Negative-G - The Remains Of Opryland U.S.A.

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The remains of Opryland USA, Nashville, TN

I kind of think there was a little divine retribution for Gaylord shuttering and demolishing a beloved amusement park. In April of 1998 a massive tornado outbreak occurred dropping twisters across the region. One went through downtown Nashville and the high rise offices of Gaylord Entertainment was hit.

That wasn't the only natural disaster as flooding in 2010 severely damaged the mall, hotel and the Grand Ole Opry that still operates on the site.

I tend to think that God would rather have a park full of fun, joy and memorable experiences than a soul-less big box with lame chain fast food pizza and stores selling the same crap that you can find at every other mall.

The classic century old German hand carved carousel that was the centerpiece of Opryland's Riverside area wasn't even put in the mall. It was one of the rides that Opryland didn't sell and it would have been an amazing centerpiece in the mall paying homage to the past. Instead Gaylord put it in storage where it sits today and added a little mass produced fiberglass carousel almost mocking us.

Even though nothing fun remains of Opryland USA in Nashville parts of it lives on. Premiere Parks, shortly before purchasing Six Flags paid a rumored $10 million for five coasters and several other rides.

Hangman, a Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster which was Opryland's final coaster ended up at Six Flags Marine World in California where it operates as Kong. The Rock 'N Roller Coaster is now the Canyon Blaster at The Great Escape. The other coasters ended up in the parking lot of the closed Old Indiana Amusement park northeast of Indianapolis. Premiere had intended to reopen that park with the rides but after acquiring Six Flags that plan was sidelined and eventually it died. That site ended up becoming the Six Flags "bone yard" with a few old rides from other parks ending up there before the site was eventually sold and they all were sent off to the scrapyard.

Post Opryland Nashville had one less big attraction, tourism fell off and all that remains are the memories of Opryland. I wish the memories that Bond have and I have were a little more than walking around a few forgotten and abandoned remains on a cold November day.