Mud Island Monorail Remains Shut as Future Debated

Memphis River Parks Partnership's leader briefed city council on the future of Mud Island Park, whose monorail has been idle since July 2018.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in National Parks

Long empty elevated monorail track and concrete pylons stretch across a calm brown river toward a hazy downtown Memphis skyline. — The Mud Island monorail has sat idle since July 2018 as Memphis River Parks Partnership President and CEO Paul Chandler briefed the city council on the park's uncertain future. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should Memphis spend money to restore the Mud Island monorail and amphitheater?

Paul Chandler, president and CEO of the Memphis River Parks Partnership, briefed the city council on the future of Mud Island Park. The Mud Island monorail has not operated since July 6, 2018, and the Mud Island Amphitheater closed in October 2018.

Why it matters

The park's aging attractions have sat unused for years, and the city has repeatedly lacked funds for maintenance of its city-owned properties. Residents and visitors who once used the monorail to reach the island currently have no operating option.

The city's estimate for refurbishing the monorail is slightly over $6 million, with annual upkeep projected at $1.15 million per year. Whether the city will fund either figure has not been determined, and no plan for the monorail currently exists.

The players

Memphis River Parks Partnership

A Memphis nonprofit that manages and advocates for the city's riverfront parks, including Mud Island, and will continue working with the city on the amphitheater's future.

Paul Chandler

The president and CEO of the Memphis River Parks Partnership, who briefed the city council on the park's future.

The details

A 2024 firm reviewed the monorail and proposed upgrading or replacing the outdated system. A 2025 assessment identified critical problems at the amphitheater, including ADA compliance issues, and its bathrooms have been destroyed.

July 6, 2018: Mud Island monorail stopped operating.
October 2018: Mud Island Amphitheater closed.
2024: A firm reviewed the monorail and proposed replacing it.
2025: An assessment report identified critical amphitheater problems.
April 2027: The Downtown Neighborhood Association plans a two-day event at the amphitheater.

Big Picture

The monorail and amphitheater closures of 2018 remain unresolved eight years later, and the council briefing marks the city's latest attempt to decide the park's future. City leaders have asked for a downtown master plan to be presented at a future council meeting.

Visitors planning a trip to Mud Island should not expect to ride the monorail or use the amphitheater in the near term. Anyone wanting to see the park should check current access before traveling.

The takeaway

Eight years after the monorail stopped, the park's future still depends on funding decisions the city has not yet made. Travelers and residents should watch for the downtown master plan to learn what comes next.

What happens next

City leaders have asked for a downtown master plan to be presented at a future council meeting, and a two-day neighborhood event is planned at the amphitheater in April 2027.