Survivor’s Gretchen Cordy Headlines Wild Side Saturday Event March 10

Intermedia Cable in partnership with The Renaissance Center brings Clarksville native Gretchen Cordy of Survivor fame, Tennessee’s Wild Side celebrities Bill Cody, Janet Ivey, guide Joey Monteleone and others, and several exotic animals from the Nashville Zoo to the center on March 10. Designated as “Wild Side Saturday” at the center, activities and shows will be offered 2-5 p.m. and admission is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by InterMedia and the new outdoor adventure show Tennessee’s Wild Side, activities include a question-and-answer session with special guest Cordy, a 25-minute show featuring zoo animals, meeting the celebrities of Tennessee’s Wild Side, informational booths, autograph and book signing sessions and many door prizes that will be given out during the afternoon.

Through InterMedia’s sponsorship, the event will also generate several scholarships for children wanting to attend Camp Renaissance, the center’s adventure daycamp held at Ruskin Cave this summer.

Airing on public television stations across the state, Tennessee’s Wild Side is a series celebrating outdoor life in Tennessee. The show, produced by The Renaissance Center in partnership with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, is designed for everyone from the occasional birdwatcher to the avid hunter, featuring such segments as Irlene Mandrell’s Straight Shooter, Joey Monteleone’s Reel Tips and Wild Side Gourmet Tom Pardue.

Millions of people remember Cordy as “the one that should have won” the million dollar prize on the hit television series Survivor. Yet months after the original series ended and now challenged with the life of instant fame, she is surviving quite well. She has made numerous guest appearances on television shows such as Rosie O’Donnell and Jay Leno.

“We are looking forward to having Gretchen at the center and hearing a first-hand account of what being a survivor -- both on and off the show -- is all about,” said Steve Hall, Multimedia Director at The Renaissance Center and producer of Tennessee’s Wild Side. “It’s a great opportunity for people to get a chance to meet her, ask questions and find out what it was really like to be on Survivor.

“Gretchen is a wonderful person with great integrity. In addition to her appearance, we will also be making a major, surprise announcement concerning this season’s Tennessee’s Wild Side series.”

The afternoon festivities will start at 2 p.m. with a special show in the Performance Hall featuring staff and inhabitants of the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. The animals will then be on display in the center.

At 2:30 p.m., Cordy will take the stage to meet with visitors and talk about her Survivor experiences during a Q & A session. Wild Side celebrities will be on hand to meet and greet the public throughout the day. Beginning at 3:30 p.m., Cordy will be available in the Virtually Unlimited Bookstore to sign copies of “Survivor,” the book about the original series written by producer Mark Burnette.

Door prizes ranging from Wild Side hats to fishing lures will be given all afternoon. The prizes include two combination lantern/televisions that are perfect for camping.

Camp Renaissance will have an information and registration table set up for the summer 2001 sessions. Early registration will ensure a child’s spot in any of the week-long day camps full of fun adventures and learning.

The Tennessee’s Wild Side booth will provide visitors with information on the show and the Nashville Zoo will have a booth to answer questions and hand out materials.

Wild Side Saturday activities are 2-5 p.m. March 10. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, please call (615)740-5600. To find out more about The Renaissance Center, including directions, a map, and information on local hotels, visit www.rcenter.org/centerinfo/

Back...