The Peabody Ducks
The Peabody Ducks
4
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
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11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Located in Downtown Memphis, the historic luxury hotel, The Peabody Memphis, is probably best known for the Peabody Ducks. The custom first started in the 1930s as a joke by the Peabody’s General Manager, but the mallard ducks grew so popular that they became a permanent fixture, and have even been featured on television and magazines. Each morning, visitors can watch as the ducks march across a red carpet to the hotel fountain before heading back to their rooftop “Royal Duck Palace."
For a truly immersive experience, you can reserve the family package for additional perks and exclusive memorabilia.
– Tripadvisor
Suggested duration
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- Taylor BChicago, Illinois8,683 contributionsMake way for the Peabody Marching DucksIt's a show that never gets old. The Peabody Marching Ducks have been a tradition at the historic and luxurious Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, since the 1930s. This was our third visit to the Peabody and we always arrange for dinner after seeing the ducks splash in the lobby fountain. They come down the elevator from the rooftop home daily at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and entertain adults and children alike. In the 1930s, Frank Shutt, then general manager of the Peabody, and a friend, Chip Barwick, returned from a weekend hunting trip to Arkansas. Tipsy from drinking Tennessee sipping whiskey, they thought it would be funny to place some of their live duck decoys (at the time, it was legal for hunters to use live decoys) in the Peabody's beautiful fountain. The reaction was very enthusiastic. Thus began the Peabody tradition that has become internationally famous. In 1940, bellman Edward Pembroke taught the ducks the now famous Peabody Duck March to the fountain. Pembroke served as the Peabody Duckmaster for 50 years until he retired in 1991. The five North American mallards include one Drake (male) with a white collar and green head and four hens (females) with less colorful plumage. When off duty, the ducks reside in their $200,000 Royal Duck Palace on the hotel's rooftop. The structure is made of marble and glass and features its very own fountain with a bronze duck spitting water. Raised by a local farmer and a friend of the hotel, each team of Peabody Ducks lives at the hotel for only three months before retiring from their duty and returning to the farm, where they are free to live as wild ducks. It is suggested that visitors arrive 30 minutes prior to the Duck March to avoid the crowd.Visited March 2021Written April 4, 2021
- jenrn2020Fleming Island, Florida68 contributionsCute, but not a must doThe ducks were cute. We got there early and to sit in the lobby bar area we ordered tea. It was $10. Yikes! The Duck Master was enthusiastic and entertaining. Unfortunately the march in the morning is at 10 AM and the afternoon one at 4. Cuts into your site seeing day so unless you have time to waste it’s not worth it. The Duck master has a tour of the hotel after the 10AM Duck March. We were shocked that the hotel charged $10 per person. It surely wasn’t worth the $40 we paid. We could have walked around ourselves and seen more, rather than seeing less and listening to personal stories of people the Duck Master met in the hotelVisited January 2020Written February 10, 2020
- 60EvMedway, United Kingdom199 contributionsGreat fun and duckmaster is excellentWe went for the 11 and 5 pm event on both days. Get there early for good spot. We sat downstairs first time and stood on the balcony the next to get different views. The duckmaster is very entertaining and gives a good story about the history of the hotel and ducks. The hotel itself is beautiful. The morning session is slightly better as you see the ducks for a bit longer as they arrive and swim in the fountain. It all happens very quickly though so you need cameras at the ready.Visited January 2020Traveled as a coupleWritten January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
6,361 reviews
Excellent
3,286
Very good
1,832
Average
902
Poor
224
Terrible
117
Art F
Palm Coast, FL40 contributions
Jan 2020
You simply have to see them to understand! A most amazing display of live ducks in the Peabody lobby and fountain. They are tame and you can go right up to them. They seem to revel in the attention and their surroundings. The duck master was a masterful speaker who gave a very entertaining history of the ducks. We were there for 5 leaving and 11 coming down from the roof. Yes, they march all the way and take the elevator down. The talk is about 10 minutes and the duck march is less than a minute so don't be late. Find a good view of the red carpet. You will be very sorry if you miss this!
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debra D
Muscatine, IA210 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
You do need to see the Peabody ducks, but you need to take the tour of the Peabody, as well! Every day, the ducks (four hens and one lucky drake) walk the "red carpet" to/from the Peabody Hotel lobby fountain with the help of their "duckmaster" at 11 am and 5 pm.
First of all, Kenon, the "Peabody duckmaster" was the best tour guide that we've ever had for any tour and we've taken a lot of them! He was very knowledgeable on the history of the Peabody Hotel and the famous Peabody ducks, as well as giving us some great Memphis history, as well. Most of all, though, it was easy to see that he loves his job. We would highly recommend this tour-- especially if your tour guide will be Kenon!
First of all, Kenon, the "Peabody duckmaster" was the best tour guide that we've ever had for any tour and we've taken a lot of them! He was very knowledgeable on the history of the Peabody Hotel and the famous Peabody ducks, as well as giving us some great Memphis history, as well. Most of all, though, it was easy to see that he loves his job. We would highly recommend this tour-- especially if your tour guide will be Kenon!
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
California_momofsix
Fairfield1,085 contributions
Jul 2020
My compliments to the Peabody-- where the Mississippi delta begins. The lobby of this old hotel is just beautiful but what really set our experience apart were the people that work there and of course the ducks.
Full disclosure, we didn't stay at the Peabody and only walked in to see the duck march. I was worried this would be awkward. Quite the opposite, we were treated with much consideration as if we were famous guests. We arrived early and the duckmaster's assistant visited with my teenage daughters and made all of us feel so welcome. When he discovered that they were really excited about the ducks, he promised them that they could sit right at the edge of the red carpet the ducks walk on. After rolling out the carpet, he remembered to call them to the front, even though quite a crowd had gathered and they are not little kids anymore.
Once the duckmaster arrived, he put on a whole production that included audience participation. All of the kids received a beautiful quilted duck sticker to wear (and some of the adults did, too). The duckmaster was very entertaining and even managed to teach some history.
The ducks were adorable and walked by inches from us, right into the elevator.
I would recommend arriving about 20-30 minutes early for a good spot. It gets crowded right before it starts.
Seriously, the ducks and their caregivers are great ambassadors for the Peabody hotel. We are now considering staying there or at least eating there during our next visit to Memphis. Great fun for the young and the young at heart.
Full disclosure, we didn't stay at the Peabody and only walked in to see the duck march. I was worried this would be awkward. Quite the opposite, we were treated with much consideration as if we were famous guests. We arrived early and the duckmaster's assistant visited with my teenage daughters and made all of us feel so welcome. When he discovered that they were really excited about the ducks, he promised them that they could sit right at the edge of the red carpet the ducks walk on. After rolling out the carpet, he remembered to call them to the front, even though quite a crowd had gathered and they are not little kids anymore.
Once the duckmaster arrived, he put on a whole production that included audience participation. All of the kids received a beautiful quilted duck sticker to wear (and some of the adults did, too). The duckmaster was very entertaining and even managed to teach some history.
The ducks were adorable and walked by inches from us, right into the elevator.
I would recommend arriving about 20-30 minutes early for a good spot. It gets crowded right before it starts.
Seriously, the ducks and their caregivers are great ambassadors for the Peabody hotel. We are now considering staying there or at least eating there during our next visit to Memphis. Great fun for the young and the young at heart.
Written September 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim S
Nerja, Spain163 contributions
Mar 2020
Had it not been for our curiosity about the famous ducks we would never have realised what a wonderful interior the Peabody Hotel has. Worth a visit just to sit in the luxury of the main bar and have a drink. The ducks do their thing at 6pm but you need to get yourself a good vantage point at about 5pm as so many people want to see the event - which is all over in about five minutes once it gets started.
Written March 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jmc8080
Kansas City, MO43 contributions
Sep 2020
We came on a day when it was raining a little. Combined with covid it was fairly empty. We were able to sit at a table not 5 feet from the fountain. The Duck Master is really the star of the show. He comes out early and visits with the people before they start the "show". He is the 8th(?) Duck Master in the 80+ years they have had the ducks. When they start they go through the history of the ducks and give you insight as to how they are kept. (By the way no duck served in their hotel.)When they come down you have about 10 seconds to see them as they go from the elevator to the fountain. It is a fun hour or so to take a break and see this gorgeous place. I do recommend it!
Written October 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
01leanne01
Brisbane, Australia8 contributions
Nov 2019
We had a great time visiting The Peabody, we sat and had morning tea and waited for the ducks, we were told how the ducks began at The Peabody. We didn’t know that the ducks have been there since 1930 and performing everyday since then. Well worth the experience.
Written February 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrea P
Toronto, Canada36 contributions
Jan 2020
Visit the Peabody Hotel at either 11am or 5pm to witness an 80 year old tradition of the Duck March. About 6 ducks spend their day swimming in the fountain in the lobby bar and twice per day they are escorted by the Duck Marshall to walk the red carpet and ride the elevator to their home on the roof. Not to be missed! FYI, drinks are pricey here, but it was a nice treat in the late afternoon. We arrived at 4:30 and the place was packed, so we took our drinks to the second floor and watched the show from there.
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard19651965
Murray, KY256 contributions
Jan 2020
Okay, the ceremony of the ducks leaving the fountain and getting on the elevator is going to seem cheesy if you've never seen it...but you gotta see it at least once. It's simple, sweet, and doesn't take long. It's also free.
They do this daily at 5 o'clock, with the narrator and ringmaster giving a great detailed account of how this tradition came to be. You better arrive by 4 p.m. though, if you want to get a good seat. Arrive early, order a beer, and enjoy
They do this daily at 5 o'clock, with the narrator and ringmaster giving a great detailed account of how this tradition came to be. You better arrive by 4 p.m. though, if you want to get a good seat. Arrive early, order a beer, and enjoy
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
janiewa
Punta Gorda, FL526 contributions
Oct 2020
This was the first attraction we visited upon arriving in Memphis and were glad that we did. Kenon, the Duck Master, did a great job of explaining to us how he came to be Duck Master, where the ducks come from, how they are trained and where they live (upstairs in the penthouse Duck Palace). When the show begins, he tells the history of this attraction and then lets the ducks do their thing. We had cocktails before the show and had a nice time enjoying the ambiance of this beautiful lobby. We visited some of the surrounding stores and then went upstairs to the penthouse roof for a view out over the city. This is a cute, campy sight but so fun and photo-worthy that it should not be missed.
Written October 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barry E
Atlanta, GA146 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
The Peabody was a great place to stay. The duck trainer tells a long but interesting story about tje ducks origins then recuits a kid to help march the ducks to the elevator. Then the ducks a finally allowed to go it takes 30 seconds to march to the elevator. Worth it if your staying there.
Written October 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What time does the roof top bar open at Peabody hotel
Scott_Boucher1
Memphis, TN
Hi, we only do a rooftop bar on (some) Friday and Saturday nights. Please visit our website > Peabody Happenings to see upcoming dates!
123tito
Grants Pass, OR135 contributions
I just read someone's recent review stating that you have to be a hotel guest in order to see the duck parade???
W38Q
Providence, RI115 contributions
We walked right in the front door and sat at the bar. We were there probably around 4:30. If you do not drink, just mill around, 2nd floor also offers a great view too!
Rogue Wilde
6 contributions
Do you always have to be a guest at the peabody in order to see the ducks? Or is this due to covid?
lamarbradley
Nashville, TN1,142 contributions
Correction- I said the hotel is a public establishment which is wrong. It is a private place of business which contains other private businesses where people come and go and the hotel can restrict entry, I suppose if they so choose for any reason. I can understand if you called and asked you might be told the show was only for registered guests, to keep the crowds down, but if you don't ask and just show up and blend in, I would be surprised if anyone asked you to prove you were a guest at the hotel. We were not guests of the Hotel, and no one asked us if we were We even used the Peabody restroom and dried our hands on monogrammed paper towels.
Judy L
Franklin, VA2 contributions
I think that we will be there at 5:00 so we could see the ducks leave. However, I am not sure we want to stay until 11:00 the next morning to see them come in. Is the 5:00 event as much fun as the 11am one? I loved the 11am entrance and will have my children with me this time. Thank you
Don H
Kirkland, WA933 contributions
Both fun.... But one time is enough
Doug W
Lakeland, TN3,454 contributions
In response to those inquiries: to assure finding a spot within view of the Duck March ceremony, arrive at 10:15am or 4:15pm. There could be 3 to 400 there to see it by 10:30 or 4:30.
0okiecat
Tulsa, OK17 contributions
Absolutely! They will rope off the area the ducks march down, and are quite strict about it. Children can sit on the floor in front of the rope. You can also go up on the balcony, and view from up there. However, if it is your first time, I highly recommend getting there early, to be on the floor. Be sure to go up on the roof! Hope this helps. ENJOY!
Doug W
Lakeland, TN3,454 contributions
In response to those inquiries: to assure finding a spot within view of the Duck March ceremony, arrive at 10:15am or 4:15pm. There could be 3 to 400 there to see it by 10:30 or 4:30.
sbjerkos
Westby, WI12 contributions
If you arrive early enough to get a seat at the bar, they make sure no one stands in front of you so you can still see. Otherwise, I'd go for the balcony.
Amanda C
Piggott, AR
How much does it cost to watch the ducks march
Diane B
Arlington Heights, IL87 contributions
I believe it is free. We didn't see them march, but walked right into the hotel lobby, saw them swimming in the fountain, spoke with the duck master, and took the elevator up to the duck palace, which was really just going to the top of the hotel. We were in and out in 15 minutes :)
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Claim your listingThe Peabody Ducks (Memphis) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about The Peabody Ducks
- The Peabody Ducks is open:
- Sun - Sat 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- We recommend booking The Peabody Ducks tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 14 The Peabody Ducks tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience The Peabody Ducks:
- Memphis City Tour with Optional Riverboat Cruise & Sun Studio Add-On Options (From $40.00)
- Historic Memphis Guided Walking Tour (From $27.44)
- Memphis Mojo Bus Tour (From $38.41)
- City of Memphis Guided Bus Tour (From $40.00)
- Memphis City Tour with Sun Studio Admission (From $70.00)
- Hotels near The Peabody Ducks:
- (0.02 mi) The Peabody Memphis
- (0.03 mi) Canopy By Hilton Memphis Downtown
- (0.04 mi) Holiday Inn Memphis-Downtown (Beale St.), an IHG Hotel
- (0.06 mi) Talbot Heirs Guesthouse
- (0.09 mi) Hilton Garden Inn Memphis Downtown Beale Street
- Restaurants near The Peabody Ducks:
- (0.02 mi) Chez Philippe - The Peabody Memphis
- (0.02 mi) Peabody Corner Bar
- (0.02 mi) Peabody Deli & Desserts
- (0.02 mi) Capriccio Grill
- (0.03 mi) Automatic Slim's Restaurant
The Peabody Ducks Information
| Excellent Reviews | 3,285 |
|---|---|
| Very Good Reviews | 1,832 |
| The Peabody Ducks Photos | 1,664 |





















































































