We Want Your Memories of Opryland

Following in the footsteps of our popular Memories series — Memories of Nashville, Memories of Downtown Nashville, Memories of High School and Memories of Sulphur Dell — NPT is working on Memories of Opryland. From Program Manager Justin Harvey:

“Do you miss the Grizzly River Rampage or the Screamin’ Delta Demon? If you do, you’re not alone! People in our city and all over the country miss the Opryland USA Theme Park. Here’s your chance to relive those memories. Nashville Public Television is working on “Memories of Opryland”, the newest in the Memories of Nashville series and we need your help. Let us know if you have photos, videos or memories of the park that you would like to share.”

Contact Justin at jharvey[at]wnpt.net or give him a call at (615) 259-9325.

Thanks!

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I was an avid fan of Opryland. I mainly went for the live shows especially “Country Music USA.
There were so many talented young artist gathered from all over the United States and placed into these casts each season. Some stayed for several season and you got to know them and became friends. Some have gone on to have mega careers, some still preform in other venues, but most have go on to private lives, married with kids. I created this myspace page in hopes to reconnect the alumni casts and word of mouth and internet searching is paying off. It’s not even a month old and the people I have contacted have joined and thanked me for doing this. I have remained anonymous in doing this because some know me and I wanted them to join because of the idea not because it’s me. I have tapes of this show that I have converted to DVD, and will be happy to share with you and your great station. Thank YOU for remembering Opryland and what it meant to the people of middle Tennessee.
Rick Sweeney

As an employee for Opryland/Gaylord for 12 years, the employees were extended family. Nothing has ever compared to the comraderie that was a special part of that time. I was proud of the hotel, the theme park and incredible talent of the employees and the musicians.

Thank you for keeping Opryland alive…just like it still is as a special part of my professional life.

I was an employee for 4 years (1978-1982). I am still friends with people I worked with at Opryland. I grew up straight across Briley Parkway from the park. It was my hangout during my pre-teen years. I believe that during my years of employment, we had the hardest working youth that understood the real meaning of “customer service” – and we didn’t even make the minimum wage! The work ethic I learned there is still with me today. There were plenty of employee activities – there was a sports league for employees (I played on the Merchandise Department softball team)and free parties in the park after closing. They even produced an Annual every year – just like a high school yearbook. I was heartbroken when I heard it was being torn down. Unfortunately, I lived in Atlanta at that time and didn’t get to make a final visit.

My first trip to Opryland was on my 7th birthday the year it opened. I will never forget that day. The year it closed I had a seasons pass & went often. I loved the old west area & the DooWop area. Halloween & Chritmas was a great time to go. I loved the joy I would feel there. I am putting together pictures and articles about the park in hopes of making a realy nice book. I also have several park maps from different years, a yearbook, a sign from the employee’s area and probable every post card they made. I would like any help in any way with could the series. It was the best place to visit in Nashville!

I was a singer/dancer in “For Me and My Gal” in 1978. I have photos and lots of fond memories. I would be happy to share them with you for the Nashville Public Televsion show.

I enjoyed going to Opryland and taking the children. I really liked the shows That was a good memory. I wish Opryland was back it was close to my home in West Tennessee.

I worked in the park in the late 80’s and early 90’s. I have lots of vivid memories and it was the best time I’ve had in my life as far as employment. Most of my memories are a bit too “personal” to share which involved the antics and daily lives of us young folks. I worked the Rock N Roller Coaster for a few years and still have several of the operations manuals from the park as well as some old 8mm footage of the ride, the operation panel, etc.

Some of the things that aren’t too personal are memories of trying to run for the restroom on your break and always getting caught by the train and having to stand there and wave. LOL! We’d duck behind trees and so on to avoid it. I can still hear that big air raid horn when you turned the power on the ride. Doing the block checks each morning, climbing up and down the lift. Little pranks we’d play on the new employees.

One of the girls nearly crushing my foot off in the transfer track. One of the girls running entirely off the track during a period when the ride was shut down and you had to run to the guests to make sure there was no panic.

Dumping coolers of ice water on us to stay cool. Using “spritzer” bottles filled with ice water. The year we had carpenter ants that were so bad we had to go to first aid and be hosed down with “OFF” to keep from getting bit. The luxury of the break rooms under the rides that had sub-zero air conditioning to cool off. We would run downstairs and take the water hose and wet our heads.

The flood and all the giant spiders in the “Little Duece Coupe” after the water drained back. Oh my, and Duece Coupe, it never failed. Kids would eat pizza and then come ride the darn thing and get sick. YOU were responsible for cleaning it up. Lots of this was inside information that I’m sure the owners would NEVER hoped to be told but it was daily life in the park. It had its emergencies. It had its good times and it had its negative moments.

Long after I quit working there my Mother wanted to go so I took her. We were watching a show when a lady dropped from a heart attack. The daughter screamed out if anybody knew CPR to which my Mother stood up and said, “MY SON DOES!!” So I performed CPR on this lady until the first aid team got there.

The groupies that used to follow us which were the local kids with season passes. Getting off work and going to wardrobe and change so you could run back to the Old Mill Scream on the observation deck and get soaking wet to cool off.

Playing “phone tag.” All of us worked most of the rides in the park. If there was an absentee at another ride, you could go work it so it was great to move around the park. I can remember on “Grizzly” there was a tree house way back in the woods that you climbed and watched to make sure nobody was standing up, etc. Most of the rides had telephones at each station and some had a bull horn to make announcements. There was a bull horn ON the tree house and one of the things the panel operators used to like to do was wait until you had been out there in the heat long enough that you were about to fall asleep and then YELL into that bull horn! It would literally knock you out of the tree house!

Kids would think they were smart too. Sometimes I worked “Flume” on the drop which was another safety point to ensure riders were doing everything properly. Kids would take cups and throw water on you. What they didn’t realize is there was a manual break there! There was also a water hose! LOL!! Pop that break up and just absolutely drown them with the hose.

Kids are also stupid. The rides had fences and gates and things but that wouldn’t stop a young boy from hopping the fence and running right out into the middle of the track to grab his hat he lost. You shut the ride down for that one! You didn’t even look. You just flipped the power off. Depending on where the coaster stopped in the track was how serious the issue. Everybody had to run to the coaster where it stopped to keep people calm and from climbing out. It was normal for us and there wasn’t anything wrong with the ride but the rumors would spread that somebody died or whatever.

People would gather at the exit ramp watching the scene as the coaster was unloaded and that was simply because of the weight of the occupants. You couldn’t restart the ride with that weight. So there again people would stand there and watch and spread rumors and you were to try to keep them from standing there. Yeah right! There was a huge air raid siren underneath the building that was SUPER LOUD and that was warning to anybody in the area that the ride was being restarted.

The fun part was that siren was aimed RIGHT AT the exit ramp so without warning we had the okay to restart, you’d flip that power switch on and that siren would go off. Those people would run for the hills! LOL! It cleared them out all right! I can still hear all the sounds and I thought about bringing a tape recorder to the ride and just recording the sounds but I never did. I’m sorry I didn’t.

I was sort of clumsy and tripped over my own feet then and one of the girls said I reminded her of “Daffy Duck.” So that name stuck. I was “Dafffy” from then on. I don’t think anybody knew my real name! It was on my nametag. I answered the phone that way.

There’s lots of other stuff I remember but I’ve talked enough all ready.

I worked at Opryland from the 1973 season to the 1975 season. I left to assume a rides management position at another theme park in Santa Clara, CA. I returned to Opryland for the 1978 season. I was the lead engineer on the Trains – remember Beatrice & Rachell back when they were authentic steam engines??…that was before they were spade to diesel engines to save operating costs. Operating those trains was one of the best jobs I have ever had in my entire career. I met my wife of 29 years at Opryland while she was working on the Cannon Ball and I was on the Train. Thank goodness the train track took us under the Cannon Ball so I could see that cute girl working up on that platform! In 1981 I was the very last sound engineer to do the sound for “I Hear America Singing” in the American Music Theater for the RED cast before the show was put on hiatus for several years. Everytime I walk through Opry Mills I think of what used to be. A very sad day for us all when the park closed.

I worked at O-land about 6 seasons working mostly on the Grizzly River Rampage and working the last couple of years on the train. I do miss Beatrice, Elizabeth and Rachel (the steam engine). I wonder many times what happened to those trains and where they ended up. Many memories and fun at that place. Too bad it’s now a shopping mall.

i worked at the Country Kettle in the 70’s near the Flume Zoom Opryland was such a great place to hang out after work it don’t seem like it has been 11 years since it has been gone it’s sad to know that there is a mall sitting in it’s place today.

hi michelle…i too worked at the kettle in the 70s. then i went to carts……popcorn,ice cream,hot dog…etc.i miss all yall sooooooo bad. love ya, rick

Thanks to all who have been posting and emailing in their memories. I’ve been forwarding on those memories posted here to Justin Harvey for the program. He’s deep into production leading up to the show’s Premiere on Sunday, November 30, and has plenty of material, so I won’t be forwarding on anymore. But please, please, continue to post here. I love reading the stories.

Thanks!

I worked at Opryland in 1981-1983. I worked mostly in the Plaza area ~ sometimes the Flume or Skyride in the New Orleans area, when needed. I remember COLD days in thin, not warm uniforms of yellow and green stripe! I worked at the Gaslight Theater where I met Steve Chapman (Steven Curtis Chapman now), saw George Strait in his EARLY days……
What fun times. I remember days when my legs and feet hurt so bad I didn’t think I could stand for another moment! Met great friend and made great memories. Can’t wait to see the show.
I have photos, if needed.

As a family we would pull our camper to the Nashville area from Pennsylvania in the mid to late 1970’s. We would always camp at the same campground and go to Opryland. I remember meeting Roy Acuff. He looked me right in the eyes and smiled while he was shaking my hand . Even as a kid I appreciated the fact that he was a country music legend and to this day when I hear his music I think about how nice he was. I always enjoyed Russ and Becky Jeffers and the Smokey Mountain Sunshine. What a great show. I can still hear them singing Smokey Mountain Sunshine and Rocky Top. No one since has done a better rendition of Rocky Top in my opinion. They always seemed like such nice people. My Dad who has since been called home. was an adamant fan of Opryland. He would get excited every time that we would go and map things out so that we would not miss a show and still have time for the rides. We may have some 8mm footage of the park or some pictures I will ask my Mom over Thanksgiving. There was alot of talent that went throught that park and alot of great memories that came out of it. Please feel free to contact me. I cannot wait to see the program.

I grew up going to Opryland all summer long. My most vivid memories are “The Swings.” I would eat as much cotton candy as possible and ride the ride till I was sick. It was the closet thing to flying that I knew. The Grizzly River Rampage” scared the pants off me,but I loved it anyways. 🙂 The Log ride was fun, relaxing and kept us all cool. And the Tin Lizzies made me feel like a grown up. Wow-great memories-great times!

I wrote this a few years ago to remember the memories of Opryland.

I have to say that Opryland Themepark was the best themepark in the world. Probably because I grew up here in Nashville and I had a pass every year. It wasn’t the biggest themepark in America, but it was my favorite. It had a large amount of rides and a variety of stuff for every age, whether young or old.
I think that it was really sad when they closed Opryland because it held alot of memories for alot of people. I mean I have alot of memories there, the first time I went I was 5 months old and they closed it when I was 17. Like I remember that I rode my first roller coaster there. It was the Rock-N-Roller Coaster and I was scared to death. But I loved every minute of it. My favorite ride of all times was the Hangman. Also I remember when I was really small going into the Angle In. Which was this room that was at an angle and you walked through. They had a chair that sat on the wall because of the angle. But it was great.
But it wasn’t just about the rides, you could go there for the whole day & still have fun w/out riding one ride. They had awesome shows, and people watching was an all time favorite also. And if it rained, everyone would leave & you could have the park too yourself. The animals were another neat thing, the goats, ducks, & the little zoo. The smell of the deer in the hot summer. It was the atmosphere, that was the best. You could here the Train Whistle out in the parking lot & the laughter & screams of people on the rides, you could just feel the excitement in the air.
For anybody that got to experience Opryland Themepark, I think that’s it’s great that you got to experience it. Because there are alot of people now, that won’t be able experience to magic that it displayed, because it’s not there anymore. I think that it’s really sad about Opryland having to go. But it will always be with us in memories and the fun times we’ll remember.

I worked there in the early 80s. My first memory was trying to find a pair of white Fred Perry tennis shoes that were required to go with the uniforms!

My sister Carol and me were season ticket folks. We would come all the way from North Carolina to see The Cumberboys Show at the gazebo! We are OAK RIDGE BOYS fans, and when we heard HOW GREAT THAT ARE echoing thru the park, we knew that we would enjoy that show!
As crowded at the park was everytime we went, it was a real shock that Nashville let this wonderful Family park slip right out here. No other amusement part can compare to Opryland, as no only did they have the great rides, but you had the wonderful shady paths with the beautiful scenery, the petting animals and all the wonderful talented performers in the top notch shows! Then one year they had a free top name country artist FREE to Opryland attendees!
Thank YOU for showing MEMORIES AT OPRYLAND! It was a great show and really presented the park and the employees in the way they deserved! STANDING OVATION!

I was the fiddle player with Smokey Mountain Sunshine for the 1979 season. I loved it there, and was sad to leave, although it was a whole lot of work.
One of my favorite things about the day, was being there before they opened the doors to the customers. We’d have sausage biscuits as we warmed up, and got our costumes on.
My first show was during a snowstorm. We played in our winter coats, and my aunt and uncle from Kentucky sat out in the risers to see me play. I have pictures of that day, but it’s hard to see us through the snow!
Russ and Becky Jeffers, James McKinney, and all the REAL bluegrass musicians were very kind to me – especially since I was learning on the job. I have pictures of the Martin Guitar Theater, if anyone’s interested!
It’s wonderful that the park has not been forgotten.

Hi Everyone!
I really miss the old days of playing at the martin theater.

Lara was an awesome fiddler and when she was in the band we were the number one attended show in the park. Lara was a Real bluegrass Musician and that incarnation of the band traveled all over the states and canada promoting Country and Bluegrass music.

The Friendships and music and great people, Opryland was the best.
James Mckinney
Extreme banjoist

we were avid fans of opryland theme park and sure do miss it. we spent our honeymoon there in 1982, and went there year after year till it closed. we met our favorite country singer there for the first time when he did a concert there the summer of 1993, marty stuart. and we continued to go see him there when he performed there on later dates as well.

we wondered where did the rides go.

we loved the trains, griizzly river rampage, and the roller coasters. also loved the shows as well, we enjoyed tim watson that played the fiddle. and we enjoyed mike snider when he was performing in the park too,
got to meet mr. porter wagoner there as well.

Our parents took us to Opryland the first season it was opened and never missed a year since. There was always something to do or see for all ages. We would stand in line at the gate for it to open and would be the last to leave at night with the feeling of just to spend a little more time enjoying the atmosphere. In 1984 me and my wife had only been married about a month and yes we went to Opryland. Never missing a season with our 3 boys and seeing them grow up. The only bad thoughts I have now is my grandchildren who love Dollywood will never get to experience the rides and mostly the great shows, especially the Theater by the Lake that we have enjoyed over the years. I really would like to tell the people at Gaylord what they could do with thier mall After visiting it a few years ago. I left Nashville very depressed and have never been back.

I worked at Opryland for 3 summers during my high school years. I made a lot of friends there. Those were the best years of my life.
Opryland employed not only area high school students but college students as well. Everybody loved it.
I had to drive an old beat up bus in the back parking lot with nobody else to talk to, but I remember watching the fireworks display every night at 10 pm at closing time. I can also remember the free parties for the employees after the park closed.
Lots of high school and college students these days are getting involved with drugs and other things they shouldn’t be doing. Maybe if they had weekend and summer jobs with their friends and something to look forward to during the school year like WE did, they wouldn’t be doing them.
I still have my name badge and my Opryland yearbooks. Those are the only proof that I have that Opryland ever existed.

Man, I couldn’t believe it when I read about Gaylord closing Opryland a few years ago. I dated Becky Jeffers sister Sue for several years and we attended several shows that Russ and Becky put on at the Martin Outdoor Theatre. The theme park was immaculately clean at all times and the staff was exceptional. Just good old southern hospitality and friendliness and a wonderful place to take your kids. Many of the performers who were unheard of at the time went on to make a name of themselves using Opryland as a kickoff point. It was so sad to see the area bulldozed the next trip I made down to Nashville after the closing. Gaylord, you messed up but there’s nothing you can do about it now. Glad we have some old Youtube videos and pictures for the memories though. I hope people will alwys remember the place and the good times.

I worked the Admissions Center seasons 92 and 93, Most fun I ever had. I’m trying to find, Lisa Joyce, Amy and Gloria, ladies I worked with there. Still can’t believe park closed. I wrote a protest song about the park’s closing, so sad.

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