
Gaylord Opryland Resort | Nashville Hauntings
Posted: 01.18.2020 | Updated: 01.14.2025
The Gaylord Opryland Resort is not only a colossal hotel with 2,888 rooms, but also an architectural masterpiece and one of the largest hotels in the world. While it impresses with its luxury, breathtaking gardens, and high-end amenities, there’s an eerie side to its opulence.
Beneath the surface of its beauty, the hotel is haunted by the enigmatic figure known as the Black Lady, adding an intriguing layer to the Gaylord Resort ghosts tales.
Legend has it that the Black Lady’s ghost roams the halls, with guests reporting eerie footsteps, sudden cold spots, and sightings of a shadowy figure. Her tragic tale of lost love and death only deepens the mystery surrounding her presence.
For those intrigued by the supernatural, the Gaylord Resort’s haunted history is just the beginning. Nashville’s ghostly past comes to life through ghost tours, where visitors can explore the city’s most thrilling spots and uncover chilling legends and eerie tales that still echo through the streets.
Is The Gaylord Opryland Haunted?
Nahville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort is renowned not only for its beauty and luxury but also for its eerie reputation. Guests and staff alike have reported unsettling occurrences, such as cold spots, unexplained footsteps, and sightings of shadowy figures. These mysterious happenings have solidified the hotel’s place in Nashville’s haunted history, contributing to the lore of Gaylord Opryland Resort’s ghosts.
Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, the blend of elegance and supernatural intrigue makes it a captivating destination. If you’re staying at this historic hotel, be prepared for some spine-chilling surprises as you explore one of Nashville’s most haunted landmarks.
History of Nashville’s Opryland Hotel

Opryland Hotel would open on Thanksgiving day in 1977 on a land that was adjacent to the amusement park. This hotel was built to support the Grand Ole Opry.
The original Opry Hotel would only have 580 guest rooms and a ballroom. The lobby was designed specifically to resemble a Southern-style grand mansion, with an intricate and impressive staircase and even a chandelier.
The hotel decided to expand in 1983 and the construction continued until 1984. During this time there were over four hundred rooms added and other facilities to meet demands. They had added a conservatory that would resemble a grand Victorian-era garden that had over 10,000 plants and would remain at a consistent temperature of seventy-one degrees.
They decided to add 797 more rooms and another two acres to the hotel in 1988. They would then build an atrium. This would feature a three-and-a-half-story waterfall with over 8,000 different tropical plants. They also had a lobby that would have over twenty-four check-in areas. This means they could check in about 580 guests an hour if needed.
More Hotel Expansions
In 1996, another expansion took place. This would expand another four and a half acres that doubled the size of the existing resort. They would add one thousand guest rooms, an exhibit hall that was 289,000 square feet, a huge ballroom, and several meeting rooms. The best addition that trademarked the area was the Cajun-themed Atrium.
This Atrium has a quarter of a mile-long river. Keep in mind that this river is indoors! The guest can ride on flatboats down the river. Plus, another water feature has had jets added so that it can dance to the music.
Water samples were taken from over 1,700 rivers throughout the entire world. This includes all rivers that are registered in the United States. This water is what makes the Delta River. They also added a steakhouse that was built to resemble a mansion during the antebellum era.
The Evolution of Gaylord Opryland Resort
It wasn’t until October of 2001 that the Opry Hotel was rebranded. It was now called Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Some people just call it Gaylord Opryland because the real name is far too long.
Opryland was a strong brand that was unique not only to Nashville but to Texas as well. However, it would not fit with other parts of the United States.
The resort had planned to add an amphitheater with 5,000 seats in the future, however, these plans were dismissed because they wanted their convention center expanded.
Tragically, in 2010, a large flood devastated most of the town. It even caused quite a bit of damage to the hotel. Guests had to be evacuated because waters would rise up to ten feet in some areas. The hotel had undergone some major renovations and would reopen several months later. They had added five restaurants and restored the rest of the hotel during this time.
It was in 2012 that Gaylord Entertainment announced that they would be partnering with Dollywood Company. They were going to build a seasonal park with snow and a new water park ona land that the company owns. This was estimated to cost fifty million dollars. It was expected to be open about two years later until Dolly had withdrawn the partnership.
Wi-fi Issues
It was in October of 2014 that a 600,00 dollar fine was imposed. This was imposed because they were interfering with private wireless internet connections. This meant that they would link portable computers to their personal phones. This was done in the convention space of the hotel.
It was considered a containment feature. They believed that they would monitor the system. However, they were not using it as it should be. The system was supposed to be monitored to remove rogue access points from the network.
However, they would misuse this to send deauthentication packets to their client’s computers and phones. This is unlawful because it is not part of their network, but of the individual subscribers. They would do this because it would disconnect the consumer’s devices from their wireless internet.
These were sent so that the people at a convention would be forced to purchase the internet from the hotel. Keep in mind the rates of the hotel were 250 to 1,000 per point.
According to the FCC, hotels cannot do this. They are not allowed to disable personal hotspots and charge their consumers high fees to use wireless internet networks. The practice that was happening would force people to go into a position they didn’t want to be in. They would pay twice for high-speed internet networks or have to go without the internet.
No matter how much the hotel was fined, they will continue to deny that it was illegal because they state they used FCC equipment to protect their clients from a hacker.
Haunted Nashville’s Gaylord Resort
The original Gaylord Opryland Hotel began with just 580 rooms, always in high deman due to the popularity of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. As the business and city grew, so did the the hotel, expanding to accomodate the influx of visitors. One of the hotel’s most notable features is the Magnolia Lobby, designed to evoke the charm of Southern-style mansion, complete with an elaborate chandelier.
However, this chandelier is rumored to be connected a very active spirt— the Black Lady. She is said to haunt various areas of the property, including the lobby. There are numerous reports of eerie encounters with the Black Lady.
One guest recounted entering an open elevator only to find a woman dressed in black. When the doors closed, the woman mysteriously vanished. She is also known to appear outside guest rooms in the evenings.
Guests have also reported strange sounds throughout the hotel, including stomping and running noises in the hallways, often accompanied by a faint, eerie moan.
When security checks on these disturbances, they find nothing— just an empty hallway. These chilling experiences have only added to the legend of the Opry Hotel ghosts.

This Lady in Black is also known to go inside the rooms at night. She was said to wake up guests who are sleeping and whisper miss or mister into their ears. However, when people woke up, no one is anywhere to be found.
Despite these stories and her dreadful attire, she is not a violent spirit. She is simply a woman who dresses in Black and isn’t going to destroy or be violent to anyone or anything. In fact, her doings are so innocent that the hotel staff will blame one another for the actions that happen.
Conclusion
The Opryland Hotel is a very large resort today. It has almost three thousand rooms and is one of the massive hotels in the entire world. Marriott International runs this resort. No matter how much the property expands or what renovations will happen, the Black Lady adapts. She has been seen at every corner and area on the property.
Many people will visit this area not only for its beauty but also for the thrill of paranormal activity. If you have the chance to stay here, remember, the Black Lady won’t hurt you.
Haunted Nashville
The Gaylord Opryland Resort’s haunted history offers more than just a glimpse into its past—it’s an unforgettable experience that draws both the curious and the brave. From the chilling whispers in its grand hallways to the ghostly legends surrounding its iconic spaces, the resort is steeped in supernatural stories just waiting to be discovered.
Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, a ghost tour at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee takes you on a spine-tingling journey through the hotel’s mysterious and sometimes eerie history. So, next time you’re at this iconic resort, be sure to explore its haunted side—an adventure that’s bound to be as thrilling as it is unforgettable.
Keep up with us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for even more spooky content! And be sure to read our blog for deeper dives into Nashville’s haunted history and the most chilling spots in the city.
Sources:
- https://travel.usnews.com/hotels/review-gaylord_opryland_resort_convention_center-nashville-tennessee-17689
- https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/what-happened-during-victorian-era
- https://www.southernliving.com/what-to-do-at-nashville-gaylord-opryland-resort-7481521
- https://www.tn.gov/news/2012/1/19/dolly-partons-dollywood-gaylord-entertainment-partner-to-bring-family-enter.html
- https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20141030-the-truth-about-the-paranormal
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