Opryland rides live a second life at amusement parks from coast to coast

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — If you grew up in Nashville in the 70s and 80s, say Old Mill Scream and folks know exactly what you’re talking about. It’s one of the rides that made Opryland memorable. Many were sad to see these rides go when the park closed. But News 2 also learned that a few of these iconic rides were given a second life in other parks.

Hard to forget the Old Mill Scream. In the brutal summers, the ride gave folks a chance to get soaked.

“It’s a nice, cooling ride,” said one Opryland guest.

Or how about the Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster? It was Opryland’s more tame, family-friendly ride. Riders would scramble to sit on the last train car to get the best thrill. 

And, of course, the Hangman – an inverted loop coaster that debuted just a few years before the park closed. Who could forget the day it got stuck? With riders trapped on board, Nashville’s high-rise rescue team had to save the day.  

Old Mill Scream, Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster, and Hangman – all three rides were unique. And in the end, they all had the same fate: Sold off to other amusement parks across the U.S. where they are still used to this day.

“I’ve always had this lifelong passion with amusement parks,” said Jim Futrell, historian, National Amusement Park Historical Association.

Jim Futrell said rides getting sold to other parks is common in the industry. But at the time, Opryland’s sale was unique.

“Up to that point, it was one of the largest park liquidations ever,” said Futrell. “They brought in a ride broker to put up a private sale. They did not want to have a public auction.” 

Premier Parks purchased several Opryland rides and moved them to other parks: Old Mill Scream lives on in Washington state at Wild Waves Theme and Water Park under the name Lumber Jack Falls; Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster is in upstate New York at Six Flags where it’s been renamed Canyon Blaster; and Hangman lives on as Kong at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom outside San Francisco. 

“And then there were portions of other rides ended up being used in other parks,” said Futrell.

But, not all rides survived the sale to live a new life elsewhere. A few — Barnstormer, Chaos and Wabash Cannonball — were taken to the Old Indiana Fun Park North of Indianapolis. Eventually, that park closed too, and the rides met their demise.

“Sadly, most of the rides just remained there in the field in Indiana until they were really no longer viable, and most of them were scrapped,” said Futrell.

And Futrell said it’s nearly impossible to ever build another park like Opryland. 

“With that local amusement park, you don’t really realize what you have until it’s gone,” said Futrell.

Click here to read Futrell’s published writings about Opryland’s history.