Opryland Theme Parked opened June 30,1972 and the park closed December 31,1997
Our family would visit Opryland Theme Park at least once or even twice a 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 would seat up to six people in Hill Country. No one wanted to sit up front because they would get wet.
In Big Hill Country we would hop aboard the Thunder Switch train and ride to El Paso Station to the American west.
Sometimes we would take the New Orleans Sky ride which travel from one side of the park to the other.
We spent the majority of the time at Opryland Theme park watching Country Music Shows
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 was always long lines for this ride.
The boys always enjoyed driving the antique cars called the tin Lizzies. The car would hold up to four people and the boys always wanted to be the driver so sometime 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 cope it was an enclosed 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 it was on a track.
The barnstormer was a Bio Airplane sky ride and it was next to the old millstream.
In the state fair was the petting zoo where the kids could pet and feed the animals.
We also enjoyed The Tennessee Waltz swing, which was my favorite.
The kids love the bumper cars where they could 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 cannon ball was one of the kid’s favorite coasters.
It flipped over twice.
We would always get soaking wet on the Grizzly River Country.
This ride was a large raft that seated up to twenty 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 1984 the Scream n’ Delta Demon Coaster was added in the New Orleans area. It was an intamin wheeled bobsled coaster.
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 builds on a slant and as we walked through it, we felt like we were going to tip over.
Throughout the park there were people performing country music shows.
Along the lake we would visit Country Music USA where various country singers would sing and dance for one hour.
Rocking around the clock was the 50’s area where songs were performed from the 50’s era.
We would visit the Roy Acuff’s museum that housed many of his musical instruments. There was a museum for Minnie Pearl, Roy Acuff’s theater, Nashville Network Studio, WSM Radio Broadcasting booth, and the Grand Old Opry house.
There was a large boat ride called General Jackson. There was a kennel 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 Professors Bloodgood’s photography, Emporiums, 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 fashion ice cream.
Opryland USA
2802 Opryland Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214
615-889-6611
1989 the cost to get into Opryland theme park was $18.95, for children younger than three was no cost.
One trip to Opryland was with two of my sisters, and my sisters friend, in my sisters 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 Race Car or riding up and down 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 would hold several people.
One year we went with Nina, Billy Michelle, Shana, OL, Ann, Chris, and Craig Wallace.
We were all going to Opryland Theme Park and the Nashville Speedway.
We all stayed in a Nashville Motel that had 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 Christmas Holidays.
