There are a number of things one expects to find in the lobbies of luxury hotels. Most of them can be seen in the historic Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Marble pillars, check. Chandeliers, check. Dark wood, thick carpets, check.
However, in this hotel, there's something extra too. Ducks, swimming in the fountain. Yes, every day, the Duckmaster - oh, didn't I mention? Yes, they have a specially employed Duckmaster. Step forward Mr Jason Sensat. Well, anyway, at 11am Mr Jason Sensat collects the ducks from their home on the roof and leads them into the lift. They emerge, triumphant, and parade through the lobby on a red carpet to the fountain, where they climb in splash around until 5pm, when the journey happens in reverse. Get there early - it's a popular sight.
This strange tradition started in 1933, when the hotel's general manager came back from a long weekend of hunting in Arkansas. After a long night's friendship with the whiskey bottle, he and a few chums thought it would be hilarious to put their live decoy ducks in the fountain. The hotel bellman, a former circus animal trainer, taught the ducks their march. The rest is history, and a well-developed line in souvenirs.
It seems that ducks aren't the end of it. Somehow I wonder if the crowds of children would be allowed so close to the red carpet if they were still doing the thing with baby alligators...
However, in this hotel, there's something extra too. Ducks, swimming in the fountain. Yes, every day, the Duckmaster - oh, didn't I mention? Yes, they have a specially employed Duckmaster. Step forward Mr Jason Sensat. Well, anyway, at 11am Mr Jason Sensat collects the ducks from their home on the roof and leads them into the lift. They emerge, triumphant, and parade through the lobby on a red carpet to the fountain, where they climb in splash around until 5pm, when the journey happens in reverse. Get there early - it's a popular sight.
This strange tradition started in 1933, when the hotel's general manager came back from a long weekend of hunting in Arkansas. After a long night's friendship with the whiskey bottle, he and a few chums thought it would be hilarious to put their live decoy ducks in the fountain. The hotel bellman, a former circus animal trainer, taught the ducks their march. The rest is history, and a well-developed line in souvenirs.
It seems that ducks aren't the end of it. Somehow I wonder if the crowds of children would be allowed so close to the red carpet if they were still doing the thing with baby alligators...
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