Flash floods have forced the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee to evacuate and close down for several months. At around 11.00 pm on Sunday night, flood waters checked into the resort’s lobby.

Opryland Nashville

The hotel’s Delta, Cascades and Garden areas are now under 8-10 feet of water, the guests have all been evacuated and Opryland will remain closed until further notice.

Pete Weien, general manager of the hotel, said (video) it looked ‘surreal’ with the Delta atrium under 8 feet of water. The hotel’s restaurants are completely submerged, with only upsidedown chairs and crates of wine glasses floating around.

Given the resort’s location on the banks of the Cumberland River, the management did a great job of evacuation, getting everyone out just ahead of the levee breach. By 8pm – three hours before the flood waters entered the lobby level, the resort’s 1500 guests and employees had already been evacuated to a shelter in a school. 

Since the generators too are underwater, there is no electricity at the Opryland. By Monday, most of the guests had left the shelter and the remaining staff at the resort were helping guests find their luggage by wading through the hallways using flashlights.

The hotel’s 2,881 rooms are undamaged as the water hasn’t crept above the common areas. The resort says guests who have already left Nashville will have the luggage shipped to them.

The company that owns the resort – Gaylord Entertainment, says it is covered for flood damage and business interruption upto $50 million. But since trouble rarely comes alone, they decided to announce the first quarter financial results on this same day – a $1.9 million loss. The company’s shares promptly tanked over 10%.

At the Wyndham Resort about a mile away from Opryland, 500 guests trapped by the rising flood water had to be rescued by volunteers in fishing boats.

Photos courtesy Gaylord Hotels

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If Elvis wasn’t still alive, he’d be turning over in his grave in Graceland. CKX Inc., the current owners of Elvis Presley Enterprises, have decided to spend $250 million on improving the 100 acres surrounding Graceland. The plans call for demolition of the visitors center and Heartbreak Hotel, to be replaced by larger facilities and hotel with a convention center.

Elvis Presley's Heartbreak Hotel

The King’s Mansion and Dr. King’s Lorraine Motel make up the top 2 attractions in Memphis, which could definitely use the massive investment and the jobs, boost to the economy, more visitors, etc.

But there’s something heartbreaking about demolishing an iconic hotel like Heartbreak Hotel. It has the spirit of the King residing in the rooms and the hallways, and a sleek new hotel – convention center and all, just wouldn’t be the same.

CKX is holding a planning session next month with participation by city, county and state officials, in addition to consultants and design firms hired by the company. They’ll come up concrete plans within 90-120 days after the planning session.

Currently, the 128-room namesake Heartbreak Hotel offers guest rooms accented with black and white framed Elvis photographs and light touches of Elvis. The blond wood furnishings evoke a 1950s feeling, and the hotel also has four Elvis themed suites, with décor inspired by important aspects of Elvis’ life, career and personal style.

The new hotel replacing this one will likely have the same name and a lot of other Elvis besides. But an Elvis impersonator is still not the same as the original.

Photos by parityytirap

With a reputation for providing “everything in one place,” Gaylord Resorts are a fabulous choice any time of the year, but at Christmas the four hotels (located in or near Washington D.C.; Orlando, Florida; Dallas, Texas; and Nashville, Tennessee) are transformed into a fanciful world of thousands of twinkling lights, colorful trees, over-sized wreaths and ornate details that provide a breathtaking view from every direction. Atriums inside each of the four resorts feature a wonderland of lighted icicles, towering Christmas trees, and illuminated fountains with choreographed shooting waters that dance to Christmas melodies.

Christmas decor in the Gaylord National atrium

Christmas decor in the Gaylord Texan atrium

The resorts’ signature holiday attraction, ICE!, is hand-carved from nearly two million pounds of ice by more than 100 artisans from Harbin, China (a city known for its master ice carving skills), who travel to the U.S. each year to work on the displays. A Read More »

Southern Snow - Yes, it Snows in the South!

I found this article, by the AJC (Atlanta Journal Constitution) interesting because I live in the South and I really want to hit the slopes this year! The article makes a good point – while the West may have more and bigger mountains and ski ares, there are plenty of ski areas and ski hotels and lodges to choose from here in the South – and yes, it most definitely does snow. Check them out!

1. Smokey Shadow Lodge, North Carolina

You’ll stay in a rustic looking, historic lodge made out of stones and logs that’s close to the Cataloochee Ski Area, one of the most popular in the region. Rates are $75-$135 depending on type of room and the season.

2. Sydney James Mountain Lodge, Tennessee

It’s family-owned and situated near a pretty stream near downtown Gatlinburg. You’ll be very close to the Ober-Gatlinburg Ski Area – and this is the closest ski area to Atlanta.

3. Chestnut Ridge Country Inn, West Virginia

This hotel is close to the famous Snowshoe Mountain Ski Area in West Virginia – it features the largest vertical drop in the region! The inn itself is perfectly situated – close to skiing and close to town and other attractions.

4. The Azalea Inn – North Carolina

It’s cute, comfortable, highly rated and the closes B&B to Sugar Mountain, which offers 20 slopes for all types of skiers. What more do you need?

5. The Log Cabin Motor Court

It’s only 5 miles away from downtown Asheville’s many shops, restaurants, cafes and antique shops. You can go night skiing at nearby Wolf Ridge.