NASHVILLE, Tenn.--June 20, 2012--Gaylord Entertainment Co. (NYSE: GET) today provided an update on an explosion that occurred at Gaylord Opryland on the evening of June 19th shortly after 8:00 p.m. CDT. Authorities have confirmed that the incident was mechanical in nature. All guests and Gaylord employees were safely evacuated, and there have been no reported injuries. Initial assessments of the damage suggest that the impact will not be material and will have little to no effect on upcoming meetings and events. The hotel and restaurants resumed normal operations this morning at 7:00 a.m. CDT.

The Nashville Fire Department, Nashville Police Department, and structural engineers worked through the night to assess the damages and ensure the integrity of the property before allowing everyone to re-enter shortly after 3:00 a.m. CST today. Initial estimates of the damages are less than $750,000 and repairs are underway. The Company carries business interruption and property insurance associated with explosion damage. For now, the affected areas of the Delta Atrium at the property are safely closed off.

“First and foremost, what is important is that no one was hurt as a result of this incident,” said Colin V. Reed, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gaylord Entertainment. “I want to commend the efforts of the Nashville Fire Department, Nashville Police Department, and our STARS for their swift response that ensured that the issue was assessed as quickly as possible and that all guests were safely evacuated. At this stage we can now focus on returning to business as usual and repairing the impacted areas of the property with minimal disruption to our guests.”

Gaylord will provide additional information as it becomes available.

About Gaylord Entertainment

Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a leading hospitality and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tenn., owns and operates Gaylord Hotels (www.gaylordhotels.com), its network of upscale, meetings-focused resorts, and the Grand Ole Opry (www.opry.com), the weekly showcase of country music’s finest performers for more than 85 consecutive years. The Company's entertainment brands and properties include the Radisson Hotel Opryland, Ryman Auditorium, General Jackson Showboat, Gaylord Springs Golf Links, Wildhorse Saloon, and WSM-AM. For more information about the Company, visit www.GaylordEntertainment.com.