Opry Mills Mall

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by Faluzure

Kinda-related. The original poster asked about the theme park. I heard we are supposed to get one built by 2013 in the Spring Hill area. It was on the local news at one point a few weeks ago.

Crossing my fingers for that because we really need a theme park.

I'd love a theme park....just not the one they're talking about in Spring Hill.

[Faluzure]

Originally Posted by nashvols

I'd love a theme park....just not the one they're talking about in Spring Hill.

Haha, I will admit that it's pretty far but according to the guy who's financing the thing, it makes the most sense there because there's lots of land available at Spring Hill and with the completion of 840 being underway, it will be easily accessible via highway/interstate from any big area in middle TN.

[DonCorleone]

That deal in Spring Hill reminds me of Marge vs. The Monorail from the Simpsons.

[Five Faces]

Someone should turn Oprymills into an outdoor music venue.

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by Faluzure

Haha, I will admit that it's pretty far but according to the guy who's financing the thing, it makes the most sense there because there's lots of land available at Spring Hill and with the completion of 840 being underway, it will be easily accessible via highway/interstate from any big area in middle TN.

The location isn't terrible, but it could be better. I think Between Lebanon and Mt. Juliet would be better (and a bit closer), but that's not my major concern. Like I've said before, if the scale of the project was much smaller, and Dennis Peterson wasn't making such outrageous claims as to relocating the Opry or luring an NBA team, I wouldn't be so skeptical or suspicious.

I think Spring Hill could use some hotel development...there isn't much there. A few good sized hotels (200-300 rooms) and several restaurants, and an Opryland-sized theme park would be plenty. Not 8,000 hotel rooms and a "resort" or 80 restaurants. I know Spring Hill wants to dream big, but I think creating a destination that size would ultimately fail before it ever caught on. I mean, you can't just create a Gatlinburg and expect millions of visitors to come over night. Spring Hill's leaders need to keep things in perspective. It's OK to dream big and have a master plan...but the dream likely isn't going to be realized with one single huge development. Even Cool Springs is a collection of [large] developments planned and built over time. It's taken 20 years for it to transform into what it is today.

Originally Posted by DonCorleone

That deal in Spring Hill reminds me of Marge vs. The Monorail from the Simpsons.

Many of my friends have drawn this comparison. It's a great fit. Someone even farked a picture of the monorail with the 'Festival Tennessee' logo on it on facebook.

Originally Posted by Five Faces

Someone should turn Oprymills into an outdoor music venue.

They're bringing back Starwood (smaller scale, I think?), so I don't know if an outdoor venue would be in the developer's interest. I guess "Outdoors at the Opry" could be a marketable namesake, though.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by Five Faces

Someone should turn Oprymills into an outdoor music venue.

Not a bad idea, given the flooding possibility. A basic set of concrete seating (BYO Cushions) would be easy to hose off after any flooding. Build the stage up about ten feet off the ground, build a concrete bandshell over the stage, and install very little permanent electrical stuff. Should work. If the water rises, just hose the mud and debris off the concrete fixtures with a fire hose and let it wash back into the river.

Might also be usable as a farmer's market in-season and a place for craft fairs and other such outdoor events.

[ExIslander]

Not sure which thread the news originally appeared in, but they've resumed the renovations of Opry Mills. The movie theater and some other things in that wing are supposed to be open before the holidays, with the rest of the mall re-opening sometime in the first half of 2012.