The TRUTH about OPRYLAND U.S.A.

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  • čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
  • If you are fan of Opryland U.S.A., the musical theme park that was once nestled in Nashville, Tennessee before it closed, then this is the right video for you! In this video, you’re going to find out the truth behind Opryland’s closure. Opryland was Nashville Tennessee’s number one tourist destination every year it was opened except one. Opryland Theme Park, was a place where music and entertainment collided and it provided unforgettable experiences for visitors of all ages.From thrilling rides to live performances, Opryland was more than just a theme park-it was a cultural icon. Explore the grounds of Opryland Nashville, once home to the iconic Grand Ole Opry, and learn about its transformation into Opry Mills Mall. Was this transformation a good idea, or bad idea? In this video, we uncover the reasons behind Gaylord Entertainment's decision to shutter this beloved attraction. We’re going to separate fact from fiction.
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    Links
    Nashville Scene
    Looking Back at the Rushed 1997 Closure of Opryland USA
    LAURA BROWN
    www.nashvillescene.com/news/c...
    Expedition Theme Park
    The Closed History of Opryland USA- A Theme Park Replaced by a mall.
    • The Closed History of ...
    Gaylord Opryland Hotel
    www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels...
    Opry Mills
    www.simon.com/mall/opry-mills
    Grand Ole Opry
    www.opry.com/experience-the-opry
    Washington Post
    Troubles in Opryland
    Dana Hedgpeth
    www.washingtonpost.com/archiv...
    WKRN News 2
    Riding that nostalgia wave from Opryland U.S.A.
    • Riding that nostalgia ...
    Derek Fugate
    A Look Back at Opryland USA Amusement Park, Nashville, Tennessee
    • A look back at Oprylan...
    Duke Marsh
    Opryland Trip 1981
    • Opryland Trip 1981
    Wilton Wanderlust
    Opryland USA Theme Park In Video June 1990!-VHS
    • Opryland USA Theme Par...
    spsimmons
    Opryland USA 1994
    • Opryland USA 1994
    The Dinner King
    Opryland Chaos Commercial
    • Opryland "Chaos" Comme...
    Music Credits
    www.epidemicsound.com/track/S...
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    Chapters
    00:00 Opryland U.S.A.
    04:14 Opry Mills is a great mall.
    09:18 Closing Opryland was a P.R. Disaster
    13:55 Closing Opryland lacked due diligence
    15:01 Opryland Heroes and Villains
    16:14 The Truth about Opryland U.S.A.
    19:10 Closing Opryland, the verdict.
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Komentáře • 49

  • @BillMarion
    @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci +2

    Help me out! Share this video!

  • @chrisbrown2191
    @chrisbrown2191 Před 2 měsíci +1

    You are right about enclosed malls are in decline. Simon Properties operates the Opry Mills and used to operate Circle Center mall in Indianapolis that opened in 1994. Circle Center Mall is a video for itself.

  • @yotsubafanfan
    @yotsubafanfan Před 10 dny

    I was born in Kentucky about an hour and a half from Nashville. If I were born any earlier, it would've been my home amusement park. It was where my Mom, my cousins, and older sister got introduced to roller-coaster's. My parents even had season tickets for a brief time before I was born. While I do have decent memories of Opry Mills, (mostly being the one thing keeping me sane when my family fled to Nashville during the '09 Ice storm.) I'd much rather have memories of Opryland instead.

  • @lsrose
    @lsrose Před 26 dny

    Thanks for this video. I still can't believe somebody thought closing Opryland was a good idea.

  • @d25615
    @d25615 Před 2 měsíci

    Thanks for this one. I only went once in 8th grade wish i could've taken the kids. I love the old pics.

  • @chrisbrown2191
    @chrisbrown2191 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I saw Charlie Rich at the gas light theater for a taping of Country Tonight on TNN.

  • @IRgEEK
    @IRgEEK Před 2 měsíci

    It was our goto growing up through the 70s and 80s. So many happy memories there making the 2 hr drive down with my Mom, often with a carload of neighborhood buds being brought along. Just in the first 30 secs, seeing the good old 'Rock n' Roller Coaster' which was my favorite, warmed my heart. Thank you for sharing!

  • @nashscan
    @nashscan Před 20 dny

    I had the privilege of working in the park the last year it was open, 1997. The sadness we felt was unbelievable when we found out what Gaylord was going to do. Opryland changed my life.

  • @strongsadventures
    @strongsadventures Před 2 měsíci +2

    I have been waiting on this new video for 15 years since you made the last one LOL ok maybe 5 or 6 years. Can't wait buddy.

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci +1

      It's been at least 20 years...lol Man, it felt like 20 years! lol

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci +1

      Got booted off the chat or I hit the wrong button. If I had to bet...it was probably me.

  • @chrisbrown2191
    @chrisbrown2191 Před 2 měsíci

    The original Opryland video was the first one of yours that I watched and our discussion about why the theme park closed.

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci +1

      I know, right! Seems like ages ago now. But here we are again. I'm so grateful you watched that one, even if it's cringe, and thank you for watching this one. Seriously, I'm so thankful!

  • @dennisjackson6693
    @dennisjackson6693 Před 2 měsíci

    brother bill great job we loved it

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci

      I'm so thankful you watched!

    • @dennisjackson6693
      @dennisjackson6693 Před 2 měsíci

      @@BillMarion is that carmilita in the background behind your dad at time 21:21

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci

      @@dennisjackson6693 Yes sir!

  • @thehamelsduck1600
    @thehamelsduck1600 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I wish this man would do a video of the park I worked at because he did such an amazing job with the Opryland video.

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci

      Well thank ya! Which park?

    • @strongsadventures
      @strongsadventures Před 2 měsíci

      @@BillMarion Hamel's Amusement Park. Shreveport Louisiana Is where that park was.

    • @thehamelsduck1600
      @thehamelsduck1600 Před 2 měsíci

      @@BillMarion Hamel's Amusement Park in Shreveport LA. I have 3 videos of the park on my channel and Twin Blends has a few more videos.

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci

      WOW! Let's talk this week. Interesting topic to say the least!

  • @TheKiltedAdventurer
    @TheKiltedAdventurer Před 2 měsíci

    I enjoyed Opryland as a kid very much. I wonder if Dollywood (another amazing theme park) benefited?

  • @kdentertainment2002
    @kdentertainment2002 Před 15 dny

    Opry Mills kept many on board with the new mall by keeping some Opry type ideas going, at first. Did you know they kept the water rapids ride? It stayed until about 10 years ago (check online). They also had a Gibson Guitar store and shop inside, along with a TV studio for CMT. In addition, they added larger CD music option with Tower Records. These places I’m mentioning are now long gone. If only this decision was considered 1~2 years later. I’d imagine the park would still be here. Mills company eventually made money on this deal. Gaylord and Nashville lost money.

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 15 dny

      That's pretty cool about the water rapids ride. I didn't know that. I agree. Nashville, and the whole state of Tennessee lost money, and iconic family destination. Thanks for watching and thanks for commenting!

  • @BRM202
    @BRM202 Před 2 měsíci +2

    "They paved Paradise and put up a parking lot."

  • @joshpierce7065
    @joshpierce7065 Před 2 měsíci

    I definitely wanna see the growth of Opryland in 1996 😊

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci

      You talking about the possibility for expansion?

  • @joshpierce7065
    @joshpierce7065 Před 2 měsíci +1

    I still collect all things Opryland USA.....Or even the Grand old Opry.....but nothing from Opry Mills considering how mad that place makes me 😡

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci

      I’d so cool that you collect Opryland stuff. It would be cool if they started making old Opryland shirts. Like a retro kind of thing. Thank you for watching and thanks for commenting!

  • @brentnashville
    @brentnashville Před 2 měsíci +1

    They claimed they didn't do any market research before closing Opryland, but that might be a lie. A good friend of mine was paid in 1997 to give surveys to tourists leaving the park. She asked them about plans to return to the theme park, and if they would return if the area became something else. She handed off this market research to management. years later, she joked she was the reason Opryland closed.
    I'm reading between the lines here. When Gaylord says they didn't do market research, what probably happened was the visitors to the theme park loved the theme park. They were looking for a reason to close the theme park, but probably didn't get it from these surveys. If they're going to lie about it anyway, it looks better to say "We didn't do due diligence" than "We did do due diligence and the results make us look even worse."
    Hopefully, the theme park which bought and relocated the Chaos ride fixed all the effects which didn't work.

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci

      Wow. That's incredibly interesting. I bet you're right! Thanks for watching and thanks for commenting!

  • @arfriedman4577
    @arfriedman4577 Před 2 měsíci

    In late 1970s, early 1980s game shows gave opryland prizes i think.
    Otherwise im not sure how i heard of opryland.

  • @SaabJitsu
    @SaabJitsu Před 8 dny

    As someone who has worked for Gaylord and know several independent contractors who have worked for Gaylord all I can say is, don't. They have a hard time keeping contractors due to them wanting to be your only concern regardless of what other customer commitments you may have. As always, just follow the money and you'll find the problem

  • @PioneerCity1767
    @PioneerCity1767 Před 27 dny

    Opryland did not close in the early 1990's. They closed in 1997.

  • @harnesshouse
    @harnesshouse Před 2 měsíci

    Wait! Opryland is closed? How can that be? There are still exit signs on the interstate telling you which exits lead to Opryland. Regarding the Opry Mills theme, it was a LOT more country music oriented before the 2010 flood.

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci

      I tried to video one of those signs and missed it. I don't get that either. It's weird. I'm sure we could figure that out with some googling but I forgot to do that while making this video. Thanks for watching!

    • @Owlet101
      @Owlet101 Před 2 měsíci +1

      If I had to guess they left them up because the Opryland hotel is still up. And you can get there by taking the same exit.

  • @joshuadurham6349
    @joshuadurham6349 Před 2 měsíci

    What about it being on a terrible flood plane?

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci +1

      It is indeed. The mall flooded back in 2010. There's no doubt Opryland would have suffered serious damage. The flood was horrific. But I don't think the damage would have affected the park as much as it did the mall. But I'm just guessing. I mention this in the video but I didn't go into a lot of detail, the park needed reimagining. The main point I was making is that Gaylord didn't know Opryland's potential. I guess an argument can be made that if Gaylord invested heavily into reimagining Opryland, the flood may have crippled it. But I don't see how it would be any worse than what the flood did to Opry Mills.

    • @joshuadurham6349
      @joshuadurham6349 Před 2 měsíci

      @BillMarion oh I agree with you. I'm a Nashville native that was fortunate enough to have got to visit the park a lot as a child. I was just playing the devils advocate in that scenario.
      Imagine how successful the park would have been if it had made it to the tourism resurgence that nashville has been enjoy this past decade or so.

    • @BillMarion
      @BillMarion  Před 2 měsíci

      I know. Opryland hadn’t even seen its best days yet.

  • @PioneerCity1767
    @PioneerCity1767 Před 27 dny

    The Gaylord grandkids are who decided to do this. They could care less about Country Music and Opryland. They did it because they hated Country Music.

    • @lsrose
      @lsrose Před 26 dny

      This makes as much sense as anything else I've heard

    • @PioneerCity1767
      @PioneerCity1767 Před 25 dny

      @@lsrose if your reply is to me what I say is correct. I was there.