The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center is back in action. The facility, which was hard hit by May's flood, will officially reopen for business today. Opryland has been closed since the Cumberland River spilled over its banks and submerged much of Middle Tennessee just over six months ago. The return of Opryland is also music to those who run neighboring businesses. Cooter's Place manager Michael Smith notes he's thrilled to see Opryland's doors open once again. He tells Nashville's WSMV-TV that with the flood, quote, "It went from almost a nice, booming little valley here to almost a dead stop." Gaylord Opryland is seen as a key component of Nashville's economy. Roughly 12-percent of hotel bookings in Nashville are at the resort.
Opryland has a three-day Grand Reopening event planned for later this week. The festivities will begin Thursday with the annual Christmas lighting ceremony and a special Community Concert featuring Trace Adkins and Craig Morgan.
