Tennessee Welcome Center — Attraction in Memphis

Really wanted to like this place. Stopped here to walk our dog along the park portion of the welcome center. We parked in the parking lot and lot was about 15% occupied. When we pulled up, we noted lots of signs saying no loitering and that parking was for visitors only. When we parked, there were some young people congregating outside their car in the parking lot listening to music very loudly. We parked directly across from them in the same lane. Our car was packed up since we were on a road trip and because of our travel pod on the top of our car, it was clear our car was packed full. We got our dog out of the car, I got into the back of our car to rearrange some things, and then we locked the car and walked away. After walking into the water front park area, which took less than 5 min, I turned around and see the car with the same young people pull into the spot right next to our parked car. Again, the lot is at least 85% open. There is no reason for them to move their car 12 feet away from their original spot to be directly next to our car. So I tell my husband to walk back to our car to make sure everything is secure. He quickly walks back and verified it’s the same young people from earlier smoking in their car. While no damage or illegal activity was done, my point is to be aware of your surroundings here. Also while there are signs saying no loitering, clearly that’s not...

I had barely arrived and parked when security yells at me to not park in the visitor center parking. Signs clearly mark visitor parking and a 2 hour limit. I was not even planning to stay an hour. She saw my dog with me and said only service animals allowed inside the center and I can’t browse the park unless I move my car and pay for parking. Nowhere did it say I had to pay for parking or move my car from the clearly marked visitors center as I am visiting from out of state. Security threatened to call the police because I needed a minute to figure out where to move my car and if I even wanted to stay after her very unwelcoming attitude ruining my excitement to be there. I looked inside the center and an attendant waved me in but security yelled at me not to go in. After I asked for clarification on where to park, I had to go across from visitor parking into a paid lot where it clearly marked parking for tour guests only. Maybe rules changed recently but I’ve never been to a visitors center where I needed to pay to park, move my car away from the center, and not even be able to explore the park without paying. Good thing I was with a plus one or I wouldn’t have been able to go inside the center at all. No attendant in sight. No souvenirs to even pick from so very unsatisfied with this welcome center. Did not...

To whom it may concern:

My name is James Crawford I live at xxxxx Memphis Tennessee. My daughter and I on Sunday went to the Bass Pro and stopped at the park on the way out closest to the pyramid. As we were getting out of the truck we were confronted by a security guard who told me that the park was just for out of town people and I could not Park there.I tried to explain to the security guard we were just going to look at the river she was not having it. Between two properties I pay $6,000 + a year in property taxes and I can't use a park that is unbelievable. If that's not the case y'all need to say something to your security guard. I also pay other taxes in Memphis Shelby County pulling permits. I will follow up with a phone call on Monday as well to see if this is normal. Please let me know if I am in the wrong but I find this hard to believe I can't stop at a Welcome Center and look at the river.

Thanks, James B. Crawford 901303787

This was the email I sent the mayor and the park system. I...