GOODLETSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Twenty-six years ago, Opryland USA closed its doors.
However, part of its history has been preserved for more than two decades and is now being sold for thousands of dollars.
For 25 years, Opryland USA was uniquely Nashville, until it closed its doors.
Nearly three decades later, Michael Jordan with Treasure Trust Estate Sales has worked dozens of estate sales across the state but recently he handled the sale of signs from across Opryland.
“We’ve never come across this Opryland memorabilia. It's very special,” Dianne Sturdivant, Co-owner of Treasure Trust Estate Sales said.
People from all across the country bid on a piece of Nashville history.
“I came out today to take pictures of the Opryland memorabilia if I can’t afford to buy any of it,” Candice Beasley said.
Meanwhile, just two miles away in Goodlettsville, Harold Brewer is the owner of two dozen more signs from Opryland's heyday.
“When you walked into the park, odds are this is the first sign you saw and it had the admission prices,” Harold Brewer said.
“In the summer of 1979, I was one of the ride attendants on the raft ride and it was a battery-operated raft,” Brewer said.
Brewer wore his name badge with pride and nostalgia. "I mean, I’m flooded with emotions,” Brewer said.
After 25 years visiting Opryland as a child, then with a family of his own, the theme park closed down, leaving Brewer with just memories.
"There was a wave of sadness. This was a part of our lives, and it was going away and there were no promises that anything was going to come in its place,” Brewer said.
But as a season pass holder, Brewer and his family were given the opportunity to purchase part of the theme park.
"You’re buying a memory here. It was fun, it was exciting. You get kind of caught up in it,” Brewer said.
Signs from the gift shop, rides, and menus. "You can get Strawberries and cream for $2, a Coke for a $1.49,” Brewer read from a menu.
Meanwhile, at Brewer's mother's estate sale, he's not only parting ways with some Nashville history but a large piece of his life.
“How many times in your life can you own a piece of your childhood, your adolescence, your college years and your young adult with children years? And at the same time own a piece of Nashville history,” Brewer said.
Brewer told News 2 the larger signs sold for around $2,100. He did keep about a dozen of his smaller signs.