Nashville, TN – March 16, 2016 – Madame Tussauds, the world-famous wax attraction, will open its seventh U.S. location in Nashville at Opry Mills in spring 2017. It will be Madame Tussauds' first music-themed attraction and the only location in Tennessee.

This family-friendly attraction will provide visitors with an interactive experience, where they will be able to touch, see, feel and photograph figures of their favorite musicians such as Carrie Underwood, Stevie Wonder and Johnny Cash. These wax figures are in addition to the more than 45 figures the attraction plans to debut over the next year. Guests will step into immersive iconic scenes and musical performances that are unique to Madame Tussauds Nashville.

Madame Tussauds Nashville will celebrate the city's and country's iconic figures and music through the theme 'Soundtrack of America'. This attraction will provide a historical walk through America's musical past and present with vivid scenes supporting the colorful cast of figures.

Madame Tussauds is owned and operated by global leisure giant Merlin Entertainments plc (Merlin). Other U.S. locations are Hollywood, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, San Francisco and Washington, DC. The Nashville location will represent the 22nd Madame Tussauds globally.

“We couldn't be more excited to open the first Madame Tussauds in Tennessee in a little over a year,” said Ben Thompson, Senior Marketing Director New Openings and Acquisitions, Merlin Entertainments PLC. “This fun and unique attraction will highlight milestone moments from historical to contemporary music – both from around the country and in Nashville.”

”Opry Mills has always been a top tourist destination in Music City,” said Gregg Goodman, president of The Mills, a Simon Company. “We are beyond excited to be the home of the first-ever music-themed Madame Tussauds. The team at Merlin is sure to deliver a project that will exceed even the wildest of expectations.”

About Madame Tussauds Nashville

Madame Tussauds Nashville offers guests the unique opportunity to “interact” with incredibly life-like iconic figures from the celebrity worlds of music. Only at Madame Tussauds Nashville can you “grab hold” of your favorite stars, with our many interactive experiences. The star-studded attraction allows you to take pictures, touch and get up close and personal in a themed setting. The attraction is open 365 days a year, located in Opry Mills at 433 Opry Mills Drive.

About Merlin Entertainments Group – North America

Merlin Entertainments plc is a global leader in location based, family entertainment. Europe's Number 1 and the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates over 100 attractions, 12 hotels and 4 holiday villages in 23 countries and across 4 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable experiences to it's more than 60 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its circa 27,000 employees.

Merlin has twenty five attractions and two hotels in North America - including two stunning LEGOLAND Resorts – LEGOLAND Florida with its theme park, water park and hotel; and LEGOLAND California theme park with water park and the SEA LIFE aquarium and themed hotel; Orlando Eye; Madame Tussauds celebrity wax attractions in New York; Washington DC; Las Vegas; Hollywood; Orlando and San Francisco; LEGOLAND Discovery Centers in Chicago; Dallas/Fort Worth; Kansas City Missouri; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Westchester, New York; Toronto, Canada; a Dungeon in San Francisco; and SEA LIFE aquariums in Phoenix, Arizona; Kansas City, Missouri; Michigan; Dallas/Fort Worth; the Mall of America in Minneapolis; Orlando, Florida and Charlotte – Concord, N Carolina - underlining the company's position as the world's biggest global aquarium operator. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

About Opry Mills

Opry Mills, the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in Tennessee, features a great collection of fashion-forward stores, such as Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Coach, Cole Haan, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Forever 21, NIKE Factory Store, Gap Outlet, Lucky Brand Outlet and Bass Pro Shops, as well as the state's first locations from The Limited Outlet and H&M. Shoppers can also enjoy quality dining and entertainment at Rainforest Cafe, Aquarium Restaurant, Dave & Buster's, and Regal Cinemas Opry Mills Stadium 20 and IMAX. Opry Mills' famous Entertainment Stage and Tennessee Treasures play area further enhance the family shopping experience.

Opry Mills is conveniently located 7 miles from downtown Nashville, in Opryland off Briley Parkway at exit 11, and is within walking distance of the Grand Ole Opry and the 2,800-room Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. For more information on Opry Mills, please call (615) 514-1000 or visit www.oprymills.com.

About The Mills, A Simon Company

The Mills®, one of Simon Property Group's five real estate platforms, offers a unique brand of shopping with a mix of popular name-brand outlets, value retailers and full-price stores, plus family-oriented dining and entertainment concepts. The Mills malls are well-located in major metropolitan markets, and many are recognized as leading tourism destinations. Notable properties include Arundel Mills (Baltimore), Gurnee Mills (Chicago), Grapevine Mills (Dallas), Ontario Mills (Los Angeles), Opry Mills (Nashville), Potomac Mills (Washington, D.C.) and Sawgrass Mills (Ft. Lauderdale/Miami).

Simon Property Group, Inc., (NYSE: SPG) is an S&P 100 company and a global leader in the retail real estate industry. Simon currently owns or has an interest in more than 325 retail real estate properties in North America, Asia and Europe comprising approximately 243 million square feet. Simon is headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., and employs approximately 5,500 people in the United States. For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.simon.com.