
Big Cypress Lodge
Best for families and travelers after a one-of-a-kind themed stay with on-site entertainment and views over an indoor cypress swamp.
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Big Cypress Lodge is a themed, family-friendly lodge built inside the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid in downtown Memphis; read this if you want a novelty stay with on-site entertainment and quick access to Beale Street. Hilton Memphis is a large, full-service Hilton in East Memphis geared toward business travelers and events; read this if you need conventional hotel conveniences, meeting space, and an airport-area location.
Updated · about 11 miles apart

Best for families and travelers after a one-of-a-kind themed stay with on-site entertainment and views over an indoor cypress swamp.

Best for meetings, business travel, and travelers who prefer a large, conventional hotel with meeting rooms and an outdoor pool.
When Big Cypress Lodge wins: choose Big Cypress Lodge if you want a distinctive Memphis experience — rooms that feel like cabins or treehouses, indoor swamp views, on-site attractions (Sky High Ride, bowling, Bass Pro Shops) and family-friendly activities within the Pyramid.
When Hilton Memphis wins: choose Hilton Memphis if you need lots of meeting space, a large room inventory, standard full-service amenities (outdoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, concierge, conference center) and a location closer to hospitals and commercial districts in East Memphis.
Bottom line: pick Big Cypress Lodge for novelty, downtown access and family entertainment; pick Hilton Memphis for conventional business amenities, larger meeting capacity and a standard full-service hotel experience.
| Category | Big Cypress Lodge | Hilton Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Rustic, themed lodge built inside the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid with indoor swamp and nature motif | Large, conventional full-service Hilton hotel focused on business and events |
| Location | Downtown Memphis inside the Pyramid, walkable to riverfront and Beale Street | East Memphis (Ridge Lake Boulevard), closer to hospitals and suburban businesses |
| Size (rooms) | 103 individually decorated guestrooms | 405 guestrooms |
| Ages / policy | All-ages property; lead guest must be 21+ to check in | All-ages property; not adults-only |
| Pools / beach | No swimming pool; overlooks an indoor bayou/swamp ecosystem | Outdoor pool on site |
| Restaurants & bars | 2 restaurants and 3 bars including The Lookout at the Pyramid and Wahlburgers Wild | On-site Ridgelake Restaurant plus coffee shop/cafe and a bar/lounge |
| Spa & fitness | Big Cypress Spa by Gould's on-site; 24-hour fitness center included | Fitness facilities and 24-hour fitness center; spa: Not published |
| Meetings & events | Adaptive meeting spaces and multiple event venues (capacity up to several hundred), terraces and unique event backdrops | Large conference center with about 29,999 sq ft and 19 meeting rooms |
| Known for | Indoor swamp views, Sky High Ride observation deck, bowling alley and Bass Pro Shops access | Extensive meeting space, business-friendly services and suburban location near hospitals |
| Parking & transport | Valet and self-parking with a required parking fee; complimentary downtown shuttle (on-demand) | Self parking (surcharge), free RV/bus/truck parking and express check-in/out |
Big Cypress Lodge sits inside the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid at 1 Bass Pro Drive, minutes from Beale Street and riverfront attractions.
Choose Big Cypress for a downtown location next to the riverfront and immediate access to tourist attractions.
Hilton Memphis is on Ridge Lake Boulevard in East Memphis, positioned for business travelers and visitors to nearby hospitals and commercial areas.
Choose Hilton Memphis if you prefer an East Memphis base near hospitals, office parks and convention routes.
Rooms at Big Cypress Lodge are individually decorated to feel like cabins, duck lodges or treehouses, many with porch views over the indoor swamp or the downtown skyline.
Pick Big Cypress for characterful, Instagram-friendly rooms and a smaller, themed inventory.
Hilton Memphis offers a large inventory of conventional hotel rooms and accessible room types suitable for business and group travel.
Pick Hilton Memphis for a broad selection of standard rooms and more availability for groups.
Big Cypress has themed restaurants and bars inside the Pyramid, from a lookout steakhouse to Wahlburgers and a bowling-bar concept.
Choose Big Cypress if you want on-site, themed dining and nightlife options without leaving the Pyramid.
Hilton Memphis offers a full-service restaurant, a coffee shop/cafe and a bar/lounge for guests and event attendees.
Choose Hilton Memphis if you want standard hotel dining with options for meeting and event catering.
Big Cypress Lodge's defining feature is the indoor bayou/swamp environment, plus entertainment options inside the Pyramid.
Big Cypress is for guests who value immersive, family-friendly attractions rather than pool time.
Hilton Memphis's practical amenities focus on meetings, events and traditional hotel recreation.
Hilton Memphis is the better pick for groups and travelers who need pool access and large meeting facilities.
Big Cypress offers an on-site spa and 24-hour fitness center and several evening bars and terraces.
Choose Big Cypress for a mix of spa services, round‑the‑clock fitness and themed evening venues.
Hilton Memphis provides fitness facilities and a bar/lounge; a full-service spa is not published in the supplier listing.
Choose Hilton Memphis for 24-hour fitness and a straightforward evening bar; verify spa options directly.

Big Cypress Lodge — bowling, Sky High Ride, aquarium/fish feedings and Bass Pro Shops all on site.

Hilton Memphis — ~29,999 sq ft of conference space and 19 meeting rooms for conventions and corporate events.

Big Cypress Lodge — unique Pyramid setting, indoor swamp views and themed rooms.

Hilton Memphis — express check-in/out, concierge, ample parking and standard Hilton conveniences.
Big Cypress Lodge is downtown inside the Pyramid and within a short drive or shuttle ride to Beale Street; Hilton Memphis is in East Memphis and farther from downtown.
No — Big Cypress Lodge does not have a swimming pool; it overlooks an indoor bayou/swamp ecosystem instead.
Yes — Hilton Memphis lists about 29,999 sq ft of conference space and 19 meeting rooms suitable for events and conferences.
Big Cypress Lodge is aimed at families with children (multiple family-friendly activities on site); Hilton Memphis is family-friendly too but is more convention- and business-oriented.
Explore how Big Cypress Lodge stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·