Tourism Taxes Subsidize Memphis Bass Pro Store

Because Bass Pro could never make it on its own

MEMPHIS — The next time you stay overnight in Memphis remember the hotel taxes you paid are helping the Bass Pro Corp. renovate the city-owned Pyramid into a megastore/resort.

Memphis City Council member Harold Collins wants city residents to relax since out-of-towners will pay for much of the $30 million renovation.

"These dollars would be generated from someone staying in our hotels or motels or renting cars here. It's not as if the city of Memphis or Shelby County is using this out of General Fund dollars," he said.

The money comes from what is formally known as Tourism Development Zone tax money, Collins said.