A Sneak Peek at Memphis’s Most Buzzed-About New Experience
Opening early in 2026, "Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time" will invite guests to step inside a rich world of imagination and adventure. Get your sneak peek here! Image: For the Lovebirds Photography
Once home to exhibits tracing a river’s legacy, the former Mississippi River Museum now pulses with new life, imagination, and adventure. The team behind Baron Von Opperbean (BVO) and the River of Time is transforming a long-quiet landmark into a vibrant world of play, story, and wonder. Our sneak-peek tour offers a glimpse of what’s to come when the immersive experience opens in early 2026. But even under construction, it’s clear Memphis can anticipate something truly unique on Mud Island.
The imaginative mind behind BVO is Chief Creative Officer Christopher Reyes, a Memphis artist, filmmaker, and digital storyteller known for his ability to blend technology and imagination. Alongside new CEO Jee Vahn Knight, a visionary leader whose background includes work with immersive art pioneer Meow Wolf, Reyes is crafting an all-ages attraction that feels both fantastical and deeply rooted in the city’s creative spirit.
Jee draws a parallel between Memphis and the early days of Meow Wolf’s Santa Fe location. “When I was working with Meow Wolf, a colleague described our location as sitting in a honey pot,” she says. “It was an underserved market for all-ages entertainment, but filled with families raising the next generation who want to be inspired.”
“Memphis is similar,” she adds. “We’re in the epicenter of an area that already has a thriving tourism industry, but with space for all-ages entertainment for the local population as well as visitors. What better place to add a creative attraction that contributes to the economy?”
What Is Baron Von Opperbean?
Defining Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time isn’t easy, and that’s part of the magic.
“If you think about immersive activities,” Jee explains, “you’ve got museums and galleries, which are a form of passive consumption. The artist created it, and you’re going to experience it for yourself. Next, you’ve got theme parks, which are branded, fixed experiences. It’s immersive in the sense that you’ve got sounds, things you can touch, and movement. But the story is fixed.”
In between, you’ll find escape rooms, which are gamified, and “Instagram museums,” which are full of color, whimsy, and fun — perfect for sharing on social media — but usually without a storytelling element. Included in the immersive world are venues like the City Museum in St. Louis, which is primarily a playground with plenty of interactive fun and art.
BVO stands out from the rest of the immersive experiences out there, as it combines the best elements of each. Think of an immersive playground, and then add creative storytelling, games, and digital interactive elements. Guests can play and climb, engaging with the stories and characters, whether digital or real people, and enjoy the beautiful fabrication and art. Best of all, your experience is your own!
The entire BVO experience will eventually encompass 33,000 square feet, opening in phases. When Phase One of the River of Time opens in early 2026, visitors can step aboard the Green Dragon, an underwater ship so ancient that it has become sentient. The vessel will have her own personality — a bit of a snarky one, according to Jee!
Future phases will make great use of existing pieces of the Mississippi River Museum, including a school field trip favorite: the interior and deck of an old-fashioned riverboat that will soon be transformed into a steampunk version traveling through a wormhole in time and space.
Rooted in Memphis Creativity
Beyond its imaginative premise, Baron Von Opperbean is also a story of renewal. The project is breathing new life into a site that was dormant for years. The team is collaborating with Memphis artists, builders, and fabricators to reimagine the space using reclaimed materials and local craftsmanship. The result honors both the river’s history and the city’s spirit of reinvention.
For Memphis, Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time represents more than a new attraction. It’s a symbol of how creativity can transform spaces and spark imaginations. By blending art, storytelling, and technology, the project showcases Memphis as a destination for the next generation of immersive experiences, while giving locals a world-class adventure built right here at home.
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Gaye Swan
As a professional writer of over 20 years, Gaye is an avid traveler and enjoys highlighting food, culture, and attractions around the South. While Gaye is passionate about life in Memphis, she grew up in Meridian and is still a Mississippi girl at heart.