Opryland U.S.A.

[ratdogg68]

This is so sad to see, I remember walking by GRR everyday I worked. The "big boys" of Gaylord, back then, feel like donkey butts now i'm sure. Great pics, I'm a member of the Opryland yahoo group also and there is some great pics there.

Opryland was a unique park that I wish was still here today " I would still be working there I'm sure".

[VGplay]

I went to Opryland sometime in the mid 90s with my family. I was too young to remember anything, but my parents say they liked the park. It looked like a great small park. We probably have some pictures, I'll see if there's anything worth sharing.

[LilMommyBug]

Is there any way someone could take an aerial pic of the mall area & kind of draw a map of where each ride was? I have always wanted to know what was where.

[TheRapidsNerd]

^ Here's an overhead of the area from Google Earth. Hope this helps.

 

EDIT: Mods, my appologies. I totally hosed this post and messed up on the posting size in trying to be "helpful" to this lady. Will try to edit and fix best I can.

 

EDIT EDIT: It's a bit out of sequence now, but this will give anyone interested a rough idea of where things were in relation to what is standing on the site today.

This is the Opry Plaza near the mall. The Grand Ole Opry is top center, and the old Roy Acuff Theatre is up and to the right. Down and to the left is the Gaslight Theatre.

Overview of Grizzly River Rampage. The signature corner rock in is the lower right of the picture. This will help you get your bearing in the other pics above.

Opry Plaza. Top center is The Grand Ole Opry. Top rightis the old Roy Acuff Theatre, and bottom left is the Gaslight Theatre.

Overview of Grizzly River Rampage. The signature big corner rock is in the lower right for to get your bearing for the other pics above.

Closer look at the area. Where the parking lot is now is where the majority of park was.

Gaylord Oprylnad Hotel is to the extreme left. Mall to extreme right. Left facing end of the mall is about where Rock'n'Roller Coaster was..

[coasterdude5]

Seeing that almost makes me sick... All that gone, only to be replaced by a parking lot.

 

I miss this park.

[SFOGdude25]

My very first roller coaster was here (The Little Rock'n'Roller Coaster). I remember the one time I went and Hangman got stuck on the lift and the riders had to be evacuated (my aunt being one of them). It was a nice park. I'm pretty sure it closed because business wise it was not doing well at all. Most employees were drafted from other countries or something like that.

[coasterdude5]

^ That's funny I remember eating lunch there (their hushpuppies and fries were good) and the waitress was hard to understand. I also remember seeing a news report of Hangman getting evacuated. I'd just like to see how'd it be doing if it were still open today.

 

(Chaos was my first or second coaster, my parents can't remember).

[sixflagsguy5]

I have family in Tennessee and I went there as a kid every time we visited. When I was about 4 or 5 I remember hangman being open and I waited in line with my dad for it. I was too short so he rode it alone and there was this really large guy riding it so they had to use an extender seatbelt. My dad told me that it was ok that I couldn't ride, because I would be able to ride it the next year. Of course the next year the park was gone.

 

I remember very little about the park except riding the screamin' delta demon and riding the mine train in the front of the train while my dad rode in the back and waved to me in the helix. I have two small hangman shirts and a patch, but that's about all. I had a map similar to the ones posted on page 1, but I'm not sure if I still have them.

Edited April 30, 2011 by sixflagsguy5

[thrillerman1]

Shane, the "Memories of Opryland" TV special aired this past week here in Nashville, and I wanted to let you know I saw your name listed in the credits at the end. They must have used some of your video footage. It was a great show and brought back a flood of memories.

[coasterdude5]

^ Is there anyway to view it online?

[thrillerman1]

No I haven't seen "Memories of Opryland" posted anywhere online yet. You can buy the DVD here. It is pricey (to me) at $75 bucks because sales are used to help fund the public TV station. That website link has a fairly good slide show of park photos that is worth checking out.

[montezooma]

Yes, the PBS station that did that special contacted me and used some of my footage. It is kind of exciting, I have never been credited in a video before...well at least not a legitimate one...lol

 

Hopefully they will send me a copy of the program

[disneymoc]

Yes, the PBS station that did that special contacted me and used some of my footage. It is kind of exciting, I have never been credited in a video before...well at least not a legitimate one...lol

 

Hopefully they will send me a copy of the program

 

Shane, as a recent former employee of the PBS station in Chattanooga, they should be all rights give you a copy. I would contact them though. I don't think they will take the time to seek you out.

 

Don't expect this program to be available for viewing online as long at NPT is offering it as a pledge item.

[QueerRudie]

Wow- thanks for the great thread; I have never seen so much great stuff on Opryland before- a park I'd had the chance to go to, but didn't- sadly.

 

Back in 2000, I was 'sentanced' to Nashville for a previous employer, and was there for the opening weekend of Opry Mills- having a few days at the Opryland Hotel, I wandered around and saw the hulk of Grizzly River Rampage- thinking, at one point, that it was 'scenery' I looked closer, and saw the thing sitting there, deserted, with assorted bits and pieces of ride hardware inside of it; this having been just a few short years past the execution and demolition of Opryland. I got a 'very odd' feeling staring at it; almost like ghosts were about, something that to this day creeps me about seeing ANY defunct ride- (Drachen Fire, prior to it's execution, for example)- and I now kick myself for NOT getting there in it's final season.

[coasterfreaky]

This photo comes courtesy of the Opryland Yahoo Group, specifically Sierramike04. He did a great job determining where the rides used to be.

 

I can't tell you how nauseating it is to see your home park turned into dust. Its a devastating feeling for sure.

Opryland, Then & Now

[disneymoc]

I think Chaos was located to the right of the Grizzly River Rampage close to where the RR marking is on that map.

[montezooma]

I am going to pay my homage to Opryland next week, I decided to take my family to the Opryland Hotel for Christmas. I am sure it will be bittersweet for me.

[TheRapidsNerd]

^^ You're exactly right friend.

 

^ It was for me, but it was still enjoyable and a beautiful hotel. Always did love the atriums. Say hello to DiVine for me.

 

Actually Shane, depending on schedules, would you all want to meet up? Been thinking of going up there for the Christmas decor anyway. PM me, if you don't mind, if this sounds good.

[ETapley0687]

Glad to see this topic up again.

 

^^^ Yea that's exactly where Chaos was. That grass area with the office right there is the exact area. That was my favorite ride in the park.

 

I might be staying in the hotel for my mom's Employee Christmas Party I think on the 18th. I'm not sure if I'm going yet, but if I do it would be my first time staying there as far as I can remember lol.

[monie1170]

that Opryland is gone. I visited the park several times as a child and young adult and then when I turned 15, it became my first job. I loved it. I think it was the summer of '86. I took my kids a few times but they can't remember. They were only around 8 and 6 when it closed. The one thing they remember is the Christmas Spectactular they had, oh and the Halloween thing too. My youngest girl who is 9 never got to experience it and she really wishes it was still here. We visit OpryMills sometimes...just for a movie mostly...and we always visit the Grizzly remnants. I look at it and I want to cry. My family thinks I'm crazy...well, except for my 9 yr old. She enjoys tagging along while I'm reminiscing. I haven't noticed any construction yet. I'm so glad that there are people out that just like me...crazy about Opryland and missing it!

 

Paved paradise to put up a parking lot!

[TheRapidsNerd]

^ I know it's pretty tough, and believe me, I had a hard time digesting the whole thing over the past few years. Honestly, the magic and feel of the old park is still there in places, which is comforting. Several of us dearly miss Opryland USA, and we count our lucky stars for what quality of time we did have there. (offers a pat on the should and a reassuring "I understand" look)

 

It's almost time for my annual pilgrimage and update. Been meaning to integrate my TRs with Shane's GREAT thread somehow, so that the info is all in one place.

[coasterdude5]

Did they remove the remnants of Grizzly or is it still there? I remember there being some talk about it being removed.

[TheRapidsNerd]

^ About last may, they had filled in some of the channel where the observation deck used to be just before the waterfalls. There was a truck parked in the middle. No demo work had started, but the signs led one to believe they were preparing. All I know.

[tntornadox]

It will be eventually demolished- so get your fill now.

 

Metro approved the tax subsidies for Gaylord to move forward with the expansion of the Opryland Convention Center over the current GRR site- the economy may have slowed progress down, but it will happen eventually.

[ETapley0687]

Yea last time I checked in the fall, there was something going on in the middle. I'm sure the removal of it is coming soon.