Country star Blake Shelton opened his first Ole Red property in his hometown, Tishomingo, Oklahoma last fall. However, the ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ has broadened his horizons regarding the restaurant and live music venue. In fact, Blake Shelton, with the help of Ryman Hospitality Properties, will be opening a second location in Music City this May. The $20 million entertainment complex is set to feature a dance floor, performance space, and a two-story bar plus restaurant.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to create something like this where people know they’re going to have a good time as soon as they walk in the door,” Blake shared. With the Nashville location scheduled to open in just over a month, the star has announced he will be opening a third location in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
“Gatlinburg is one of my all-time favorite places,” said Shelton. “This part of the country is full of people who love good food, great music, family and most importantly, a good time. That’s what Ole Red is all about, and I can’t wait to give my fans another place to have fun in Gatlinburg.”
With the help of Ryman Hospitality Properties, Ole Red Gatlinburg will open in 2019. The Gatlinburg location will closely resemble the Nashville location’s layout but on a much smaller scale. This new venue is estimated to cost $9 million dollars to build and it will boast 16,000 square feet total.
Colin Reed, the Ryman Hospitality Properties Chairman and CEO, said, “With 12 million annual visitors and a rich country music legacy, Gatlinburg is an ideal destination for the Ole Red brand. We know the Smoky Mountain region is tremendously popular with country lifestyle consumers, and we believe Ole Red offers a unique entertainment experience that will attract even more visitors to the area.”
The Oklahoman’s three ventures are named after his hit song “Ol’ Red.” Let’s check out the song below…
“Ol’ Red” Lyrics
Well I caught my wife with another man
And it cost me ninety nine
On a prison farm in Georgia
Close to the Florida line
Well I’d been here for two long years
I finally made the warden my friend
And he sentenced me to a life of ease
Taking care of Ol’ Red
Now Ol’ Red he’s the damnedest dog that I’ve ever seen
Got a nose that can smell a tow day trail
He’s a four legged tracking machine
You can consider yourself mighty lucky
To get past the gators and the quicksand beds
But all these years that I’ve been here
Ain’t nobody got past Red
And the warden sang
Come on somebody
Why don’t you run
Ol’ Red’s itchin’ to have a little fun
Get my lantern
Get my gun
Red’ll have you treed before the mornin’ comes
Well I paid off the guard and I slipped out a letter
To my cousin up in Tennessee
Oh and he brought down a blue tick hound
She was pretty as she could be
Well they penned her up in the swampland
‘Bout a mile just south of the gate
And I’d take Ol’ Red for his evening run
I’d just drop him off and wait
And the warden sang
Come on somebody
Why don’t you run
Ol’ Red’s itchin’ to have a little fun
Get my lantern
Get my gun
Red’ll have you treed before the mornin’ comes
Now Ol’ Red got real used to seeing
His lady every night
And so I kept him away for three or four days
And waited till the time got right
Well I made my run with the evenin’ sun
And I smiled when I heard ’em turn Red out
‘Cause I was headed north to Tennessee
And Ol’ Red was headed south
And the warden sang
Come on somebody
Why don’t you run
Ol’ Red’s itchin’ to have a little fun
Get my lantern
Get my gun
Red’ll have you treed before the mornin’ comes
Now there’s red haired blue ticks all in the South
Love got me in here and love got me out
Be sure to share this article with other country music fans!
