Wildhorse Saloon Is Set to Saddle Up Again

Downtown Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon -- the popular country-themed restaurant, music venue and dance club -- is set to reopen on Friday, June 4, approximately a month after flood waters forced it to shut down.

The venue and restaurant suffered significant water damage on May 2, with flooding reaching into the lower level of the establishment, hitting the kitchen, offices, production bay and parking garage. The stage and dance floor, however, were left unharmed.

Nashville's Tennessean newspaper reports that the reopening celebration will come in the form of a series of shows leading up to the June 10-13 CMA Music Festival. On the schedule are the rather ironically-named rock band Puddle of Mudd, along with Saliva, who'll both play on re-opening day; a June 7 benefit concert with Darius Rucker and friends, with funds benefiting Jude Children's Research Hospital; a June 8 Country Weekly fashion show and concert to benefit Musicians on Call; a June 9 "watch party" for the CMT Music Awards; a Blake Shelton fan-club celebration on June 10; 'After Midnite with Blair Garner' on June 11; and the New Faces shindig on June 12, during the CMA Fest.

The Wildhorse, a Gaylord property, will be the first in that family to return after the flood. Other Gaylord properties hit hard by the flood include the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, the Grand Ole Opry House, the General Jackson Showboat and Gaylord Springs Golf Links.

"The closing of five Gaylord properties due to flood waters has been a significant hit to the city's tourism industry and tax revenues," said Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center senior VP and general manager Pete Weien in a statement. "We're thrilled to welcome back our guests to the Wildhorse, even as the hard work continues at our other properties throughout the city. The people of Nashville have been tremendous to us, and we cannot thank everyone enough for the support and encouragement sent our way."