
Big Cypress Lodge
Best for families and outdoors-themed stays — activities like the Sky High Ride, bowling, and on-site archery keep kids and adults busy without leaving the property.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
Big Cypress Lodge is a rustic, family-friendly hotel built inside the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid with cabin- and treehouse-style rooms and indoor swamp views. The Central Station Memphis, Curio Collection is a boutique Hilton property in the restored Central Station building for travelers who want a downtown, design-forward stay close to museums and Beale Street.
Updated

Best for families and outdoors-themed stays — activities like the Sky High Ride, bowling, and on-site archery keep kids and adults busy without leaving the property.

Best for travelers who want a compact, design-focused downtown base within walking distance of Memphis museums, Beale Street and trolley lines.
When Big Cypress Lodge wins: choose Big Cypress Lodge if you want a distinctive, family-oriented attraction hotel (indoor swamp, Sky High Ride, bowling, large Bass Pro Shops complex) and multiple on-site dining options — it’s the more experiential, activity-rich choice.
When The Central Station Memphis, Curio Collection wins: pick Central Station if you prefer a boutique Hilton in a historic train-station building with straightforward downtown access to museums, Beale Street and event venues; it’s the better pick for compact, business- or culture-focused stays.
Bottom line: these are different kinds of Memphis hotels — Big Cypress is an attraction hotel built around the Pyramid experience and family activities; Central Station is a centrally located boutique Hilton that gets you into downtown on foot.
| Category | Big Cypress Lodge | The Central Station Memphis, Curio Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Rustic, attraction-driven (Pyramid, indoor bayou, family activities) | Historic boutique — restored train station with Hilton amenities |
| Location (downtown) | At Bass Pro Shops Pyramid on the riverfront, short drive to Beale Street | On South Main in the heart of downtown, walking distance to museums and Beale Street |
| Size / rooms | 103 individually decorated guestrooms (cabins, treehouses, Governor's Suite) | 123 guestrooms (various Main Cabin, Concourse and Suite room types) |
| Age policy | Lead guest must be 21+ to check in; families and children welcome | |
| Pools | No swimming pool; overlooks indoor bayou/swamp | Not published |
| Restaurants & bars | Multiple on-site outlets: The Lookout at the Pyramid, Wahlburgers Wild, The Fishbowl, The Den, Mississippi Terrace | One on-site restaurant (Eight & Sand) plus a bar/lounge |
| Spa & fitness | Big Cypress Spa by Gould's (appointments, limited hours) + 24-hour fitness center | 24-hour fitness center; spa: Not published |
| Known for | Indoor cypress swamp, Sky High Ride observation deck, integrated Bass Pro Shops and family entertainment | Restored Central Station setting and proximity to Civil Rights Museum & Blues Hall of Fame |
| Meeting / event space | Large adaptive meeting and event spaces, terrace venues and wedding capacities up to several hundred | Conference space 10,408 sq ft and 6 meeting rooms |
| Parking / access | Valet and self-parking with a required nightly parking fee; complimentary downtown shuttle (on-demand) | Self parking available (surcharge); central walkable location |
Big Cypress Lodge sits inside the Bass Pro Shops Pyramid on the riverfront, a short drive from Beale Street and downtown attractions.
Good spot if you want riverfront views and an attraction-style hotel a short drive from downtown.
The Central Station Memphis is in the restored Central Station on South Main — firmly in the downtown museum and theatre district.
Best if you want a central, walkable base for museums, music venues and downtown walking.
Big Cypress Lodge’s 103 rooms are individually themed — cabins, duck lodges, terrace rooms and treehouse-style rooms.
Rooms are part of the Pyramid experience — choose Big Cypress for novelty-themed accommodations.
Central Station offers a broad mix of compact Main Cabin and Concourse rooms plus multi-size suites in a historic building.
Expect efficient, well-located rooms that prioritise downtown access over attraction-style design.
Big Cypress Lodge has multiple restaurants and bars across the Pyramid catering to families and groups.
On-site food and entertainment options make it easy to spend an evening without leaving the property.
Central Station lists one on-site restaurant and a bar-lounge suitable for downtown dining and drinks.
Central Station keeps dining simple — you’re close to many independent downtown restaurants if you want more variety.
Big Cypress Lodge does not have a swimming pool but centers its experience on an indoor cypress swamp and the Sky High Ride.
The lodge replaces a pool with distinctive indoor nature and family attractions.
Central Station’s signature selling point is the restored train-station setting and convenient downtown location.
Central Station emphasizes historic character and downtown proximity rather than large on-site attractions.
Big Cypress Lodge offers an on-site spa, a 24-hour fitness center and live-music terrace nights on Mississippi Terrace.
Pick Big Cypress for an in-house spa plus hotel-driven evening entertainment.
Central Station provides a fitness center and puts you steps from downtown nightlife, theatres and music venues.
Central Station is better if you expect to spend evenings in downtown Memphis venues rather than the hotel.

Big Cypress Lodge — on-site activities (bowling, Sky High Ride, aquarium feedings, archery) and family-friendly rooms.

The Central Station Memphis — walkable to the National Civil Rights Museum, Blues Hall of Fame and Orpheum Theatre.

Big Cypress Lodge — the Pyramid setting, indoor swamp and integrated Bass Pro Shops make the hotel the main event.

The Central Station Memphis — compact rooms, meeting spaces and Hilton Curio branding suited to short city trips or business visits.
Big Cypress Lodge — it offers family-oriented activities on site (bowling, Sky High Ride, aquarium feedings) and themed rooms.
The Central Station Memphis — located on South Main within easy walking distance of the National Civil Rights Museum and Blues Hall of Fame.
Big Cypress Lodge does not have a swimming pool; the property features an indoor bayou/swamp. The Central Station listing does not publish a pool — check the hotel directly.
Big Cypress Lodge has Big Cypress Spa by Gould's (appointments, limited hours) and a 24-hour fitness center. Central Station lists a 24-hour fitness center; spa availability is not published.
Explore how Big Cypress Lodge stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·