Top Things to Do On-site and Nearby
Top on-site activities include walking the nine acres of indoor atriums (waterfalls, quarter-mile river and boat tours), visiting the paid SoundWaves water experience (ticketed; some access requires a package), and choosing from nearly 20 restaurants and bars. Nearby highlights within easy reach include the Grand Ole Opry, Opry Mills, General Jackson Showboat, and Gaylord Springs Golf Links.
In this guide
Explore the indoor atriums and river
Gaylord Opryland has nine acres of climate-controlled indoor gardens that link guest-room wings, restaurants and shops. The Delta Atrium contains a quarter-mile indoor river with regular riverboat rides, waterfalls and water features to walk around and photograph.
Paths, bridges and small islands create several distinct atrium neighborhoods (Delta, Garden Conservatory, Cascades) with scenic viewpoints and easy access from guest rooms and public areas.
- Look for the Delta Atrium river and fountain show
- Stroll the Garden Conservatory paths and small waterfalls
- Ride the indoor riverboat for a short tour
| Atrium | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Delta Atrium | Quarter-mile river, fountain show, riverboat rides |
| Garden Conservatory | Victorian-style paths, waterfalls, Ravello nearby |
| Cascades Atrium | Large waterfall and Cascades American Cafe |
SoundWaves water experience (ticketed)
SoundWaves is a 4-acre indoor/outdoor water attraction with separate family, children and adult-only zones. Access is ticketed: guaranteed admission requires booking the SoundWaves Water Experience overnight package or purchasing tickets when allowed for resort guests.
Rules and operating details can change: all persons age 4 and over require a ticket or wristband, observers without a ticket are not admitted, and some adult-only pools (Diamond Pool, Status Cymbal) are restricted to guests 18 and older on select dates.
- Access runs from opening time on check-in day until noon on check-out day for package holders
- Indoor area is typically maintained around mid-80s°F and includes flow-rider attractions
- Outside food and beverage are not permitted inside SoundWaves
| Feature | Notes |
|---|---|
| FlowRider | Height and waiver rules apply (42" for bodyboard; 52" for standing) |
| Adult pools | Diamond Pool seasonal (18+); Status Cymbal open select dates (18+) |
| Tickets | Required for ages 4 and up; package guarantees access |
Dining and bars on site
The resort lists nearly 20 dining venues spanning steakhouse, Italian, Southern, burgers, seafood, quick-service cafés and dessert shops. A full breakfast is available as a paid add-on rather than included with a standard room.
Old Hickory Steakhouse is the resort's signature steakhouse in the Delta Atrium and requires reservations; other table-service options include Ravello (Italian) and Jack Daniel's (Southern BBQ). There are several grab-and-go options for quick snacks and coffee.
- Old Hickory Steakhouse — steakhouse, reservations recommended
- Ravello — Italian in the Garden Conservatory
- Foundry Fieldhouse Sports Bar & Taproom — large sports bar with many TVs
- Delta Marketplace, Cocoa Bean, Bravo Gelato, Cinnabon and Carvel for quick bites
| Restaurant | Cuisine | When to go |
|---|---|---|
| Old Hickory Steakhouse | Steakhouse | Dinner (reservations required) |
| Ravello | Italian | Dinner; located in Garden Conservatory |
| Cascades American Cafe | American | Breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| Delta Marketplace | Grab-and-go / Starbucks | Quick breakfasts and snacks |
Spa, fitness and pools
Relâche Spa & Salon is the on-site spa offering massages, facials, body treatments and salon services; guests must be at least 18 to receive body treatments and massages. The spa includes steam, sauna and relaxation areas and specific hours for each day of the week.
A 24-hour Relâche Fitness Center is available to registered guests (access included via the resort fee). The resort also maintains complimentary indoor and outdoor pools separate from the paid SoundWaves attraction, plus a children's pool.
- Relâche Spa: treatments, relaxation lounges, steam/sauna; age 18+ for body treatments
- Fitness center: open 24 hours to registered guests with room key
- Pools: complimentary indoor and outdoor pools available (SoundWaves is separate and ticketed)
| Amenity | Access / Notes |
|---|---|
| Relâche Spa | Paid treatments; age restrictions for some services |
| Fitness Center | 24 hours; access included with resort fee |
| Resort pools | Complimentary indoor and outdoor pools; SoundWaves is separate and ticketed |
Nearby attractions and outdoor options
The Grand Ole Opry, Opry Mills shopping and the General Jackson Showboat are all within easy walking/shuttle distance. The resort runs scheduled shuttles to local attractions including the Grand Ole Opry and Opry Mills; shuttle policies and schedules can vary.
For outdoor recreation, Gaylord Springs Golf Links partners with the resort and is a short drive away; Percy Priest Lake and Nashville Shores Waterpark are also within roughly a 15–20 minute drive for boating, paddleboarding and beaches.
- Grand Ole Opry — about a 10-minute walk
- Opry Mills — walking distance; shopping and entertainment nearby
- Gaylord Springs Golf Links — about an 8–9 minute drive
- Percy Priest Lake / Nashville Shores — boating and lake beaches within a short drive
| Attraction | Typical time from resort |
|---|---|
| Grand Ole Opry | About 10-minute walk |
| Opry Mills | About 10-minute walk |
| Gaylord Springs Golf Links | About 8–9 minute drive |
Meetings, events and wedding spaces
Gaylord Opryland is a large convention property with a broad range of event venues: the Delta Ballroom, Davidson and Tennessee Ballrooms, Ryman Exhibit Hall spaces and many smaller breakout rooms. The resort provides event services and catering for weddings, conferences and banquets.
Event capacities vary widely (from intimate ballrooms to exhibit halls measured in tens of thousands of square feet). If you're planning an event, contact the resort's events team to confirm venue size, availability and on-site services.
- Delta Ballroom and Ryman Exhibit Halls accommodate large conferences and exhibitions
- Magnolia Ballroom and other ballrooms suit mid-size receptions (example: Magnolia Ballroom listed with a capacity of 250 guests)
- Event services include catering, audio-visual support and ceremony/reception coordination
| Venue | Notable capacity/feature |
|---|---|
| Delta Ballroom | Large ballroom used for major events (theater capacities listed on property pages) |
| Ryman Exhibit Hall | Major exhibit space; multiple halls and breakout rooms |
| Magnolia Ballroom | Intimate ballroom option; listed capacity example 250 Guests |
