Opryland closed back in 1997, but several of its rides were purchased and still operate today. One of those rides was Lumberjack Falls at Wild Waves Theme & Water Park near Seattle, Washington which operated in Opryland as Old Mill Scream from 1987 to 1997. Unfortunately Wild Waves is slated to close permanently on November 1, 2026 with Lumberjack Falls is already closed for the season (which essentially means forever). This is sad to see on many levels, but perhaps in this there’s a small glimmer of opportunity. Comedian Nate Bargatze is looking to build a theme park called Nateland in Nashville, Tennessee. The park is inspired by Bargatze’s childhood memories of the former Opryland and the era it 90’s era of it’s operations. Wouldn’t it be something if Nate Bargatze bought the former Opryland attraction Old Mill Scream and brought it back to Nashville for his new Nateland theme park? This would be the ultimate homecoming and give Nateland an actual former Opryland attraction.

Wouldn’t it be something if Nate Bargatze bought the former Opryland attraction Old Mill Scream and brought it back to Nashville for his new Nateland theme park?

Lumberjack Falls has a pretty fascinating history. It’s an Intamin Spill water (Shoot the Shoots) ride that was bought as part of a ride package by Premier Parks who would later become part of Six Flags. The ride was initially shipped to Six Flags Over Texas where it was rethemed and refurbished, but never operated. In 2000 Six Flags actually acquired Wild Waves and shipped the ride there. It was supposed to open as Buzzsaw Falls, but was renamed Luberjack Falls and opened in Federal Way, Washington in 2002. Six Flags would then divest Wild Waves in 2006, selling it to PARC Management. It would later be sold to EPR Properties who is the owner of the Enchanted Parks chain. The closure of Lumberjack Falls will leave us with three still operating former Opryland rides:

• The Hangman: Now operating as Kong at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California.
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster: Now operating as Canyon Blaster at The Great Escape in Queensbury, New York.
• Grizzly River Rampage: Now operating as Raging Rapids River Ride at Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky.

I love the way the theme park industry can recycle old attractions as I’m saddened when rides are simply destroyed for scrap. My hope is that Lumberjack Falls and the other rides at Wild Waves can bring a new group of guests joy elsewhere in the coming years. The wooden coaster Timberhawk is unfortunately probably a goner, but Klondike Gold Rusher, the Zamperla Wild Mouse has a chance. This park is a former Six Flags, so this is likely quality stuff that still has life in it and not carnival grade rides. This may happen inside the EPR (Enchated Parks), but wouldn’t it be something if Nateland could end up with a former Opryland Attraction?