

ETapley0687 · May 3, 2008

I was down there last weekend and I just sat out there wit one of my friends to enjoy the weather. I dont remember seeing any signs of the construction about to start but it wouldn't suprise me if they started sometime this past week. I'll be there again tomorrow and I'll be sure to take pics.

TheRapidsNerd · May 3, 2008

I'll be there again tomorrow and I'll be sure to take pics.

ETapley0687, what time do you think you'll be there? I missed out today and am trying again tomorrow. Yeah...it helps to set your alarm to get up....

ETapley0687 · May 3, 2008

I'm not sure yet, I'm going to be around Nashville and if I had time I was going to swing in there to see what it's looking like. What time will you be there?

TheRapidsNerd · May 3, 2008

Planning on 9 or 10 am sunday. The Mall opens at 11 so I may hit that for a break and possible go over to the hotel for a bit. Short answer, I'll be around that area until about 1 or 2 in the afternoon.

ETapley0687 · May 4, 2008

oh ok, I won't be there till later in the day around 6 maybe... I still really don't know lol. But I know I won't be there that early.

TheRapidsNerd · May 4, 2008

ETapley0687, Hey, no worries. Gladly catch you another time.

Shane, thanks for the leeway in posting here, though I should have asked BEFORE just throwing in links. It's a respect thing, and I missed.

montezooma · May 4, 2008

Here is another short clip I found from the park. It is from a program on E! that was called "Theme Parks a Go-Go" It shows several of the rides including the Hangman, but those that truly know Opryland will notice something...

Hilltopper39 · May 4, 2008

but those that truly know Opryland will notice something...

I only visited Opryland one when I was really little long before they ever installed Hangman, but I'm pretty sure that video wasn't hangman, track colors were different and the surroundings were too bare

montezooma · May 4, 2008

yes, it is definitely not Hangman, it looks like El Condor the first SLC

TheRapidsNerd · May 5, 2008

Got back from Nashville earlier this afternoon and can confirm something is happening at Grizzly River Rampage. Pics to follow once I get everything sorted. Took about 300 pics (Opry Remnents, Hotel, and Mall). Have some small video clips too.

k_peek_2000 · May 5, 2008

Got back from Nashville earlier this afternoon and can confirm something is happening at Grizzly River Rampage. Pics to follow once I get everything sorted. Took about 300 pics (Opry Remnents, Hotel, and Mall). Have some small video clips too.

That mall is freaking amazing. I've never seen indoor glow in the dark mini-golf before my trip to nashville That and the Gibson factory made my whole trip to Nashville totally awesome.

TheRapidsNerd · May 5, 2008

^ I wanted to hate it, but you're right, it is pretty cool. Got a couple pics of those things you mentioned.

Hilltopper39 · May 5, 2008

Yeah definately not Hangman. I really enjoyed that park when I was yound and wish it would have stayed open. I go to school in Bowling Green KY and heard a radio interview a while back with someone new in upper managament with Gaylord Opryland and there was a question asked pf him concerning the old amusemet park. He said soemthing along the lines of why would the company remove an attraction that people come to visit from hundreds of miles away and stay for several days (Opryland Park) for an attraction that peple come from 20 miles away top stay for 3 or 4 hours (Opry Mills mall). Pretty interesting point.

ETapley0687 · May 10, 2008

Hey, I wanted to contribute too. A fellow member, Tyrus Arthur, took some pics of the Grizzly River Rampage now and a course walk through. With his approval I decided to post them so everyone could see the layout. Sorry the pics aren't in order...