Step on over to the 2025 Mardi Gras Tribute Store in the former Williams of Hollywood at Universal Studios Florida. The Tribute Store is a staple of seasonal events at Universal, and the latest edition opens on Saturday, February 1. Annual Passholders got a special preview of the store on Thursday, January 30.
2025 Mardi Gras Tribute Store – Legends of the Bayou
Entrance
A green arrow and “This Way” painted on a stack of crates points to the Tribute Store entrance. These crates also form the exit of the store.
A red and black poster on one crate says, “A second glance is all it takes!” An alligator wearing a red crown is pictured above, “Keep searching for King Gator!” A yellow sign directs guests to “Cyrus T. Parvo’s Legends of the Bayou Museum and Gift Shop,” including the “Wall of Mystery.” The Tribute Stores often have their own set of lore and Easter eggs that carry through from event to event.
This year’s Tribute Store is cryptid-themed, with a large billboard outside advertising “Cyrus T. Pavo’s Legends of the Bayou Museum and Gift Shop.” 2024’s Mardi Gras Tribute Store backstory involved a riverboat (the P.S. Songbird) owned by Captain Pavo, possibly meaning the two original characters are related.
The billboard has dark shapes with glowing yellow eyes lurking in the watery background. On the “T” of “The” sits a small skull that fans online have been calling “Tribby,” the unofficial Tribute Store mascot.
A fuzzy dark creature with red, light-up eyes and long, curved teeth creeps over the corner. Below it, the sign reads, “See the world famous Nusquam Nuisance,” an original cryptid created for the store. “Nusquam” is a Latin word that roughly translates to “nowhere.”
The billboard also advertises “chilling creatures!” with an image of a Bigfoot-style lumbering creature behind trees, and “See the wall of mystery!” with three question marks in front of a spiral background, evocative of the various Mystery Spot-style attractions around the country. “Tribute Store” is on a plank attached to the top of the billboard.
The windows to the left of the entrance are home to a small Bigfoot figure.
The poster frames on the sides of the Williams of Hollywood entrance have ads for the Legends of the Bayou. On the left, it reads “Gifts! Souvenirs! Swamp Tours!” with art of the fuzzy critter on the bottom.
The sign on the right says, “Monsters! Ghosts! Aliens? And more!” with more art of the creature.
To the right of Williams of Hollywood, near Mel’s Drive-In, is another billboard. It has the Legends of the Bayou wordmark, but this time, it says “A Tribute Store” beneath “Museum and Gift Shop.” It also advertises the Nusquam Nuisance. One blurb reads, “Entrance only 10 more feet!” while another directs to “Parking & Deliveries” with a note that “bus, shuttle, and R.V. spots located around back.”
A wood bench is next to the door. It looks like it was carved directly out of a tree, with twisting branches making up the back. Carved into the top of the bench is a Bigfoot figure.
First Room
The first room is a foyer that used to be the checkout counter when Williams of Hollywood was a prop shop. It opens up into a small space. Around the corner brings guests to the other side of the former checkout counter.
A life-size Bigfoot figure is standing on a table in the center of the foyer. Various colorful creature footprints are across the floor, leading deeper into the shop.
At the fake checkout counter is a moving, talking human figure. This was the wizard in the former Summer Tribute Store. He now wears a Bigfoot ball cap and blue button-up.
Tucked into his breast pocket is a bag of Bigfoot candies or chips. Behind him are framed memorabilia and Legends of the Bayou merchandise. A popcorn machine is next to him.
We don’t recommend ordering any popcorn, though. Some kind of bat creature is inside the machine, snacking.
The fake Legends of the Bayou merchandise includes branded neon shirts, visors, and a Bigfoot tapestry.
A zombie-fied coconut drink sign is on the wall.
One of the framed items is a Certificate of “Completion” for Cyrus T. Pavo. It certifies that Pavo has graduated from the Cryptozoological University of the South. He graduated on May 4, 1998.
Each framed photo in the store has a homemade plaque — pieces of paper taped below them. The picture behind the counter depicts two people sitting on a park bench with some kind of Bigfoot creature. It is labeled:
“Swamp Monster” (b.19888)
Unknown Park
PhotoImage capture of Honey Island Swamp Monster endangering park guests in the city.
Taped on the wall nearby is a picture of a UFO with “UFO Caught on Tape” written above it. There are bumper stickers for Legends of the Bayou. The store is apparently located in Nusquam, Louisiana.
There are brochures on the counter, including one for the Wild Peacock and Llama Rehabilitation Center. The llama pictured is the classic Gerg the Llama silhouette.
Other brochures on a nearby stand advertise Mega Video (also part of the former Tribute Store), Haunted Pirate Mini Golf, Nusquam Airboat Tours – “A Bayou Adventure” (a reference to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Walt Disney World), Cryptid Crepes, ghost tours, Hotel Anna Marie (with a picture of the Williams of Hollywood facade), and the Museum of the P.S. Songbird. You’ll see some of these brochures on the floor throughout the rest of the “museum.”
More photos and a King Gator poster hang above a display case. King Gator is treated as a cryptid in Nusquam.
These are newspaper clippings marked with red pen. They reference the Headless Horseman and Père Malfait, a Louisiana boogeyman.
Throughout the store are maps with areas outlined in red. These mark cryptid sightings in the respective town. This map near the door is of Nusquam.
There are more pictures of the “Swamp Monster,” including in an “unknown” diner. It looks suspiciously like Mel’s Drive-In. Another photo supposedly taken in Hollywood appears to be in front of The Darkroom just down the street from the Tribute Store entrance.
In the display case are bones and fossils, labeled as being from different cryptids.
The display is filled out with figures of cryptids and paper paraphernalia. There are remains from an unknown dinosaur alongside a comic called “The Lost World.” Though this is clearly a reference to “Jurassic Park,” the comic is based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1912 novel.
There is a stand of postcards for various Nusquam offerings, including Legends of the Bayou and the Nusquam Nuisance. One teases the “World’s Only Actively Moving Yeti Display,” with a Yeti pictured in front of a familiar mountain. More on that later.
A child’s drawing of the Louisiana Moss Man states he likes hot dogs. The school assignment got a 96 — “It looks just like him!”
A little Bigfoot figure stands on a shelf. There’s a hole in the wall next to him with “Do Not Look” written above. We took a peek and saw a group of Bigfoots.
A parody of “Live, Laugh, Love” posters reads “Live, Laugh, Lurk,” with images of fangs, a UFO, and a big footprint.
Another display case features more Legends of the Bayou merchandise, including ball caps, notebooks, mugs, bottles, and keychains.
There are bags of that Bigfoot snack the cashier was enjoying.
What’s behind the curtain? This tantalizing red velvet curtain is at the end of a trail of yellow shoeprints. And a pair of furry feet are visible below…
But pulling open the curtain only reveals a sign reading, “Gotcha! Museum this way.”
There are more such bones and paraphernalia in this tall display case. One special item is a Chupacabra skeleton from South America.
Hanging from the ceiling is “Plasticus Baticus.”
The archway into the next room is a giant alligator’s month. The gator has red eyes, an ominous feature foreshadowing something we’ll see in the final room…
Second Room
The footprints continue across the ground in the museum proper. Another display case is just around the corner. The bones in here include more dinosaur remains, an alligator skull, and a fossilized bat wing.
Atop the case is a box holding the remains of a Fiji Mermaid. Next to that is the cast of a sabertooth skull. There are “Legends of the Bayou” stickers on some of the displays.
On the wall is a “Jaws” reference — a replica of a shark’s jawline from Martha’s Vineyard (the filming location of “Jaws”). It’s specimen 1975, the release year of the flick.
Shark Jawline (b. 1975)
Martha’s Vineyard
Replica (rubber)Comission piece to match bite marks found on many victims of a small beach town up north. Artist – Bruce
This room is where you start to find Mardi Gras merchandise. In addition to the new Universal Mardi Gras collection, there are elaborate masks, hats, and beads.
The display of beaded necklaces is the “Build-A-Bead Bar.” There are several different necklaces so you can put together a unique snazzy, jazzy look.
The artifacts in this case include a conjoined skull and the hand of the gilled man.
The blurry photo depicts the Cauchemar in New Orleans, diving in front of a moving vehicle. There is a nice portrait of the Honey Island Swamp Monster.
This tiny skeleton is the “Demon Lizard” of Mississippi. According to the label, it is the culprit of at least 17 deaths.
A tall glass case on the center shelf holds a model of the Grunch Road Monster from Crescent City. You can touch the scaly skin of the Grunch, framed atop the shelf nearby.
There is a mirror with a frame of license plates from various states: South Carolina, Oregon, Arizona, Michigan, Virginia, and more.
There’s a life-size full-body gray alien replica, dressed in Mardi Gras beads and a crown.
Authentic representation of life from another planet. Known to be more advanced that [sic] humans, without the need for clothes.
An artistic depiction of the Grunch Road Monster is framed on the wall. Another map of cryptid sightings is of New Orleans.
These pieces reference the Halloween Horror Nights 33 Tribute Store and Sahara Traders. One is a poster for “Wonders of the Ancient Garden” at the Museum of Antiquities, depicting the fake museum’s bat totem. The other artifact is a piece of a crate.
Totem Relic Debris (b. 2024)
New York
WoodDebris from museum exhibit which houses a bat totem of an unknown large bat creature.
Hallway
In this hallway space between two rooms are two sets of props. Lit in a cool blue is the Skeleton Man, with a gravestone and angel statue next to him.
Skeleton Man (b. 1991)
New Orleans Parish
Replica Full BodyKnown by some as Baron Tonton, this Legend is a spirit of Mardi Gras and is welcoming to all who party.
Behind the Skeleton Man are posters for New Orleans venues and Mardi Gras celebrations.
The other display features the Loup-Garou. This New Orleans creature is similar to a werewolf.
Loup-Garou (b. 18)
New Orleans
Replica Full Body“Accurate” size and shape of the commonly seen cryptid. Known for it’s [sic] intelligence and fashion.
Another Plasticus Baticus hangs above the Loup-Garou, in front of a full moon.
There’s a Wolf-Man portrait partially hidden by curtains on the nearby wall. In his plaid shirt, the Loup-Garou does bear a striking resemblance to the Wolf-Man.
Third Room
More framed photos and artifacts are in this room, between merchandise shelves.
There’s yet another display case of bones. Hanging above is a giant toothy jaw. A poster reading “Behold! The Nusquam Nuisance” points to a skeleton atop the display case.
Nusquam Nuisance (b. 777)
Nusquam
ReplicaThe iconic trouble maker of the Nusquam Bayou. Known to make a shrill laughing noise when provoked.
Another reference to the P.S. Songbird comes in the form of a “haunted sailor doll.”
There’s a life-size alligator figure pinned to the wall.
“King Gator” (b. 2025)
Nusquam
Scale Model“Accurate” size but not color of the illusive Giant Gator which swims under the bayou undetected.
More newspaper clippings include a reference to the King Gator. A clump of hair could be from a Loup-Garou. It’s in the same frame as a napkin with a drawing of Loup-Garou.
This poster featuring Moth Man invites guests to apply to become a cryptozoologist.
A creepy owl is atop a green crate. The label references “Twin Peaks”:
Owl (b. 93090 2,001)
Washington
UnknownThe owls are not what they seem.
On this shelf are a Space Crab, Crystal Skull, and Alien Carapace. There’s also “New Directions in Parapsychological Research” by Egon Spengler — one of the main characters from “Ghostbusters.”
This papyrus artwork is supposedly “visible proof of Alien interference” from Northern Africa. Alien faces are pasted over the heads of Egyptian figures. Tucked under the papyrus is a picture of a toilet.
That’s not tinfoil on the bottom shelf. It’s clearly a piece of alien ship wreckage from New Mexico. A copy of “From the Earth to the Moon” by Jules Verne is alongside the wreckage.
This map shows cryptid sightings in Roswell. It’s appropriately hung next to some full-body gray alien figures.
A large display is Cyrus T. Pavo’s Wall of Mystery: The Unknown and Confuddling Cryptids. It features the same fanged creature from the billboard outside.
On the wall are several small boxes with peepholes to look in on cryptid dioramas. Pressing the button on each box illuminates the diorama. The featured cryptids are:
- The Incredible Yeti
- The Leaping Loup-Garou
- The Gruesome Letiche
- The Flatwoods Monster
- The Gilled Man of the Amazon
- The Miraculous Mothman
- The Eerie Nightcrawlers
- The Secluded Skunk Ape
In each diorama is a figure, a background, and some propping. Here’s that “Actively Moving” Yeti, with a note inside the compartment. It has a checklist with just two tasks:
- Animate Yeti
- Call Joe About Parts
This is a reference to former Imagineer Joe Rohde and Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The ride’s famous Yeti animatronic has been in unmoving B-mode since soon after the ride opened.
Make sure to press every button and take a look at each creature! They’re depicted in their native environments and some have painted backgrounds.
Above the next doorway is “Swamp Tours” hand-written on the wall.
Fourth Room
Moving out of the shop and museum theming, guests find themselves on a porch in a bayou at night. There is furniture like a rocking chair and a vintage Coca-Cola machine. Merchandise is mixed in with props.
There are some hidden cryptid figures.
Hanging behind the porch screen are Bigfoot windchimes.
Fifth Room
When you step off the porch, you’ll find yourself in the heart of the bayou, with lighting effects making the floor look swampy. There are trees and shrubbery throughout the space. Merchandise shelves are against the walls and carved into trees.
A swamp monster with glowing red eyes is among the plants.
Within the bayou is a small, decrepit house. While the bayou has green and blue lighting, the inside of the house is illuminated red.
There are floorboard and rug decals on the ground. A high-backed leather chair is under the caved-in roof. The wall outside shows a giant glowing full moon.
The set pieces and props include a stove stacked with pots, a tall wooden staff, and skulls. The house has a fake window showing the dimly lit bayou outside.
The house looks like it might be the home (or former home) of a voodoo witch doctor. It looks like some of the items were used for medicinal purposes.
There are bundles of sage. Some kind of voodoo doll is tucked into a potted plant. A dusty horn leans on a crate. There are bottles of mysterious substances.
A black top hat and purple alligator skin coat hang from a rack by the doorway. The hat is decorated with a flower and a feather. Hanging around the coat is a necklace of bones.
Back in the bayou are more bottles atop a cabinet. There are also kitchen supplies, crates, and sacks. A prominent tarot card is The Fool. Another one partially covered is The Moon.
Final Room
The final room has more merchandise displays as well as a checkout counter. Around the top of the walls are screens depicting a blue night sky, with projectors creating firefly effects.
Of course, the most apparent feature of the room is the giant alligator head sticking out of the wall. Calling back to the archway in that first room, this King Gator has glowing red eyes. It’s constructed from logs and netting, with moss hanging below it over the register.
There are boat-shaped merch displays. Above are wooden structures and furniture, sitting in front of the sky. The room feels like an abandoned bayou fishing dock, with guests swimming through the water below.
There are rocking chairs and the remnants of old buildings on the docks. All that’s left of a fishing boat is the framework. Moss hangs down, as do torn tarps.
Between merch displays are mossy walls. The displays are also topped with foliage and dock supplies.
There’s some kind of altar with glowing candles, bottles, a cauldron, and a skull. The altar has long been untouched though, as evidenced by the plants growing over it.
The floor in this room has similar swampy projections as the previous room. But you’ll also notice a few swimming gators. They appear to be the King Gator and a young gator.
Similar projections were used in the bayou of last year’s Mardi Gras Tribute Store.
Exit
As you exit, you’ll pass crates stacked with candles, bottles, rope, and fishing nets. These appear to be abandoned shipments.
There’s a large red velvet couch with a golden frame, covered by a dirty tarp. A broken ship’s wheel (maybe the wheel of the P.S. Songbird?) leans against the crates.
A wagon wheel is painted with simple symbols. Some of the candles appear to drip blood-red wax. There are suitcases and a birdcage.
Guests exit out of the former Studio Styles, two doors down from the Williams of Hollywood entrance, running into that outdoor wall of crates again. There are more cryptid posters and a sign pointing back to the store’s entrance.
A poster with the famous Bigfoot silhouette says, “If you see something say something.” A yellow sign thanks guests for visiting and adds, “Y’all come back now!”
Mardi Gras Tribute Store Tour Video
Watch our video tour of the 2025 Mardi Gras Tribute Store below.
Check out all the 2025 Mardi Gras merchandise, including a special collection for the 30th anniversary of the festival, and the full Mardi Gras menus.
The 2025 Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval festival runs from February 1 through March 30.
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