The Wildhorse Rides Again!

World-Famous Venue Reopens after Devastating Nashville Flood

Nashville, Tenn.—( June 7, 2010 )

There was dancing in the streets of downtown Nashville Saturday, June 5, to celebrate the return of a legendary venue. Historic 2nd Avenue was packed with fans of country music—and, no doubt, of Music City itself—to see the grand reopening of the world-famous Wildhorse Saloon.

The Wildhorse was shut down by unprecedented flooding in the downtown area and throughout the city of Nashville during the first weekend in May. Saturday’s festivities kicked off with a stampede down 2nd Avenue by a team of professional horseback riders, followed by a massive line dancing spectacle in the middle of the street. Hundreds of fans joined in the fun, while Blaster Recording artists Brother Trouble jammed away on an outdoor stage.

After an official ribbon cutting and a three-story banner drop, fans were invited inside the Wildhorse for food, drinks and to hear from hit songwriter Jeffery Steele. It was a great opportunity for fans to kick up their heels on Nashville’s largest dance floor.

“We are thrilled to reopen the Wildhorse Saloon following the devastating flood we experienced just a few weeks ago,” said Pete Weien, senior vice president of Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, which owns and operates the Wildhorse Saloon. “Gaylord is entrusted with some of Nashville’s most unique and iconic landmarks. It’s important to the city that we reopen all of our properties as quickly as possible. They’re vital for the Nashville job market, for the tourism that comes to our city and for the tax revenues we generate. Even more importantly, landmarks like the Wildhorse Saloon are fundamental to who we are as a city. They give us our identity. The Wildhorse is part of what makes us ‘Music City.’”

The Wildhorse is one of five Gaylord properties in Nashville to shut down for repairs after last month’s historic flooding. Others include Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, the General Jackson Showboat, Gaylord Springs Golf Links and the Grand Ole Opry House. The Wildhorse became the first Gaylord attraction to officially reopen its doors, thanks to a jam-packed performance by Puddle of Mudd on Friday night. The three-story music venue narrowly beat out the General Jackson Showboat, which held its first river cruise since the flood Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Grand Ole Opry continues its weekly schedule of performances at venues such as the Ryman Auditorium while the Opry House is restored. And Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is planning its grand reopening on November 15.

"This weekend, we celebrated the rebirth of the Wildhorse and all of downtown Nashville. It is a testament to the resilience of our city that so many of our landmarks and tourist attractions are back open in time for the CMA Music Festival,” Weien said. “We have worked hard, together, to bounce back in record time. I have never been more proud to live in the city of Nashville.”

On the night of Sunday, May 2, floodwaters poured into the lower level of the Wildhorse Saloon, affecting offices, kitchen areas, the production bay and the parking garage. Fortunately, the stage was completely unharmed, and so was Nashville’s largest dance floor. All damage to the Wildhorse has been restored.

The Wildhorse Saloon will celebrate the CMA Music Festival with a series of high-profile performances.  Artists include the Darius Rucker & Friends Benefit Concert for St. Jude’s Research Hospital today, Monday, June 7; Country Weekly Fashion Show & Concert benefiting Musicians on Call on Tuesday, June 8; CMT Music Awards Viewing Party on Wednesday, June 9; Blake Shelton’s Fan Club Party on Thursday, June 10; After MidNite with Blair Garner on Friday, June 11; and New Faces on Saturday, June 12.

Photos from Saturday’s reopening event are available at www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-opryland/media-room/nashville-rebuild/index.html.

For tickets or more information, please call 615-902-8211 or visit www.wildhorsesaloon.com.

 

About The Wildhorse Saloon
The Wildhorse Saloon turned a three-level historic warehouse into a 66,000-square-foot live music and dance destination. The Wildhorse is simultaneously a restaurant, bar, concert site and dance venue. Annually, more than 1.5 million music fans stampede to the Wildhorse to have a great meal, catch the hottest concerts and learn the newest dance steps. Over the course of a normal year, the Wildhorse uses around 3,000 gallons of barbecue sauce and about two million pickle slices in its famous fried pickle recipe. The Wildhorse has been involved in more than 4,000 television shows and tapings. The Wildhorse is the largest per capita restaurant in all of Tennessee and also has the largest television screen in Music City, not to mention the largest dance floor. The Wildhorse Saloon is owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.WildhorseSaloon.com.

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