Tour: Barn Bash with David Phelps & Gaylord Resort Opryland
Dates: November 28 – December 3, 2025
Tour Director: Patti Olson
Tour Director Highlights: After a comfortable coach ride to Nashville, we arrived in good time to check into our rooms at the luxurious Gaylord Opryland Resort. This is a huge complex of four tall hotel wings joined together under a high dome that hosts shops, restaurants, and even an indoor river. All public areas are adorned with beautiful gardens, and at Christmastime, beautiful Christmas lights, decorations, and trees–with one made of many bright red poinsettia plants. So, we quickly checked in and departed for the David Phelps concert. Although it was a dark and rainy night, inside his family’s barn, the atmosphere was warm and festive. We were all awed by his clear, amazing voice throughout the concert. This was the highlight of the trip for many of the passengers. The next few days were filled with country music and Nashville sights, including a delicious lunch on the General Jackson Showboat. The journey home included a stop at the Ark Encounter and time to tour the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, with its beautiful Christmas display gardens. This was a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit and have quality Christian fellowship with the passengers.
David Phelps meets Santa at his Concert in the BarnSanta and Mrs. Claus posed for photos with kids of all ages.The indoor gardens at the Gaylord Resort in Nashville were spectacularly decorated for Christmas.Stained glass ceiling and blown glass sculpture in the Cascades lobby of the Gaylord.The Country Music Hall of Fame was filled with so many interesting displays.November marked the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry.Great picture op for some of the ladies.The Gaylord Christmas show was based on Cirque du Soleil with beautiful background sets.And more great photo ops!The circus performers in colorful costumes.We toured RCA Studio B where the first country music songs were recorded.This Opry 100 display was at the historic Ryman Auditorium where the Grand Ole Opry called home for many years.The original wood pews are still used at the Ryman for concerts.Great place for photos.Dinner and a show on the historic General Jackson Showboat on the Cumberland River in Nashville.Country music Christmas concert and a delicious dinner.The beauty of winter as reflected in the Cumberland River.Colorful mural celebrating 100 years of the Grand Ole Opry.We had a nice afternoon at the Ark Encounter in Kentucky on our way home. There were very few people there compared to summertime.Four inches of snow made the outdoor displays a winter wonderland.Our final stop was at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh. The Victorian glass building is an architectural wonder.And the Christmas displays were beautiful.More great photo ops!Notice the great glass ceiling.Our driver was Bill Rohrer, and BNT tour director and his wife, Angie, joined us on the tour.What an amazing glass sculpture at the Phipps Conservatory.
