Opryland USA Remnants 2008

[TheRapidsNerd]

Part 1. Grizzly River Rampage. This past Sunday I headed up to Opry Mills to see the rumored demolition progress and get in one last round of filming and pics. After a false start on Saturday and wet weather, Sunday was sunny, breezy, and gorgeous.

 

If you'd like to see 2007's Opryland TR, it's here:

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

 

In short, except for a couple things, Grizzly River Rampage is still the same. The trees and plants have greened up, so it’s tough to see a whole lot, but the once observation deck is now a bridge along with fill dirt in the channel. Saw a pick-up in the middle area and the deck was roped off. Yep, they’re prepping for demo it would seem. The same was done during Thuder River’s tear down at Astroworld.

 

While I miss the old park, the vibe I got from the area was that of contentment. Instead of the sadness of last year, it seemed more like dignified acceptance. With everything blooming and lush now, there was even some of that Opryland Magic still about. This made me feel much better about the impending demo.

 

No, the mall will NEVER replace the park, but the area has not lost it’s charm or beauty and it’s still worth a visit. And now the pics with hotel and mall there after.

No words needed. Part 2 Opryland Hotel coming soon.

Some of the built in planters. These are all over the big rock, even up on top.

Out near the parking lot, the fence has been extended about 6-8 feet in some places from where it was last year.

Oooo. Drain pipe. The whole big corner rock was a room/pumphouse for the water falls. Would've loved to see inside it.

Another angle on the big corner rock. Yeah, it's getting a little thin for me too. Hang in there, ok?

Thought it was neat to see how the rocks were made. Chicken wire and cement.

Old can. Lame caption. Moving on.

Lovely tree, isn't it?

Two of Grizzly's biggest fans. And the squid inked.

Oh look! An eagle! Just trying to keep it lively folks.

Yep, more boat channel. Only 7000 more lke this to go. Just kidding.

Path between hotel and ticket booth. The trees were lush and so many flowers blooming this day. Very pretty despite the circumstances.

As close as I could get to the cave. Markings inside. Could be random, could be uitlity. No idea really.

More of the boat channel near the cave and parallel to the walkway between the ticket booth and hotel.

This was the hotel ticket entrance on the path around the backside of Grizzly.

In the distance you can see where they filled in for the bridge. We're facing back towards the big corner rock.

Artsy shot looking back at the big corner rock.

The boat channel looking towards the cave.

It is a nice quiet place to sit. Nice breeze through there.

I've always enjoyed these themed concrete rocks for some reason.

Bench the Ride employee meeting.

My memory of themeing is sketchy here, but I'm pretty sure the bear in the cave never drove a pick-up.

A closer look.

Seems they've broken up the planter/former observation deck, filled in the channel and created a bridge to the middle.

A short walk down the path takes to the big corner rock of Grizzly River Rampage once again.

Well, you can't miss the old Gas Light Theatre...or it's new paint job. Just wow.

I was welcomed by a 7 can salute.

Grand Ole Opry House is still the same as last year. Ditto for the other small theatres and museums nearby.

Rolling in to Opry Mills, I think this swatch of land used to have the park sign and guitar floral arrangement, but can't be sure. Can someone verify this?

See? Pretty day.

Bob, the Rapids Dummy was my co-pilot, but soon discovered his Keen shoes were immune to Klingon Cloaking technology.

New memorial at the Tennessee Welcome Center. Ok, hearse and stone. Emo quota filled. Next!

Welcome to Tenne...see I missed a good photo op.

The trip started off humorously, as I was escorted by a hearse while driving up MEMORIAL Parkway.

[Flippero95]

That's very sad, but cool. We lived right across the street for a long time (post Opryland). I spent many an hour pushing two little kids in a stroller around the Oprymills mall.

[montezooma]

Great pictures. I had no idea that there were bits and pieces left of the park, I thought they had leveled the whole thing.

 

Grizzly River Rampage was a great river ride. Those first generation Intamin Rapids were the best. I worked opening crew on Thunder River at AstroWorld and the boats would jam up all the time. We had to run out to the rafts and jump up and down on them to break them apart. Sometimes we fell in and ended up shooting the rapids...Good times!

 

I understand that Grizzly River had some of the same problems. I rode it in its initial season and loved it.

 

Thanks for those pics

[coasterfreaky]

This was one great rapids ride. I have so many fond memories of riding it. I saw on the Opryland Yahoo group someone else posted recent pics - they walked through the whole course. Took tons of pictures in the cave - where the bear was, "the rapids" part, the big rock/waterfall, station remnants, resevoir, the whole thing.

 

Anyone know what 1st Gen Rapids Rides are left? I think SFOG has one and Great Adventure. Great Adventure's had a very similar setup with the dual stations. I remember on GRR the blast of water that would push your boat to one side or the other of the station. Fun times indeed.

 

Thanks for posting!

[ebl]

I never did visit Opryland. But I did ride a piece of it---Kong at SFDK used to be here and called Hangman.

 

Eric

[ETapley0687]

Great pics man! This was my first rapids ride and I loved it! It's hard to come around to rapids rides like this now.

[coasterdude5]

Seeing pictures of what's left of one of my first "big" parks always sends chills down my back for some reason... Thanks for posting them.

 

Well, you can't miss the old Gas Light Theatre...or it's new paint job. Just wow.

 

LMAO, did Cedar Fair have a paint sale?

[TheRapidsNerd]

Shane, sounds like a great time on Thunder River. I remember similar things happening at Six Flags St. Louis and getting stuck under a waterfall during my first rapids ride on Thunder River.

 

This was one great rapids ride. I have so many fond memories of riding it. I saw on the Opryland Yahoo group someone else posted recent pics - they walked through the whole course. Took tons of pictures in the cave - where the bear was, "the rapids" part, the big rock/waterfall, station remnants, resevoir, the whole thing.

You don't know how badly I wanted to jump the fence and do that, BUT, it is private property and a big no no. I believe Thunder River in St. Louis is a first gen.

 

I never did visit Opryland. But I did ride a piece of it---Kong at SFDK used to be here and called Hangman.

Now that's a new one. You taught me something new today EBL.

 

LMAO, did Cedar Fair have a paint sale?

Between the abundant trash cans and "impressive" paint, I wondered. That building is being renamed the GasHawk Theatre by the way. No no, I kid, I kid.

 

Thanks for the kind words everybody. They're much appreciated.

 

Part 2. Opryland Hotel. I've always loved the conservatory here and visited many times during college. It's very peaceful and a nice place to woo a date. Very pretty at Christmas time too. Saw the Delta section for the first time and loved it. It’s as beautiful as the others and fits in very well. When I left college in 94, Delta was being built.

 

Enjoyed my walk around there and loved my close encounter with DiVine. Here are the pics.

Guy's thinking 'Nice hat and who's the hot plant chic?"

I'm thinking 'This is awesome!! I'm such a dork...but this is AWESOME!!'

 

With that, I take my leave. Part 3 Opry Mills coming soon.

Aloe lovley...

Found my way back to Delta and ran across this pair. Mr. Ed and his wife say 'Howdy ya'll'!

Good. Another map. I'm so lost in here, but loving it.

One of the lobbies. I think there's 2 or 3, but I can't remember which is which.

Can I just move in here? I'll wash dishes and eat Raman. I don't care!

Cascades, now with soothing action.

I read this restaurant spins. Being a fan of The Pinnacle downtown, this is also on the do list.

Front of said Cascade. Yep, waterfall enthusiast.

Through the Cascade! Ha!

Did I mention how pretty this place is? Seriously!

Freeeeebird! Well, there goes THAT moment of zen...

Hmm...now which way? I'll take a right.

Jack Daniels restaurant. Mmmm, cooking and booze. How's it going Joe?

There are also a couple restaurants along one side. Somewhere about is a bonzai tree over 100 years old by some stairs. Missed it too this trip.

Moving into the Garden Conservatory, there's a Skyway above that offers great views of yet more fountians and plants.

Just add diver. Right Hector?

Yay! Palm trees. I'm so easily amused. Who cares?! This place make me happy!

All together now....aahhhhhhh.....

We're still in Delta and this is one of a couple waterfalls along the boat ride. Yes, I am a waterall enthusiast and kudos to SFMM restoring Valencia Falls. Well done!

There are several rooms with balconies looking into the atriums. I fully intend to do a weekender here and stay in one of these rooms.

Ponds, fountains, palm trees, greenery everywhere. Some nice shrubbery too.

The path leading over to the Magnolia, Garden Conservatory, and Cascades areas. Missed Magnolia this trip. Eh, no worries.

Map. Opryland Hotel. Ok, I'm back on the planet again. Wow! This place is big.

Thank God for this sign! I was still beaming over meeting DiVine and couldn't even remember my own name or where I was there for a bit.

Looking back at some of the Delta shops on the main street. I really liked this section.

Didn't get the boat credit this trip. After all the earlier filming at Grizzly, I didn't want to run out the battery on a PoV. Naturally, permission would be asked first.

After regaining composure from my DiVine encounter, I remembered there was still much of the hotel to explore.

While taking video from this spot, DiVine passed right by me and got right up in my face. Then after a few steps, she looked over her shoulder and smirked. I've never enjoyed being pwned so much.

See? There's only 7 of these performers in the world. I've heard of one at Disney World, and saw one in a TR of SFGAdv. Dunno about the others.

This is a lady on stilts covered in leaves that lumbers about and poses agains walls, lamp posts, etc. She just blends in with the scenery, sometimes so well people don't even notice as they walk by.

I immediately became a fanboy after seeing YouTube vids of this performer. Wadda thrill to see her.

Crossing the bridge and...there's DiVine! EEEeeeeee!

Part of the massive atrium.

Man it's so pretty in here!

A view from under the bridge of a couple tall fountains and a Nesse topiary. Sadly, no Chili Peppers around.

Part of the Delta boat ride. We'll cross the bridge over this waterway in a little bit.

Wind through a hallway or two and you're at one of a couple Delta entrances. The view is a just jaw dropping.

Welcome to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. This is the entrance near the backside of Grizzly River Rampage.

[coasterdude5]

It looks like a nice place... but everytime I see that place (and the OpryMills discount outlet mall), I get angry.

 

The tree dude kinda freaked me out.

[Holtskee]

^Yea, I understand what you mean. Whenever I see pics of the Delta section of the Opryland Hotel I just think about how it ate up all the theme park's remaining expansion space.

 

Seems like a lot people that visit there now just know Opryland as being the hotel. They aren't even aware of the theme park that use to be next door where the name originated.

 

Nice photos though.

[TheRapidsNerd]

Whenever I see the Delta section of the Opryland Hotel I just think about how it ate up all the theme park's remaining expansion space.

 

Believe it or not, that was in the back of my head a few times during the day. All those times I went to the atrium in 93 and 94 at night, instead of visiting the park during the weekends. Some regrets there.

 

It's a two-edge sword. I like the hotel, but I don't like what happened to the park. I guess what eased things was getting a similar good feeling walking around that I got when I went to the park. It's tough. I want to be angry at the hotel, yet the atrium has some very happy memories and was a place of solace during some tough times. Seems I went there for the same reason yet again after filming on Sunday. Comfort.

 

I miss the park dearly and always will. That's why I've worked so very hard to document things with pics and vids and build RCT3 models of the rides. I miss it that much. And, it hurts to say this, but it's time to move on. Even the vibe I got around Grizzly said this. It's time to move forward peacefully and look back warmly, as hard as that is.

[ETapley0687]

^ lol I'm making Opryland recreations too. I lost some of the files so I'll have to go back in and change somethings. I have all the track layouts but not all the theming to them. Chaos is the hardest one though. I try to get them as accurate as possible but that one is so hard to make where it will work with the scenery lol.

[montezooma]

Man that is such a SWEET hotel. While I am not a fan of Gaylord and I boycott the OpryMills, I can't resist the charm of this hotel. It is absolutely beautiful.

 

I too am a waterfall enthusiast but more so a "fake waterfall" enthusiast. I am fascinated by artificial rockwork!

[BeemerBoy]

Chaos is the hardest one though.

Sorry, I just have to laugh at any mention of Chaos.....the most pointless "coaster" ever.

[coasterdude5]

^ Yeah, but being one of my first coasters it always seemed massive to me. It probably wouldn't be too great if I rode it today.

[TheRapidsNerd]

I too am a waterfall enthusiast but more so a "fake waterfall" enthusiast. I am fascinated by artificial rockwork!

You'd really enjoy seeing the planters and work around Grizzly. That's one of the reasons I like it so much, the clever built-ins and all the greenery. Didn't Holiday World or somebody add a lazy river with sculpted cement rocks recently? Remember seeing pics somewhere thought it looked so much nicer than just a basic waterway.

 

I think they should put her at Halloween Horror Nights.

You're right. The zombie/goth/vampire lady is one of my favorites. Come to think of it, even the RoTM stilters are cool. You'd have to creep DiVine out a bit, then she'd fit in grape.

 

Chaos.....the most pointless "coaster" ever.

Always dug the logo art, but never really understood the thrill of spiraling down while watching clocks break and lasers flash. Even Revolution at Bobbejahn Land (sorry if I butchered the name) was mystifying. Still pretty weird to see a house/admin building sitting on the land where Chaos stood. Also didn't realize how close everything was. From plaza to Griz is only a couple minutes walk.

 

Editing Part 3 Opry Mills tonight, and that will close out this TR. Glad folks are enjoying it and thanks for all the interest. Naturally, I'll head back to Nashville to check up on things from time to time and post the results. Would also enjoy meeting any locals and just hanging out. My jokes are even worse in person.

 

Thanks all and more soon.

[DBru]

Wow, I've been to this area SO many times, and never realized there were still remnants of the park...

 

I was only able to visit Opryland once, in 1996 (closing year).

 

I remember pretty much everything, except for Chaos. It was an enclosed Vekoma coaster, correct? Any pictures?

[coasterdude5]

I'm not sure I could go in OpryMills again. I went several years ago but I never made the connection that this was the mall that replaced the park.

[ETapley0687]

Chaos is the hardest one though.

Sorry, I just have to laugh at any mention of Chaos.....the most pointless "coaster" ever.

 

LOL! I happen to love Chaos... yet again the last time I rode it I was about 9 I think?... So it probably be different now lol

[TheRapidsNerd]

I'm not sure I could go in OpryMills again. I went several years ago but I never made the connection that this was the mall that replaced the park.

 

First time I saw the mall was 2000 on a vacation to Nashville. It didn't fully register with me either. Of course, I wasn't into theme parks as much then, so it was just another mall. Fast forward to last year and knowing the history, I greeted it with a jackskellington101 style shaking fist. This year, I wanted to see what people really got in the trade from park to mall. I'll elaborate more when the pics are up.

[thrillerman1]

A good 10 years have gone by since we lost OL...hard to believe! I practically grew up going here every summer. Now I try to spend as little time as possible in the mall that replaced it.

 

I think GRR will always be my fav rapids ride. Is the cave still there?

 

Thanks for this TR!

[RCFreak]

No no no, just add necklace lol.

 

 

Dude, awesome pictures! That hotel looks amazing! Thanks for sharing this with us. I look forward to seeing the rest!

[DBru]

Here is a pretty cool page I found about Chaos!

 

http://www.thrillhunter.com/Chaos.html

[TheRapidsNerd]

I think GRR will always be my fav rapids ride. Is the cave still there?

GRR is in my top 3. Yep, it's still there and a few folks have said the bear is gone.

Here is a pretty cool page I found about Chaos!

Hey thanks! Steve over at ThrillHunter has done a lot of work between Opryland and Libertyland.

No no no, just add necklace lol.

Dude, awesome pictures! That hotel looks amazing! Thanks for sharing this with us. I look forward to seeing the rest!

Oops! I did it wrong. Lol! Better go back and listen to ZZ Top again. Thanks for the kind words. Those recent Epcot pics are top notch.

 

Seems I'm running on Lou time lately, but will get what little is left up this weekend. Just hard to work at a computer all day, then sit back down on one and resize 40+ pics, then post them. I salute everybody who does this on a more regular basis.

 

BTW, thanks Jahan for sharing how you do your TRs a while back. Writing up in MS Word first is a BIG help.

 

Coaster Palooza, I saw 2 more smashed penny credits at Opry Mills and thought of you. One was infront of Stingray Reef, and the other, by Rainforest Cafe. If you don't already have them, thought you'd be interested.

 

More soon, Michael

[NINCUB]

Thanks for sharing the Chaos website. I really love seeing details of indoor coasters and I think they are really interesting and fun in a way different than normal outdoor coasters. I would love to see more indoor coasters "revealed" like this one!

 

I road Chaos one time and thought it was a lot of fun... the coasters itself... nothing special, but with it all combined made for a very entertaining ride.