Opryland USA (Images of Modern America)

By the late 1960s, the Ryman Auditorium, the fifth home of the Grand Ole Opry, was a deteriorating firetrap in a seedy part of Nashville. Still, it attracted thousands of people each weekend to the original show that made country music famous. In an effort to develop an attraction that could finanically justify a larger, brand new Opry House, Opryland was born. Opryland USA operated from May 27, 1972 until December 31, 1997, attracting millions of visitors each year and giving many celebrities their first taste of show business. The park consisted of nine themed areas, dozens of rides, and Broadway-caliber shows featuring live bands and orchestras. As the Home of American Music, Opryland USA still lives on in the hearts and minds of those who visited its wooded trails, lazy streams, exciting attractions, and toe-tapping performances.