Spend a holiday afternoon at the Gaylord Opryland on a scavenger hunt! You can read about the Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt and our adventures in 2016. New for 2017 is a Build-A-Bear Workshop Scavenger Hunt. We will update and share the details about the new soon, but this will still give you an idea of what to expect.
Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt – 2016
Start your adventure at the Concierge desk in the Cascades Lobby (the main entrance to the hotel). If you haven’t been to the Gaylord Opryland, check out our previous adventures, which include detailed instructions for FREE parking. You can walk up and buy your tickets there or buy them in advance online HERE.
Be sure to also pick up a map for the Parade of Trees. Country artists have decorated and donated Christmas trees that are on display all throughout the hotel. Each Country Star has a designated charity and you can bid to purchase their tree and the money will be donated to the charity. You can see most of them as you hunt for Elves.
Hunting for Elves
After you collect your scavenger hunt booklet you can begin your journey through the hotel helping find and name 10 elves so they can earn their magic and travel back to the North Pole to report back to Santa. Make sure you have a pencil for everyone in your party before you set off. In addition to the physical hunting you have to solve puzzles to find the answers. The hunt takes you through most of the hotel gardens and is very detailed. My family started at 11 AM and we let the kids lead the way. It’s not timed so you don’t have to rush to complete it. We stopped half way though and had lunch in the Delta at Stax Burger and Paisano’s Pizzaria & Vino.
My 5-year-old and 11-year-old were able to work together and figured out most of the clues themselves. Including lunch, it took us about 3 hours to complete the hunt. My guess is if you do it all at one time it will take 60 to 90 minutes depending on how fast you walk and how keen you are in spotting the clues. We also went during the day so the gardens were well lit. If you have older kids, and you want it to be more challenging, go in the evening after dark. You can also see all the lights inside and outside the hotel in their full glory.
Once you complete your quest and have all ten names you can take your booklet back to the Cascades’ lobby Concierge desk and get a prize. There is a bonus Elf located in ICE! so, if you are going to do the hunt and ICE! be sure to do the hunt first so you can get your bonus clue.
Family Fun Facts
What: Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt – 2017’s Build-A-Bear Workshop Scavenger Hunt
Where: Gaylord Opryland Hotel (Map)
When: 10 AM to 8 PM daily, November 10, 2017 – January 1, 2018
Cost: $12.99/person (ages 3 and Under are FREE with a paying adult)
What is the prize? Should I buy a ticket for both of my kids, or can we just do one hunt as a family?
Hi Amanda, It is a per person cost to do the hunt, so you need to pay for everyone in your party. Children 3 and under are free with a paid adult admission, but require purchase to receive scavenger hunt booket and prize.