Gaylord Opryland Hotel

Constructed in 1977, this sprawling resort and convention center is home to several shops, restaurants, and nine acres of indoor gardens and waterfalls that have made it a year-round attraction. The hotel was built in 1977 the purpose of providing rooms for patrons of the Grand Old Opry House which was constructed a few years earlier. At the time, the hotel featured 580 guest rooms and a ballroom. Over the years, the hotel has been expanded several times and now boasts 2,881 rooms plus a large atrium that features waterfalls. Known for its gardens and glass atriums, as well as its Christmas decorations that include over a million lights, the Gaylord Opryland hotel is also home to a Nashville country music station and the Grand Ole Opry. The hotel also has a full-service spa, a golf course, 17 restaurants, and 600,000 square feet of event space.

Homepage. "Gaylord Opryland." Marriott Hotels. Accessed May 27, 2015.  http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bnago-gaylord-opryland-resort-and-convention-center. 

Norfleet, Michele. "The History of the Opryland Hotel." USA Today. Accessed May 27, 2015.

Photos: Nashville, TN. Personal photograph by author. 2015.