Among plans to increase tourism are a new amusement park akin to the defunct Opryland. Opryland was closed in 1997, and the topic of building a new theme park has frequently come up since then.

Butch Spyridon, a Nashville, Tenn., tourism official said the local economy took a $50 million blow after Opryland closed.

Dennis Speigel, the president of an amusement park firm, said rebuilding the park could cost about $300 million to $400 million.

A shopping center simiar to Downtown Disney or Universal Studios' CityWalk is also on the planning board. Both contain stores, bars and restaurants.

But Spyridon said Nashville already has a downtown with a Hard Rock Cafe and record stores.

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