“Elvis Presley’s Memphis” Opens at Graceland — the Most Significant Expansion in Graceland History
Completes Major $130 Million Enhancement & Expansion of
Graceland Visitor Experience
Priscilla Presley Cuts Ribbon to Officially Open New,
State-of-the-Art Museum, Entertainment & Retail Complex
MEMPHIS, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#EPM–Elvis Presley’s Graceland®
officially opened its new, $45 million, state-of-the-art entertainment
complex, “Elvis
Presley’s Memphis™” — 40 acres in size — and welcomed visitors from
around the world to its largest and most significant expansion since
first opening to the public in 1982. The four-day opening celebration
features live performances that celebrate Elvis’ incredible life and
career, and honor Memphis’ rich musical legacy across genres, including
Blues, Rockabilly, R&B, Soul and Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Priscilla Presley joined Graceland Holdings Managing Partner Joel
Weinshanker and Elvis Presley Enterprises CEO Jack Soden at the official
ribbon cutting to welcome guests and kick off the opening celebration,
The largest entertainment complex of its kind — exponentially larger
than Graceland’s previous visitor center — “Elvis Presley’s Memphis”
enables music fans, pop culture enthusiasts and Memphis visitors to
follow the path that Elvis took, surround themselves with the things
that he loved, and experience the sights and sounds of the city that
inspired him. Guests will fully immerse themselves in his life and
career like never before — his roots, his influences and his artistry.
While the acclaimed Graceland Mansion tour will continue to present the
personal and family side of Elvis’ life — including Elvis’ racquetball
court now fully restored so that it once again looks exactly as it did
when Elvis was last in the Racquetball Building — “Elvis Presley’s
Memphis” will tell the rest of the story, exploring the beginning of the
incredible music and pop culture explosion that all started here in
Memphis, with the greatest entertainer of all time.
“Today marks a major milestone in Graceland history,” stated Joel
Weinshanker, Managing Partner, Graceland Holdings, LLC. “While our
visitors have always loved Graceland, until today, our facilities
haven’t enabled us to share much more than a small part of Elvis’ story.
Now with ‘Elvis Presley’s Memphis,’ you will be able to experience all
that Memphis offered Elvis, walk through the streets in his footsteps,
see what he saw, feel what he felt, live the life of ‘the king.’ No one
lived life bigger than Elvis — and now we can bring that experience to
our visitors from around the world.”
“Since opening in 1982, we wanted to share more of the thousands of
artifacts we have in the Graceland Archives, but we never had a proper
space to showcase them,” stated Priscilla Presley. “This new exhibit and
entertainment complex finally provides the right venue to make the
Graceland visitor experience even greater. Among many new exhibits, we
are celebrating Memphis music history, which Elvis was always so proud
of.”
The opening of this expansive entertainment complex follows the
tremendously successful grand opening of The Guest House at Graceland
resort in October 2016. The Guest House at Graceland is the largest
hotel to open in Memphis in 90 years and has received the prestigious
Four Diamond rating from AAA.
Also making its debut today is the newest way to tour all of Graceland’s
new exhibits and attractions. The new “Ultimate VIP” tour experience,
Graceland’s most exclusive tour option, takes a small group of visitors
on an unprecedented journey through Elvis Presley’s life story and the
history of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Led by an expert tour guide, visitors tour
Graceland Mansion and explore all of “Elvis Presley’s Memphis,”
including the new Elvis Presley Automobile Museum, Elvis: The
Entertainer Career Museum, Elvis Discovery Exhibits, Elvis’ Custom Jets
and an exclusive Ultimate VIP Tour Exhibit. Guests who book this
experience also enjoy transportation for their tour in a special
vehicle, access to the Ultimate Lounge at Elvis Presley’s Memphis, a
special photo opportunity, a special Graceland Archives “show and tell”
session, options to purchase special merchandise only available to
Ultimate guests and a meal with table service at one of the new
restaurants at Elvis Presley’s Memphis. Ultimate VIP tours are available
for purchase at Graceland.com
or can be combined with a Guest House at Graceland resort package by
visiting GuestHouseGraceland.com or calling 901-332-3322 or toll-free at
800-238-2000.
The cornerstone of the “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” experience will be
“Elvis: The Entertainer,” a 20,000-square-foot museum celebrating Elvis’
incredible music, movie and live touring career. This museum will
feature hundreds of artifacts from the extensive Graceland Archives,
including Elvis’ amazing collection of gold and platinum records and his
stunning jumpsuits. From Elvis’ early days in Tupelo, Mississippi, his
first recording session in Memphis, through his film career in Hollywood
and selling out shows in Las Vegas, “Elvis: The Entertainer” is the
largest, most comprehensive Elvis museum in the world.
The expansion significantly broadens the narrative of the stories told
within the Graceland campus and increases the exhibition space, allowing
curators the ability to showcase more artifacts from the Graceland
Archives. Visitors will now have a total of 15 attractions and exhibits
to explore during a visit to Elvis Presley’s Memphis at Graceland. In
addition, Memphis entertainers and musicians will perform live at the
new complex on an ongoing basis to celebrate Elvis’ music and Memphis
music history.
New additions to the Graceland visitor experience include:
-
The new Presley Motors Automobile Museum displays more than 20
of Elvis’ automobiles and motorized vehicles, including Elvis’ iconic
Pink Cadillac, and also features a theater space showcasing Elvis
movie clips focused on cars and racing. -
Presley Cycles showcases Elvis’ motorcycles, ski boat and some
of his other favorite motorized toys on wheels. -
ICONS: The Influence of Elvis Presley Exhibit in cooperation
with over 25 music artists and entertainers influenced by Elvis
Presley, we celebrate Elvis’ status as a music pioneer who paved the
way for many of today’s musicians and celebrities by featuring
original wardrobe, instruments and artifacts from Bruce Springsteen,
Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, James Brown, Billy Joel and many more. -
Fashion King Exhibit explores the fashion trends set by the
King of Rock ‘n’ Roll with his own unique style and custom-made
clothing. -
Private Presley: Elvis in the Army Exhibit showcases Elvis’
service in the U.S. Army with photos and artifacts from his induction
to basic training in Fort Hood to being stationed in Germany. -
Elvis’ Tupelo Exhibit features the city Elvis first called home
through childhood photos and rare artifacts. -
A trip to The Fairgrounds takes you back in time to the 1956
Mississippi-Alabama Fair with an old-fashioned carnival featuring a
midway and games. -
The 20,000-square-foot Graceland Soundstage A will play Elvis
movies and concerts on the big screen, as well as host live
performances throughout the year.
Two additional exhibits will debut later this month:
-
The Country Road to Rock Exhibit chronicles the history of
country music and its influences on Rock ‘n’ Roll in this unique
exhibit featuring items from the extensive collection of American
country music artist Marty Stuart. -
Mystery Train: The Sam Phillips Exhibit, in partnership with
the Phillips family and featuring rare artifacts from the Phillips
family collection, presents the story of music visionary and legendary
record producer Sam Phillips, who discovered many incredible artists
at Memphis Recording Service/Sun Records.
The new facility will also feature two themed restaurants named for
Elvis’ parents, Gladys and Vernon. Gladys’ Diner™ will feature classic
American fare, including Elvis’ favorite — grilled peanut butter and
banana sandwiches. Vernon’s Smokehouse™ will feature authentic Memphis
BBQ, smoked in-house. A coffee bar and ice cream shop will also be
located within the complex, along with new retail stores offering an
extensive collection of Elvis merchandise.
“Elvis Presley’s Memphis” will also feature Elvis’ two custom airplanes,
the Lisa Marie and the Hound Dog II, which continue to be a very popular
part of the existing Graceland experience. The iconic planes will remain
across the street from the Mansion, adjacent to the new venue.
In celebration of the grand opening, Elvis Presley’s Memphis retail
shops will offer special, limited edition gifts with purchase options,
with gifts including Elvis lithographs, posters, backpacks and a Pink
Cadillac die cast collectible. The shops will also be hosting Dinstuhl’s
Fine Candies chocolate tastings and a “meet and greet” with Elvis’
jeweler, Lowell Hays.
As part of the celebration, Graceland will also host its next Auction at
Graceland. Online bidding is now open for the auction, which will be
held Saturday, March 4, at 2:00 p.m. CST/3:00 p.m. EST in the new
464-seat state-of-the-art theater at The Guest House at Graceland, and
online at GracelandAuction.com.
“Elvis Presley’s Memphis” is Phase 2 of the planned Graceland expansion
and development. Combined with the $92 million Phase 1 project, The
Guest House at Graceland 450-room resort hotel, Elvis Presley
Enterprises, Inc. is investing a total of $137 million in the Whitehaven
community of Memphis to further enhance the Memphis and Graceland
experience for visitors from around the world.
To book your tour visit Graceland.com
or explore Guest House at Graceland hotel packages that include tickets
to tour “Elvis Presley’s Memphis,” visit GuestHouseGraceland.com
or call 901-332-3322 (toll-free at 800-238-2000).
About Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises,
Inc.
Elvis Presley’s Graceland, in Memphis, is music’s most important and
beloved landmark, with hundreds of thousands of fans from around the
world visiting the historic home each year. Elvis Presley Enterprises,
Inc. (EPE) manages the operations of Graceland, its related properties,
including AAA Four-Diamond Guest House at Graceland 450-room hotel,
which opened in October 2016, as well as the Graceland Archives,
featuring thousands of artifacts from Elvis’ home and career. EPE also
produces and licenses Elvis-themed live events, tours and attractions
worldwide. Graceland Holdings LLC, led by managing partner Joel
Weinshanker, is the majority owner of EPE. In 2015, Graceland was named
the world’s “Best Musical Attraction” and “Best Historic Southern
Attraction” in the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards and in 2013,
voted the #1 “Iconic American Attraction” in the same poll. For more
information on EPE and Graceland, visit www.graceland.com.
Stay connected to Elvis Presley’s Graceland:
Website: http://www.graceland.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElvisPresleysGraceland
@VisitGraceland on Twitter, Instagram and Periscope
Graceland Blog: http://blog.graceland.com/
Graceland Podcast: http://www.graceland.com/connect/podcast.aspx
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialGraceland
Livestream events: https://livestream.com/ElvisPresleyGraceland
SiriusXM’s Elvis Radio, Channel 19: http://www.siriusxm.com/Elvisradio
Contacts
For Elvis Presley’s Graceland
David Beckwith, 323-845-9836
david@thebeckwithcompany.com
or
Kevin
Kern, 901-344-3127
kkern@graceland.com
