It was June 1973; Tammy was 6 and Jennifer was 3 and we had heard about a new themed park that had opened the year before. Opryland USA was in Nashville Tennessee and was a music-themed park with rides and shows. We had never been to Nashville, so we were all excited to go there. I had recently bought Eva a new 73 Plymouth Suburban Wagon that had all the room we would need for our vacation.
Eva loved that car, and it was great for trips. What she liked most about it, was that it would pass everything on the road but gas stations. Every time Eva or the girls needed to go to the bathroom, I had to stop for gas anyway. The car was too long to fit in our attached garage and had to be moved to my larger workshop. That would turn out to be the only vacation we would take in that car after gasoline prices went from 29 cents per gallon to $1.80 per gallon within a few months with long gas lines and restrictions on what days you could buy gas for your car.
There was so much we wanted to see and do in Tennessee, but Opryland was our main reason for going there. The park had only opened the summer before, so all the rides were new, and they were still adding new attractions. The shows were great with incredibly talented performers. So much of the park was open to kids like ours and everything was clean. The park had a lot of trees that provided shade in many areas that helped get through the summer days. Restrooms and eating places were well placed and children’s rides were available in many areas of the park.
What made Opryland different from other parks was the music and the performers. There were indoor theaters, outdoor theaters, gazebos with bands, and bands that would walk and perform around the park where there might be lines waiting for rides. Many groups and individuals got their start in the business by performing there early on. The entertainers would visit with the children between shows and get their pictures taken with them. At that time, the Grand Ole Opry was still being held at the Ryman Auditorium and the new Grand Ole Opry House would open in March 1974 at Opryland.
We went to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ruby Falls, Rock City, and Look Out Mountain on that trip; however, our favorite part of the trip was the days at Opryland. Our family would visit many themed parks during the years following around the country and we would return to Opryland several times over the years until it was closed in the 1990s.
Eva and I both wanted our children to experience things that we had not been able to do growing up, but we wanted to be part of those experiences as a family. Creating memories that Tammy and Jennifer would carry with them though out their lives. In the real world, not every day will be a good day without problems; however, the good times can be recalled when needed. Take time to make good memories with your family!
