The Peabody Memphis
Hotel · Downtown ·
Historic hotel with opulent decor and famous duck march tradition
Historic hotel with opulent decor and famous duck march tradition
"Known as the 'South’s Grand Hotel,' the Peabody in Memphis is famed for its holiday brunch and an over-the-top 'Home for the Holidays' package that includes unlimited hot chocolate, while the lobby’s iconic Peabody Duck March—especially decked for Christmas with poinsettias and thousands of lights—offers a uniquely Memphis seasonal tradition." - Judy Koutsky
"Coined the “South's Grand Hotel,” though the Peabody sits in the heart of Blues City, you can't help but have a jolly Tennessee Christmas here. Start the day off with Christmas brunch, refill throughout the day with the unlimited hot chocolate offered by their Home for the Holidays package, and don't miss on the Peabody Duck March. The hotel's five resident mallards do make the promenade every day, but their fountain is specially decked out for the big day."
"I popped into The Peabody in Memphis to watch the famous ducks parade through the lobby to the fountain once a day, a beloved ritual before retiring to my room." - Katy Spratte Joyce Katy Spratte Joyce Katy Spratte Joyce is a food, business, and travel writer based in Omaha, Nebraska. Her work has appeared in a variety of print and digital outlets, including Lonely Planet, Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy, Hemispheres, Condé Nast Traveler, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Each day for nearly one hundred years, a group of ducks have left their penthouse at Memphis’ Peabody Hotel and waddled down a red carpet to spend the day playing in the lobby fountain.This whimsical tradition dates back to the early 1900’s when the general manager of the Peabody returned from a fruitless hunting trip and placed a group of live ducks in the hotel fountain as a joke. The guests were so delighted by the addition of the adorable birds that the owners decided to let the birds stay. What started as a simple gag has continued throughout the years and is now a daily display of pomp and circumstance. Every morning around 11:00 AM, the ducks are led down from their rooftop penthouse to a red carpet bordered by adoring onlookers. Accompanied by a Sousa march, the five ducks trot up a small, custom stairway into the placid waters of the marble fountain where they dutifully swim until they are once again led back upstairs around 5:00 PM. The whole ceremony is preceded over by the “Duckmaster,” a position originally filled by a circus trainer that joined the hotel in the 1940’s, and which is now filled by the occasional celebrity such as Molly Ringwald or Peter Frampton.When not strutting their stuff for the hotel guests, the ducks live in a $200,000 enclosure on the roof which is built to look like a scaled-down penthouse. The walls are made of glass so that visitors who can’t wait for the daily walk can head up and see the the famous fowl living the high-life. It may have started as a joke, but the popularity of the Peabody Duck March proves that the owners of this hotel certainly aren’t quacks." - ATLAS_OBSCURA
"Why we love it: A historic property that’s become the heart of Memphis The Highlights: - A historic property, but with updated rooms - The twice-daily Duck March tradition - Afternoon English high tea, served Wednesday through Sunday The Review: The Peabody may be most famous for its entertaining Duck March—when the hotel’s five North American mallards waddle from their Royal Duck Palace on the rooftop to the lobby fountain—but it’s only a small part of the property’s charm. For more than a century and a half, this ornate Italian Renaissance building has represented the height of luxury in Memphis. In celebration of 150 years of hospitality, the 464 guest rooms and suites were recently refurbished, adding modern amenities to the already elegant hotel. While The Peabody is conveniently located near all the highlights of downtown Memphis, guests have everything they need right on property. Specialty shops ring the lobby (including Lansky Bros., which was known as the clothier to The King when Elvis ruled Memphis), while the opulent Chez Philippe continues to set the bar for downtown fine dining with its menu of classic French cuisine and regular English afternoon tea service. Other, more casual drinking and dining options range from the convivial Lobby Bar—a favorite gathering spot for locals—to Capriccio Grill, serving some of the best steaks in Memphis."
