What Were They Thinking?, Wonder Why

[SingBlueSusan]

What I want to know is what were the people at Opryland thinking when they closed the park. Too many generations could enjoy the park and I was one of them I grew up with Opryland I was 3 in 1975 and we lived in Tullahoma so driving to Nashville was a big deal and when I got to be about 8 and 9 years old I got to ride all the Big Rides. One of my fondests memories is when I rode the Wabash Cannonball with my cousin Cindy because my Mom and Dad wouldnt ride it. Was the almighty dollar more important to the people of Opryland and not the community outreach of a great theme park. I tell you what I had much rather have something that fabulous an hour and a half away instead of driving 3 to 4 hours for Dollywood and Sixflags Ky Kingdom or Over Geogia in Atlanta. The Gaylord corporation needs to listen to those of us still outraged and build another park because that is the way they can recapture some of the losses that they have had with Opry Mills. I have been to opry mills and it is ok but not the magical place that Opryland was. They people that own and operate Gaylord need to be slapped in the face. I feel as though my childhood memories have been stripped away because of greed. But then again I am greedy for the fun of the Cannonball the old mill scream and the little Duce Coupe. BRIMG OPRYLAND BACK!!!!!!!

[85kimbo]

I agree with you . They were not thinking thats for sure.!!!

[James615]

They were thinking of simply one thing - money. It was nothing more than corporate greed that led to the park's demise. They even admitted a couple of years ago that the park was indeed profitable, but they just thought they could make even MORE money by building a mall. They demolished something that Nashville had only 1 of for something that Nashville had 9 of, a shopping mall. I used to go to Opryland at least once or twice a month, I visit that stupid mall maybe once or twice in a whole YEAR. Seriously though shame on whoever ultimately decided to close the park, you truly don't know what you did by taking that magical place, where a lot of my childhood was spent, away from us.

[Oprylandfan]

List me as an angry former Park vistor. (for the closure) WE drove 3 hours from IL to get parents to opryland. They loved the shows and theme of the Park, Still have many pictures of them on the Tin Lizzies and Raft ride. 10 times better than 6 flags ST Louis. I rem one time whole family was there and they had a free show in the opry house, we were inline and got front row seats and Dad got to see Grandpa Jones up front and he was thrilled. I loved the angle in. The food was great and I loved the young kids singing and dancing. Shame on the people responsible for the closing and now the Mall sits flooded.

[chipanzy]

One of my fondest memories of my daughter's childhood was the day when she was about 10 or 11 (she's 33 now), we rode her favorite ride, the Screamin' Delta Demon, at least a half dozen times in a row. It was late afternoon, the crowd had thinned out considerably, and we could ride it over and over without having to wait in a long line as usual. I can still hear her giggling and asking, "Can we ride it again, Daddy"? Of course, her mama thought we were crazy.

Now, when from time to time I think of Opryland, two things always come to mind. First, the joy of my little girl on that day many years ago, sometimes I think if I could re-live one day in her childhood, it might be that day. And second, a sort of anger always enters my mind, I think, how in the world could they have ever made the decision to close this wonderful park? I could be making memories like this now with her children, my grandchildren.

I suppose I could take them to Opry Mills, but what kind of memories can you make in a shopping mall?