There is a hotel in downtown Memphis where five mallard ducks are treated better than most hotel guests. Every single day, twice a day, they ride a private elevator, waddle down a red carpet to the sound of a marching band tune, and take their place in a marble fountain while a crowd of hundreds watches in complete amazement.
This is not a theme park attraction or a tourist gimmick. It is a nearly century-old tradition at one of the most storied hotels in the American South, and it has been happening without interruption since 1933.
The hotel itself is a landmark, a 13-story downtown institution that has hosted presidents, celebrities, and curious travelers from all over the world. Before getting to the ducks, though, the building itself deserves some serious attention.
The Duck Tradition That Started as a Joke
Back in 1933, general manager Frank Schutt returned from a hunting trip and, in a moment of mischief, released live duck decoys into the hotel lobby fountain. What was meant as a prank landed so well with guests that the ducks simply stayed…