Hailed as "The Most Christmassy Hotel in the Nation" by the Travel Channel's Extreme Christmas, it features more than two million holiday lights that will illuminate the 2,881-room Nashville resort until Jan. 3.
Opryland Resort records 1 million visitors to the resort during the holidays each year.The destination provides options for everyone in the family including entertainment such as the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes, gingerbread decorating with Gingy from Shrek and a nostalgic recreation of a town square complete with a Coca-Cola themed soda shop and Mrs. Claus to read to the children.
"What Gaylord Opryland offers is something for kids from ages 1 to 99," says Jenny Barker, public relations director for Gaylord Opryland Hotel. "Christmas is a magical time of year no matter what age you are."
Particularly unique to the area is Gaylord Opryland's ICE!, an interactive, larger-than-life ice sculpture world with more than 2 million tons of ice carved into characters from the movie "Madagascar" by artisans all the way from Harbin, China. Considerate of our southern heritage and sensitivity to cold, the hotel provides large, blue parkas to keep everyone cozy in the space which is kept at 9 degrees Fahrenheit - especially helpful if guests wish to brave the cold on the 20-foot-tall ice slides.
Gaylord Opryland Resorts uses 2,000,000 holiday lights for outdoor decoration (that 189 miles of lights, if strung end to end) and 15 miles of green garland."What's important for people in Chattanooga to know is that it's an amazing character experience without having to drive to Florida or California," says Barker of the DreamWorks' movie-themed experiences available at Gaylord Opryland.
Although hotel packages are available for those who want to stay the night and enjoy the festivities, people are welcome to visit at no cost to see the dazzling lights and the outdoor nativity scene. Also available at no cost is Treasures for the Holidays, a craft and gift show featuring more than 40 merchants from across the country.
"I think Christmas is the time of year when Gaylord Opryland shines the brightest," Barker says. "You just don't want to miss it."