Month: December 2022

The Ducks at Peabody

The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee is known for its famous ducks that march down the red carpet in the lobby every day at 11 am and 5 pm. Here’s what you need to know about this unique tradition:

  1. The tradition began in the 1930s when the hotel’s general manager returned from a hunting trip and placed his live decoy ducks in the hotel’s fountain.
  2. The ducks quickly became popular with hotel guests and locals, and the hotel decided to make them a permanent part of the hotel’s atmosphere.
  3. Today, the ducks live in a specially-designed “Duck Palace” on the hotel’s rooftop and are cared for by a team of duck handlers.
  4. Each day, the ducks are escorted down from their palace to the lobby in a special elevator and march down a red carpet to the fountain.
  5. The Duckmaster, a staff member dressed in a tuxedo, leads the ducks and gives a brief history of the tradition to the gathered crowd.
  6. The ducks spend the day swimming in the fountain and interacting with guests before being escorted back up to their palace in the evening.
  7. The Peabody Hotel also offers a variety of duck-themed merchandise, including plush toys and books, for guests to purchase.

Visiting the Peabody Hotel to see the ducks is a must-do activity for anyone visiting Memphis. The tradition is a unique and fun experience that has become a beloved part of the city’s history and culture.