What has been dubbed the “most Christmassy hotel in the nation” is celebrating its 25th year of razzle-dazzle decorations around the theme of “A Country Christmas.”

I’ve written about Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort before because I’ve always considered it my favorite hotel in this country. I first visited Tennessee’s Opryland 25 years ago in June — mere months before the “Country Christmas” idea was born. I remember trying to look beyond the construction on that first visit to see what they were building; it looked like some sort of atrium.

Little did I know that it would be the first of three spectacular atriums filled with flowers, fountains, waterfalls, bridges, walkways, restaurants — even a river.

This year, the 31-year-old hotel expects about 1 million visitors to stop by and check out the stunning decorations with (count ’em) 2 million lights. I was among those million guests this year, and you can be, too, if you stop by before Jan. 4, 2009.

I spent the day and evening at the Opryland earlier this month so I could enjoy the lights inside and out, and, of course, I took the boat ride on the river that runs through one of the atriums called the Delta. When the guide on the boat mentioned that we were looking at 15,000 poinsettias and five miles of garlands, I thought there might be a few more facts of interest.

Here’s what I found out.

n There are 54 horticulturists who work year-round at the Opryland, and it will take the tree decorators until March to take down the outdoor lights.

n If you look around, you’ll find four Nativity scenes on Opryland property. The all-white outdoor Nativity scene has 50 larger-than-life characters — all part of the decorations on the 50-acre, outdoor park-like grounds. It comes with an audio rendition of the biblical story.

n In the Delta Atrium, there are stained-glass puppets in a Nativity scene; and in the “Ice” attraction,  guests will find an enormous Nativity scene with all of the figures carved of ice. It’s here that visitors don special coats to see 2 million pounds of carved ice in nine-degree temperatures.

n Then, too, at the Radio City Rockettes show at the Grand Ole Opry Theater, there is a spectacular Nativity scene that includes live sheep and a camel.

n Just how big is the Opryland Hotel? It’s 4 million square feet under one roof, and — because so many people get lost — there is now an audio tour of the place. For a hotel with 2,811 rooms, I found out there’s plenty of room to get lost.

Pete Weien, senior vice president and general manager of the Opryland, points out, “We’re celebrating on an even larger scale this year because of our silver anniversary. We have singer Louise Mandrell joining our family for our new holiday dinner show, which runs through Dec. 25, and there are some other entertainment venues that are new.”

He mentioned “Winter Wonderland,” which is held in the resort’s Ryman Exhibit Halls; in addition to the annual holiday craft fair, there’s a Christmas train, a “hall of trees” and gingerbread-decorating classes.

“Breakfast with the Grinch” takes place in the Garden Conservatory Atrium, a tie to the ice-carving exhibit called “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at the Opryland’s frozen exhibit, called “Ice.”

“Rockabilly Christmas!” includes a live band, dancing girls, floating icebergs and Santa’s lost sleigh in the waters of the Cascade Atrium.

“Tim Watson’s Tennessee Christmas” and “NashVegas” are the shows on the General Jackson Riverboat, also on Opryland grounds.

Shirley Davis can be contacted at (563) 383-2281 or sdavis@qctimes.com.