By the late 1960s, the Ryman Auditorium the fifth home of the Grand Ole Opry was a deteriorating firetrap in a seedy part of Nashville, yet it still attracted thousands of people each weekend to the show that made country music famous. In an effort to develop an attraction that could sustain a larger Opry all week long, Opryland was born. Opryland USA operated from May 27, 1972, until December 31, 1997, attracting millions of visitors each year and giving many celebrities their first taste of show business. The park consisted of nine areas, dozens of rides, and Broadway-caliber shows...