NASHVILLE, Tenn. –
Grand Ole Opry member Blake Shelton and Ryman Hospitality Properties,
Inc. (NYSE: RHP) today announced plans to open a third Ole Red
entertainment venue in the heart of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
With a planned opening in spring 2019, Ole Red Gatlinburg will be a $9
million, multi-level 16,000-square-foot entertainment venue with a
two-story bar and restaurant, retail area, performance space, dance
floor and exterior terrace. Its chef-driven, Shelton-inspired menu will
feature a few Nashville classics like Hot Chicken & Waffles as well
as BBQ, burgers and additional Southern favorites.
Designed to embody the spirit of Shelton’s clever, irreverent hit “Ol’
Red,” the Ole Red brand is part of Ryman Hospitality Properties’
strategy to create digital content, retail products and entertainment
venues that celebrate the country lifestyle and resonate with country
music’s rapidly growing consumer base of more than 100 million people
across the United States.
Ryman Hospitality Properties Chairman and CEO, Colin Reed, said, “With
12 million annual visitors and a rich country music legacy, Gatlinburg
is an ideal destination for the Ole Red brand. We know the Smoky
Mountain region is tremendously popular with country lifestyle
consumers, and we believe Ole Red offers a unique entertainment
experience that will attract even more visitors to the area.”
The venue will be equipped with state-of-the-art performance equipment
including concert-level production and sound capabilities, along with
LED screens throughout the space. Programming will include curated
concert line-ups, showcases for up-and-coming talent and more to be
announced as the venue nears completion.
Blake Shelton said, “Gatlinburg is one of my all-time favorite places.
This part of the country is full of people who love good food, great
music, family and most importantly, a good time. That’s what Ole Red is
all about, and I can’t wait to give my fans another place to have fun in
Gatlinburg.”
The Ole Red Gatlinburg announcement comes a few weeks before Ole Red
Nashville, a multi-level 26,000-square-foot entertainment venue in the
heart of Nashville’s famed Lower Broadway, is expected to open in May of
2018. Ole Red Nashville includes a two-story bar and restaurant, retail
area, performance space, dance floor, private event space, and a
6,000-square-foot rooftop with an indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant
featuring panoramic views of Lower Broadway. Ole Red Gatlinburg and Ole
Red Nashville join Ole Red Tishomingo, which opened in September of 2017
in Shelton’s hometown of Tishomingo, Okla.
Reed continued, “It was our intention to make this announcement from
Gatlinburg today. Unfortunately due to the inclement winter weather, we
had to change our plans. I would like to sincerely thank everyone in
Gatlinburg who was involved in making this great venture possible. We
are thrilled to be a part of the city’s growth, and we look forward to
coming back to Gatlinburg very soon.”
Ole Red Gatlinburg will be located at 511 Parkway, the main drive into
town from Pigeon Forge. Ryman Hospitality Properties holds a long-term
lease on the building and is working with Tuck-Hinton Architects and
Anderson Design Studio on the project.
FOR RENDERINGS: www.olered.com/gatlinburg
About Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE:RHP) is a REIT for federal
income tax purposes, specializing in group-oriented, destination hotel
assets in urban and resort markets. The Company’s owned assets include a
network of four upscale, meetings-focused resorts totaling 7,811 rooms
that are managed by lodging operator Marriott International, Inc. under
the Gaylord Hotels brand. Other owned assets managed by Marriott
International, Inc. include Gaylord Springs Golf Links, the Wildhorse
Saloon, the General Jackson Showboat, The Inn at Opryland, a 303-room
overflow hotel adjacent to Gaylord Opryland, AC Hotel Washington, DC at
National Harbor, a 192-room overflow hotel near Gaylord National and the
Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center, which is a joint venture
investment scheduled to open in the fourth quarter 2018. The Company
also owns and operates media and entertainment assets, including the
Grand Ole Opry, the legendary weekly showcase of country music’s finest
performers for over 90 years; the Ryman Auditorium, the storied former
home of the Grand Ole Opry located in downtown Nashville; 650 AM WSM,
the Opry’s radio home; and Ole Red, a country lifestyle and
entertainment brand. The Company also is a joint venture owner in Opry
City Stage, the Opry’s first home away from home, in Times Square. For
additional information about Ryman Hospitality Properties, visit
www.rymanhp.com.
About Ole Red
Ole Red is a lifestyle and entertainment brand inspired by Blake
Shelton’s clever, irreverent third-chart hit, “Ol’ Red.” You can find
Ole Red entertainment venues and products in two locations in the United
States by 2018, the flagship multi-story bar, restaurant and
entertainment venue in the heart of downtown Nashville’s famed Lower
Broadway, and the very first location in Blake’s hometown of Tishomingo,
Oklahoma. Ole Red is owned and operated by Ryman Hospitality
Properties, Inc. as part of its Opry Entertainment division. For
additional information about Ole Red, visit us online at olered.com.
About Blake Shelton
Country Music Association’s 2012 “Entertainer of the Year,” five-time
Male Vocalist of the Year winner and GRAMMY nominee Blake Shelton
continues to add to his superstar status.
His most recent album, If I’m Honest, debuted at #1 on the
Billboard Top Album Sales Chart and the Billboard Country Album Chart,
and is the best-selling country album release of 2016. If I’m Honest has
already yielded the #1 smash single, “Came Here To Forget,” which
became his 22nd #1 single. His new single, “A Guy With A Girl” is Top 10
and climbing, and he recently performed the song on The Voice and Jimmy
Kimmel Live. The album features three songs written by Shelton which
include the gospel tinged “Savior’s Shadow,” “Friends,” which is also
featured in the #1 film, The Angry Birds Movie, and “Go Ahead and Break
My Heart,” a song he wrote and performs with Gwen Stefani.
A member of the Grand Ole Opry, he has earned a host of awards
throughout his career, which most recently include Favorite Country Male
Artist at the American Music Awards, the first-ever “Male Artist of the
Year” and “Story of the Year” for the RARE COUNTRY Awards, and has
three nominations at the upcoming People’s Choice Awards. As a coach
for the Emmy Award Winning television show, The Voice, Shelton is the
reigning and five-time champion, most recently with his contestant
Sundance Head. He kicked off his 2018 “Doing It To Country Songs” Tour
in February.
For more information and upcoming tour dates, please visit www.BlakeShelton.com and follow @BlakeShelton.