Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid

Memphis takes its name from the ancient Egyptian city on the Nile, so a pyramid on its riverfront was almost fated. The building opened in 1991 as a sports and concert arena, a gleaming tribute to the city's namesake, and for years it hosted basketball, boxing, and concerts on the edge of downtown. When the teams and shows moved to a newer arena, the great pyramid fell empty and sat idle for the better part of a decade, an icon with no purpose.

In the 2010s the outdoor retailer Bass Pro Shops took on the challenge of reinventing it, pouring years and a fortune into transforming the hollow arena into a destination store and attraction. The result opened in 2015, and the gamble paid off. What had been an empty landmark became one of the most visited places in Tennessee, a shopping trip that feels more like a theme park.

The centerpiece of the interior is a genuine indoor cypress swamp, planted with bald cypress trees rising from dark water, threaded with boardwalks, and home to live alligators, turtles, fish, and ducks. Overhead an artificial forest of trees climbs toward the peak, and the whole ground floor is designed to feel like a walk through the Mississippi Delta bottomlands rather than a retail floor.

Aquariums line the way, stocked with the fish of southern rivers and lakes, and features like an archery range and a shooting gallery are woven into the store. It is easy to spend an hour wandering the swamp and its waters before you remember there is shopping to be done at all.

The signature ride is the tall glass elevator, one of the country's most impressive, which rises through the open interior to an observation deck and lookout near the pyramid's peak. From up there the view opens across the Mississippi River, the Hernando de Soto Bridge with its lit arches, downtown Memphis, and the low horizon of Arkansas on the far bank.

The deck level also holds a restaurant and lounge, so a trip up can turn into a meal with one of the best views in the city. Sunset is a favorite time, when the river and bridge catch the last light.

Beyond the swamp and the view, the Pyramid packs in restaurants, a bowling alley, a hotel tucked into the upper floors, and floor after floor of outdoor gear. Families with children, anglers, hunters, and plain curious travelers all find something to do, which is why it draws crowds year round regardless of the weather outside.

Because it sits at the north end of downtown Memphis, it pairs easily with a day exploring the city's music and civil rights history. A morning at the Pyramid and an afternoon on Beale Street or at the National Civil Rights Museum make for a full and varied Memphis itinerary.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, in Memphis, Tennessee, is a spectacular and enormous outdoor superstore and entertainment destination housed inside a giant glass pyramid on the Mississippi River waterfront. The huge pyramid, once an arena, has been transformed into a remarkable megastore that includes not only vast outdoor gear but also indoor cypress swamps with live alligators and fish, a hotel, restaurants, a bowling alley, and one of the tallest freestanding elevators in the country leading to an observation deck with sweeping river views. Its scale and spectacle make it a surprising and popular destination. A giant and dazzling destination, it delights visitors. With its pyramid and attractions, it offers a fun destination in Tennessee.

You can explore the enormous store with its indoor cypress swamps, live alligators, and aquariums, ride one of the tallest freestanding elevators in the country to an observation deck with sweeping views of the Mississippi River and Memphis, dine, bowl, and take in the spectacle of the giant pyramid. The huge store, the indoor swamp and wildlife, the observation deck, and the sheer scale are the draws, making it a fun and surprising destination. The views from the top and the alligators are highlights. With its attractions, it offers a rewarding experience in Memphis, Tennessee.

Yes, the Pyramid is a fun family destination, with the indoor cypress swamp, live alligators, aquariums, the thrilling elevator to the observation deck, bowling, and the spectacle of the giant pyramid offering plenty for children and adults to enjoy together. The wildlife and the dramatic views especially delight kids, and its indoor setting is comfortable in any weather. Its variety makes for an entertaining outing. Its family appeal makes Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid a delightful destination in Tennessee.

As an indoor destination, Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid is enjoyable year-round in any weather, making it a great stop in any season, with clear days offering the best views from the observation deck. Because hours and the observation deck access can vary, checking current information before you go is wise. Because it is indoors, the Pyramid makes a rewarding stop any time of year in Memphis, Tennessee.

Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid is on the Mississippi River waterfront in Memphis, Tennessee, within reach of downtown Memphis, Beale Street, the National Civil Rights Museum, and the other attractions of Memphis. That makes the Pyramid a fun stop to combine with the other attractions of Memphis on a visit to Tennessee.