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7 Things You Can Only Do at Gaylord Opryland Resort

Gaylord opryland isn’t just a place to stay when you come to the grand ole opry. the resort is a destination all its own..

Night at the Opry Package Combining two outstanding experiences for an exceptional visit to Nashville — enjoy your stay at Gaylord Opryland while taking in the sights and sounds of the Grand Ole Opry. Our convenient package includes room accommodations, show tickets, and more.

1. Wander the jaw-dropping gardens

You can’t miss Gaylord Opryland’s lush gardens — literally. Tropical vegetation covers more than nine indoor acres. The resort’s cascading waterfalls, the tallest of which is 44-feet high, make you feel as if you’re on a faraway island. Lose yourself in wonder as you discover giant palms, stunning orchids, and even banana trees. You won’t find those growing natively in Tennessee, but thanks to the atrium’s glass ceiling and horticulturists’ meticulous control of the building’s humidity, these plants thrive as if they were in the jungle.

2. Hop aboard the Delta Riverboat ...

Sailing all the world’s rivers would take years, but you can conquer many in a single ride aboard the Delta Riverboat. The resort’s quarter-mile-long indoor Delta River contains the water of more than 1,700 rivers from around the globe. Hop aboard a fun-filled cruise and learn about the interesting origins of the hotel, one of the largest in the world. Be on the lookout for resort’s finned guests. Catfish, carp, and koi can all be found in the Delta River.

3. ... or take a cruise on the General Jackson Showboat

If you want an even grander adventure on the water, look no further than to the  General Jackson Showboat , which is docked just a short distance away from the resort. This stately steamboat harks to its 19th-century predecessors that sailed along the Cumberland River, putting Nashville on the map as a trading center.

On the popular midday Taste of Tennessee cruise, get a sampling of the many styles of music that made this state famous — from bluegrass to country to rhythm and blues — all while enjoying a three-course meal and views of iconic Nashville landmarks along the way.

4. Splash around at SoundWaves

In true Nashville fashion, music and water blend harmoniously at  SoundWaves,  the city’s only resort water experience. If you’re a thrill-seeker, jump in a mega raft and enjoy the ride on Rapid Remix, a waterslide that pumps out the jams as you take on vortex loops. Looking for a mellower experience? The Down Tempo Lazy River has got you covered with relaxing music that you can float along to. When you’ve worked up an appetite, head to Decibels where you can enjoy live music every weekend through September on the restaurant’s patio.

5. Come see us at the Grand Ole Opry

When you stay at the resort, you’re also staying next door to where country music lives. The Grand Ole Opry is “the show that made country music famous,” featuring your favorite legends, today’s superstars, and tomorrow’s hit-makers. Eight to 12 artists take the stage at each show, and luckily for resort guests, Nashville’s best entertainment is just a short complimentary shuttle ride or leisurely stroll away.

But don’t wait until showtime to experience the Opry magic. The brand-new immersive theater experience, now part of the  daytime tour,  is a moving tribute to the country music artists who’ve walked across  Opry’s iconic 6-foot circle of wood,  which sits centerstage. “I’ve always said that the circle still contains the dust from Hank Williams’ cowboy boots,” Opry member Brad Paisley has said. Now your boots can walk across it, too.

6. See WSM broadcast live at its fish-bowl studio

Have you ever wondered to yourself if your favorite radio personalities look the way they sound? You won’t have to anymore when you swing by the WSM fishbowl-style studio just off the Magnolia lobby. The radio station that gave birth to the Grand Ole Opry in 1925, 650 AM WSM, still broadcasts live from Nashville inside the Gaylord Opryland.

You’ll get an intimate peek of the radio show’s operations. Start your day with some early-morning banter courtesy of  country radio sentinel Bill Cody  and Charlie Mattos’ on  Coffee, Country, and Cody  — you never know when one of your favorite artists might be in studio — and close out your evening with some classic country tunes that Eddie Stubbs is spinning on  The Eddie Stubbs Show.

7. Pose next to your idols at Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds  has a number of locations around the world, but its Nashville wax attraction located inside Opry Mills Mall is the only one that’s completely themed around music, featuring more than 50 wax figures, 30 of which are unique to Music City. In the Opry Finale exhibit, you’ll get to make your debut alongside Opry members Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Keith Urban and more. Don’t forget to take a selfie!

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Delta Boat Ride at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, TN

There are plenty of beautiful sights to see in Nashville, but one of the msot relaxing and memorable has to be the indoor water garden at the GaylorD Oprland Resort.

Step aboard and gently wind your way through a lush four and a half acre indoor garden while a guide offers unique facts about the Delta's plants and fish. You'll be amazed by breathtaking beauty of the plants as you float around the indoor river.

Take a Delta River Flatboat down the scenic indoor river of the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. A fleet of five Mississippi-style flatboats carries 25 passengers each on leisurely trips of about 15 minutes through the beautiful lush indoor gardens of the beautiful resort.

You'll also see and learn about the hotel's Delta Island that features an 85-foot fountain, three waterfalls, and numerous shops and restaurants. If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of Danny, an 80 pound catfish, in the Delta River.

Delta Riverboats

Location & Hours

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2800 Opryland Dr

Nashville, TN 37214

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Gaylord Opryland has a manmade river running through it, so you gotta ride on the Delta Riverboat to get the full resort experience. The boat ride lasts about 15 minutes, goes slow enough but isn't too slow, and it's a good activity for all ages. We've been on this boat ride a few times. The first time was just a general ride, where we went around the river and the boat driver told us some trivia about the hotel. He pointed out things, such as a red line that indicated where the water level rose to in the hotel during a particularly bad storm many years ago. Throughout the year, they'll offer themed boat rides, like a Pirates & Princesses boat ride, with costumed actors you meet along the way. We also got some treasure at the end (a chocolate gold coin)! There are lots of fun things for individuals and families to do at Gaylord Opryland, and this is one of them.

We loved this boat ride, our tour guide was wonderful. When we bought tickets, the girl said you get a discount if you are staying at the resort. We were staying across the street and did pay a resort fee, so the guide said we should get the discount. The clerk really didn't want to give us $3 off our ride, but our friendly guide insisted. There are waterfalls and so many beautiful trees and plants in Opryland and this is a great way to see it. Great for adults and kids.

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The Gaylord Opryland Resort is known around the nation for its stunning design and thoughtfully considered structure, but it’s almost shocking to find out just how many folks don’t know about the river that winds through the resort’s atrium. Delta Riverboats offers daily rides on a seasonal basis, and the experience is one that’s popular with visitors no matter their age. Learn more about it below and plan to ogle at the stunning interior from the water.

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If you would like to buy your own tickets for the Delta Riverboats at Opryland you can purchase them right here . Opryland Resort is truly one of the most incredible spots to explore in the heart of Tennessee, and we have a feeling you’re going to fall in love with it as soon as you visit.

If you’re looking for more seasonal fun in Tennessee, you should take a look at the updated fall foliage map ! 

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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College student Riley Strain went to 2 other bars and talked to Nashville officer on night he went missing

Ten days since University of Missouri student Riley Strain vanished, more details have emerged about his movements before he disappeared in Nashville, Tennessee.

Police released new video Monday showing Strain, 22, briefly interacting with an officer who was responding to a vehicle burglary on March 8, the night he disappeared .

And his stepfather told NBC News on Monday that Strain had gone to two more bars the same night before he was kicked out of a third.

The new video, which Nashville police shared on social media, shows Strain briskly walking past an officer on a sidewalk adjacent to the Cumberland River on Gay Street at about 9:52 p.m.

The video shows the officer asking how Strain is doing, to which Strain replies, "I'm good, how are you?"

In security video recorded in the minutes before the latest video and released by police last week, Strain stumbles at times and in one instance falls. In the video released Monday, Strain appears to be walking upright.

“To those who are saying that they believe he could have been in distress, that somebody could have been after him as he walked onto Gay Street, well, as you see in the video, he’s walking by himself on the river side and speaks to a police officer as the officer is looking at a vehicle that had been broken into," police spokesperson Don Aaron said.

Aaron said no evidence of foul play has surfaced as police continue to try to find Strain and that no video of Strain walking on Gay Street after 9:52 p.m. has been obtained.

Strain had been visiting Nashville with friends from his college fraternity, Delta Chi. He disappeared after he was kicked out of Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink, a bar owned by country singer Luke Bryan in the city's downtown.

The bar said in a statement last week that security kicked Strain out at about 9:35 p.m. “based on our conduct standards," but it did not provide further details about Strain's behavior. It added that Strain was served only one alcoholic drink and two waters.

Chris Whiteid, Strain's stepfather, told NBC News that Strain FaceTimed his mother between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. the night he went missing and that Whiteid was sitting nearby and listening to their conversation.

Whiteid said Strain called his mother from Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk, a bar owned by country singer Garth Brooks a few buildings over from Luke's 32 Bridge. Strain also mentioned he and his fraternity brothers had been to Miranda Lambert's Casa Rosa that evening.

Attempts to reach members of Strain’s fraternity were unsuccessful. In a statement, the fraternity's CEO, Karl Grindel, referred NBC News to the police and asked that journalists not reach out to individual fraternity members.

Whiteid said that although he assumed Strain had more than one drink that evening, “he didn’t even sound like he had been drinking a lot" on the call and had been texting his mother coherently in the hour or so after the call ended.

“I’ve done a fair amount of drinking in my life, and I still question whether it was alcohol or something else," Whiteid said, referring to how Strain appeared to have lost control of his balance in some of the security video.

Whiteid said that since Strain was reported missing, he has received messages from up to 10 people who claimed they were drugged while visiting bars in Nashville.

"We're hearing the horror stories," Whiteid said. "I hope that this helps bring it to light for people that are coming to town so they're aware, so they watch and pay more attention, but I definitely feel that there is a very good possibility that this is a common problem in this town."

Authorities said Strain's bank card was found on the embankment between Gay Street and the Cumberland River on Sunday.

Whiteid said it does not appear Strain was robbed — there have been no new charges on any of his debit or credit cards, and the only account his family cannot access is the one associated with the card found Sunday.

"I want Riley to know: We're actively looking for you, son," Whiteid said through tears. "We're going to bring you home."

Reporter, NBC OUT

Riley Strain updates: Autopsy to determine cause of death after body found in Nashville river

LIVE – Updated at 15:00

The body of missing student Riley Strain has been found in a river in Nashville, Tennessee two weeks after he went missing.

The student’s body was recovered on Friday morning from the Cumberland River, around eight miles from the downtown area where he was last seen, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said.

“I just ask that you mamas out there hug your babies tight tonight, please, for me,” Riley’s mother, Michelle Whiteid, said Friday night.

No signs of foul play-related trauma were discovered, according to authorities, although an autopsy is still to be completed.

The 22-year-old, who attended the University of Missouri, had been partying with his fraternity brothers in Nashville on 8 March when he was kicked out of a bar around 10pm. Strain’s bank card was found a week later close to the river bank.

The tragic discovery comes after Strain’s stepfather, Chris Whiteid, and family friend, Chris Dingman, told NewsNation that police had shown them footage of what was believed to be his last known movements.

In the video, Strain was seen jogging close to the river – and away from the direction of his hotel, they said.

• BREAKING: Body of missing Riley Strain found in Nashville river

‘Hug your babies tight tonight’: Family gives statement after Riley Strain’s body was recovered

Riley strain’s bank card found near tennessee river.

• WATCH: Surveillance footage shows student on night he disappeared
• What we know about the disappearance of Riley Strain

ICYMI: Watch as authorities announce they recovered Riley Strain’s body from the Cumberland River

Luke bryan’s restaurant said they removed riley strain due to “conduct standards".

Riley Strain was thrown out of a restaurant and bar owned by musician Luke Bryan just minutes before surveillance footage captured him alive for the last time.

Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink, owned by Mr Bryan, issued a statement to CNN explaining why staff removed Strain from the premises.

“At 9:38 p.m., our security team made a decision based on our conduct standards to escort him from the venue through our Broadway exit at the front of our building.” The restaurant also told the outlet staff served Strain two waters and one alcoholic drink before he left.

ICYMI: Body of missing Missouri student Riley Strain found in Nashville river

The body of missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain has been located in West Nashville after he disappeared two weeks ago.

Mr Strain’s body was discovered approximately 8 miles from downtown Nashville in the Cumberland River. Workers were removing an object from the river when they stumbled upon Mr Strain’s body.

According to police, Mr Strain was wearing his distinctive black and white shirt when he was found, contradicting earlier claims by that the shirt had been taken and worn by a man named Ross.

Police said an initial analysis of Mr Strain’s body showed no evidence of foul play, and that an autopsy is pending.

Read more from The Independent:

Body of missing Missouri student Riley Strain found in Nashville river

SEE IT: Candlelight vigil held for Riley Strain after authorities recovered his body

Riley Strain’s parents and relatives gave an emotional statement on Friday evening, all wearing green — the student’s favourite colour.

Riley’s mother, Michelle Whiteid, gave an emotional address to members of the media after her son’s body was recovered from the Cumberland River.

“I just want to reiterate how thankful we are for everyone, how much we appreciate everyone’s support,” Ms Whiteid said.

“I just ask that you mamas out there hug your babies tight tonight, please, for me,” she continued.

Missouri student Riley Strain’s disappearance: A timeline

The following is a timeline of the disappearance of Riley Strain.

Timeline of Missouri student Riley Strain tragic disappearance and death

Nashville mayor: ‘Look out for one another’

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell urged residents and visitors to be cautious and to be mindful of each other in the city in the wake of Riley Strain’s death.

“I think this is an important reminder to everyone to also look out for one another,” Mr O’Connell said during a Friday morning meeting. “You know, I think some of this is just about how we as a city look after each other as neighbors and as people interacting in the entertainment district.”

WATCH: Riley Strain: Body found in river identified as missing Nashville student

Over 200 tips have poured in since riley strain disappeared.

In total, more than 200 tips have poured in in connection to the disappearance of Riley Strain.

The student vanished back on 8 March after being kicked out of a bar in downtown Nashville.

Surveillance footage showed him walking close to the Cumberland River.

In the two weeks between his disappearance and the tragic discovery of his body, over 200 tips were sent in by members of the public.

Riley Strain’s body was still in his distinctive shirt

Riley Strain was still wearing his distinctive shirt when his body was pulled from the river, police said.

On the night he was last seen in downtown Nashville, Strain was sporting a monochrome shirt.

Since his disappearance, reports have emerged that a homeless man had found a shirt matching the description close to the river bank and was later seen wearing it.

But, in the press conference on Friday morning, police said that Strain was still wearing his shirt and watch – and that these items helped to identify him.

No signs of foul play

Police said that the medical examiner have reviewed the body and confirmed that it belongs to Riley Strain.

An autopy is pending.

But, as it stands, there are no signs of foul play.

Body was spotted by a worker

In a press briefing, police said that a worker spotted a body in the river around 7.28am that morning.

The worker was removing an object from the river, when the body surfaced, police said.

The Nashville Fire Department was called in to the scene and recovered the body from the water.

FULL STORY: Body of missing Missouri student Riley Strain found in Nashville river

Police have located the body of missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain in West Nashville after he disappeared two weeks ago.

Mr Strain’s body was pulled from the Cumberland River, approximately 8 miles from downtown Nashville.

Police said an initial analysis of Mr Strain’s body showed no evidence that of foul play, and that an autopsy is pending.

Read the full story:

A view of the dam where police searched for Riley Strain

Police searched the Cheatham Dam in hopes of locating Riley Strain on Wednesday.

Local news broadcaster WKRN was on site during the seach and shared a short clip showing the dam where the search was focused.

The tragic case of Riley Strain and the TikTok sleuths who tried to find him

Riley Strain’s body was found after an agonizing search that included both traditional law enforcement and self-styled social media sleuths. Family and friends of Strain largely welcomed their efforts — but do online detectives help or hinder such efforts? Andrea Cavallier reports

Cumberland River current was ‘very swift’ on the day Riley Strain disappeared, Cajun Navy director said

David Flagg, the director of the United Cajun Navy, a disaster relief and search and rescue group volunteering in the search for Riley Strain, told local reporters that the Cumberland River’s current was moving quickly on the day the student fell in.

“Somehow, Riley may have fallen into the river and was swept away by the current,” Mr Flagg told WTVF a day before Mr Strain’s body was found. “The current was very, very swift on the day that he disappeared.”

Police searched Cheatham Dam yesterday for any sign of Mr Strain, but did not find any evidence of the student.

Nashville city councilor says he will work to ensure Riley Strain’s death ‘not in vain'

A Nashville city council member representing the city’s downtown district said he is planning to secure the area of the river where Riley Strain is believed to have slipped into the water.

He issued a statement on Friday after news broke that Mr Strain’s body had been found in the river.

“My heart breaks for Riley’s family and friends,” District 19 city councilor Jacob Kupin said. “Since his disappearance I have been actively working on steps to secure the river area where he likely fell. We will continue these efforts to make sure his death was not in vain.”

Nashville mayor: ‘Look out for one another'

University of missouri issues statement after riley strain found dead in the cumberland river.

University of Missouri President Mun Y Choi issued a statement on Friday informing the students and faculty at the college that Riley Strain, a senior, had been found dead.

“I write to you with a heavy heart with the news that the search for MU student Riley Strain has ended tragically,” Mr Choi wrote. “After an exhaustive search by authorities and volunteers, Riley’s body was recovered today in Nashville, Tenn., where he had traveled to attend his fraternity’s spring formal event.”

“As the Mizzou community mourns Riley, we are keeping his family in our thoughts and offering support,” Mr Choi wrote.

What we know so far about the disappearance of University of Missouri student Riley Strain

University of Missouri student Riley Strain was out with his fraternity brothers in Nashville , Tennessee , on Friday 8 March when he disappeared.

He’d been asked to leave a bar the Delta Chi group were hanging out in, shortly before 9.45pm, and said he was going back to their hotel.

Two weeks after he walked out of the bar, his body was discovered in the Cumberland River, some eight miles downstream from Nashville.

Here is everything we know about the disappearance and death of Riley Strain.

What happened to Riley Strain?

What we know about the disappearance and death of Mizzou student Riley Strain

WATCH: Police press conference announcing tragic discovery of Riley Strain’s body

Over 200 tips have poured in since start of disappearance, nashville police chief john drake said his ‘heart and prayers’ go out to riley strain’s family.

Riley Strain’s family has been informed about the tragic discovery, police said.

“Our heart and prayers go out to you all for this unfortunate and tragic incident,” Nashville Police Chief John Drake said in the briefing.

An autopsy is expected later today.

FULL STORY: Body found during search for missing Missouri student Riley Strain

Body found during search for missing Missouri student Riley Strain

Nashville police confirm body belongs to missing Riley Strain

Nashville police have now confirmed that the body belongs to missing Riley Strain.

“The body of Riley Strain was recovered from the Cumberland River in West Nashville this morning, approximately 8 miles from downtown,” the department said.

“No foul play-related trauma was observed. An autopsy is pending.”

BREAKING: Body found in search for missing student Riley Strain

A body has been found in the search for missing student Riley Strain.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed to CBS News on Friday morning that a body was located in West Nashville.

Police said they are yet to confirm the identity of the body.

Cumberland River current was ‘very swift’ on the day Riley Strain disappeared, Cajun Navy director says

David Flagg, the director of the United Cajun Navy, a disaster relief and search and rescue group volunteering in the search for Riley Strain, told local reporters that the Cumberland River’s current was moving quickly on the day the student disappeared.

“Somehow, Riley may have fallen into the river and was swept away by the current,” Mr Flagg told WTVF. “The current was very, very swift on the day that he disappeared.”

Riley Strain seen in video footage approaching river bridge as witnesses reveal they saw him being sick

New surveillance footage containing images of missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain on the night of his disappearance in Nashville has been found, according to family friend Chris Dingman.

Chris Whiteid, Mr Strain’s stepfather, said the new footage shows the student walking toward the James Robertson Parkway bridge, which spans the Cumberland River. He revealed the details to NewsNation .

The bridge is in the opposite direction of Mr Strain’s hotel. It is unclear why he was walking in that direction.

New surveillance footage showed Riley Strain near Nashville bridge, family says

Missing Riley Strain’s stepfather says family is having difficult conversations: ‘Put yourself in our shoes’

Riley Strain’s family told reporters that they’ve begun having hard conversations about the possible fate of the missing University of Missouri student.

It has been nearly two weeks since Mr Strain disappeared from Luke Bryan’s 32 Bridge bar in Nashville . He has not been heard from since. There have been no known sightings, no phone calls, and no cries for help.

Christ Whiteid, Mr Strain’s stepfather, said he and the rest of the family are aware that, at present, the chances that the 22-year-old will be found alive are slim.

Riley Strain’s stepfather says family is having hard conversations

New witnesses reveal encounter with Missouri student Riley Strain on night he went missing

New witnesses have come forward to reveal that they encountered missing student Riley Strain on the night he went missing.

Chris Dingman, a close friend of the 22-year-old’s family, spoke with NewsNation on Wednesday – almost two weeks on from his 8 March disappearance.

Mr Dingman revealed that a couple, who are parents themselves, had been in touch with Mr Strain’s family to say that they spoke to the student that night.

New witnesses reveal encounter with student Riley Strain on night he went missing

Mystery over Riley Strain’s last text as family friend pours cold water on ‘good lops’ theory

The mystery surrounding Riley Strain’s last text message continues after a family friend poured cold water on online theories about its meaning.

University of Missouri student Mr Strain went missing shortly before 10 pm on 8 March after he was kicked out of a bar in Nashville and became separated from his friends.

Search efforts have so far fallen flat with no trace of the missing 22-year-old other than the discovery of his bank card, which was found near the Cumberland River in Nashville over one week after he was last seen.

Mystery over Riley Strain last text as family pours cold water on ‘good lops’ theory

Nashville police search by helicopter for Riley Strain

Images from Cumberland River as Cajun Navy searches for Riley Strain

A NewsNation journalist shared footage from a Cajun Navy vessel searching for Riley Strain on the Cumberland River today.

Yesterday, Dave Flagg, the national director of operations for the Cajun Navy, said the group was bringing a hovercraft and more volunteers to assist in the search.

The Cajun Navy has been assisting with the search since it began.

Riley Strain’s family defends police response

During a press conference on Tuesday, Riley Strain’s family defended the Metropolitan Nasvhille Police Department after some social media users following the case began questioning the department’s efficacy.

“We feel like [the police] have handled the search well ... It’s hard as a parent, 11 or 12 days into this. As the days drag on we are frustrated, but we know they’re doing their job, we see what they’ve got,” Chris Whiteid, Mr Strain’s stepfather, said.

The national director for the United Cajun Navy, David Flagg, also defended the police, calling speculation on social media “just that — speculation.”

The United Cajun Navy is assisting the family and will be coordinating the volunteer search effort.

MNPD detective Anthony Chandler and Sargent Robert Nielsen also spoke during the presser. When asked about the TikTokers who found Mr Strain’s bank card near a river bank, he praised the women who located the card but noted that during a missing person’s case the police are typically looking for a body or for a person, and that smaller pieces of physical evidence are secondary in priority until the person or body is located.

The police officers also said they were following up on numerous “actionable leads” and that the MNPD has been receiving a steady “influx” of information from people who believe they have information to offer.

Riley Strain’s family asks the Cajun Navy to assist with the search and organise the volunteer effort

Riley Strain’s family held a press conference today in Nashville to provide updates on the search for the missing University of Missouri student.

The family is asking the Cajun Navy to assist in the search for Mr Strain.

The Cajun Navy is a natural disaster response organisation formed during Hurricane Katrina. The group also helps provide supplies to disaster stricken areas and assists with missing persons cases and search and rescue operations.

“Our goal is still to bring Riley home,” he said.

Dave Flagg, national director of operations for United Cajun Navy, said Mr Strain’s family has asked for the Cajun Navy to assist the search efforts.

Mr Flagg said the Cajun Navy has been involved since earliest days of the search, but said it would increase its efforts to help try to find Mr Strain.

He said a hovercraft was being brought in, and that it would be on the river today or early tomorrow, and added that an airboat that has already been searching the river would continue its search.

Mr Flagg said his people would both be searching for Mr Strain and organising the volunteer portion of the search to ensure searchers are safe. He asked individual volunteers to “come under the umbrella” of the Cajun Navy search.

Questions about police response

After the discovery of Riley Strain’s bank card on Sunday by a pair of TikTokers searching the Cumberland Riverbank, there has been some question as to the efficacy of the police response to Mr Strain’s disappearance.

Metropolitan Nashville Police have been searching the Cumberland River with sonar-equipped boats, a drone, helicopters, and have searched the surrounding areas for Mr Strain.

However, friends of Mr Strain have questioned certain decisions the police have made, according to a report by FOX Nashville.

Chris Dingman, one of Mr Strain’s friends assisting in the search, questioned why a detective was not assigned to Mr Strain’s case until two days after he was reported missing.

“I wish something would have been done sooner The first 48 is so crucial,” Mr Dingman said.

The owners of shops near where Mr Strain stumbled into a pole — which was caught on surveillance video — have also reportedly not been questioned.

“People that owned the businesses were not talked to. That unfortunately is what’s going on in this situation,” one of the owners told FOX Nashville.

Mr Dingman also expressed frustration that it was amateur sleuths, and not the police, who managed to locate Mr Strain’s bank card near the river. He believes that police have jumped the gun on concluding that no crime had been committed.

“It blows our mind that the card that was found yesterday evidence that there was a crime and we’re being told that may not be what it takes to reclassify this from a missing person’s [case],” Mr Dingman said. “And that is very frustrating.”

Nashville police said they have briefed the family on the latest in their investigation.

“No evidence of foul play has surfaced as work continues to locate Riley Strain. On Sunday evening, Riley’s parents met with some of the detective team and received a full briefing on the work being done. They were also shown available video,” the department told FOX Nashville.

Images from spot where Riley Strain’s bank card was found

Local reporters from WKRN 2 visited the embankment where two women who have been following the disappearance of Riley Strain found his bank card.

The women were documenting their search efforts on TikTok when they made the discovery.

The bank card of missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain was recovered near the Cumberland River in Nashville more than one week after the college senior vanished.

“Riley Strain’s bank card was discovered this afternoon on the embankment between Gay St. And the Cumberland River,” Metro Nashville Police Department wrote on X on the afternoon of 17 March.

“The search for him continues,” authorities added.

Mr Strain, 22, was last seen at a bar in Nashville — as part of a trip with his fraternity — on 8 March.

Security asked him to leave, prompting a probe into whether he had been overserved. However, the bar owners on 15 March said that he had just been served one alcoholic drink and two waters before being escorted out.

“No members of Riley’s party were required to stay inside the venue to close any open tabs, and no one from Luke’s 32 Bridge team prevented anyone from Riley’s party from leaving the venue with him,” the owners wrote.

Read the full story...

Missing student Riley Strain’s bank card found near Tennessee river, police say

ICYMI: Body spotted in river amid search for missing student

A body was spotted floating in a river amid the search for missing student Riley Strain.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reported at around 1pm on Sunday that a body was seen in the Cumberland River close to the Martin Luther King Bridge.

Search crews arrived on the scene.

However, the Nashville Fire Department (NFD) said that the body did not match the description of Strain – and was wearing a maroon-coloured shirt.

Strain’s family also said the body is not that of the missing student, WSMV reported.

Riley Strain had only one alcoholic beverage before being kicked out of bar

Riley Strain, a University of Missouri who went missing after reportedly getting kicked out of a Nashville bar, was just served one drink before being escorted out, the bar owners said.

The 22-year-old student was partying with friends at Luke Bryan’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink bar just before 10pm on 8 March.

The bar’s owner, TC Restaurant Group, said Mr Strain was served one alcoholic drink and two waters before he was asked to leave, debunking the theory that he had been overserved.

“No members of Riley’s party were required to stay inside the venue to close any open tabs, and no one from Luke’s 32 Bridge team prevented anyone from Riley’s party from leaving the venue with him,” the owners added.

Mr Strain and his fraternity brothers were reportedly on a trip to Nashville for a spring formal.

The news comes days after the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission announced on 13 March that it was looking into whether or not Mr Strain had been served alcohol while visibly intoxicated at the bar.

WATCH: Police bodycam footage shows Riley Strain speaking to officer on night he disappeared

Police and volunteers are searching near Ashland City for Riley Strain. Ashland City is approximately 40 miles down river from where he was last seen on surveillance video on 8 March.

The Cheatham County Emergency Management Agency told local broadcaster WSMV4 that crews using boats were searching near Riverbluff Park in Ashland City’s portion of the Cumberland River for Mr Strain.

The Ashland City Fire Department has deployed three boats to search the area.

United Cajun Navy calls for fuel donations to keep airboat operating in search for Riley Strain

The United Cajun Navy, a disaster relief and search-and-rescue volunteer group, asked for help sourcing gasoline today to keep one of its airboats operating on the Cumberland River in Nashville.

Volunteers have been assisting with the police search for missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain.

The organisation eventually managed to source enough fuel to keep searching the river. Mr Strain is still missing nearly two weeks after he disappeared in downtown Nashville.

Strain family spokesman details new surveillance footage that showed Riley Strain near Nashville bridge

Chris Dingman, a friend and spokesman for the Strain family, detailed new footage obtained by police showing Riley Strain walking near a bridge in Nashville that spans the Cumberland River.

He gave a short interview to Burton Staggs of Tennessee River Valley News.

WATCH: Riley Strain interacted with couple on night he went missing, family friend says

New surveillance footage shows riley strain approaching a bridge.

Riley Strain was reportedly caught in surveillance footage approaching the James Robertson Parkway bridge on the night of his disappearance.

The bridge crosses over the Cumberland River, where police crews have been searching for any sign of Mr Strain.

It is unclear why Mr Strain was walking toward the bridge on the night he disappeared. His hotel was in the opposite direction.

Body of Riley Strain, missing student, found in Nashville's Cumberland River: Police

NASHVILLE −The search for missing University of Missouri (Mizzou) student Riley Strain ended Friday morning, police said , when his body was pulled from a river in West Nashville.

Strain, 22, disappeared March 8  after being kicked out of a bar along Lower Broadway in Music City's downtown entertainment district known as honky-tonk row. Strain was a student at Mizzou and traveled to Nashville to attend the annual spring formal for his fraternity  Delta Chi .

His body was found in the Cumberland River in West Nashville, about eight miles from downtown , the Metro Nashville Police Department police posted on X.

The river is a major waterway of the South which weaves through downtown Nashville and eventually flows back north into Kentucky.

Multi-state manhunt underway: Squatters accused of killing woman inside NYC apartment on run

Autopsy will determine how Riley Strain died

An autopsy is pending by the Davidson County Medical Examiner's Office to determine Strain's cause and manner of death, police said.

"No foul play-related trauma was observed," Nashville police posted on X after Strain's body was found.

Just one day before his body was discovered, police spokesman Don Aaron said boats equipped with sonar were in the water searching for Strain.

The police department had been handling the missing person investigation with help from Nashville Office of Emergency Management, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the United Cajun Navy .

Since the start of the investigation, police have said there has been no indication of foul play in the case.

Idaho manhunt ends: Escaped violent felon, ambush accomplice and shooter captured

Riley Strain's body found two weeks after he disappeared

Aaron told USA TODAY Strain "visited several establishments" in the downtown area throughout the afternoon and evening on the day he disappeared.

During its second week , the search for Strain lead authorities to find his  bank card  on the embankment of the Cumberland River. Also this week,  body camera footage  was released, with a portion showing Strain’s brief interaction with a Metro police officer the day he vanished,  The Tennessean,  part of the USA TODAY Network reported.

On Monday Chris Dingman, a family friend reported the last known communication Strain had was a text message he sent to a woman he was talking to.

“She texted him to see how he was doing... if he was having fun. He sent kind of a scripted text back to her saying ‘Good (what appears to read the word luck),'” Dingman said during an interview on NewsNation’s “ Elizabeth Vargas Reports .”

A press conference is slated to take place later on Friday, police said.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

Body of Riley Strain found in river, no evidence of foul play: Nashville police

Riley Strain, 22, disappeared March 8 during a night out in Nashville.

The body of missing college student Riley Strain was recovered from the Cumberland River in West Nashville Friday morning following a two-week search, according to Nashville police.

"No foul play-related trauma was observed," police said.

There’s no evidence to suggest anything other than Strain accidentally falling into the river, Nashville Police Chief John Drake told reporters on Friday.

MORE: Riley Strain's stepdad opens up about family's difficult conversations as Nashville search intensifies

Strain's body was spotted by workers at the river Friday morning, Drake said. The autopsy will likely be done Saturday, authorities said.

Strain's family thanked everyone involved in the search, from first responders to volunteers to family and friends, during a press briefing Friday evening.

"Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. We can't say enough to all of you," his father, Ryan Gilbert, said.

Strain's stepfather, Chris Whiteid, said the ordeal has been an "emotional rollercoaster," and thanked the people of Nashville for their support.

"You don't understand how much that meant to us in some of our darkest hours," he said. "The hugs, the prayers, the offers -- I can't say it enough: thank you."

Strain's mother, in tears, had one message to share: "I just ask that you mamas out there -- hug your babies tight tonight, please. Please, for me."

Strain, a 22-year-old senior at the University of Missouri, went missing on March 8 after a night out at several Nashville bars. Strain and his Delta Chi fraternity brothers were visiting Nashville for their fraternity formal.

While the friends were out that night, Strain FaceTimed his mom and didn't sound intoxicated, Strain's stepfather told ABC News.

Strain and his mom exchanged more texts after the FaceTime call, Chris Whiteid said. The last text Strain sent to his mom that night was, "I love you."

Surveillance cameras and police body cameras captured Strain's last known movements from about 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

MORE: College student Riley Strain missing in Nashville: A timeline

Strain was reported missing on March 9 and authorities launched a massive search by foot, by drone and by boat.

The United Cajun Navy also arrived in Nashville to help organize volunteer searches.

Strain's stepfather told ABC News on Wednesday that the family was beginning to have difficult conversations.

"Put yourself in our shoes," Chris Whiteid said. "Your family, your brother, your sister -- they've been missing for almost two weeks."

"Everybody knows it, everybody's thinking it -- those conversations are starting to happen," he said. "It's not what we want. And I understand that people want to know what we're feeling -- we're feeling frustrated, we're feeling hurt, we're feeling depressed."

"Nobody knows what happened," he said.

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Riley Strain’s family thanks Nashville after Missouri student’s body found in Cumberland River

The body of missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain was discovered Friday morning in the Cumberland River in West Nashville — approximately eight miles from downtown. Foul play is not suspected.

Metro Nashville police and Nashville firefighters responded to 61st Avenue North in the Nations after a work crew spotted a body shortly before 7:30 a.m. in the Cumberland River, Police Chief John Drake said Friday morning at a news conference. Strain, 22, still had on the same shirt and watch he was wearing when he went missing, Drake said, which helped authorities identify him.

Riley Strain timeline: From missing in downtown Nashville to being found in the Cumberland River. What we know

Metro Nashville police said in a post on social media its investigators did not observe foul-play related trauma. Drake said there is "no other evidence that suggests anything other than" that Strain fell into the river accidentally.

An autopsy will likely occur Friday, Drake added.

Follow along below for more updates.

Candlelight vigil held to remember Strain

More than 50 people gathered Friday night under the James Robertson Parkway bridge on Gay Street for a candlelight vigil to remember Riley Strain near where he was last seen on March 8.

Strain was reported missing March 9. His body was recovered Friday morning from the Cumberland River.

Those gathered, many of whom had supported the search efforts, lit candles minutes after 7:30 p.m. and shared prayers for Strain’s family.

“God, we don’t understand this fully,” Spencer Maige said during an opening prayer, “… but we do know you allow love to shine through in the darkest times.”

Others spoke up to thank those who searched for Strain. Chris Dingman, a personal friend of the Strain family, said the family was appreciative of the love and support.

“I can’t emphasize how much the family appreciated this,” Dingman said.

'Hug your babies tight': Riley Strain's family thanks community

Strain's family filed into a small room at Metro Nashville Police Headquarters on Friday evening to thank the community.

"You've helped us, let us take our boy home," Ryan Gilbert, Strain's father, started.

Strain's stepfather, Chris Whiteid, then stepped up to the microphone, letting out a sigh.

"We're ready for this to be over with," he said. "To the people of Nashville, I can't thank you enough for the support, the love, the encouragement that you've shown...in some of our darkest hours. The hugs, the prayers, the offers. I can't say it enough. Thank you."

Strain's mother, Michelle Whiteid, had a simple message.

"I just ask that you mommas out there hug your babies tight tonight, please." she said. "Please for me. Hug your babies tight tonight."

Springfield, Missouri principal remembers Strain

By the time Strain received his high school diploma and made his way the University of Missouri, his former principal, Bill Powers, had known for him for several years.

Powers was the principal at Kickapoo High School and Cherokee Middle School when Riley attended both schools. He remembers Strain as a pleasant and well-liked student.

"Just an infectious smile and personality. Fun-loving kid," Powers said. "Always very positive and respectful. He was smart, took upper-level courses."

A Tennessee native familiar with Nashville's downtown area, a concerned Powers said he kept a watchful eye on Riley's situation and was heartbroken about the recent developments.

"It's devastating. We're heartbroken," Powers said, speaking for other KHS staff members who knew Strain. "As a parent and a father, my heart goes out to the parents to the family."

Kickapoo hosted a well-attended candlelight vigil for Strain on March 13, five days after he was last seen.

- Ryan Collingwood, Springfield News-Leader

Vigil for Riley Strain planned Friday

A candlelight vigil is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday on Gay Street between the Woodland Street bridge and James Robertson Parkway bridge in Nashville, a spokesperson for an organization to raise awareness for missing persons called Crime Seen Collective told The Tennessean.

"Riley's favorite color was green so some people are going to support by wearing green," the spokesperson wrote in an email.

Delta Chi fraternity: 'Our hearts go out to Riley's family and loved ones'

Delta Chi expressed sorrow following the tragic passing of Strain, an esteemed fraternity member.

"Our hearts go out to Riley's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time as we work to provide support and resources to all those affected by this tragedy," the fraternity said in a written statement.

The fraternity's Campus Assistance Program, which provides in-person resources and professional support at the University of Missouri, is available 24/7 to members. The fraternity is also working with university officials to ensure local chapter members have direct access to campus support resources.

"We ask for respect and privacy for Riley's family and our Fraternity brothers during this incredibly difficult time," said the fraternity.

Delta Chi has 111 chapters and 127,256 members.

University of Missouri president offers support: 'heavy heart'

University of Missouri President Mun Y. Choi on Friday informed students and other members of the campus community of Strain's death in an email shortly after noon.

"I write to you with a heavy heart with the news that the search for MU student Riley Strain has ended tragically. After an exhaustive search by authorities and volunteers, Riley’s body was recovered today in Nashville, Tenn., where he had traveled to attend his fraternity’s spring formal event," Choi wrote.

Choi wrote that students in need of support can contact the MU Counseling Center and that the university's employee assistance program is available to faculty and staff.

"As the Mizzou community mourns Riley, we are keeping his family in our thoughts and offering support," Choi wrote.

GoFundMe raises thousands for Strain's family

A fundraiser on GoFundMe for Strain's family has raised more than $65,000 from more than 1,000 donations as of noon Friday. The fundraiser was created on March 13 — five days after Strain was last seen.

An update posted by the fundraiser's organizer after police located Strain's body asked people to keep Strain's family in their thoughts and prayers. Donations came in after the announcement Friday morning from members of Strain's fraternity, parents of University of Missouri students and Nashville residents.

A GoFundMe spokesperson confirmed that the fundraiser was legitimate.

'Look out for one another,' mayor says

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said while the city is taking steps to improve safety, he’s urging residents and visitors to be vigilant, even in celebratory spaces such as Lower Broadway.  

"I think this is an important reminder to everyone to also look out for one another," O'Connell said during a Friday morning discussion. "You know, I think some of this is just about how we as a city look after each other as neighbors and as people interacting in the entertainment district.”

Council member: 'Make sure his death was not in vain'

District 19 Council member Jacob Kupin, who represents downtown, said on social media he has been working to secure the area where Strain is believed to have fallen into the river.

"My heart breaks for Riley’s family and friends," Kupin said. "Since his disappearance I have been actively working on steps to secure the river area where he likely fell. We will continue these efforts to make sure his death was not in vain."

Mayor says city will work toward safety improvements

O'Connell on Friday morning shared thoughts on social media just before 10 a.m.

"This is not the outcome that anyone hoped for – especially his parents and everyone who loved him," O'Connell wrote.

O'Connell said he had met with Strain's family earlier in the week and that "as devastating as I find this news, I can’t imagine their heartbreak."

"We will continue to work toward improvements in safety in a variety of ways," O'Connell added. "I hope people will support the family, including by respecting their privacy."

O'Connell said Friday morning the city will review the riverfront with the Nashville Department of Transportation because "some questions have been raised about infrastructure." He also pointed out other "important steps" the city has taken recently to improve safety downtown, including opening a new police substation on Broadway.

O'Connell said he does worry about how the incident reflects on Nashville’s image as a city.

“We share the goal with the Convention and Visitor's Corporation of constantly investing in the safety of the city and particularly the entertainment district because we want not just residents to be safe in their neighborhoods, whether or not they ever go to a honky tonk, but we also want visitors in the city to be safe," he said.

Family of Riley Strain notified after body found in West Nashville

Drake, Nashville's police chief, confirmed that Strain's family had been notified and expressed his condolences.

"I want to say to the family my heart and prayers go out to you all, because it is a very unfortunate and tragic incident," Drake said.

When did Riley Strain go missing in Nashville?

Strain, who went missing during a recent trip with his fraternity brothers , was last spotted March 8. At the time, he was kicked out of Luke's 32 Bridge — a Broadway bar owned by singer-songwriter Luke Bryan.

Strain's friends notified police the next day when he did not return to their hotel from the night out.

After leaving the bar, video surveillance located Strain several times around downtown. Metro Nashville Police released video of him crossing 1st Avenue North to Gay Street, which runs along the Cumberland River.

He then interacted with an officer, which was captured on a body worn camera. The officer was on Gay Street, responding to a report of burglary, when Strain walked past him, exchanging pleasantries.

Dangers of the Cumberland River: How water depth, current and temperature impact people

On Tuesday, Strain's parents welcomed in-person support from the United Cajun Navy , a search and rescue group which largely assists in natural disasters, but also missing persons cases.

Other missing adults and children in Tennessee

Tennessee authorities say they remain committed to finding other missing people, such as Sebastian Wayne Drake Rogers , the 15-year-old Hendersonville boy who disappeared from his Sumner County home on Feb. 26. He was last seen near Stafford Court in Hendersonville. Since then, leads have remained sparse.

According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, a missing person is someone whose whereabouts is unknown to a parent, caretaker or others who have normal contact with the person. A missing person can be a child who has left home on their own, anyone who has been involuntarily abducted, or any individual who cannot return to safety without assistance.

Active missing child alerts include Hollynn Snapp and Layla Santanello, who have both been missing since 2023. The people listed on TBI's site do not represent all missing persons in the state, anyone with information on missing people in Tennessee is encouraged to call 1-800-TBI-FIND or email [email protected].