Is Visiting Graceland Only for Elvis Fans?

One of the best things about visiting Memphis is visiting Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley. And one of the perks of an American Queen Mississippi Cruise is an included hotel stay the night prior to departure in Memphis, Tennessee.

To be clear, I am not actually an Elvis fan. I leaned more toward Pat Boone when I was a kid but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy dancing to Elvis’ music. I still like listening to it and even had “The Elvis Station” on speed dial when I had satellite radio.

In any case, prior to visiting Graceland, I assumed it was just a big house where Elvis lived. As it turns out, there is the house, of course, but Graceland is much, much more. Covering over 100 acres, it includes his private gardens, aircraft and the Elvis Presley’s Memphis entertainment complex. There are costumes, artifacts, and personal mementos from Elvis and his family.

Who Was Elvis?

Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi. He married Pricilla in 1967 and had one daughter, Lisa Marie, who now owns Graceland.

His music career began in 1954 and he entertained us until his death in 1974 at age 42. Moreover, he was the bestselling solo artist of all time and is often referred to as the “King of Rock and Roll”.

Graceland Purchase

Graceland was built in 1939 in Colonial Revival style and sits on 14 acres of land in Memphis Tennessee. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Elvis bought Graceland in 1957 for $102,500 as his star was rising and he was seeking privacy.

The Graceland Mansion sits on one side of Elvis Presley Blvd. next to the newly opened “The Guest House at Graceland”. Across the boulevard is the ticket pavilion, Elvis Presley’s Memphis, Soundstage at Graceland along with many other attractions, exhibits, shopping, and dining. Nearby is the Graceland Exhibition Center.

The Guest House at Graceland

The Guest House at Graceland opened in 2016 as a 450-room luxury resort hotel with a 464-seat theater for live performances. Photos reveal that it is a modernized version of Elvis’ style of the 1970’s. I did not stay there as the American Queen riverboat company housed us at the Sheraton Memphis Downtown but if I ever return, that is where I want to stay.

Graceland – The Mansion

Stepping into Graceland is stepping back in time to the 1950’s and 1960’s when rock and roll swept the nation while Elvis reigned as “king”.

The areas of the mansion open for touring that we saw included the living room, his parents’ bedroom, the kitchen, TV room, pool room, the famous Jungle Room, his father’s office and the Trophy Building. The Racquetball Building is newly-restored and contains a pinball machine and piano. The final stop was the Meditation Garden where Elvis and his family have been laid to rest. This is a serene and restful place with a pond and places to stop and meditate.            

Airplanes

We next headed across the street to Elvis’ two airplanes. The large one, named the Lisa Marie  after his daughter was open to tour and it was breathtaking. It contained every modern convenience of the 1970’s. Transparent plastic covered all the furniture to preserve it. I walked through the living room with sofas, tables and chairs and a small TV then into the dining room and Elvis’ bedroom. Of special note was his gold-plated bathroom sink.

Elvis Presley’s Memphis

Elvis Presley’s Memphis, a $45 million entertainment complex opened in 2017. The buildings house Elvis memorabilia such as his cycles, automobiles, archives, his costumes and the costumes of those icons who influenced him. There is an exhibit on Private Presley: Elvis in the Army and Lisa Marie: Growing Up Presley.

Shopping

Nine stores provide a wide array of souvenirs such from gold records to guitar themed merchandise to candy confections.

Dining

Four restaurants provide traditional southern cooking at Vernon’s Smokehouse, Rock’n’Go and Gladys Diner (named after Elvis’ mother) where we ate. Minnie Mae’s Sweets is available for those with a sweet tooth.

Elvis Radio

After listening to Elvis satellite radio in my car back home, it was fun to see its source even if it was  just looking through the window. The motto is “All Elvis, All the Time”.

 Graceland Exhibition Center

The Graceland Exhibition Center is just beyond the entertainment complex and hosts additional exhibits and dining venues. It also hosts various exhibitions such as Journey to Space and Exhibition: Dinosaur.

Summary

Graceland reopened on May 21^st with COVID-19 precautions in place. Normally, in May, 3,000 to 4,000 people visit Graceland but on that day, there were only 250. They found social distancing easy and were able to enjoy time alone in the Meditation Garden.

I loved my visit to Graceland and recommend it to any age group. You don’t have to be a fan, just a lover of music. It is a unique experience; one I will not soon forget.