Storyville Gardens

[L'burgnative]

Don't know if anyone remembers me; it's been years since I've posted here.  I've been a member lurker during that time, because now that I'm in Huntsville for the most part I have nothing to add.  Now to Opryland or whatever; I seen in smeagolsfree's development map that Dolly-Opry is still out there, but I thought Dolly dropped the plans.  So then I start google searching and come across a Tennessean poll dated Feb. 2, 2013 about "Which Opryland Ride do you want to see come back for Dolly's new Opryland" (not word for word, but sounded as if it's all but done, and for sure happening.  I voted Screamin Delta Demean by the way).  So what's going on here?  I no one thing; however made the decision to close Opryland in the first place should be hung by the 8a!!s.  Sorry for that; during my search I came across video's filmed in Opryland that brought back good memories, which brought tiers then tiers turned to anger.  My wife and I was at Opryland Hotel in August and both of us the whole time was saying how we wished we were coming out to a theme park still rather than just another dang mall (I removed my boycott on Oprymills after all this time).  I know we have insiders here, so any info?   

[samsonh]

Theme parks in general are struggling right now. The fixed capital investment is enormous, and during rough economic times you still have to service that debt. Nashville will not get a new theme park for a long while and I think that's fine.

[spenser1058]

I worked on the train at Opryland before its demise and still miss it. The theme park business in Orlando is, however, in the midst of one of its biggest expansions ever. Not only is there New Fantasyland at WDW and of course Harry Potter at Universal, but SeaWorld's Antartica Expansion opens in May. Perhaps most amazingly, Legoland, which just opened last year, is already expanding yet again. WDW and Universal both have more expansions underway. As to struggles in theme parks right now," Disneyland in California is also doing better than ever thanks to a $1 billion plus makeover of Disney's California Adventure last year.

 

L'burg native, come on down and see us!

[smeagolsfree]

The fact that Gaylord let Marriott in as a managing entity put the hold on everything right now. Who knows what the idiots over there have planned. The keep making one fumble after another as a management team IMO.

 

Guess we will have to see what they pull out of their A*$ .... ahhhhh I meant Hat.

[markhollin]

In-depth interview with CEO Colin Reed of Opryland Entertainment in today's Tennessean.  Looks like some major outdoor attraction is coming back to Opryland area. Towards the end he hints at a major announcement:  "You're going to hear from us probably in the next three or four months about something we're going to probably do out in Briley Parkway to fulfill the needs of consumers who come to this market for three or four days. Just like in Las Vegas in the 1990s. When Las Vegas emerged and had all these new, beautiful buildings being built and the billions of dollars being put into that market, you have a consumer who goes there for three or four days. But you can't stand in front of a slot machine or at a blackjack table for three or four days. Similarly, when people come to this market for three days, now we're dealing with the national tourist or the international tourist, not the person who drives in for a day or two, they have got to find things to do when they're here for five days other than stand in a honky-tonk drinking beer. So what our company is trying to do with places like this, the investment and you'll see out in Briley we want to put facilities in place where the consumer can spend four or five days and always have something to do."

http://www.tennessean.com/story/money/industries/music/2015/06/06/ryman-hospitality-doubles-entertainment/28568131/

[titanhog]

^^That doesn't necessarily sound like a theme park...though I guess it could be.  If they're going to bring in something that will provide 4-5 days worth of "something to do"...I'm not sure what that could be.

[ruraljuror]

It's the ropes and the reins and the joy and the pain and they called the thing rodeo?  Maybe a NASCAR driving experience?

 

Also, wasn't there talk of a possible indoor water park some time not too long ago?  

 

Sounds like they're aiming higher than just dinner theater and a giant miniature golf course.  

 

I hope it's a casino that only includes games that have been referenced in classic songs.  

[titanhog]

They were going to do an indoor winter park with Dolly Parton...but she backed out.  I don't know if that's still a consideration.  Will be interesting to see if it's something that will provide a regional pull.

[MetroTN]

They were going to do an indoor winter park with Dolly Parton...but she backed out.  I don't know if that's still a consideration.  Will be interesting to see if it's something that will provide a regional pull.

Agree. Will be interesting to see if its something tourists and non-tourists alike will want to go to.

[dReAmWiELdEr]

I believe I recall a recent proposal from them that revealed a three-phase project; by the end of which, will surpass the size and scope of the original Opryland, (as Gaylord all but openly admits Opryland's closure being a huge mistake with hindsight.) I do recall a waterpark being one of the attractions... and I recall Dolly Parton having completely pulling out as of a couple of years ago due to some disagreement with how the company restructured... although it seems I also recall the new proposal maintaining a snow-themed portion (without her brand) if I'm not mistaken. Although, I would bet they try to reapproach her for the sake of their "branding technique." If someone knows better, please correct me. In the meantime, I will have to dig to find that, and will post it later.

Edited June 7, 2015 by dReAmWiELdEr

[Jamie Hall]

The Opry Mills mall pulls in so much local and tourist traffic, and Opryland Hotel pulls in so many tourists, I'd have to imagine that whatever Gaylord builds in that area -- water park, casino, theme park, whatever -- would be successful. That area has so much available land and great access from all the major highways, it's a prime spot. I'm a bit surprised that area hasn't attracted the usual big-box retailers already (i.e. Wal-Mart, Lowes, etc.), considering that part of the county is somewhat short on general retail.

[jmtunafish]

Wait, there's a rumor going around that Gaylord might build a new Opryland type park?  Count me among the thousands who has yet to forgive Gaylord for turning our beloved Opryland into a crummy mall.  As a teenager living in Hong Kong, I remember some local game show's grand prize was a trip across the U.S., and one of the stops was Nashville with visits to the Grand Ole Opry and Opryland.  Anyway, driving around the Opryland Hotel/Opry Mills area I never knew how much free space there is around there, but if Google Earth is accurate it sure does look like the Pennington Bend area (just north of McGavock Pike) has as much non-developed land as the old Opryland--with more available land on the other side of Briley Parkway.  Oh how I would love to see the Pennington Bend area become a new-and-improved Opryland with parking across Briley Parkway.

[FrankNash]

I think the best fit for the Opryland area would be an amusement park with great music and over the top rides. Most kids that are visiting Nashville already have a zoo and science center. We do entertainment very well but, just not for children. Don't get me wrong I love our adult playground here in Nashville but, the kids need a place too.

[Buildtall]

Drive by this site several times today And they was a lot of machinery on site taking down all the trees. They were clearing  everything from what I could tell. There was at least 10 to 15 large pieces of equipment from track hoes to earth moving machines.  Something must be getting ready to happen on this site. Anyone know anything they can share. 
Sorry I couldn’t snap any pics. 

[markhollin]

9 hours ago, Buildtall said:

Drive by this site several times today And they was a lot of machinery on site taking down all the trees. They were clearing  everything from what I could tell. There was at least 10 to 15 large pieces of equipment from track hoes to earth moving machines.  Something must be getting ready to happen on this site. Anyone know anything they can share. 
Sorry I couldn’t snap any pics. 

If you are talking about the NE/SE corners of the intersection of Briley Parkway and McGavock Pike, then  that is the massive 130 acre Ryman/Lincoln Financial mixed-use project featuring 940 apartments, 1.5 million sq. ft. of office space, 210,000 sq. ft. of retail (including a grocery store), etc.  As far as I know, no renderings or diagrams have yet been made public.

 

[titanhog]

59 minutes ago, markhollin said:

If you are talking about the NE/SE corners of the intersection of Briley Parkway and McGavock Pike, then  that is the massive 130 acre Ryman/Lincoln Financial mixed-use project featuring 940 apartments, 1.5 million sq. ft. of office space, 210,000 sq. ft. of retail (including a grocery store), etc.  As far as I know, no renderings or diagrams have yet been made public.
 

Sounds kinda Cool Springs-ish.

[donNdonelson2]

Approximately 300 unit apartment development is first up, according to area council rep Jeff Syracuse.

[smeagolsfree]

6 hours ago, donNdonelson2 said:

Approximately 300 unit apartment development is first up, according to area council rep Jeff Syracuse.

That is the first part that will be done and by Lincoln Properties. Ii was wondering when they would start on those. 

[OnePointEast]

Just now, smeagolsfree said:

That is the first part that will be done and by Lincoln Properties. Ii was wondering when they would start on those. 

Should the next phases start within the year or onto a multiyear phase?

[smeagolsfree]

Who knows, I think the next phase would be office and that will be up to the market unless they do some on spec which is entirely possible. I guess you can still call that the Airport North market.

[Sean blackdog]

Today this evening.  Cut lot of tons trees down. 

Edited January 26, 2020 by Sean blackdog

[jmtunafish]

I have no idea who this guy is, but he made a decent case for why Nashville should have a theme park.

 

[MLBrumby]

Disney was rumored to be considering a small music theme park somewhere in Rutherford county... about 15 years.

[NissanvilleTitans]

In the video he says the 36th largest metro and a little less than 2 million but I honestly believe when the official census comes out, the metro will be above the 2 million mark. Maybe quite a bit higher. And a fast growing metro like Nashville's, will jump a lot of positions after passing 2 million because there's a lot of stagnant metros hanging around just above that mark.

[donNdonelson2]

Reasons I remain skeptical:

1. The cost of land. The amount of land needed for a project of this scope, with extra for future expansion, would be scarce and costly if in close proximity to the city. If it’s too far outside the city the project becomes less attractive to potential employees and local patrons.

2. The cost of the buildout of a new park. Those roller coasters ain’t cheap!

3. The tight labor market (under non Covid conditions) means that staffing the park with seasonal employees would be challenging. Not a lot of folks willing to work out in the heat (or cold) in jobs that typically would pay little over minimum wage. 

I worked at Opryland for nearly twenty years, so I have some insight from experience. As much as it would be nice...in my humble opinion...IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN.