Haunted Tennessee: The ‘old lady’ who haunts the former Opryland site

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – While Nashville locals remember the days of Opryland USA and the thrill of the Wabash Cannonball roller coaster , did you also know there were some paranormal sightings at the theme park?

Throughout its more than two decades, the theme park also had a series of mysterious encounters that frightened guests and workers alike.

According to Allen Sircy, author of “Southern Ghost Stories Opryland”, a spirit has lingered on the property that once housed the Music City-themed theme park—now home to Opry Mills Mall.

That spirit’s name, according to Sircy, is Mary Louise Bransford McGavock. She died in 1965, leaving her property to her church, which was where Opry Mills now sits.

“She left all the land—the land next to the Cumberland River—to her church and she asked for the land to be used as an orphanage or for a school,” Sircy said.

But her final wishes were not respected following her death.

“Shortly thereafter, WSM bought it and built a theme park,” Sircy said. “So, after the theme park got up and going in 1972, people started seeing an old lady walking around at night.”

According to legend, McGavock’s spirit haunted Opryland throughout its operational years, and her presence has also been felt at Opry Mills.

“She would chase people; they’d see her in the gazebos; they’d see her over here by the rides. And it freaked a lot of people out,” Sircy said. “Well, they closed the park back in ‘99, and now they see her in the mall.”

McGavok’s presence was then witnessed in the mall after its construction by some mall employees.

“People in the stores say things jump off the shelf. They’ll come in during the morning and find things on the floor. They hear noises all the time. I guess the ghosts from Opryland have followed over to Opry Mills,” Sircy said.

For more information on Mary McGaock’s ghost, read Sircy’s book, which is available online.

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