Downtown Memphis is home to tremendous city assets — everything from the Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid to Tom Lee Park to walking with your feet 10 feet off of Beale. And now, adding to downtown’s appeal is an immersive experience unlike anything else in the city (or the region!): Baron Von Operbean and the River of Time, affectionately known as BVO. Noted by Mayor Paul Young as a “jewel of an asset,” this one-of-a-kind attraction is playing a role in the forward momentum of the city’s vision.
Located in the former Mississippi River Museum on Mud Island, BVO has transformed the space into the home of a mystical pirate and his many adventures. Along the way, the project has brought together community partners, breathed new life into an underused space, and inspired a new appreciation for what’s possible when we reimagine the assets we already have for a new generation – right here in the 901.
Whether you’re local to Memphis, the Mid-South, or are visiting for a spell, BVO is helping to put Memphis on the map. And with Memphis recently named the No. 1 road-trip destination in the country by Travel + Leaisure, attractions like BVO add even more reasons to experience our city. More than a destination, BVO is a shining example of the creativity and innovation happening in Memphis today and the momentum building for our future.
For Jee Vahn Knight, CEO of BVO, the potential goes beyond creating another attraction. She’s seen firsthand how an imaginative experience can change the way an entire generation sees a city:
“I got to watch [what an experience like this can do] in New Mexico — what it does to the next generation. It literally turned Santa Fe, New Mexico, from a place where the average age vacationing there was 65-years-old to six-year-olds seeing it on YouTube telling their parents they want to go to Santa Fe, New Mexico, for spring break. That's what the power of an amazing creative attraction can do because that kind of joy is limitless and children are limitless.”
That’s the bigger possibility: creating experiences that not only draw people to Memphis – and Downtown – today, but help shape how the next generation experiences and imagines Memphis.
The experience saw more than 10,000 visitors in its first three months open, and it is poised to generate a tremendous economic impact as more phases open. And there’s even more to celebrate:
- A reason to return again and again: Because there’s no single path through BVO, visitors can have a different experience each time.)
- Showcasing Memphis creativity: BVO brings together creative-sector talent, showcasing the unique skills and educational backgrounds of Memphians in a fun, interactive waywhile giving the next generation of leaders a chance to see (and believe!) what’s possible through careers in creativity, technology, design, storytelling, and more.
- Recycling, Repurposing, Reimagining: Elements of the former Mississippi River Museum and donated materials have been repurposed throughout the experience – another example of BVO’s ability to reimagine what’s already here.
Want to hear more about the impactful collaboration between the Downtown Memphis Commission and BVO and what it means for Memphis? Listen to this conversation with Chandell Ryan and Jee Vahn Knight on Meanwhile in Memphis! Hear from real leaders making a real impact in Memphis each week on the Meanwhile in Memphis podcast, airing on Tuesdays at 8am on WYXR 91.7 FM and streaming wherever you prefer to listen to podcasts.
Great cities need great leaders, and New Memphis builds them. New Memphis is a nonprofit leadership development organization that infuses Memphis with leaders who are passionate about positive community change and have the skills needed to take action. New Memphis’ leadership development programs inspire thought, connection, action, and civic engagement, helping participants find meaningful ways to use their talents and networks to be effective city advocates at any point in their careers — from the college classroom to the C-Suite executive.
