Monday May 4 2009
By PHIL HICKS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- My parents were huge Elvis Presley fans and it was only natural I would become a fan as well.
In fact, my parents thought so much of "The King" they took my brothers and myself to an Elvis concert when I was 10 years old at the Astrodome. They told me someday I would treasure the memory, and they were right.
Thus, visits to Graceland have become part of my routine every few years.
Graceland is a national treasure that fans flock to each year. Some 600,000 fans visit each year.
Graceland
The home of Elvis, who is often referred to as "The King of Rock 'N' Roll," is a 13.8-acre estate with a southern colonial white-columned mansion at 3734 Elvis Presley Boulevard.
It is about 12 miles south of downtown Memphis and some six miles north of the Mississippi border.
It is listed as a National Historic Landmark.
Presley, at the age of 22, purchased the estate in 1957 for about $100,000.
Across the street from Graceland is Heartbreak Hotel and Grace Visitors Center. At the Center, you can purchase tickets. From there you are given headphones and use a shuttle to reach the mansion.
Mansion
The home is built of tan limestone and consists of 23 rooms, including eight bedrooms and bathrooms.
The tour begins with a view of a grand piano in the music room, which is just beyond the living room.
The music room has stained glass peacocks as an entrance. It then winds through the dining area, kitchen, TV room (where Elvis had three TVs -- he got the idea from President Lyndon Johnson), bar and billiards room, and the famous "jungle room," which has an indoor waterfall. He also recorded two albums in the jungle room.
The upstairs remains private.
Graceland was open to the public in 1982, some five years after Elvis' death.
Grounds
Behind the mansion is Elvis' father Vernon's office, daughter Lisa Marie's swing set, a shooting range, and The Trophy Room and racquetball courts, which contains many Elvis artifacts -- including gold records, awards and his famous concert jumpsuits.
You can also see the many automobiles Elvis collected as well as his airplanes.
Meditation Gardens
At the end of the tour, Presley, his parents, Gladys and Vernon Presley, and his grandmother are buried in what is called the Meditation Gardens.
The tour guide said flowers arrive each day from all over the world and some are displayed at the grave sites.
Tickets
There are three types of tours -- Graceland Elvis Entourage VIP ($69), Graceland Platinum ($15-33) and Graceland Mansion ($12-28).
The VIP tour includes: an audio-guided tour of Graceland Mansion; plus a self-guided tour of Elvis' two custom airplanes; Elvis' Automobile Museum; Elvis in Hollywood Exhibit; Elvis Lives: The King and Pop Culture Exhibit; Private Presley Exhibit; 1968 Special Exhibit and a special VIP Only exhibit at Graceland Mansion.
Also, there's front of the line Mansion Access, a special all-day ticket; and a "Keepsake Backstage Pass."
This tour takes about 2½ to 3 hours to complete.
The Graceland Platinum Tour includes: an audio-guided tour of Graceland Mansion; plus a self-guided tour of Elvis' two custom airplanes; Elvis' Automobile Museum; Elvis in Hollywood Exhibit; Elvis Lives: The King and Pop Culture Exhibit; Private Presley Exhibit; and 1968 Special Exhibit.
This tour takes about 2½ to 3 hours to complete.
The Graceland Mansion Tour includes: an audio presentation and tour of Graceland Mansion and grounds only. This tour takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
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