MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Remember that old Disneyworld commercial where the little boy walked through the gates of the Magic Kingdom, spun around one time and fell down because he was just so overwhelmed by his surroundings?
Don’t be surprised if you see that happen to a grown man the next time you visit the new Bass Pro Shops megastore inside the Memphis Pyramid.
Don’t feel ashamed if it happens to you.
Inside a structure that was once the site of NCAA basketball tournaments and heavyweight championship boxing matches, Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris and crew have created an absolute wonderland for outdoors enthusiasts with fish-filled ponds, giant aquariums, shooting ranges and more tackle for sale than an Elite Series pro could use in a lifetime.
A sign over the archway inside the front entrance reads “Welcome to Paradise” – and for people who enjoy the outdoors, that’s exactly what the store is.
“The place is just absolutely gigantic,” said fishing television star, Memphis-area resident and three-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year Bill Dance. “People are going to be amazed when they walk inside. It’s one of the largest retail stores in the world, and I’m so proud to have it right here in my hometown. There really is something for everybody.”
Something for everybody, indeed
The store is part zoo with live alligators on display, immaculate taxidermy spreads and ponds dotted with every species of duck that hunters covet across the nearby Mississippi Delta. The brightly-colored redheads and canvasbacks seem to draw the most attention.
It’s part nature trail with gigantic cypress trees covered in Spanish moss rising high above man-made swamps. At the base of the trees, you’ll see giant flathead, blue and channel catfish mingling with spotted gar and a variety of gamefish, including largemouth bass.
It’s part aquarium with various gigantic tanks serving as home to virtually every species of fish found in the famous Mississippi River that flows almost within casting distance of the facility’s mammoth parking lots. Those who show up at just the right time can witness the frenzy of feeding time at the tanks.
Then, of course, it’s part retail store with rows of boats and an ocean of tackle available among the other wonders.
“People who come here shopping for a boat can actually sit in one that’s floating on the water inside the store,” said Milton Howery, promotions manager for the new store. “It’s a little different than just walking around a parking lot – and while you’re sitting in a boat, you might see a giant sturgeon swim by just under your feet. People love that.”
If you don’t need a new boat or any fishing tackle, you can grab a bite to eat at Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill.
The 1,900-square foot restaurant features a downhome Southern menu with delicacies like fried alligator, swamp burgers and a spicy chicken sandwich known as the “Hunter on Fire.” The restaurant also has a 13-lane bowling alley in an underwater setting – and if the line is too long for a table, they’ll give you a pager that allows to enjoy the rest of the store while you wait.
On to the second floor…
Once you’re done perusing the first floor, you can go to the next level where an incredible line of hunting supplies is available among hunting-themed fun and games.
Special archery and pistol ranges are available for those who want to “test-drive” a bow or sharpen their shooting skills. An arcade shooting gallery is available to shooters of all ages, and a special interactive “duck blind” will soon be open that will allow visitors to experience a virtual duck hunt with a video guide.
Since the store is positioned in the heart of the Mississippi Flyway and just minutes from Ducks Unlimited National Headquarters, DU has a strong presence with a 4,500-square foot Waterfowl Heritage Museum. The facility features a stunning array of taxidermy mounts, hand-carved decoys, guns, duck calls and other memorabilia of great interest to waterfowl hunters.
“This is the largest collection of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting gear you’ll find anywhere,” Dance said. “You can go in there and see every duck that flies through the Mississippi Flyway. People in this area are just going to go crazy over it.”
A true destination store
The third floor of the facility is occupied by Big Cypress Lodge – a resort hotel with 105 outdoor-themed rooms that make this Bass Pro Shops a true “destination store.”
The rustic décor of the rooms creates the authentic feel of a log cabin, but gas fireplaces, flat-screen televisions and other modern amenities provide a greater level of comfort than any cabin ever could. Each room has a private balcony that looks out over the store, and the rooms provide quick access to a spa where visitors can get manicures, pedicures and massages.
“People who stay in these rooms can enjoy everything the store has to offer,” said April Wilkinson, promotions manager for Bass Pro. “You can sample all of the restaurants, shop and take part in all of the activities. Then when you just want to relax, you can have a cocktail or get a massage.”
From the ground, it looks like the facility ends with the third floor.
But it actually goes higher – much, much higher.
To the top of Memphis
In the center of the store, you’ll find the world’s largest freestanding elevator. At over 320 feet tall, the elevator travels to a point 16 feet higher than the Statue of Liberty – and since it’s open on all sides, it gives the feel of an amusement park ride as it takes visitors to The Lookout at the Pyramid.
The restaurant features an ever-changing menu of food and specialty drinks, but nothing from the kitchen or bar could possibly match the views of Memphis and the Mississippi River that are available from such heights.
Two observation decks – one that looks West and one that looks South – provide views of the famed West Tennessee town that most had never seen before the store’s opening. Since the floors of the observation decks are clear glass, those views sometimes give people the feeling that they’re floating in midair.
At least two marriage proposals have taken place at The Lookout since the store opened late last month.
“It’s an amazing feeling out there,” Wilkinson said. “You know you’re perfectly safe on that glass platform, but it’s hard to forget just how high up you are.”
Universal appeal, evolving future
Visitors have already come from all over the country to enjoy the one-of-a-kind new store, and Bass Pro Shops officials expect the out-of-town flow to increase as people begin their summer vacations.
“People are coming here to shop from all walks of life,” Howery said. “People who have never fished before are coming in here and leaving amazed by what they’ve seen. One of the main things we’re hoping for is that children from urban environments, who’ve never had the chance to see some of this stuff, will come in and be so moved by it that they begin enjoying the outdoors themselves.”
A catch-and-release kids fishing rodeo was held recently inside the store at one of the ponds that’s stocked with rainbow trout, and more than 500 school children have already toured the store –even though it opened just as most schools in the Memphis area were letting out for summer.
Howery said he expects the store to be a popular school field-trip destination for years to come – and with dozens of banquet and conference rooms, it’s likely to be popular with grown-up professionals as well.
“It’s so much more than just a retail store,” Howery said. “No matter who you are or what you’re interested in, you can find something you’ll enjoy here.”
See photos here.