Memphis Flyway's visitor attraction, economic potential for Downtown Memphis
Memphis River Parks Partnership's Andrew Kiepe: "This gives people an excuse to stop, get out, and experience the Mississippi River."
Andrew Kiepe has been with Memphis River Parks Partnership (MRPP) for three years as its director of development.
He's worked on the fundraising side — including the $61 million for Tom Lee Park and $10.8 million for the Memphis Flyway.
The Flyway, which is set to be unveiled early next year, is at the southern end of Tom Lee Park, where Ashburn-Coppock Park begins.
"It's naturally grown the last 30-plus years to become this very ecologically rich location that hosts a wide variety of animals right here in Downtown Memphis at that exact spot," Kiepe said.
One aim of the new Flyway is to make the Mississippi River accessible to all. To that end, it will feature an observation deck at the river — the only one of its kind on the Mississippi River.
The Flyway's design is being headed by the Chicago-based firm Studio Gang. Studio Gang recently won an award for its design of Tom Lee Park.
Kiepe said the 218 foot by 60 foot area is ever changing. Flowers may be in bloom or guests may spot a fox. Kiepe noted that 40% of all North American birds fly over that pathway every year.
There is economic potential there, according to Kiepe.
"This is my most favorite fun fact I've recently found — enthusiasts who are into bird watching or just looking for specific animals, they spend more annually than hunting and fishing combined," he said.
MRPP has a nature curriculum that teaches about natural spaces and the Mississippi River. Last year, the program saw 7,500 students.
expand
Andrew Kiepe of the Memphis River Parks Partnership
Memphis River Parks Partnership
Included in the Flyway is a pollinator garden. Kiepe said the garden draws insects, such as monarch butterflies.
"The monarchs are a very important piece to the pollination process, which provides us the food that's on our table," he said.
The area features understory trees and plantings like milkweed and pawpaw trees.
Kiepe said the Flyway will give those who drive through the area a reason to stop and stay a while.
"This gives people an excuse to stop, get out, and experience the Mississippi River," he said, adding that a recent study had some 1.5 million travelers coming through. "We hope that it's not only an ecological benefit and educational benefit, but a tourist attractor, whether it's just stopping for an hour and seeing our city and showing how great of a Downtown we have. We want to give them a reason want to come back, or maybe they'll stay, have lunch, and decide to use this as an overnight stop."
Sign up for the Business Journal's free morning and afternoon daily newsletters to receive the latest business news impacting the Memphis metro area. Download the free Memphis Business Journal app for breaking news alerts on your phone.
Memphis-Area Tourist Attractions
2023 attendance
Rank Prior Rank Rank / Prior Rank / URL
1
1
Beale Street Historic District
2
2
Southland Casino Hotel
3
3
Gold Strike Casino Resort View this list
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Airbnb Kicks Off New Lollapalooza Experiences, From Private Sets to Backstage Tours
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. After launching Airbnb Experiences and Services and collaborating with artists like Chance the Rapper and Cherry Glazerr in May, Airbnb is giving music fans another chance to get closer to their favorite artists' music this summer. The travel brand has teamed up with Live Nation to bring its Experiences to Lollapalooza for the first time. That includes all of Lollapalooza's locations, including Berlin, Chicago, São Paulo, and Mumbai. More from Rolling Stone These Best-Selling Sony Headphones Are Only $11. Seriously. NBA Finals Tickets: How to Get Last-Minute Thunder vs. Pacers Stubs Online How to Watch Thunder vs. Pacers NBA Finals Games Online Book on Airbnb Airbnb says that guests can book everything from daily Lollapalooza-based Experiences (think: private performances) and even access to Airbnb's Lollapalooza lounge on-site. In Berlin, Lollapalooza attendees could book an Airbnb Experience with the performance artist BUNT to see a private DJ set. For now, the brand hasn't revealed its Chicago-based Lollapalooza Experiences. 'Fans are traveling the world to see the artists they love, and festivals like Lollapalooza are leading that demand,' says Michael Rapino, CEO and president of Live Nation Entertainment, in a statement. 'Partnering with Airbnb helps us make those trips even more memorable for fans, connecting them to the culture and community around the music that makes each festival unforgettable.' According to Airbnb, 75 percent of Lollapalooza attendees in Berlin don't live in town, and 50 percent of festivalgoers in Chicago are visiting from another city. Book on Airbnb 'The great thing about Lollapalooza and working with artists is it's another way to step into the culture of a city rather than the traditional — you know, double-decker bus tour, that idea of looking at things and seeing nothing,' Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky tells Rolling Stone. Continued Chesky, 'We just want to do things that are cool. We want to do things that are different. We want to do things that are interesting. We're not giving a ton of experiences to start because we want to really work with Lollapalooza and make sure we do something really thoughtful. But I think this is the beginning of something. I imagine 10 years from now you'll be able to go to cities all over the world, and you're going to be able to have these incredible experiences. There could be this entire economy built around music experiences. Why would that not be possible?' Book on Airbnb Chesky also says that Airbnb could become an 'income source for musicians. You can sell music. You could go on tour. You can also share experiences, and isn't that what life is ultimately about? So I think this is, for us, the beginning of the next chapter with Airbnb.' This year's lineup for Lollapalooza in Chicago includes headliners like Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, the Creator, and Sabrina Carpenter. Last-minute Lollapalooza tickets are still available before the four-day fest kicks off on July 31. Best of Rolling Stone The Best Audiophile Turntables for Your Home Audio System
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘Please do not go to the airport': Sliver Airways leaves travelers stranded after airline abruptly shuts down
There's missing a flight, and then there's missing every flight because your airline just went bankrupt. That's what happened to hundreds of travelers this week when Silver Airways, a Florida-based regional carrier, abruptly announced it was ceasing operations effective immediately. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Passengers flying between Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean were left at airports with no warning, no alternative flight plans and no customer service reps in sight. 'We regret to inform you that we are ceasing operations as of today, June 11, 2025,' the airline posted on Instagram. "Please do not go to the airport." The bankruptcy came with zero notice and even fewer answers, raising questions for customers who already paid for tickets. Here's what led to the airline's sudden nosedive — and what to do if your summer vacation just hit major turbulence. Silver Airways has officially flown its last mile. Roughly five months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Florida-based airline grounded all flights — and not because of stormy weather. In a recent statement, the company revealed it had sold its assets to another airline holding company as part of a restructuring effort. But instead of reviving the brand, the new owner decided to ground all operations. 'In an attempt to restructure in bankruptcy, Silver entered into a transaction to sell its assets to another airline holding company, who unfortunately has determined to not continue Silver's flight operations,' the airline wrote in a statement. Silver had hoped the bankruptcy would help secure new capital and offer a path toward financial recovery. Instead, the collapse has left travelers stranded and staff without jobs — a costly detour for everyone involved. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it If you're one of the many people left grounded by Silver's sudden shutdown, don't expect a refund from the airline itself. In its final Instagram post, the company made it clear that customers won't be reimbursed directly. But all hope isn't lost. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, you might be able to recover your money depending on how you paid. If you bought your ticket with a credit card, you can file a dispute with your card issuer under the Fair Credit Billing Act. Be sure to include a copy of your ticket and receipt, and clearly explain that the airline has ceased operations and failed to deliver the service you paid for. Just don't wait too long. You typically have 60 days from the date your statement was issued — the one that includes the airfare charge — to file the dispute. If you booked through a travel agent or third-party site, it's worth reaching out to see if they can help secure a refund or offer any alternatives. Some agencies have extra protections or recourse built into their services. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Major Airlines Cancel 650 European Flights as Delays Rock Travelers
The Israeli strikes against Iran are affecting travelers around the world as multiple major airlines have canceled or delayed flights. And they're not just flights to Israel. The turmoil is affecting worldwide travel. Multiple major airlines have cancelled or diverted "thousands of flights," straining airlines already struggling with profitability, according to Reuters. Eurocontrol told Reuters that it's not just the Middle East; about 1,800 flights to and from Europe were affected by the turmoil on June 13 by mid morning, including 650 cancelled flights, Reuters reported. Air India announced a string of diverted flights, including some from or to European destinations and the U.S. There were 15,964 delayed flights worldwide on June 13 with 928 cancellations, including 168 into or out of the U.S., FlightAware reported. Flight tracking sites showed there was no commercial air travel over Iran, Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq on June 13. The airports in Tehran, Tel Aviv, and Amman were all closed. Global air travel has been disrupted, CNN reported. According to Reuters, flying through the Middle East region is an "important route for international flights between Europe and Asia," especially since Russian and Ukrainian airspace was already shut down. Travel to Israel or the Middle East was impacted most. Airlines that had canceled, delayed, or "redirected" flights on June 13 included "Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, and Air India, as well as the German-based Lufthansa," according to CBS. In addition, El-Al and Isair, which are Israeli airlines, "evacuated planes from Tel Aviv," CBS reported. The cancellations affected the region around Israel but also "beyond," the network reported. Israel's Ben-Gurion airport was completely closed to air travel passengers. Emirates "canceled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran," CBS reported. According to Reuters, El Al Airlines, Air France, Ryanair, and Wizz, suspended flights to and from Airlines Cancel 650 European Flights as Delays Rock Travelers first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 13, 2025
