Among the largest pyramid structures in the world, the Memphis Pyramid is taller than the Statue of Liberty and has become an icon of the Memphis skyline. Some guided tours pass the structure on the way to Sun Studio, Beale Street, and other city highlights. You can easily stop by the building (and shop for sporting gear) while exploring downtown, uptown, and parts of the Mississippi Riverwalk on foot.
The resident shop hosts massive fish tanks, a bowling alley, a swamp with alligator pools, and an observation deck atop 32 stories.
The Pyramid is a must-visit for fans of kitschy, unusual American architecture.
Catch views of Memphis and the Mississippi River atop the lookout; it costs US$10 for adults and US$5 for kids before 4pm.
The Pyramid is in the Pinch District facing Wolf River Harbor. From downtown, it’s a 30-minute walk along Riverside Drive and Pro Bass Drive. Taking buses from the Hudson Transit Center downtown cuts your travel time in half—jump on bus numbers 1, 12, 13, 39, and 57.
You can admire The Pyramid from the outside, or even from across the Wolf River Harbor, virtually any time of year. The sporting goods store and bowling alley keep regular business hours, and the glass observation deck is open from late morning to evening every day of the week. For the best views, avoid the Memphis wet season, roughly from February to July.
While you’ll get a kick just from seeing the unusual structure, there’s still plenty to do inside. In addition to shopping for fishing and other sporting gear, you can try your hand at archery, examine the hundreds of species of fish living in massive fish tanks, go bowling, check our resident alligators, ride an elevator to the glass observation deck, and enjoy a meal at the top-floor restaurant.
