Gaylord to Increase Height of Levee at Opryland

Gaylord Entertainment will increase the height of a levee along the Cumberland River to withstand a 500-year flood.

The Tennessean reported Gaylord CEO and Chairman Colin Reed made the announcement during a teleconference about earnings.

Reed said building up the levee that floodwater spilled over in May will allow the company to increase its insurance coverage while substantially lowering its annual premium. The project is expected to cost $12 million.

Flooding on May 1 and 2 caused millions of dollars in damage to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, the Grand Ole Opry House and other facilities behind the private levee. The hotel and the theater have reopened.