Exploring the Bass Pro Pyramid in Memphis

We had planned our trip to Memphis because we wanted to visit Graceland. But I may have also wanted to see the Bass Pro Pyramid.

I planned to see it as soon as we arrived in the city, but having travelled from Orlando by bus, we weren’t exactly feeling great. Thankfully, our Airbnb host let us check in early, so we got ourselves a bit of sleep. A few hours later we found ourselves sitting in the living room, trying to decide what to do with the rest of the day.

I knew there was absolutely no chance of getting away with suggesting a proper tourist attraction. I did think of saying “Let’s go for a wee walk”, but that wasn’t going to work either. So, I went with the next best option. “Let’s go shopping!”

Before I knew it, we were heading out the door and in the direction of the Bass Pro Pyramid!!!

Where is the Bass Pro Pyramid in Memphis?

Located just off the I-40 in downtown Memphis, right on the banks of the Wolf River, the Pyramid is pretty hard to miss!

It’s really easy to get to by car, with plenty of parking available, but you can also reach it on foot from downtown Memphis. If walking isn’t for you, there are plenty of electric scooters about. (Nicola has banned them on our travels after an incident in Sicily).

What to see and do at the Bass Pro Pyramid?

Walking into the Bass Pro Pyramid

While I stood outside of the Pyramid, I was thinking, WTF, how cool does this place look? It really is something different. Once I was done standing just looking at it, it was time to head inside. There are two entrances, but we’d recommend using the one on the hotel side (more on the hotel later).

The moment we walked through the doors, it was another instant “WTF?!” moment.

The best way I can describe it is to imagine Walmart, but someone dropped it in the middle of the great outdoors. There’s pretty much anything and everything you could possibly think of: fishing gear, boats, clothing, camping equipment, wildlife, huge aquariums, and so much more.

Honestly, you don’t know where to look first. There’s just so much going on that you find yourself wandering around, constantly spotting something else that makes you stop and stare.

Shopping at the Bass Pro Pyramid

Megan was excited to do some shopping and had her eye on a T-shirt; I was on the hunt for a Bass Pro baseball cap. Sadly, despite the amount of stuff in the place, neither of us managed to find one in our size. Coulda got a boat if we wanted to instead.

That didn’t stop us looking around the rest of the store, though. We could have quite literally bought almost anything we wanted. There was a constant stream of “Daddy, look at this!”, “Megan, look at this!” and “Mummy, look at this!” as we made our way around. (It got to the point where Nicola took herself off as she couldn’t listen to it anymore!)

If you are ever planning to live in the wilderness, this is the place to come. In fact, I’d say this place would have you covered for anything needed even in everyday life.

I honestly just walked around thinking WTF!

Eating at the Bass Pro Pyramid

We didn’t eat at the Bass Pro Pyramid, but there looked like two places to get food.

The first was down on the main shop floor. It looked pretty busy, with a queue stretching out from the restaurant, so I didn’t even bother trying to get a proper look. We were still at the beginning of our USA adventure and were trying not to blow the budget too early, so we decided to give it a miss.

There was also a more upmarket style restaurant at the top of the Pyramid. Now, I did fancy having a pint at the top of a giant pyramid! Unfortunately, that didn’t quite work out. We were given a menu, sat down, and waited… and waited… and waited for what felt like a lifetime (well, we waited 10 mins; I won’t lie, I don’t wait for things). Eventually, it became obvious that nobody was coming back to take our order. Maybe they were having a busy day, or maybe we just looked like we weren’t going to spend enough money; who knows!

The Tower

The centrepiece of the Pyramid is its incredible elevator; apparently it’s the tallest freestanding elevator in the USA. You have to pay to ride it, but it takes you all the way up to the viewing platform at the top of the Pyramid.

Of course we had to go up! Only problem, I’m not exactly a fan of heights at the best of times, so this wasn’t going to be fun for me! I decided the best approach was to concentrate on the interesting commentary about the history of the Pyramid as we made our way upwards, rather than looking down. That worked reasonably well… until I couldn’t help myself.

Looking down at the shop floor below, everything was starting to get smaller and smaller. Eventually, the people wandering around below looked like tiny ants.

The Viewing Platform

As soon as I stepped out of the lift, my eyes went straight to the glass floor on the viewing platform. I knew I had to go out there, but I also knew I wasn’t going anywhere near the glass bits or edge! I stayed fairly close to the door, and, if I’m honest, that was about as brave as I was feeling (much to the amusement of a family in front of us).

Even from where I stood, though, the view was spectacular (lucky I have a wife and child who can take photos). You could see right across Memphis, and walking around the platform gives you a 360-degree view stretching across Tennessee and over into Arkansas. You can also watch the boats making their way along the Mississippi River below.

I would have loved to have stayed up there for sunset. I can only imagine how incredible it must look with the sun going down over Memphis and the river.

A beer would have made the experience even better and calmed my nerves, but as I mentioned earlier, that wasn’t going to happen! So, after about 20 minutes of taking photos, pointing out places we had been, and generally taking in the views, we headed back down.

The Hotel

The original plan, at least in my head, was to stay in the hotel inside the Pyramid, The Big Cypress Lodge. Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, we were only just starting our tour around the USA and had to keep an eye on the budget. Staying at The Big Cypress Lodge would have been amazing, but it was definitely outside what we wanted to spend on this trip.

That said, from what we could see, the lodges looked class. The whole place has a really cool rustic feel, and staying inside the Pyramid would certainly be an experience in itself. Maybe next time…

What Else Can You See and Do?

Visit the Aquarium

Located on the shop floor near the restaurant, the aquarium is well worth a look. We happened to visit during feeding time, which made it even more interesting as we got to learn more about the fish while watching them being fed right in front of us.

Spot the Alligators and Catfish

As you walk through the swamp area of the shop, keep a lookout for the alligators and catfish, which are very much alive! It’s quite a strange experience spotting an alligator while you’re shopping.

Go Bowling or Try the Shooting Range

Imagine going into your local shop and thinking, “I know what I would like to do: some bowling or shooting. ” I really just can’t get my head around that, but we are in the USA after all, so it is kinda of normal.

Final Thoughts.

We absolutely loved our visit to the Bass Pro Pyramid in Memphis. It was completely different from anything we’d experience in a shop back home in the UK.

If you’re planning a visit, I’d definitely recommend allowing yourself at least a couple of hours. Don’t rush it, there’s so much to see, and you’ll miss out on plenty of those “WTF?!” moments I have mentioned

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog, and we hope you’ve enjoyed coming along on our adventure with us.

The Lewis Family