Sneak Peek: Look Inside the new Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid in Memphis
Road trip! If your family is a fan of Little Rock's Bass Pro Shops, they will absolutely love the new Bass Pro destination in Memphis. Blogger Kat Robinson got an early look at the Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid in Memphis. Here's what she saw!
There's been a lot of talk recently about what's going on inside the Pyramid across the river in Memphis. The facility, which once served as both an arena for sports activities and exhibit space for art shows, was originally opened in 1991 and was home to the Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers until the opening of the FedEx Forum in 2004. After a final concert by Bob Segar and the Silver Bullet Band in 2007, the Pyramid closed for good.
As early as 2000, the city of Memphis kept trying to come up with what would go into the space once the Grizzlies left. After a tentative agreement in 2008 and a more complete one reached in 2010, Bass Pro began renovations in 2012. Yesterday evening, Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid opened to the public.
Little has changed about the exterior, with the exception of the company's lodge-style entrance on the south side and logos on the structure's southern face. But once you're inside, it's a whole new world.
What was once the floor of the arena is now a synthesized Delta-style bayou, complete with cypress trees and knees and bridges over ponds and inlets. Those ponds and the aquariums scattered throughout the building contain more than 1,800 fish. A marina on the west side of the interior spans a dock with dozens of different boats to check out.
On the east side on the second floor, you'll find the Ducks Unlimited National Waterfowling Heritage Center, which shares the history of ducks, duck hunting and duck land preservation in the Mississippi River Flyway.
The third floor is home to Big Cypress Lodge. A sister to Big Cedar Lodge near Branson, it's home to more than 100 hotel rooms, suites and cabins that line the level.
Accommodations range from king and double rooms to a Governor's Suite - a two bedroom lodge with boardroom, fireplace and full kitchen and a deck that overlooks the marina. Most of the rooms offer screened porches over Bass Pro Shops below, while a few look out onto Memphis.
There's a lot more. Uncle Buck's Fish and Bowl on the bottom level delivers burgers, pizza, sandwiches and such for hungry shoppers and contains a 13 alley bowling complex with an under-the-sea theme.
The General Store stocks all sorts of take-home edibles as well as a fudge counter.
In the center of it all, there's a 30 story high free-standing elevator -- the largest in America and possibly the world. It takes visitors up to the Sky High Catfish House, which is located at the top of the Pyramid and which includes views out over Memphis, the Mississippi and the Arkansas Delta. There's even a sky deck where you can walk out for what might be the best view in all of Memphis.
Be sure to check out more photos and videos taken inside Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid over at Tie Dye Travels.