We Froze the Grinch for His 50th Birthday!
A beloved tale told in an amazing world of ICE! ONLY at Gaylord Opryland
Nashville, Tenn.—( September 25, 2007 ) One of the nation's most loved holiday tales will be told for the first time in a walk-through world of dazzling colored ICE! as Gaylord Opryland® Resort and Convention Center creates the first-of-its-kind ICE!™ featuring How The Grinch Stole Christmas!©. The cherished book and its beloved villain-turned-hero, the famous Grinch, are celebrating a 50th birthday this year. Gaylord Opryland has joined forces with Dr. Seuss Enterprises to celebrate this golden anniversary through this original attraction which will be open daily at the landmark resort from Nov. 15, 2007, through Jan. 2, 2008.This icy attraction will be a part of Gaylord Opryland's world-famous A Country Christmas®, which includes a wide variety of holiday shows and activities. ICE! will tell the book's story by recreating the wonderful features Grinch fans have come to adore, in larger-than-life, intricately carved, interactive ice sculptures set in a walk-thrrough world of ice. Some of the sculptures will weigh more than two tons each.
"This will make an impression on visitors that will not be forgotten. It's not just something to look at, but it is a truly wonderful experience," said Arthur Keith, senior vice president and general manager, Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. "What an honor it is for us to be working with Audrey Geisel, the lovely wife of the late Dr. Seuss on an attraction that will bring joy to so many people this Christmas season. ICE! featuring How the Grinch Stole Christmas! will truly be the only thing like it in the country."
Mrs. Audrey Geisel says, "I am thrilled to see Ted's (Geisel) creation being used in, well, such a creative way. It seems right that the Grinch and all the Whos would be carved out of ice. I think that if Ted were alive he would be tickled. This is a wonderful tribute to the 50th anniversary of the publication of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"
Starting at the Grinch's frozen mountaintop lair, to the 20-foot-high slides for kids, and built-in photo opportunity stops, down to the picturesque Who-ville, complete with real smoking chimneys and feasting Whos, ICE! featuring How The Grinch Stole Christmas! will make even the coldest of hearts grow three sizes.
ICE! featuring How The Grinch Stole Christmas! will be created by 35 artisans who migrate to Nashville each year from Harbin, China to craft this elaborate attraction out of almost 2 million pounds of ice. It takes them nearly an entire month of twelve-hour shifts to transform the theater where the exhibit is held into a remarkable icy wonderland.
ICE! begins Nov.15, 2007, and runs through Jan. 2, 2008. It will be open seven days a week with times ranging from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. depending on the day of the week. Ticket prices range from $12 (child) to $21 (adult) depending on the day.
Help raise money for Tennessee's public libraries through ICE! Cold Cash for Libraries. This partnership between Gaylord Opryland, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, The Tennessee Library Association, The Tennessee State Library and Archives and the YMCA Foundation of Middle Tennessee is an effort to promote literacy. Tennessee youth can get coupons at local libraries, or they can present their public library cards when purchasing a ticket to receive two dollars off admission price, plus, a one dollar donation will be made by Gaylord Opryland to that child's local public library. A coupon must be presented for the donation to go back to a specific library, otherwise the $1 will be donated to the Nashville Public Library System.
Special library group vacation packages are available as well as A Country Christmas vacation packages. For more information about ICE! featuring the How The Grinch Stole Christmas! including artists' renderings and activities, or for ticket information, go to www.wefrozethegrinch.com. To reserve holiday vacation room packages, call 1-888-999-OPRY (6779) or to go www.gaylordopryland.com
TM & © 2007 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. All Rights Reserved.
About "A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS"
Gaylord Opryland's A Country Christmas® presented by Nissan is proud to present ICE!™ presented by Coca-Cola®, featuring How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. This is the Only SHOW like it in the USA! From the Grinch's frozen mountain top lair, to the interactive slides and surprises, this life-sized story told in ice will make even the coldest of hearts grow three sizes. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular® presented by Allstate® Insurance Company, starring the world-famous Radio City Rockettes® is back with dazzling costumes, brilliant choreography and favorite scenes, such as the "Living Nativity" and the "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers." There's The Pam Tillis Christmas Dinner Party™, Christmas on the Cumberland aboard the General Jackson® Showboat, Treasures For The Holidays Craft Show; Santa's E-mail; Carriage Rides; Photos with Santa; Brightest Star Fountain Show; Hall of Trees and nearly two million Christmas lights. It's everything Christmas and all at Gaylord Opryland®.
About Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L. P.
Executive Vice President Susan Brandt heads the Dr. Seuss Licensing and Marketing office. The primary focus of the office is to protect the integrity of the Dr. Seuss books while expanding beyond books into licensed merchandise. The licensing effort is a strategic part of the overall effort to strengthen and protect the relationship consumers have with Dr. Seuss characters. Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss) said he never wanted to license his characters to anyone who would "round out the edges." That is one of the guiding philosophies of Dr. Seuss Enterprises.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1.3 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.
Media Contacts:
Ann Dee McClane amcclane@gaylordhotels.com 615.458.2896
Kim Keelor kkeelor@gaylordhotels.com 615.458-2877