Grand Ole Opry Plans Fall Reopening

Heavy rainstorms and subsequent flooding in early May damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and took the lives of more than 34 people in Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky. About 50 Nashville schools were damaged along with the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame and LP Field.

The venue, which many consider the heart of country music, is part of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel complex and has housed the Grand Ole Opry since 1974.

Renovations include replacing the stage, dressing rooms, retail store, curtains, mechanical and power systems, according to Reuters. Drywall up to the level of flooding was also taken out as well as wood trim damaged by the water.

Although the stage is being replaced, the 6-foot circle of wood in the center of the stage survived and is said to be in “remarkably good condition.” The circle was created out of floorboards from the old Ryman Auditorium stage when the show moved to its present location.

Hours before the venue began to fill with water May 2, workers removed a number of original items from the Opry’s collection to store in a safe place. Artifacts, costumes, instruments, and photo and video archives that were left in the venue during the flood and damaged by water were sent out to various companies across the U.S. for cleaning, repair or restoration.

The Opryland Hotel and Convention center is set to reopen Nov. 15 with plans to renovate the lobby, three restaurants and 117 guestrooms. Reuters noted that the power plant also needs replacing. Gaylord Entertainment intends to cut 1,743 jobs at the hotel starting next week.

The total cost to rebuild Gaylord’s Nashville properties damaged by the flood is pegged at between $215 million and $225 million.

Grand Ole Opry shows have been relocated to local venues including Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium, the Ryman Auditorium and Nashville’s Two Rivers Baptist Church.

Click here for the Reuters article.