2008
November 20008
- Gara Pryor was promoted to senior vice president of human
resources. Pryor was previously the vice president of
compensation, benefits and human resources information
systems. Rich Maradik was promoted to senior vice president
and chief marketing officer. In his new role, he will retain
leadership from his previous CIO position in addition to
leading the efforts on Gaylord’s improved customer
relationship management systems. Also, Carter Todd was
promoted to executive vice president and will retain his
general counsel responsibilities; Todd will also lead the
Company’s corporate compliance efforts.
November 2008
– David Kloeppel was promoted to president and chief
financial officer of Gaylord Entertainment. In addition to
retaining his duties as CFO, Kloeppel will assume new
responsibilities including oversight of marketing, media and
entertainment.
November 2008
- Gaylord Entertainment terminated plans to develop a resort
and convention hotel in Chula Vista, California. Prolonged
planning and approval processes, a complicated regulatory
and legal structure, and excessive off-site infrastructure
costs contributed to this decision.
November 2008
– Phillip G. Coffey was named senior vice president and
general manager of the recently opened Gaylord National
Resort and Convention Center in Prince George's County,
Maryland, near Washington, D.C. Coffey brings to Gaylord
more than three decades of hospitality industry experience.
September 2008
– Gaylord Entertainment entered into a land purchase
agreement with DMB Mesa Proving Grounds LLC to create an
anchor resort and convention hotel at the Mesa Proving
Grounds in Mesa, Arizona.
August 2008 –
The Company’s board of directors adopted a shareholder
rights plan similar to those adopted by numerous publicly
traded companies. It is designed to protect against any
potential future use of coercive or abusive takeover
techniques that would be used to gain control of the Company
without paying full and fair value to all shareholders.
July 2008 –
Gaylord Entertainment entered into a new $1 billion senior
secured credit facility that refinances the Company’s
current bank debt and provides availability to fund the
Company's business plan. The new facility matures in July
2012.
June 2008 –
Peter Weien is promoted to senior vice president and general
manager of Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.
With more than 25 years of hospitality and service industry
experience, Weien has established a strong record of
leadership. He joined Gaylord Entertainment in 2004 as the
chief operating officer of property management subsidiary
ResortQuest and subsequently was appointed to the position
of vice president and hotel manager of the Opryland property
in 2007.
April 2008 - The
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Price
George's County, MD opens its doors to a full house.
2007
October 2007 -
The Grand Ole Opry debuts on XM, its new satellite radio
home during the Opry’s annual Birthday Bash Weekend. The
channel features live Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday night
performances. Encore broadcasts of new Opry episodes air
on XM’s classic country music channel “America” (XM 10).
October 2007 -
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center opens three
new restaurants – Water’s Edge Marketplace, Stax and
Paisano’s – the first phase of a $45 million food and
beverage evolution at the property. The three new
restaurants replace the food court concept with
interactive chef experiences. These new creative dining
outlets are located in the Delta Island section of the
hotel.
August 2007 -
Gaylord Entertainment Company confirms plans to proceed
with a major expansion of the Gaylord Opryland Resort and
Convention Center. The expansion will add more than
400,000 square feet of convention and meeting space and a
new 400-room, luxury all-suites hotel adjacent to Gaylord
Opryland’s current facility. The expansion is expected to
create 1,300 new jobs, bring an added 400,000 visitors to
the Nashville metro area each year and generate $165
million in additional economic capital for the region.
Gaylord will begin construction in 2008 with intended
completion in 2011.
July 2007 -
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center sells its
one-millionth room a record 10 months before opening. This
announcement broke the hospitality industry record for the
total number of room nights pre-sold before a hotel
opening. The industry record was previously held by
another Gaylord property, the Gaylord Palms Resort &
Convention Center in Kissimmee, Fla., where one million
rooms were sold approximately one month prior to its
February 2002 opening.
June 2007 -
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center appoints Peter
J. Weien as vice president and hotel manager. With more
than 25 years in the hospitality and service industries,
Weien oversees the day-to-day operations of the resort and
supports almost 4,000 STARS.
June 2007 -
Gaylord Entertainment announces the sale of its
ResortQuest mainland business to a subsidiary of Leucadia
National Corporation. ResortQuest is the largest brand
name and online booking service in vacation rentals,
property management, and resort real estate sales.
May 2007 - The
Academy of Country Music names the Grand Ole Opry House
Venue of the Year! The venue is the home of the Grand Ole
Opry and also hosts countless concerts, television
tapings, award shows, corporate events, and other shows
throughout the year.
April 2007 -
Interval Acquisition Corp., an affiliated company of
Interval International - a leading provider of vacation
services and an operating business of IAC (Nasdaq: IACI),
announced that it has agreed to acquire RQI Holdings,
Ltd., owner of ResortQuest Hawaii, LLC. ResortQuest Hawaii
is a prominent management and rental distribution services
organization for resort properties in Oahu, the Big Island
of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui and is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Gaylord Entertainment.
April 2007 -
Gaylord Entertainment announces that the Company and its
wholly owned subsidiary, Gaylord Hotels, Inc. entered into
an agreement for the sale of all of their interest in Bass
Pro Group, LLC for $222 million.
February 2007
- Gaylord Hotels became completely smoke-free as of
February 12, 2007. This includes the brand's existing
properties -- Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Gaylord Palms
in Kissimmee, Fla., and Gaylord Texan on Lake Grapevine
near Dallas -- as well as Gaylord National Resort &
Convention Center in Prince George's County, Maryland
which is slated to open in 2008.
February 2007
- Gaylord Proposes $400 Million Expansion of Gaylord
Opryland. This is expected to create $165 Million Economic
Impact and 1,300 New Jobs. The expansion will add over
400,000 square feet of convention and meeting space and a
new 400 room, luxury all-suite hotel adjacent to its
current facility. The expected completion date is 2010.
2006
November 2006
- Gaylord Entertainment Company Elects R. Brad Martin to
Board of Directors. Martin has served as Chairman of the
Board of Saks Incorporated since 1989, and served as its
Chief Executive Officer until January 2006. During his
tenure as Chairman and CEO, Saks Incorporated became one
of the largest retail enterprises in the United States.
July 2006 –
Unified Port of San Diego Board of Commissioners and the
City of Chula Vista Approve Letter of Intent for Gaylord
Entertainment Resort and Convention Hotel. The letter of
intent outlines the initial plans for a 1,500 - 2,000 room
resort and convention center hotel on the Chula Vista
Bayfront. Colin V. Reed, chairman and chief executive
officer of Gaylord Entertainment, said "This is the first
major milestone in an effort to bring our industry-leading
Gaylord Hotels brand to the West Coast”.
July 2006 -
Prince George's County Council Approves Subsidy for
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center Expansion. The
additional economic incentives that Gaylord has requested
by the Prince George's County Council to fund an expansion
at the Gaylord National have been approved. Gaylord
Entertainment will proceed with the 500-room expansion,
bringing the hotel from 1,500 to 2,000 rooms.
June 2006 -
Arthur Keith, Gaylord Opryland Resort Senior Vice
President and General Manager, is named Outstanding GM of
the Year by American Hotel & Lodging Association.
According to the Association, the award recognizes
"outstanding accomplishments and exceptional service in
the lodging industry." This marks the second consecutive
year that a Gaylord Hotels' General Manager (GM) was named
AH&LA Outstanding General Manager of the Year.
June 2006 -
Gaylord Entertainment and Nissan North America Announce
Partnership; Companies working together on variety of
entertainment events including music and entertainment
events year-round. The multi-year agreement will involve
the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in
Nashville, Tenn., the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention
Center in Kissimmee, Fla., the Gaylord Texan Resort and
Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas and the historic
Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
March 2006 -
Kemp Gallineau is promoted to Senior Vice President and
Gaylord Palms General Manager. Gallineau joined Gaylord
Entertainment in February 2001, as a member of the opening
team for the Gaylord Palms, serving as Vice President and
Hotel Manager.
February 2006
– John Caparella, Senior Vice President and General
Manager of the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center,
is promoted to Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice
President of Gaylord Hotels. The company also announces
that Rich Maradik joins the company as Senior Vice
President and Chief Information Officer.
2005
July 2005 -
Relâche, a world-class, European-style spa, opens at
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. The new spa
features 12 enchanting treatment rooms, a full-service
salon and a 3,400 square foot fitness center with
state-of-the-art equipment and personal trainers - all
dedicated to pampering, peace, and renewal.
June 2005 -
Gaylord Entertainment completes its $107 million purchase
of the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii,
which allows Gaylord's vacation management company,
ResortQuest, to retain the management contract for Aston
Waikiki for 20 years. At the same time, Gaylord sells 80.1
percent of its interest in the property to a private real
estate fund managed by DB Real Estate Opportunities Group.
Gaylord's expected gross investment in the property is $5
million to $7 million. A crown-jewel hotel, the property
is one of 12 vacation destinations managed by ResortQuest
in the immediate area.
May 2005 -
Colin V. Reed becomes chairman of the Gaylord
Entertainment board of directors, adding the chairman's
role to his responsibilities as president and chief
executive officer. Michael Rose, chairman since April
2001, is named chairman of the boar'ds executive
committee.
April 2005 -
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center announces a
four-year, $45 million room renovation project for the
landmark resort. The 2,300-room renovation (another 580
rooms were renovated in 2001) features a more contemporary
design - a departure from the southern-plantation feel fo
the previous furnishing and decor. All rooms are to
include a plush, posturepedic mattress; upgraded bedding,
custom draperies; new wall coverings; new carpeting;
contemporary lamps, tables and accent furniture; and new
flat-screen televisions. Also, all double/double rooms are
being converted to queen/queens.
February 2005
- Gaylord acquires Whistler Lodging Company, Ltd. and its
more than 600 vacation properties in Whistler, Canada,
from O'Neill Hotels and Resorts, Ltd. The acquisition more
than doubles the offerings of Gaylord's vacation
management company, ResortQuest, in Whistler, B.C., which
is slated to be the mountain host of the 2010 Winter
Olympics.
January 2005 -
Gaylord acquires six businesses in four highly desirable
U.S. vacation markets from East West Resorts to become a
part of Gaylord's ResortQuest brand. The $22.25 million
purchase adds nearly 2000 luxury residential rental homes,
condiminiums and villas to its 18,000 units under
exclusive management by ResortQuest. The properties are in
premier vacation locations including the Colorado ski
destinations of Aspen and Breckenridge and the South
Carolina beach destinations of Hilton Head and the
Charleston Outer Islands, specifically Kiawah Island,
Seabrook Island, Sullivan's Island, and Isle of Palms.
2004
December 2004
- Gaylord Entertainment and about 500 local government and
community leaders break ground for the Gaylord National
Resort & Convention Center, scheduled for opening in March
2008. Since announcing specific plans for the
"all-in-one-place" facility in September, the company has
already secured advance bookings for 20,000 room nights.
October 2004 -
The Grand Ole Opry signs Cracker Barrel Old County Store
as its first presenting sponsor in the 79-year history of
the Opry. "The Grand Ole Opry Presented by Cracker Barrel
Old Country Store" is a multi-year agreement that closely
aligns these two iconic brands before a worldwide audience
of more than 42 million households.
September 2004
- Gaylord Hotels unveils plans for what will be the
largest combined hotel and convention center in the
nation's capital region, the Gaylord National Resort &
Convention Center on the Potomac. Situated on a scenic
bluff overlooking the Potomac River in Prince George's
County, Md., the Gaylord National is scheduled to open in
2008, giving large groups and conventions a fourth Gaylord
property designed to meet their specific needs. With 1,500
luxurious guest rooms and 400,000 square feet of expansive
convention space, the site is within 10 miles of
Washington D.C.'s national monuments and historic
landmarks.
September 2004
- Springhouse Links becomes the new name of Springhouse
Golf Club, reflecting the traditional links style of the
golf course. Springhouse Links also announces plans to
establish a golf training academy on site.
September 2004
- DIRECTV, the nation's leading multi-channel television
service provider, makes Grand Ole Opry performances
available to its 13 million subscribers through a new
agreement with the Opry's TV network partner Great
American Country (GAC).
August 2004 -
Gaylord Entertainment's board of directors announces that
President and Chief Executive Officer Colin V. Reed will
succeed Michael Rose as chairman in May 2005.
June 2004 -
Gaylord Palms makes hospitality history by installing
computer devices in every guest room with its new iConnect
systems. The technology sets a new standard for in-room
communication capabilities.
May 2004 -
Gaylord family members announce their intention to sell
nearly six million Gaylord Entertainment Co. shares of
stock. The secondary stock offering is oversubscribed by
investors and as a result the Gaylord family is no longer
the largest shareholder in Gaylord Entertainment Co. In
addition, Gaylord family members Christie Everest Gaylord
and Martin Dickinson resign from the board of directors to
be succeeded later in the year by independent directors
Michael Roth, Michael Bender and Ellen Levine.
April 2004 -
The Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center on Lake
Grapevine opens its doors to great acclaim with a full
house for opening weekend. Within six months, the hotel
hits 76 percent occupancy, making it the leading hotel in
the DFW market. From its own version of the Riverwalk to
the flavor of the Alamo, the $480 million facility boasts
all things Texas, giving large group and convention
attendees another top-notch destination under the Gaylord
Hotels brand.
2003
November 2003
- Gaylord completes its $177 million acquisition of
ResortQuest International, seizing the opportunity to
cross-promote Gaylord Hotels, ResortQuest properties, and
the Grand Ole Opry - three highly complementary brands.
November 2003
- Gaylord moves a step closer to divesting its non-core
businesses with the sale of its 76 percent interest in the
Oklahoma Red Hawks, a minor league baseball team, which
was sold to The Oklahoma Baseball Club LLC for $6.8
million.
October 2003 -
Shortly before hosting the Country Music Association (CMA)
Awards to audiences worldwide, Gaylord puts the finishing
touches on its $7.5 million renovation of the Grand Ole
Opry House, home of the Grand Ole Opry since 1974.
September 2003
- Grand Ole Opry Live strengthens its distribution by
moving to Great American Country (GAC), with plans to air
the show live every week, in addition to giving viewers
five chances weekly to see replays of the legendary
country show.
August 2003 -
America's Grand Ole Opry Weekend airs on 205 country music
radio stations nationwide through Westwood One, part of
the Opry's aggressive distribution expansion.
August 2003 -
Gaylord announces plans to leverage its hospitality
success by acquiring ResortQuest International, the
nation's leader in the $10 billion vacation rental
property industry. The $177 million stock-for-stock
purchase creates for Gaylord an impressive range of
accommodations for convention, business, and leisure
travelers, with an opportunity to cross-sell three highly
complementary hospitality and entertainment brands
(Gaylord Hotels, Grand Ole Opry, and ResortQuest).
June 2003 -
Focusing its energies on expanding the distribution
channels for 650AM WSM, Gaylord sells WWTN-FM and WSM-FM
in Nashville to Cumulus Media for $65 million.
2002
November 2002
- 650AM WSM goes live on Sirius Satellite Radio, taking
legendary country classic radio programming and Grand Ole
Opry performances to a nationwide radio audience.
August 2002 -
Gaylord completes its sale of Acuff-Rose Music Publishing
Company to Sony/ATV Music Publishing for $157 million,
further crystallizing Gaylord's focus on large meetings
and conventions as its core business.
July 2002 -
The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center completes
its $85 million renovation, including completely remodeled
Cascades and Magnolia lobbies; full interior renovations
and the addition of cordless phones, in-room fax access
and internet connections for the property's 2,881 guest
rooms; remodeled ballrooms with upgraded lighting and
sound, new carpeting and expanded catering capabilities;
new dining venues; and a new "wayfinding" programming with
color coding, new room numbering and escalators to help
guests throughout the complex.
July 2002 -
Gaylord sells its 33.3 percent stake in the Opry Mills
Shopping Center in Nashville for $30.8 million. Proceeds
from the sale to The Mills Corporation are earmarked for
investing in the company's growing hotel portfolio.
February 2002
- Having interviewed 15,000 job applications to find the
"cream of the crop" to staff the Orlando area's newest
upscale destination resort, Gaylord Entertainment opens
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center near Central
Florida's world-famous theme parks. The first resort for
Gaylord in a new market, Gaylord Palms offers guests
everything under one roof - 1,400 upscale hotel rooms,
400,000 square feet of meeting space, three restaurants,
and a variety of entertainment options - in addition to
the latest in technology.
January 2002 -
Continuing to shed its non-core businesses, Gaylord
finalizes the sale of its Word Entertainment division to
Warner Music Group for $84.1 million in cash.
2001
June 2001 -
Country Music Hall of Fame member Little Jimmy Dickens
helps christen the Ryman Auditorium (circa 1943) as a
National Historic Landmark, as designated by the National
Park Service.
April 2001 -
Gaylord Entertainment Company names Colin V. Reed
president and chief executive officer; Michael Rose
becomes chairman of Gaylord's board of directors. The
experienced leadership team begins a turnaround centered
on refocusing the company around service-based principles
and building the Gaylord Hotels brand.
March 2001 -
Gaylord Entertainment sells Pandora Films, Gaylord Films,
Gaylord Sports Management, Gaylord Event Television and
Gaylord Production Company to Oklahoma Publishing Company
for $22 million in cash and the assumption of $20 million
in third party debt.
2000
December 2000
- Gaylord sells Opryland KOA Kampground to Kampgrounds of
America, Inc.
October 2000 -
The Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 75th anniversary,
marking a new milestone in the rich history of the world's
longest-running live radio show.
September 2000
- Gaylord establishes Gaylord Films and enters into a
co-financing and production deal with Warner Bros.
Pictures to partner on the production and worldwide
distribution of up to 10 films over four years.
July 2000 -
Gaylord President and CEO Terry E. London resigns;
Chairman E.K. Gaylord II becomes interim president and CEO
while the board seeks new leadership.
June 2000 -
Gaylord breaks ground for the Gaylord Texan Resort &
Convention Center on Lake Grapevine, the company's third
property devoted to serving the large group and convention
market with unparalleled service, 1,511 hotel rooms,
400,000 square feet of convention space, multiple
restaurants, and entertainment in an atmosphere that is
decidedly "Texas."
April 2000 -
Gaylord Entertainment announces its purchase of
CorporateMagic, bringing its convention and resort
properties a new level of creative event production and
strategic business content development for corporations.
April 2000 -
The historic Ryman Auditorium, home to the Grand Ole Opry
from 1943-1974, takes on new notoriety with a 20-cent post
card commemorated by the U.S. Postal Service.
February 2000
- Gaylord enters into a contract with Credit Suisse First
Boston that will monetize the stock and defer taxes until
2007 on its Viacom stock holdings acquired as a result of
its earlier sale of KTVT-TV.
January 2000 -
Gaylord announces plans to enter the highly-desirable
Washington, D.C. market with a new
"everything-in-one-place" upscale resort and convention
center in Prince George's County, Md., overlooking
Washington D.C. The 1,500 room hotel designed with large
groups and conventions in mind, would be on the banks of
the Potomac River as part of a multi-use development known
as National Harbor.
1999
December 1999
- Gaylord buys Jack Nicklaus Productions, later named
Gaylord Event Television.
October 1999 -
Gaylord Entertainment sells KTVT-TV in Dallas to CBS
Television, for approximately 11 million shares of CBS
stock. When CBS is later bought by Viacom, Gaylord's
holdings in CBS are converted to Viacom stock.
September 1999
- Significantly expanding its music publishing catalogue,
Gaylord's Acuff-Rose Music Publishing buys Tom Collins
Music (BMI), Collins Court Music (ASCAP), and Hallnote
Music (BMI).
August 1999 -
The Nashville Arena, home of the NHL Nashville Predators
Franchise, is renamed the Gaylord Entertainment Center,
with a Big Hits Bash celebration that raised $50,000 for
five Nashville area nonprofit organizations.
June 1999 -
Gaylord breaks ground on Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention
Center in Kissimmee, Fla., providing meeting planners one
of the nation's most technologically advanced properties.
The Gaylord Palms' combination of exceptional service,
ample lodging, meeting space, and entertainment soon make
it one of the Orlando markets most popular resorts.
May 1999 - E.
K. Gaylord II becomes chairman of Gaylord Entertainment;
Edward L. Gaylord becomes chairman emeritus.
1998
October 1998 -
Gaylord announces plans to build its third hotel, a
1,500-room convention center and resort on Lake Grapevine
in Grapevine, Texas, near the Dallas-Ft. Worth
International Airport.
July 1998 -
Gaylord Entertainment announces plans to build Gaylord
Palms Resort & Convention Center, its first new
all-in-one-place hotel for large groups and conventions
since the Opryland property in Nashville opened in 1997.
April 1998 -
Gaylord buys Cornerstone Sports, later renamed Gaylord
Sports Management, a golf management firm.
1997
April 1997 -
E. W. "Bud" Wendell, who has been with the company since
its earliest years and has been President and CEO since
Gaylord went public in 1991, retires. Long-time Gaylord
employee Terry E. London is named to succeed Wendell as
President and CEO.
December 1997
- The Opryland USA theme park closes.
November 1997
- Gaylord announces plans to close Opryland USA theme park
and build Opry Mills, a 200-store retail and entertainment
complex, in its place.
October 1997 -
Gaylord sells its broadcasting operations, including The
Nashville Network (TNN) to Viacom.
October 1997 -
Gaylord buys Word Records and Music from Thomas Nelson
Inc. and creates Word Entertainment.
October 1997 -
The company and Leipold Hockey Holdings of Racine, Wisc.,
file with the National Hockey League to bring an NHL
franchise to Nashville. Nashville wins its bid and is
awarded an expansion team later named the Nashville
Predators.
1996
June 1996 -
The Gaylord Opryland's Delta expansion opens, making the
property the largest combined hotel and convention center
under one roof anywhere (2,881 rooms and 600,000 square
feet of meeting space).
1995
June 1995 -
Gaylord buys WWTN-FM, a news/talk/sports format station in
Nashville.
1994
June 1994 -
Springhouse Golf Club hosts the first BellSouth Senior
Classic at Opryland.
June 1994 -
The Wildhorse Saloon, Gaylord's newest attraction for
convention goers and tourists, opens in downtown
Nashville.
1993
December 1993
- Gaylord buys a minority interest in Bass Pro Shops, one
of the country's top retailers of outdoor merchandise.
June 1993 -
Gaylord becomes the owner of Acuff-Rose Music Publishing,
Nashville's first music publishing firm.
1992
November 1992
- WSM's Grand Ole Opry is inducted into the Museum of
Broadcast Communications Radio Hall of Fame.
1991
October 1991 -
Gaylord Entertainment Company is formed from the
entertainment assets of Gaylord Broadcasting; the new
company offers its stock to the general public (NYSE:
GET), with Opryland USA Inc. as the cornerstone of the
company. E. W. "Bud" Wendell is president and CEO.
January 1991 -
Gaylord buys Country Music Television (CMT).
1990
September 1990
- Springhouse Golf Club (renamed Springhouse Links in
September 2004), an 18-hole Larry Nelson golf course,
opens near Gaylord Opryland Resort.
1988
May 1988 - The
Cascades, a $55 million water-themed expansion of the
Gaylord Opryland Resort, opens with 824 new hotels rooms,
bringing the hotel's total rooms to 1,891.
1985
July 1985 -
The General Jackson Showboat is christened and begins
operation, bringing a new, paddle-wheel dinner cruise and
entertainment option to meeting and convention attendees,
tourists, and area residents.
1983
October 1983 -
Gaylord Opryland Hotel's $50 million Conservatory
expansion (467 new rooms) is completed, delighting guests
with its expansive, glass-roofed tropical paradise.
September 1983
- Gaylord Broadcasting Company of Dallas, a subsidiary of
the Oklahoma Publishing Company, buys Opryland properties
and creates Opryland USA.
March 1983 -
The Nashville Network (TNN) is launched with a record 7
million subscribers. The new broadcast outlet offers cable
and satellite viewers a taste of the Grand Ole Opry, in
addition to a variety of country music performances,
features, and interviews with country celebrities.
1977
November 1977
- The Opryland Hotel opens its doors, with 600 rooms and a
staff of 381 employees committed to providing flawless
service to their guests. By June 1978 the staffing levels
were up to 700 employees as the property was running at
full capacity.
1974
March 1974
-The Grand Ole Opry moves from the Ryman Auditorium to the
Grand Ole Opry House at Opryland USA.
1972
May 1972 -
Opryland USA theme park opens, drawing 54 million visitors
over its span of 25 years in operation.
1970
June 1970 -
Grand Ole Opry star Roy Acuff helps break ground for the
Opryland USA theme park, Tennessee's only theme park at
the time.
1968
May 1968 - WSM-FM
makes its debut as a 100,000 watt station at 95.5 MHz.
1943
June 1943 -
The Grand Ole Opry, now performed before live audiences,
moves to the Ryman Auditorium, its home for the next 31
years.
1941
March 1941 -
Once again, WSM blazes the trail by giving America its
first commercial FM station, W47NV (at 44.7 MHz), a
65,000-watt station reaching three states.
1928
December 1928
- The "WSM Barn Dance" officially becomes the Grand Ole
Opry.
1925
November 1925
- The "WSM Barn Dance" Saturday night radio program is
launched.
October 5,
1925 - Radio Station WSM goes on the air as a service of
the National Life & Accident Insurance Company (NLT). The
WSM call letters are chosen as a representation of NLT's
motto, "We Shield Millions."
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Nashville, TN 37214