Report: Dollywood's Nashville water and snow park put "on hold"

Dolly Parton appeared on stage to announce the Nashville project earlier this year. Image © Dollywood

Dollywood's plans to construct a water and snow park in Nashville have reportedly been put on hold, although both partners in the project claim they are committed to it.

NewsChannel5.com quotes Dollywood co-owner Dolly Parton as stating that its partner in developing the new park, Gaylord Entertainment Co., has been preoccupied with the sale of its hotel brand to Marriott, resulting in a lack of progress. It is not clear if this will delay the planned opening of the attraction beyond the initial target of spring 2014.

For its part, Gaylord released a statement reaffirming its commitment to the Nashville project. Plans for the water and snow park received a boost in April, when it was confirmed that it would receive a 60 percent property tax break from the city's Metro Council.

The park will be divided into two sections. The largest of these will be occupied by the water park, which will boast a number of slides and a lazy river. The smaller snow park will contain just two slides initially, with fake snow being used to keep it operational during periods of milder weather.

Dollywood's partner in the project currently runs the nearby Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. The company shuttered the neighboring Opryland USA theme park in 1997, in order to focus on its core hospitality business.