Little Nashville Opry gutted by fire

NASHVILLE, Ind., Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Authorities in Brown County, Ind., say the Little Nashville Opry concert venue was gutted by a late-night fire.

The Indianapolis Star said Sunday the popular concert hall in Nashville, Ind., suffered significant damage in a fire late Saturday night, prompting authorities to evacuate nearby buildings as a precaution.

"It's not even going to be here anymore," an unidentified Brown County Sheriff's Department dispatcher said of the music site.

Lauren Lindner, 24, said she was one of the people urged to leave local buildings during Saturday's fire.

"People started banging on our doors, saying, 'Get out! Get out!'" said the Chicago resident, who was staying at a Nashville motel. "People were just throwing stuff in their cars and getting out of there."

A possible cause of the blaze was not reported.

The Star said among the popular country music acts that graced the stage of the 1975 concert venue were Johnny Cash, Trisha Yearwood and the Oak Ridge Boys.