Marriott is still in a defensive crouch as it grapples with the likelihood of an extended slump. In late May, the company said that furloughs and reduced work schedules would be extended through Oct. 2, given the slow recovery in lodging demand. "There is a feeling, not to be too dire, but almost of despair," Mr. Sorenson said during a June 2 videoconference hosted by New York University.

Yet as the world's largest hotel company, with nearly 1.4 million hotel rooms world-wide, Marriott can point to a few bright spots. In April, Marriott sold $1.6 billion in debt to help get it through the possibility of a cash crunch. Executives noted in a May earnings call that business was improving in the China region, which represents about 9% of the company's total room count. Now it is now working with its hotel staff and property owners throughout the U.S. to reopen hundreds of properties in June.

"We still consider the company in excellent shape to ride out what may be a very challenging few years," C. Patrick Scholes, a senior lodging analyst at the bank SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc., wrote in a May report.

One who showed up this week for Gaylord's reopening was Ursula Mendoza, who on Monday eased into the kiddie pool with her six-month old child Matty. Her family of six had the water park, restaurants, and other attractions practically to themselves.

"I thought if we came early on, it would be before all these people came and contaminated the place," said Ms. Mendoza, a third-grade teacher. "I don't know if it's silly of me to think that way. But that's what we thought."

The first wave of business to come back to the Gaylord has been leisure travelers who arrived by car. Mr. Reed says by this weekend he expects about 700 rooms should be booked, pushing occupancy levels toward 40%.

One nearby vacationer willing to give Gaylord a chance this week was Benjamin Mogendi, a 36-year old furloughed bartender who drove over from Lewisville, Texas, roughly 10 miles away. With parks and playgrounds closed, an overnight staycation was a good escape for him and his two-year old son Kalvin, he said. "This is an easy way to get out of the house and both mentally stimulate my son and lose some of my claustrophobia," Mr. Mogendi said. "It just made sense."

He wasn't quite sure what to make of the new cleaning protocols. "I see them wiping the rails and stuff in the water park and I'm thinking, 'that's constantly being coated in chlorinated water,'" he said. "But you know, I appreciate the effort."

Most guests weren't wearing masks, even inside. "I don't wear a mask unless I go get a haircut and they make me wear it," said Todd Hickman. He and his wife Denise came to the Gaylord, about a 30-minute drive from home, to celebrate their 25-year wedding anniversary.

"We're pretty much thinking 'let's go, let's get going and let's get back to normal,'" he said.