Staying at the Peabody Hotel Memphis

Updated July 21, 2020.

When I think of the Peabody Hotel, I think of ducks. And actually, when I think of ducks, I think of the Peabody! The ducks are certainly their signature, but the Peabody has even more to offer! I remember staying here with my family once when I was maybe four, so maybe that’s why the ducks made such an impression. I recently got to go back to the Peabody for a long weekend with my family, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tell you all about it! So here it is: The Peabody Hotel, Memphis.

The Peabody.

The History

The Peabody Hotel’s history goes back farther than the ducks, who waddled and swam their way into our hearts in 1933. The original Peabody Hotel opened in 1869 at Main and Monroe Streets and became “The South’s Grand Hotel.” Today’s Peabody is larger and grander than the first, and it has been wowing guests at its present location since 1925.

The historic fountain at Christmas time!

For more about their history, check out the hotel’s website! They also offer a 2-hour history tour at 11:30am each day, right after the morning Duck March! The tour is $10 per person, and the Duck Master will be your tour guide! The hotel is the place where Elvis had his prom, signed his first record deal (on Peabody letterhead, no less), and the men’s clothier in the hotel (Lansky’s) dressed Elvis in his signature clothing!

There will be a LOT of Elvis references!

But the hotel holds more history than just the King of Rock and Roll! The Belz family, who owns the hotel, has quite an extensive collection of historic artifacts, some of which are on display throughout the hotel!

Francis Scott Key’s Piano

The Ducks

So what’s with the ducks? The Peabody Ducks are world famous for their daily marches and their adorableness as they swim around in the hotel’s fountain. Back in 1933, the hotel’s general manager and a friend of his went duck hunting in Arkansas. They were a little inebriated upon their return and thought no one would mind if they put their live duck decoys in the hotel fountain. And sure enough, the guests were delighted!

The World-famous Peabody Ducks!

Seven years later, bellman and former circus animal trainer Edward Pembroke thought it would be fun to train the ducks to march into and out of the fountain each day. He was the first official “Duck Master” and served in that capacity for 51 years! The current Duck Master chooses an honorary Duck Master to help him march the ducks in and out each day, so be sure to come by at 11:00am and 5:00pm to see this adorable site, and if you’re traveling with kids, one of them could be the honorary Duck Master!

The ducks have just plunged in for their daily swim, led by Duck Master Doug Weatherford, in the bottom right!

And don’t forget to visit the “Duck Palace” on the Skyway up on the rooftop when they’re not swimming in the lobby!

The ducks are almost ready for their big moment!
For more about the Peabody Ducks, check out
Your Ultimate Guide to the Peabody Ducks!

The Welcome

The Peabody Hotel defines southern hospitality. It truly is “the South’s grand hotel,” and their kindness and friendliness shows through from the moment you walk into the door and step over to the guest registration desk. As soon as you walk inside, you’re greeted with the scent of flowers, smiling faces, and if you arrive between eleven and five, the sound of people ogling over the ducks in the fountain.

Sights and sounds of the Peabody Lobby.

The Room

Our Junior Suite came with a king-size bed, cushy and beautiful turquoise chairs, a beautiful desk, and a large bureau with more than enough storage space for our trip. We slept very well on our trip!

The King-size Bed
Sitting Area
Desk and Comfortable Chair
Bureau with Drawer Space and TV

The Bathroom

Our bathroom was a little on the small side, but it was perfect for just two people! They did an amazing job of fitting in quite a lot of shelving and storage in very logical and convenient ways. Often times hotel bathrooms can feel cluttered once our personal toiletries are out where we want them, but this petite bathroom situation was so well done, we had no complaints!

Beautiful, bright bathroom with tub-shower combo, sink with shelving, toilet, and more shelving above the toilet.
Love the little ducky soap! And their lotion actually smelled amazing and was a creamy lotion, not watery. It was a winner!
Complimentary massage bar of soap (with little massaging bumps on the bottom), shampoo, conditioner, and body wash

The Amenities

Hotels are just a place to sleep when you travel, but with special little touches, hotels can make your room feel extra “homey.” From their soft and ducky robes to their in-house coffee shop, the Peabody made me remember how good the South can be!

Peabody Robes

Is there anything cozier than a hotel robe?

I LOVE hotel bathrobes! How cute are these duckies?

Coffee Date

Coffee is available for guests every day in the bakery just off the lobby!

Coffee time starts at 6:00am!
Coffee with all the fixin’s! Sugar, sweeteners, hazelnut and vanilla creamers, and vanilla, cocoa, nutmeg, and cinnamon to add as you like! There was also non-fat milk and half-and-half available as well.

Live Music

We heard multiple piano players and heard a local chorus perform during our stay!

I love live music in such a grand hotel lobby!
Love legedary luxury? Read Legendary Hotels of the World!

The Fitness Center

I was beyond impressed with the Peabody’s fitness center! They allow locals to become members of their gym, which I always like to see—the equipment is usually maintained better when the same people use it regularly, and there is also usually more equipment variety in hotel gyms that are also used by local members!

Free Weights and Yoga

I am always more excited for free-weights instead of machines, and I like to be able to move around a lot. Their separate and spacious free-weight room was everything I could have asked for and then some!

Free-weight room with SO MUCH space!
Close-up of even more equipment in the free-weight room.

Cardio Area

There is a nice variety of the cardio equipment available for all!

Cardio Equipment
MORE cardio equipment! Look at those calf muscles!

Weight Machines

There were so many impressive weight machines! They were not crammed together, which I very much appreciate!

Weight Machines
This is not even half of the weight machines in the room, but it was so big I couldn’t get them all. You get the idea!

Pool and Hot Tub

Bring your swim suit and don’t forget the pool area, too!

Hot Tub
Beautiful Swimming Pool

Word to the wise… Mr. Belz, the 92-year-old owner of The Peabody Hotel, still uses the gym every day! Keep an eye out—you might be working out with the main man! #FitnessGoals!

Christmas at The Peabody

And if you hadn’t already noticed from the photos, we got to stay at The Peabody Hotel at Christmas time. It was truly magical, from the decorations to the music! I’m so glad it worked out for us to be there for Christmas, and I hope you can make it there for Christmas, too! The Peabody offers afternoon tea with Santa (get your reservations super early!), Christmas carolers, a gingerbread display, and decorations to the hilt!

Just part of their gingerbread village display. Parts of it move, and the display is different every year! It’s always made by the hotel’s own pastry chef.
Christmas carolers from a local high school chorus.
How cute are my little parents! There is no shortage of beautiful photo-ops around the hotel, especially at Christmas!

Have you been to The Peabody, or would you like to stay and see it for yourself? Comment below!

And don’t forget to explore my United States Page for more about Memphis and beyond!

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Published by quickwhittravel

Welcome to the blog! We do things a little differently around here: no ads, no negativity, and no checked luggage, y'all. My name is Whitney, and Quick Whit Travel Blog is your one-stop shop for all the best travel tips, packing advice, and destination information. Click around or message me on social media @quickwhittravel for more!

4 thoughts on “Staying at the Peabody Hotel Memphis

  1. College Gameday went there when they covered the Memphis Tigers! The anchors were BLOWN AWAY with the lobby. They made a point to also show one of the anchors act as Honorary Duck Master. One of the finer hotels I’ve been to.

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