Our family would visit Opryland Theme Park at least once, and sometimes twice, each year, until the park closed in 1997.
When we first started going to Opryland, the boys were too small to ride the big roller coasters.
We would ride the Flume Zoom, a log ride that seats up to six people, in Hill Country. No one wanted to sit up front because they would get wet.
Sometimes we would take the New Orleans Sky ride, which travels from one side of the park to the other.
As the kids got older, they would ride the timber topper coaster. In 1979, the coaster was renamed the Rock' n' Roller Coaster. This coaster shot out of the station into a single loop, climbing into a double loop and back to the station with a quick stop. There were always long lines for this ride.
The boys always enjoyed driving the antique cars called the tin Lizzies. The vehicle would hold up to four people, and the boys always wanted to be the driver, so sometimes we would ride in separate cars or ride over and over so each could get a chance to be the driver. The tin Lizzie was on a track, so no matter what kind of driver you were, you were always coming back to the station safely.
The kids also enjoyed the little deuce, a closed float ride. The lakeside area was home to the kiddy rides and the old millstream, where we would get into a boat that took us around the lake on a track.
The barnstormer was a biplane sky ride, and it was next to the old millstream.
At the state fair was the petting zoo, where the kids could pet and feed the animals.
The kids love the bumper cars, where they can run into each other.
There were endless carnival games for the kids to play, and I always tried to steer them away from this area because it cost more money.
The Wall-Bash cannonball was one of the kids' favorite coasters.
It flipped over twice.
This ride was a large raft that could seat up to 20 people. It went down the raging river, passing several waterfalls, twisting and turning.
Water was coming at you from all sides as you were carried down the raging river.
In 1989, the Chaos was added in the Grizzly River area, and it was a Vekoma Steel coaster.
In 1995, the hangman was added in the American West.
We rode every roller coaster repeatedly, screaming, holding up our hands, in delight with every ride.
There was a building called the Angle Inn that was built on a slant, and as we walked through it, we felt like we were going to tip over.
Throughout the park, people were performing country music.
Along the lake, we would visit Country Music USA, where various country singers would perform for 1 hour.
Rocking around the clock was the 50's era where songs were performed from the 50's.
We would visit Roy Acuff's museum, which housed many of his musical instruments. There was a museum for Minnie Pearl, Roy Acuff's theater, the Nashville Network Studio, the WSM Radio Broadcasting booth, and the Grand Ole Opry house.
There was a large boat ride called the General Jackson. There were kennels for your pets, restrooms, and telephones throughout the park.
There were gift shops: Jewels and Gems, The Music Box, Ragin' Cajun Shirt Shop.
There was Professor Bloodgood's photography, Emporiums, and Hill Country Arts and Crafts Shop.
There were many food places throughout the park: Chubby's drive-in, Julio Pizza, Zack's frozen yogurt, Mrs. Winery Chicken and biscuits, Grizzly kitchen, Chos Concessions, Seafood Wharf, Café Mardi Gras, La Fudgeries, Country Kettles, Ruby's Country Kitchen, Funnel Cakes, and old-fashioned ice cream.
Opryland USA
2802 Opryland Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214
615-889-6611
In 1989, the cost to enter Opryland theme park was $18.95; children under 3 were admitted free.
One trip to Opryland was with two of my sisters and my sister's friend, in my sister's Mustang.
It was a wild and crazy ride; I was slung from one side of the car to the other side.
It felt like we were in a racecar or riding a roller coaster.
We went to Opryland Theme Park with our church group many times.
We took my dad's blue van several times because it could hold several people.
One year, we went with Nina, Billy, Michelle, Shana, OL, Ann, Chris, and Craig Wallace.
We all stayed at a Nashville motel with an outdoor swimming pool.
Before the Nashville Speedway race, we all enjoyed riding the large roller coaster that was in the park near the speedway.
Before Opryland closed, it had a Christmas theme with ice skating, and it was beautifully decorated for the Holidays.
