Feature: SoundWaves fosters community in Nashville

As the holiday season looms closer, one thing remains at the forefront of many individuals’ minds: family. Whether it’s traveling hundreds of miles away to visit, baking a special treat together or simply spending quality time with loved ones, family and community remain central to almost everyone’s plans during the months of November through January. However, at community attractions like Soundwaves at Gaylord Opryland, an indoor-outdoor waterpark, community is a priority year-round. 

Featuring a location on the outskirts of Nashville, the waterpark has been open since 2018, attracting consistent visitors throughout the years, largely from surrounding areas within a three-hour radius.

Donny Wensinger, the general manager of the Soundwaves location, explained the emphasis on making guests’ experiences positive. 

“We really strive to provide a luxury experience. We care about those small details that really make the family have a fantastic day in Nashville. We often don’t even call it a water park; we call it a water attraction,” Wensinger said. 

While these details can (and do) include maintenance procedures like pool hygiene, functioning slides and line management, it also extends to staff and Soundwaves’ goal of a friendly, warm environment. 

“The biggest challenge to run a waterpark is really just building your team. You need a ton of people to maintain the experience; that’s definitely the most dynamic part,” Wensinger said. “[One of my favorite things is] when a guest says [to an employee], ‘I want to talk to your boss and tell him how great you are.” 

Brett Farr, three-year manager of the food and beverage department at Soundwaves, mentioned procedures taken to ensure a high-quality, community-driven experience for guests. 

“We’re the providers of the waterpark. Adapting what we offer based on guests’ needs is huge for us, and first and foremost, we try to be friendly and [improve experiences.] If lines are long, we’ll pass out popsicles and chips, do whatever we can to help out,” Farr said. 

Wensinger explained that the waterpark sees about 225,000 visitors yearly. However, while this may not seem like a large number, Soundwaves limits occupancy. 

“When I worked at other [amusement] parks, it was all about fitting more people in all the time, but we have a different mentality,” Wensinger said. “We want a great experience for 225,000 people, and we won’t sacrifice that just to fit one or two more people.”

This kind of place, especially one that is high-quality, family-driven fun, is often important for sustaining communities. This would be considered a “third location” (University of Chicago). According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), third locations “enable socialization and support outside of the home and workplace,” and can stave off loneliness-induced depression. 

However, the NIH also found that closures of third locations have been occurring all over the United States. This issue can be seen in Marin, not far from campus; Northgate Mall, once home to various clothing stores, activities like bungee jumping, seasonal ice skating and restaurants, has seen closures of stores like Tilly’s, Forever21, Applebee’s and BJ’s Brewhouse. Country Club Bowl, a bowling alley previously in San Rafael, closed in 2021. This, along with other recent closures, eliminates many community-building third locations, especially for youth, in Marin. 

Alongside Marin County, the state of Kentucky has also seen third-location closures. Stephen Olligeus, a Kentucky resident who was staying at the Gaylord Opryland hotel on Nov. 14, mentioned that places like Soundwaves are destinations for him and his family. 

“We’ve been [to Soundwaves] before, and it’s great. We don’t have anything like this [at home.]” Oligeus said. 

Oligeus additionally mentioned his appreciation for the staff and friendly faces that can be seen around Soundwaves, consistent with Wensinger and Farr’s efforts.

“It’s important that we continue the tradition of building family memories. [We want people to] be very far down the road and from their Soundwaves experience and say, ‘Hey, remember that time we had so much fun?’” Wensinger said. 

Opinion: Marin County needs community attractions

First it was the San Rafael Country Club bowling alley, then the Century Larkspur movie theater and finally Northgate Mall’s numerous shops and seasonal activities, like ice skating. All across Marin County, activities that get teens, adults and families out of the house and off their devices, have closed down and since turned into “high-end” retailers like home consignment or boutique stores. These stores seem to remain for a short period of time, but due to their high prices and limited inventory, are quickly replaced. What is more long-lasting? Well, the benefits of community attraction locations would be priceless. 

Contrasted with the nightlife and bustle of San Francisco, residents and tourists alike frequently ask what “there is to do” in Marin County. The creation of community attractions nearby, like water parks, bowling alleys and more movie theaters would not only stimulate Marin County’s economy and support smaller businesses, but foster a more inclusive community and social connection. According to The University of Chicago, the importance of “third places,” or locations that aren’t home or work, are vital to community identity. With Marin’s shrinking number of these third places, not only are entertainment places lost, but spaces to create connections between resident groups. 

Community attractions would help boost local revenue and create jobs outside of the typical dependence on the service-sector in Marin. “The multiplier effect” refers to the economic principle that  one person’s spending will create more spending by others, causing a positive domino effect on the bigger economy, leading to a higher output than the original amount of money spent.

Community attractions support just this, creating areas that can be revisited multiple times throughout the year, with increased foot traffic and adjacent businesses; and they can create jobs that are year-round. In Nashville, TN, the “SoundWaves” aquatic park helped drive revenue for its hosting center, the Gaylord Opryland, post-Covid-19 pandemic. The resort fully reopened in June of 2020 after a three-month closure period, and in the fourth quarter of 2021, the hotel’s occupancy reached 61.4 percent and achieved a record monthly revenue. SoundWaves was a driving factor, attracting customers and creating life-long returners. 

 In The Village and Town Center malls, connected across the bridge in Corte Madera, there are a combined five home consignment stores. With about 19 percent of Marin County’s population being under the age of 18, it is difficult for teenagers to feel motivated to go outside of their homes and interact with each other because of the lack of  activities within a 10-mile radius. Without including young adults and parents who would likely partake in the experiences of community attractions, there is a clear demographic of residents who would enjoy added activity opportunities. 

Research from the International Journal of Community Well-Being focused on the positives created through shared recreational spaces to increase connection and reduce isolation, something especially important in a high-pressure environment like Marin. Parents often push teenagers to get off their phones, but for those who don’t want to go on a hike or eye shop at stores with triple-digit price tags, there aren’t many places nearby to “have fun,” unless you’re crossing the bridge or driving to a theme park far away. In Los Angeles County, the National Academy of Medicine piloted “Safe Summer Parks,” or “Parks After Dark” to keep parks open in the evening. This initiative provided structured activities that gave links to long-term reductions in crime among young people during their months off. 

Although some may argue that the prestige of Marin County’s environment would be overtaken with an increase of community attractions, it would be actually more helpful to mother nature if these spaces were created closer. Thoughtfully planned attractions would reduce regional travel to places like Six Flags, or to Presidio Bowl in San Francisco. As of 2024, there are no bowling alleys in Marin County, a pastime that many parents and adults have fond memories of with their own friends. In addition, with the chance to start a new vision of inclusivity in Marin County, modern attractions could incorporate green building standards and sustainable energy and transportation plans. The chance to be at the forefront of accessibility for youth-oriented spaces should excite residents to push for these community attractions in the near future. 

All in all, the death of community attractions has left a gap in recreational and economic opportunities for residents of all ages. If the county focuses on fostering social connection, then teenagers and families would not only stimulate the economy and support local businesses, but help their own well-being. Marin County is thought of as a desirable place to raise a family, and it’s important that it doesn’t start being regarded as “boring.” Creating spaces for residents to appreciate time with one another outside of the stresses of obligations, would kickstart a new community re-branding Marin as a lively place to live for all ages. 

To find more information, visit https://www.soundwavesgo.com/