Amy Jo Kinyon
The hills will once again be alive with the sound of music when Sandyland returns to Nashville on Saturday, July 16. The venue, located just outside of the village on M-79, is no stranger to country music. The vocal stylings of Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, the Everly Brothers and many others filled the air when Sandyland was in full swing. Now, the members of Nashville’s Route 66 Business District are bringing back live music to the venue, tucked among the trees and out of sight of those who travel M-79.
“Well it made a big difference in my life to grow up with a dad who wasn’t afraid to take chances and follow your dreams,” said Angie Joppie, daughter of Sandyland founder Sandy Salyers. “My dad wanted a place for folks to bring their families for a fun-filled day of relaxation,good food and listen to some good music from some big entertainers, and that he did. I’d really like to thank the people on the Route 66 group who’s making this possible it’s quite an honor seeing my dad get recognized for the hard work you put into Sandyland he would be so proud and happy right now.”
Kimberly Rodriguez is heading up the event and said the main goal is to make Nashville a destination community and foster growth.
“Sandyland is another project brought to the community by Nashville’s Route 66 Business District. Local businesses supporting each other, one of our goals is to make Nashville a destination once again,” explained Rodriguez. “The idea came up at one of our board meetings as we talked about Sandyland Park and its contribution to Nashville and the surrounding areas.”
Work has been taking place since early spring to prepare the grounds for the day’s events and Rodriguez said although the park has been closed for over two decades, it still holds significance.
“Signs go up on location this week, to help those who don’t know the stories and location, but it is still standing and the magic is still there,” Rodriguez said. “The second you walk through the trees and the bright white of the Sandyland Park building shines through nature’s archway, you can almost hear the music already.”
This year’s event will feature country music star Pam Tillis along with local American Idol finalist Matt Giraud and upcoming country artist Matt Williams. In keeping with tradition, a house band will also take to the stage to entertain the crowd. The members of the band were just recently announced and include Dusty Rodriguez, Bill Cummings, Kent Koffman and Don Mulvany. When Sandyland was in its hey-day, local musician Don Lincoln opened each and every show.
Along with Sandyland, the Nashville Route 66 Business District coordinated last year’s world record ice cream sundae event and are planning several other activities to enhance the community. The efforts of the group, formed in 2015, are aimed at creating a welcoming and engaging community for visitors and residents alike.
“Making Nashville a destination again is bringing a new life into our town, giving us a pep in our step, and we can’t wait to see what this brings our community, not only our businesses, but the pride the community members feel when they talk about where they live and where they come from is the inspiration that keeps our group moving forward and allows us to believe in the magic of Sandyland Park,” said Rodriguez.
Visit nashvilleroute66.com for more information on the event and upcoming activities from the business district.
