Graceland Mansion

Elvis Has Left The Building!

You know...  The hound dog may be gone, but there are still a few doggy biscuits lying around!  When I lived in Nashville, I gave myself a special birthday present, reaching that "ever-so" dreaded "big" 40!!!  Of course that was over a decade ago.  :( 

I decided to spend the weekend and I stayed at the popular "Heart Break Hotel"...which is directly across the street from Elvis' mansion. They actually have a feed on the cable channel, that plays Elvis movies...24-7!!!  You gotta love it!!!

I later went back in January of 2002, to see the famous Christmas decorations and the blue lights, that are going up the driveway that makes you feel like you are on the runway of an airport ready to take off!!!  You know...for the "70's" era...the man had taste those light displays and decorations were gorgeous!

The facilitators of the estate would not allow flash photography inside the mansion, because constant exposure to the flash would damage the decor of the home.

It was one of the most "relaxing" vacations that I have ever taken in my life!  There is an extremely "peaceful" presence on the grounds of this mansion.  There is what Elvis called during his lifetime...a "prayer/meditation garden" on the side of his mansion, where he used to go to meditate and since his passing, the surviving Presley family have exhumed and transferred the remains of his entire family, as well as himself...to this prayer/meditation garden for their final resting place.

To be honest...as soon as I arrived at the garden, where he was buried, I began to shake and cry for no apparent reason.  It was kind of "eerie"...like I could feel him or something?  I don't normally believe in spooks or the paranormal.  I dunno...  Maybe John Edward has had a conversation with him?  Just kidding!!!  In either case, there was definitely something hanging around, but it wasn't scary.  It was very, very peaceful.

The driveway leads up to the front of the mansion.  However...  We were only allowed to walk on the right side of the mansion grounds.  In the side/back of the house, where Elvis is buried; has the pool that is shaped like the body of a guitar.

The inside of the house was incredible and again...the man had good tasted for that era.  Maybe in a second review, I will describe parts of the house where I toured?

I did check out the "Lisa Marie"...the plane Elvis flew to get his famous "peanut butter and banana sandwiches," as well as to his concert engagements.  Again...it was impressive!  The guy had class that's all I got to say about that!!!

I even had a moment, actually, about an hour to chat with one of his security personnel, who was with him while he was alive and we had a very interesting conversation.  The man had a heart of gold!

I still listen to his music today and for some reason it never seems to get old.  Nor do I tire of listening to it!!!  The remixes that have been done on some of his classics, over the past decade; like "Rubberneckin'" and "A Little Less Conversation"...really brings down the house baby!!!  I bet he'd be so proud!!!  His music is timeless and will last for generations to come!

I had the very good fortune of being able to see him in concert; twice before he passed away!  I will hold and treasure those "memories" forever!

I would like to highlight some of the rooms at this mansion.  I may eventually add the photos to my "ever-so" growing portfolio.

Welcome to my personal tour of the "King of Rock N' Roll"...  Sit back and try to visualize what I am saying, while I take you through this "mental" tour of this incredible mansion!

Our first stop on the tour is the living room.  It contains a 15 foot white sofa and a 10 foot coffee table.  Despite the living room's formal appearance, this room was lived in. Through the passageway were peacock designed stained glass windows, where just beyond, lies the music room where Elvis and his friends played and sang for hours on end!

Our second stop is the dining room.  The dining room is where Elvis and his ever present entourage would crowd around the table.  It's where story telling and laughing were done.  It's also where the Christmas tree was usually placed. In the center of the dining room hangs the crystal chandelier.  Stories have been told that Lisa Marie (his daughter,) would ride her tricycle around the table on the marble floor.

Our next stop...is called the jungle room.  Elvis bought the furnishings for this room in a thirty minute shopping spree at the local furniture store.  It is said that one reason he liked the furniture so much, was that it reminded him of furnishings he had seen at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii.  The waterfall on the back wall was a feature of the room for a number of years, before Elvis bought the new furniture.

As we stroll along to our next stop.  The pool room at Graceland is a perfect example of extravagance in it's detail.  There is more than 750 yards of pleated fabric used on the walls and ceiling.  The pool table was purchased in 1957 and still has a rip in the felt, where a friend made a bad shot with his cue.

Finally...my favorite room of all!!!  The TV room was decorated in its present style of yellow and blue in 1974.  A lot of the records in this room came from Elvis' personal collection.  There were also three TVs lined up, side by side.  This was way before cable and remotes!  The TVs were still being viewed in black and white!!!  Elvis enjoyed watching all three TV sets at the same time!!!  It was told that he watched a variety of shows; ranging from sporting events, to sitcoms!

It has been 30 years...(August 16, 1977)...since this talented man left us.  Yet, he will never be forgotten.  His music will always hold a "special" place in my heart.  I often wonder what kind of music he would have sung, if he were alive today??? Rap??? Hip hop...maybe???  He was always setting new, "out of the box" trends. Get down with your "bad" self...Elvis!

The story has been told that at the time of his passing, he was reading a book.  I pondered over the years about the subject?  It has been said, that he was reading a book called..."The Shroud of Turin"...  Hmmm???  I wonder...