June 1

Graceland, Memphis, TN

I have wanted to visit Graceland for a long time despite hearing from many people who have been there that it is a waste of time and money.  After touring Graceland I have mixed emotions about its worth. 

Before even entering the visitor center it costs $10 to park. 

Upon entering the visitor center a decision has to be made on the several tour options. 

If we were big Elvis fans we might have been tempted to go for The Elvis Experience Tour that includes his automobiles, wardrobe and gold records for the senior price of $58 each.

And if we were super fans we could have chosen the Entourage Tour for $101.50 or the Ultimate VIP tour for $169.

We chose the least expensive tour that includes the mansion and planes for the senior rate of $43.80 each. 

The tour begins with a short film in the visitor center located across the street from the mansion on Elvis Presley Blvd.  Before boarding the bus that would transport us across the street we were handed headphones and an interactive iPad with tour instructions hosted by John Stamos and featuring commentary and stories by Elvis and his daughter, Lisa Marie.

To the right of the entrance hall is the living room, with the adjoining music room behind a doorway framed by vivid large peacocks set in stained glass.  The music room has a baby grand piano and a 1950s style TV.  The living room contains a 15 foot long white sofa against the wall overlooking the front yard. 

The painting was Elvis' last Christmas present from his father, Vernon.

To the left of the Entrance Hall, mirroring the Living Room is the Dining Room. The room features rounded curio cabinets in the north end corners of the room, and black marble flooring in the center of the room, with carpet around the perimeter.

Connected to the Dining Room is the Kitchen that was not open to the public until 1995, as Elvis' aunt Delta used it until her death in 1993.

The TV room in the basement is where Elvis often watched three television sets at once, and was within close reach of a wet bar.

 Opposite of the TV room is the billiard room; Elvis, an avid billiards player, bought the pool table in 1960 and had the walls and ceiling covered with 350–400 yards of pleated cotton fabric after the two basement rooms were remodeled in 1974
 

 

In the mid-1960s, Presley enlarged the house to create a den known as Jungle Room which features an indoor waterfall of cut field stone on the north wall.

 

 Vernon's office

Elvis Presley with parents 

 

 

The racquetball court is reminiscent of an old country club, furnished in dark leather and a functional bar.  There is a sunken sitting area with the ever-present stereo system found throughout Graceland, as well as the dark brown upright piano upon which Elvis played for what were to be his last songs, Willie Nelson's "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and The Righteous Brothers' "Unchanged Melody".

 

One of Presley's better known modifications was the addition of the Meditation Garden, designed and built by architect Bernard Grenadier, that was used by Elvis to reflect on any problems or situations that arose during his life. It is also where he, his parents, and grandmother, Minnie Mae Hood Presley, are buried. A small stone memorializes Elvis' twin brother Jesse Garon who died at birth.

 

 

I did appreciate that the tour was self-guided, and even though it was quite crowded I did not feel rushed.

 

On the bus going back to the visitor center

Back at the visitor center we toured the airplanes. 

The Lisa Marie, a Convair 880, features gold-plated bathroom fixtures, a stereo system, a conference room and bed. 

 

 

 

Elvis bought the jet from Delta Air Lines for $250,000 in 1975 and spent an additional $600,000 to refurbish it. 

Elvis also purchased The Hound Dog II, a Lockheed JetStar for around $900.000 to use while the Lisa Marie was being refurbished.

The tour ended up in the gift shop where there is no shortage of all things Elvis including clothing, house wares and trinkets. 

 

So back to the question of if I thought touring Graceland was worth the money-yes, it is one of those once in a lifetime type of things. (I did it once, I’m glad I did it but I don’t have to ever do it again.

 

But one thought kept running through my mind as I was touring Graceland-What a shame Elvis died so young.