
Big Cypress Lodge
Best for families and groups who want a big, activity-filled stay inside the Memphis Pyramid with on-site restaurants and attractions.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
Big Cypress Lodge is a large, rustic-themed hotel inside the Memphis Pyramid with family-friendly activities and rooms that overlook an indoor cypress swamp or downtown river views. River Inn of Harbor Town is a small boutique riverfront inn in Harbor Town that suits travelers after quiet, romantic waterfront charm.
Updated · about 1.4 km apart

Best for families and groups who want a big, activity-filled stay inside the Memphis Pyramid with on-site restaurants and attractions.

Best for couples or travelers who prefer a small, quiet riverfront inn with a Harbor Town address close to the Mississippi River.
When Big Cypress Lodge wins: Choose Big Cypress Lodge if you want an experience-centered stay with family-friendly activities on-site — bowling, the Sky High Ride/observation deck, Bass Pro Shops retail access, multiple restaurants and bars, and event space. It’s the larger, more entertainment-focused option.
When River Inn of Harbor Town wins: Choose River Inn if you want a quieter, boutique riverfront stay in Harbor Town — a small property with personalized service, free wired internet, a single on-site restaurant and bar, and easy walking access to the riverfront and Mud Island attractions.
Bottom line: Both hotels deliver river-oriented Memphis atmosphere, but Big Cypress Lodge is better for groups and families who want on-site attractions and a landmark setting; River Inn of Harbor Town is the pick for a low-key, romantic or intimate stay near the Mississippi River.
| Category | Big Cypress Lodge | River Inn of Harbor Town |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Large, rustic, activity-driven lodge set inside the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid | Small, quiet boutique riverfront inn in Harbor Town |
| Location (downtown riverfront access) | Built inside Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid; minutes from Beale Street and riverfront trails | Steps from the Mississippi River and Harbor Town; short drive to Beale Street |
| Size | 103 guestrooms across cabin- and treehouse-style rooms and suites | 28 guestrooms |
| Ages / check-in | Family-friendly property; lead guest must be 21 to check in | All ages welcome; supplier listing does not require adults-only check-in |
| Pools / waterfront | No on-site swimming pool; overlooks an indoor bayou/swamp ecosystem | Not published |
| Restaurants & bars | Multiple on-site venues: The Lookout at the Pyramid, Wahlburgers Wild, The Fishbowl, Mississippi Terrace, The Den | One restaurant, one bar/lounge on site; 24-hour room service available |
| Spa & wellness | Big Cypress Spa by Gould’s on site (treatments for a fee) | Not published |
| Known for | Unique Pyramid setting, indoor swamp/alligators, Sky High Ride, on-site activities (bowling, archery) | Quiet Harbor Town riverfront location and boutique service |
| Parking & transport | Valet and self-parking (required nightly fee), complimentary on-demand downtown shuttle | Free self parking on site; limo/town car service available |
| Business & events | Extensive meeting and event spaces (multiple venues, large capacities) | Conference space and meeting rooms suitable for small events |
Big Cypress Lodge sits inside the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid at 1 Bass Pro Drive, minutes from Beale Street and downtown attractions.
Choose Big Cypress for a landmark, downtown-located stay with easy access to major Memphis attractions.
River Inn of Harbor Town is a boutique riverfront inn at 50 Harbor Town Sq, a short walk to the Mississippi River and Mud Island River Park.
Choose River Inn for a quieter, waterfront Harbor Town base while still close to downtown Memphis.
Big Cypress Lodge has 103 individually decorated rooms and suites with cabin and treehouse motifs.
Big Cypress offers themed, roomy options for families and guests seeking a distinctive stay inside the Pyramid.
River Inn has 28 guestrooms with standard-to-suite options in a small boutique footprint.
River Inn’s smaller set of rooms suits travelers who prefer a quieter, simpler boutique room experience.
Big Cypress has several on-site dining and drinking venues across the Pyramid.
Pick Big Cypress if you want a variety of restaurants and bars without leaving the building.
River Inn offers a single on-site restaurant plus a coffee shop/cafe and a bar/lounge.
River Inn is better if you prefer a quieter, small-hotel dining setup and easy walkable dining options nearby.
Big Cypress’s signature advantage is the range of on-site activities inside the Pyramid.
If you want to stay entertained on property, Big Cypress provides considerably more on-site activities.
River Inn’s standout is its immediate proximity to the Mississippi River and Harbor Town ambiance.
Choose River Inn for simple riverside access and a low-key environment rather than many on-site attractions.
Big Cypress offers on-site spa services and 24-hour fitness, plus multiple evening venues.
Big Cypress serves both wellness needs and in-house nightlife options without leaving the Pyramid.
River Inn provides basic fitness access via a nearby fitness center (discount) and a quieter evening scene.
River Inn suits travelers who want a quieter evening and will travel off-site for fuller wellness facilities.

Big Cypress Lodge — on-site bowling, aquarium feeds, themed rooms and family activities inside the Pyramid.

River Inn of Harbor Town — small, quiet riverfront inn steps from the Mississippi River and Mud Island.

Big Cypress Lodge — several restaurants and bars (Lookout, Wahlburgers Wild, The Den, Fishbowl, Mississippi Terrace).

River Inn of Harbor Town — 28 guestrooms, personalized service, and a compact, intimate property.
Both are close; Big Cypress Lodge is inside the Pyramid a short drive to Beale Street and River Inn is about a 4-minute drive from Beale Street.
Big Cypress Lodge — it has on-site family activities like bowling, aquarium features and themed rooms geared to children.
No. The supplier listing marks River Inn as adultsOnly: false — it welcomes guests of all ages.
Big Cypress Lodge does not have a swimming pool; River Inn’s supplier listing does not publish an on-site pool.
Explore how Big Cypress Lodge stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·