By Jackie Sheckler Finch
As new Duckmaster on the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Kenon Walker has no doubts who’s boss. After trailing the fowl on their each day march to the elevator, Kenon acknowledges the apparent.
“The ducks don’t actually follow me,” the 42-year-old admits. “They lead me.”
At 11 every morning, the geese step to John Philip Sousa’s “King Cotton March” alongside a purple carpet from their rooftop $200,000 Royal Duck Palace to the well-known travertine marble fountain within the Grand Lobby.
There they splash and preen till 5 p.m., when the procession reverses and the geese retire for the night to their rooftop abode atop the Peabody Hotel. Visitors are invited to look at the free spectacle and to go to the rooftop for among the best views of Memphis.
An glorious benefit supplied by American Queen Voyages for its American Queen cruise from Memphis is having passengers arrive the evening earlier than the cruise departs. That is a good way to assist ensure passengers don’t miss the cruise due to flight delays. It additionally permits passengers to take pleasure in Memphis websites and get evening’s sleep on the well-known Peabody Hotel.
American Queen Voyages additionally presents a two-night keep in Memphis earlier than the cruise for the “Complete Memphis Experience,” which incorporates main Memphis points of interest. Well price the additional money and time. I opted for that for an opportunity to see Graceland, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Sun Studio, National Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street and extra. Let’s see what number of of these I’ve time to go to.
8 Night – Memphis to St. Louis – American Queen
Birth of the Peabody Ducks
As the “South’s Grand Hotel,” the Peabody has drawn presidents, dignitaries, entertainers and folk from all walks of life. Opened in 1869 by Robert Campbell Brinkley on the nook of Main and Monroe in downtown Memphis, the unique resort was named in honor of Brinkley’s just lately deceased pal, George Peabody. The authentic resort was torn down and a brand new bigger Peabody was constructed at its current location at Union Avenue and Second Street, opening in 1925.
The function of Duckmaster originated on the Peabody Memphis virtually 90 years in the past. “The whole thing started as a practical joke,” Kenon says.
Back in 1933, Frank Schutt, basic supervisor of the Peabody, and a pal, Chip Barwick, went on a weekend looking journey in Arkansas. “They took another colleague along with them. His name was Jack Daniel,” Kenon says.
“They had a bit too much of that Jack Daniel’s sipping whiskey and thought it would be funny to sneak some of their live duck decoys into the lobby fountain. That’s back when you were allowed to have live duck decoys. So they put the ducks in the lobby fountain and went up to their room to sleep it off.”
When they got here down the following morning, the 2 males have been shocked. “They were surprised because the ducks were still there,” Kenon says. “And they were surprised to see a huge crowd watching the ducks.”
Thus started a Peabody custom.
The first Peabody Duckmaster
In 1940, bellman Edward Pembroke, a former circus animal coach, supplied to assist with delivering the geese to the fountain every day and taught them the now-famous Peabody Duck March. Pembroke turned The Peabody Duckmaster, serving in that capability for 50 years till his retirement in 1991.
The 5 mallards are at all times 4 females and one male. More than one male would possibly trigger turf issues, Kenon says. An uneven variety of females would possibly make the girl mallards activate the odd duck.
Every day, a mess of tourists line up for each the morning and night march. Kenon patiently recounts the story, helps the “Honorary Duckmaster” chosen to help Kenon unroll the purple carpet and makes certain no friends are in between the fountain and the elevator when the geese are able to roll.
Clad in his scarlet-and-gold-trimmed jacket along with his conventional brass-head duck cane, Kenon acknowledges that, “living in Memphis, the Peabody Hotel is a legendary place,” he mentioned. “But I never dreamed I would one day be the Duckmaster.”
Becoming Peabody Duckmaster
So how did Kenon grow to be the most recent Duckmaster? An actor, Kenon had spent greater than a dozen years as a tour information and historian on the National Civil Rights Museum and Stax Academy of American Soul Music in Memphis. After changing into concierge on the Peabody, Kenon quickly caught the eye of Duckmaster Doug Weatherford.
“That was February 23rd, 2019. I became the assistant Duckmaster. And in January 2020, Doug retired and now here I am,” Kenon says, bringing the geese and the enjoyment to all who come.
“We do get new ducks every three months because we release the previous ducks back into the wild,” Kenon says. “So the new duckies have to get used to me and their surroundings and, before long, they seem to like walking to the elevator in the morning and walking back at night.”
Although the geese appear completely content material to paddle round within the foyer fountain, generally sudden incidents do occur. One time, one of many hens took a nap on the ledge of the fountain and fell off on the no-water facet. The duck didn’t know what to take action she went working to the elevator. But the elevator wasn’t open so she ran previous the reward store, previous the restaurant after which she noticed a 30-foot Christmas tree within the foyer.
Sure sufficient, the wayward duck zoomed towards the tree the place the Duckmaster retrieved her among the many wrapped presents and escorted her again to the fountain the place she fortunately joined her paddling buddies.
“In today’s world, I think we all need some happiness,” Kenon says. “It’s more than a job to me. It’s a true blessing to bring something positive to people’s lives. Who would have thought that watching ducks waddle to and from the fountain would make people so happy? But it does and it makes me happy, too.”
Photos by Logan Peters
* Traditional duck march.
Photo courtesy of Peabody Hotel
* Duckmaster Kenon Walker continues the Peabody custom.
* Kenon’s coat cuff spotlights his Peabody job.
* Duckmaster’s distinctive cane.
* Peabody Hotel fountain fascinates duck watchers of all ages.
* Hotel room on the Peabody.
* Swimming pool at Peabody Hotel
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8 Night – Memphis to St. Louis – American Queen (cruisecompete.com)
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