world tour elvis

Starring Shawn Klush, Ben Thompson   and   Moses Snow 

October 2024 Tour Dates

Grand opera house.

Box Office: 0333 009 6690

Regent Theatre

Box Office: 01473 433100

Box Office: 01302 370777

Box Office: 0191 249 6050

Box Office: 0151 702 7320

De Montfort Hall

Box Office: 0116 233 3111

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ABOUT THE SHOW

Direct from the USA, the world’s biggest, best and most successful Elvis tribute show returns to the UK.  Starring the world's greatest Elvis tribute artists from around world.

Featuring the incredible Shawn Klush  who first exploded onto the UK scene when 6 million viewers tuned in to see him crowned ‘The World's Greatest Elvis' live on BBC One. Soon after, Shawn was also crowned the first-ever ‘Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion' in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Fellow American Dean Z  (Appearing on the  May 2024  Tour only )  regarded as the world’s most exciting Elvis performer, brings the 1968 Comeback Special to life on stage in this show.  Dean won the prestigious EPE Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in 2013. 

The show also features Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion Ben Thompson  performs the exciting early years of Elvis in this show.  

The Producers of the Elvis Tribute Artist World Tour are also delighted to introduce the incredible  Moses Snow  (Appearing on the  October 2024  Tour only )  direct from the USA!  Who was crowned the winner of the prestigious Images Of The King Contest in 2021. 

Don’t miss this incredible production, starring three of the world’s very best Elvis tribute artists together in one show with an incredible live band and orchestra.

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The Elvis World Tour

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O2 City Hall Newcastle | Newcastle, UNITED KINGDOM

Elvis - World Tour

Ticket price from £27.50

Eat & drink.

The Icebreakers Pub & Kitchen along with a number of other outlets will be open on the day of your visit serving food and drinks before and throughout the event.

Accessibility

Accessible seating is available within the balcony area where wheelchair users and companions can enjoy a view of the stage from the right. Limited numbers are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The accessible seating area is positioned near exits and accessible toilets. The area is accessible from the same level from the main entrance of via lifts form the Lower ground floor.

Subject to the set-up of the event, there may be accessible seats available on the flat floor, closer to the stage. Other seating is available in other areas of the venue for those who do not mind using steps.

Tickets can be purchased via phone booking only. Proof of eligibility will be requested when bookings are made for accessible seating and free companion tickets. For more information, please contact the DCLT Contact Centre on 01302 370777.

Safety & Security

The Doncaster Dome aims to put the customer’s safety as a priority. Please ensure you read this information ahead of every visit as the procedures differ over time and between venues.

Particularly in large audience events, we implement heightened security procedures which are tailored to the specific requirements of the event. However, because of the sensitive nature of these protocols, we cannot elaborate further on the specific details. We would ask that customers be patient and understanding where this might impact on queue times and/or the prohibition of items permitted on the premises. We will make every effort to communicate this information to customers as quickly and clearly as we can.

We would always recommend customers check our website & social media pages before they travel & that they also arrive at the venue as early as they can to minimise delays in accessing the venue.

CCTV and surveillance are in place across the venue.

For your safety, customers may be searched before they are allowed access to the venue. If you or your bags aren't searched and/or wanded that doesn't mean the stewards are not doing their job - searchers are just one component of the security measures in place.

It is a criminal offence to bring smoke bombs, flares & fireworks into the venue.

No bags larger than an A3 size (approximately 40cm x 35cm x 19cm) will be permitted in the venue and there is no facility to store items at the venue. Please keep the number of personal belongings you bring with you to an absolute minimum - any items you bring to an event will be subject to additional searches and slow your entry to the venue & may, in some cases, prevent your entry.

The additional security procedures will slow entry to the venue and we advise that everyone arrives as close to the doors open time is possible.

Please never leave your items unattended and report any suspicious activity to a venue steward or DCLT staff.

First aiders will be in attendance and will assist if required. Please alert a member of staff if you or another member of the public require first aid assistance

We thank you for your understanding & patience for the additional entry waiting time the above measures may lead to and ask that you forward these procedures on to other customers coming to an event at the The Doncaster Dome.

Above all be safe and enjoy your visit.

If you have any further questions or concerns not addressed in this statement, you can contact us by email at [email protected] or via our social media pages Facebook or Twitter .

Box office 01323 412 000

Elvis Tribute Artist World Tour

Direct from the USA, the world’s biggest, best and most successful Elvis tribute show returns to the UK.  Starring three winners of Elvis Presley Enterprises’ Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest including the Winner of BBC One’s The World’s Greatest Elvis – Shawn Klush (USA), Dean Z (USA) and Ben Thompson (UK).

The incredible Shawn Klush first exploded onto the UK scene when 6 million viewers tuned in to see him crowned ‘The World's Greatest Elvis' live on BBC One. Soon after, Shawn was also crowned the first-ever ‘Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion' in Memphis, Tennessee.

Fellow American Dean Z, regarded as the world’s most exciting Elvis performer, brings the 1968 Comeback Special to life on stage in this show.  Dean won the prestigious EPE Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in 2013.

The show also features Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion Ben Thompson, who won the 2018 contest with his extraordinary performances. Ben performs the exciting early years of Elvis in this show. 

Don’t miss this incredible production, starring three of the world’s very best Elvis tribute artists together in one show with an incredible live band and orchestra. 

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• Tue, 11 October 2022

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• Extra Show Info
• 6.30pm - Doors Open 7.30pm - Act One 8.30pm - Interval 8.50pm - Act Two 10pm - Finish

The Elvis Tribute Artist World Tour

Direct from the USA, the world’s biggest, best and most successful Elvis tribute show returns to the UK.  Starring three winners of Elvis Presley Enterprises’ Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest including the Winner of BBC One’s The World’s Greatest Elvis – Shawn Klush (USA), Dean Z (USA) and Ben Thompson (UK).

The incredible Shawn Klush first exploded onto the UK scene when 6 million viewers tuned in to see him crowned ‘ The World's Greatest Elvis ' live on BBC One. Soon after, Shawn was also crowned the first-ever ‘ Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion ' in Memphis, Tennessee.

Fellow American Dean Z , regarded as the world’s most exciting Elvis performer, brings the 1968 Comeback Special to life on stage in this show.  Dean won the prestigious EPE Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in 2013.

The show also features Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion Ben Thompson , who won the 2018 contest with his extraordinary performances. Ben performs the exciting early years of Elvis in this show. 

Don’t miss this incredible production, starring three of the world’s very best Elvis tribute artists together in one show with an incredible live band and orchestra. 

SHAWN KLUSH:

“You have no idea how excited I am to be headed back for a UK tour this October. Just a month ago Dean and I we're at Graceland. We did some special performances celebrating the life of Elvis Presley on his 45th anniversary. We were both talking about the wonderful, wonderful fans in the UK and how we were also anxious to perform in Switzerland at the end of the UK tour. We are going to give you something very special. We feel you're going to remember these shows for a long time. Manchester is already sold out so get your tickets as soon as you can. I just bought another brand new suit especially for the UK. See you soon, God bless, Shawn”

“I always look forward to performing in the UK for the Elvis Tribute Artist World Tour. The UK Elvis fans are amazing, with so much passion for this incredible music. The spirit of Elvis is alive and well, and I’m looking forward to bringing my best to the UK this October!”

BEN THOMPSON:

I’m so excited to be touring the country I call home with the amazing Elvis Tribute Artist World Tour. After the amazing success of The Elvis Movie we are ready to welcome a whole new generation of Elvis Fans and I can’t wait to bring this show to life and keep the legacy of the greatest entertainer alive.

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Add an extra sparkle to your arena experience with a delicious two-course meal and coffee in our Moondance restaurant.

Upgrade your tickets to our lounge experience, queue-jump via our VIP entrance and get access to a private bar with complimentary drink.

Please note event tickets must be purchased seperately.

For details on all of our hospitality experiences email  [email protected]  for more details.

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JANE MCDONALD

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The Elvis Tribute Artist World Tour

Starring Shawn Klush, Dean Z & Ben Thompson

Date and Time

Sat 13 May 2023

Location: Derby Arena

Running Time: 2 hours 20 minutes - approximate, including any interval(s).

About the event

Prices & offers.

Direct from the USA, the world’s biggest, best and most successful Elvis tribute show comes to Derby.

Starring three winners of Elvis Presley Enterprises’ Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest including the Winner of BBC One’s The World’s Greatest Elvis – Shawn Klush (USA), Dean Z (USA) and Ben Thompson (UK).

The incredible Shawn Klush first exploded onto the UK scene when 6 million viewers tuned in to see him crowned ‘The World's Greatest Elvis' live on BBC One. Soon after, Shawn was also crowned the first-ever ‘Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion' in Memphis, Tennessee.

Fellow American Dean Z, regarded as the world’s most exciting Elvis performer, brings the 1968 Comeback Special to life on stage in this show.  Dean won the prestigious EPE Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in 2013.

The show also features Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion Ben Thompson, who won the 2018 contest with his extraordinary performances. Ben performs the exciting early years of Elvis in this show. 

Don’t miss this incredible production, starring three of the world’s very best Elvis tribute artists together in one show with an incredible live band and orchestra. 

£57 - £37

'A flawless performance from three talented artists who have dedicated their lives to prolonging the legacy of a bonafide music legend.'  Nottingham Post

' All three artistes this evening paid a respectful tribute to 'the one and only Elvis' and keep his memory alive.'  North West End

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View all of our upcoming shows for 2024 & 2025 below.

The theatre royal wakefield, the fire station sunderland, the playhouse theatre whitley bay, st helens theatre royal, the swan theatre worcester, the embassy theatre skegness, the exchange, twickenham, the brentwood centre brentwood, the princes theatre clacton-on-sea, the princess theatre hunstanton, the forum theatre billingham, the pavilion theatre glasgow, the new theatre wimbledon, the palace theatre paignton, the corn exchange exeter, the queens theatre barnstaple, lanark memorial hall, lanark, haddington corn exchange haddington, the new theatre peterborough, churchill theatre bromley, the towngate theatre basildon, the playhouse weston super mare, the theatre royal norwich, epsom playhouse, epsom surry, the royal hippodrome theatre eastbourne, chequer mead theatre, east grinstead, the gatehouse theatre, stafford, the winding wheel chesterfield, the lights theatre andover, the brewhouse theatre taunton, gwyn halls theatre, neath, the barn, ringwood, the pavillion theatre, rhyl, the brindley theatre runcorn, the beacon arts centre greenock, middlesbrough theatre, middlesbrough, the cast, doncaster, the kings theatre, york, the palace theatre newark, the brierley hill civic, birmingham, the stag theatre, sevenoaks, barrfields theatre, largs, the everyman theatre cork ireland, easterbrook hall, dumfries, the winding wheel, chesterfield.

www. avisionofelvis.com A Vision Of Elvis Production Copyright, 2020

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The Elvis World Tour

Tue 9 May, 19:30

Direct from the USA, the world’s biggest, best and most successful Elvis tribute show returns to the UK.  Starring three winners of Elvis Presley Enterprises’ Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest including the Winner of BBC One’s The World’s Greatest Elvis – Shawn Klush (USA), Dean Z (USA) and Ben Thompson (UK).

The incredible Shawn Klush first exploded onto the UK scene when 6 million viewers tuned in to see him crowned ‘The World's Greatest Elvis' live on BBC One. Soon after, Shawn was also crowned the first-ever ‘Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion' in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Fellow American Dean Z, regarded as the world’s most exciting Elvis performer, brings the 1968 Comeback Special to life on stage in this show.  Dean won the prestigious EPE Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest in 2013. 

The show also features Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Champion Ben Thompson, who won the 2018 contest with his extraordinary performances. Ben performs the exciting early years of Elvis in this show.  

Don’t miss this incredible production, starring three of the world’s very best Elvis tribute artists together in one show with an incredible live band and orchestra.    

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The elvis tribute world tour.

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Did Elvis Fire Tom Parker On Stage?: 10 Things in 'Elvis' That Aren't True

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Baz Luhrmann 's Elvis is the latest biopic made about the life and career of Elvis Presley . Starring Austin Butler as Presley and Tom Hanks as Colonel Tom Parker , the film is told in Parker's version of events, from discovering Presley as a teen to both of their deaths later in life. Butler's electrifying performance as Elvis Presley captivated audiences, earning him a well-deserved Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

Baz Luhrmann's flair for the dramatic comes alive in the movie, with elaborate sets and dynamic camera angles that transport viewers straight into the heart of Elvis's world. However, the visuals used to portray Presley's Las Vegas residency raise a red flag for some critics. They argue that the film's visual appeal comes at the expense of a deeper look at the challenges and controversies that shaped Elvis's life and legacy. Having to compile four decades of life into a two-hour and 39-minute run time made for many details of Presley's career to blur together, while some were fictionalized entirely for the sake of entertainment .

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10 Presley and Colonel Tom Parker did not make a deal on a Ferris wheel

They agreed on a formal deal over an extended period.

Elvis might be one of the best film biopics of the 21st century , but it highly dramatized some moments in Presley's life. In the film, after Colonel Tom Parker discovers Presley's talent and ability to make the ladies all shook up, he eventually hunts the performer down at a carnival. The two take a ride on a Ferris wheel, where Parker assures Presley of his talents and offers to represent him.

While this made for an exciting scene in the film, the actual story of Parker becoming Presley's manager was a long and drawn-out process . While Bob Neal remained Presley's manager during the Hank Snow tour, it was in 1955 that Parker became Presley's "special advisor" and didn't become his official manager until a year later, according to The Elvis Encyclopedia by Victor Adam.

9 Presley did not sing "Trouble" at the Fourth of July event

"trouble" hadn't even been written yet.

Elvis tells the story of the way Presley's gyrating hurt his career, going from shaking his hips at shows to reluctantly wearing a tuxedo and performing "Hound Dog" to a live dog on television. The "new Elvis" situation bubbled up in Presley until he finally decided to risk it all at a Fourth of July event and give it all he had while he performed "Trouble" and was dragged out by police.

While Presley may have gyrated on stage, he was never taken away by police and certainly didn't sing the song "Trouble." That song was yet to be written, but Presley did perform a 30-minute set that included "Hound Dog" and "Heartbreak Hotel," sending the audience into a frenzy.

8 Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu did not bond over "Can't Help Falling In Love"

That song was released two years after they met.

During Presley's time serving in Germany in the film, he meets his future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu , portrayed by Australian actress Olivia DeJonge. The two sit in the bedroom and talk while "Can't Help Falling In Love" plays, performed by Kacey Musgraves, and the scene ends with a kiss.

There were a few things wrong with this part of the film. Aside from the fact that Presley met Beaulieu when she was only 14 years old — much younger than how she's portrayed in the movie — there's no way the couple could have been listening to that song, especially that specific version . "Can't Help Falling In Love" was written for Presley's 1961 movie Blue Hawaii , which came out two years after that scene takes place. Not to mention the version they listen to was sung by Musgraves, who wasn't born until 1988.

7 Presley was not the highest-paid actor in Hollywood in the '60s

Elizabeth taylor and marlon brando were also making big bank at the time.

During the film, Parker claims Presley became the highest-paid actor in Hollywood after promising the star he would help him achieve it. Some of the movies that Presley made in the '60s include Jailhouse Rock , King Creole as well as Viva Las Vegas . Viewers only see a glimpse of Presley filming his memorable movies during a much more dramatic montage but are left to believe they allowed him to make bank.

In reality, Presley was said to be earning $1 million per movie in 1965, according to the Los Angeles Times, while other notable actors like Cleopatra star Elizabeth Taylor and future The Godfather star Marlon Brando were making the same , or much more for their films, leaving this bit in Elvis as another one of Parker's exaggerations.

6 Presley did not double-cross Parker during the Christmas special taping

Presley played his own songs.

To heighten the drama, the Baz Luhrmann biographical film depicts Elvis launching a rebellion against Parker's control. It was a major part of the film as Presley reevaluated his career during the taping of his 1968 Christmas special. It delved into a sort of existential crisis for Presley, which ended in him performing his iconic songs instead of whacking on a Christmas sweater and singing "Here Comes Santa Claus," as Parker insisted.

Although Presley did perform his hits during his Christmas special, it was not in rebellion against Parker. According to Peter Guralnick , author of multiple Elvis Presley books, his manager knew all along that Presley would be performing his own songs because the singer did not like the idea of doing an actual Christmas special.

5 Robert F. Kennedy was not assassinated during the Christmas Special taping

It happened a few weeks before his special was taped.

A defining moment in the film was when the news broke that Robert F. Kennedy had been assassinated. Everyone working on the Christmas special, including Presley, gathered around the television and watched in shock at what happened and what it meant for their country.

While the movie depicts this as the reason Presley rebelled against the Christmas special, Kennedy's assassination happened on June 6, 1968, a few weeks before the taping of the special on June 27 through June 30, 1968 . The film portrays a connection between events that didn't actually happen close together in Elvis's life, highlighting his growing understanding of his cultural and social influence.

4 International Hotel did not pay for Presley's Vegas show

Presley paid for extra costs he incurred.

In the acclaimed biographical movie , out of all of Parker's lies throughout the film, one they never addressed was when he pitched the idea of a Vegas show to Presley, claiming the International Hotel would pay for the entire cost of his show and any production he required.

The truth is the International Hotel did not pay anything extra for Presley's show . The band's earnings came to about $80,000, and Presley paid it out of pocket with no help from the venue, says Best of Las Vegas during the 50th anniversary of Presley's Vegas debut. While the film depicts the hotel funding the entire Vegas show, this might be an exaggeration. This creative decision highlights the significance and scale of Presley's return to live performances.

3 Parker did not draw up a contract on a napkin

The contract was eventually drawn up formally.

During Presley's International Hotel debut, the film focuses on Parker's conversation with the hotel heads, during which he made a deal with them to give Presley a 5-year deal. In return, they would relieve Parker of all his debt. The movie portrays an informal contract signing, injecting a lighthearted element into their professional dynamic.

However, historical records suggest Parker's business dealings were more formal . While the hotel did discuss a 5-year deal with Parker on Presley's opening night, it's said Parker drew up the contract on a pink tablecloth in the hotel's coffee shop, with a valid contract being made a few days later, according to Best of Las Vegas . This fictional scene, while highlighting the entertainment industry's fast-paced nature, doesn't accurately reflect the shrewd and resourceful tactics Parker employed in reality.

2 Presley was not officially cast in 'A Star Is Born'

Kris kristofferson played john norman howard.

Near the film's end, when Presley is older and much more drained, it's announced that Presley was offered a role in Barbra Streisand 's remake of A Star Is Born only a couple of years before his death. Presley might have actually been perfect as John Norman Howard, as the role is of a washed-up rockstar.

While the star was considered for the 1976 version of A Star is Born after Streisand and her husband saw Presley at one of his Vegas shows, after some back and forth with Parker over Presley's pay , they ultimately dropped Presley and gave the role of Kris Kristofferson . This creative choice highlights the concept of "what if" and the influence of management on an artist's career path.

1 Presley did not fire Parker on stage

Presley and parker separated after a lengthy process.

The climax of the film comes when Presley learns of Parker's wrongdoings and selfishness and decides to retaliate live on stage during one of his Vegas shows. Presley rants about Parker's illegal alien status and reveals his gambling debt before firing him as his manager for the entire audience to see.

Presley never fired Parker publicly, but he did have an on-stage meltdown at a Vegas show over the firing of a kitchen employee he liked . After this altercation, Presley and Parker did have an argument that resulted in Parker's firing, according to Alanna Nash , author of Parker's biography. While the film depicts a clear-cut moment of separation for the sake of narrative impact, the process was probably lengthy and uninspiring.

NEXT: Great Movie Biopics About Inspiring Women

Take a look inside Graceland, the Memphis mansion that Elvis Presley called home. His granddaughter is fighting a forced sale.

• Graceland is the 13.8-acre estate in Memphis, Tennessee, that Elvis Presley once called home.
• The King of Rock 'n' Roll lived in the house from 1957 until his death in 1977.
• Now, Presley's granddaughter is fighting to stop an auction of the estate.

It's been 47 years since Elvis Presley died, but legions of fans still flock to Memphis, Tennessee, to see the sprawling Graceland estate the star once called home.

Per the official Graceland website , Presley lived in the mansion from 1957 until his death in 1977. Located off a highway that was renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard in 1971, the two-story residence sits on 13.8 acres of land.

Since 1982, Graceland has operated as a museum dedicated to the star. Ticket packages offer access to the mansion, with prices for adults starting at $82. According to the website , it has hosted over 20 million visitors from across the globe.

On May 19, 2024, a public notice announced the foreclosure sale of the property, claiming that Promenade Trust — which operates Graceland — owes Naussany Investments and Private Lending $3.8 million to repay a loan that Presley's late daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, took out in May 2018.

However, Lisa Marie's daughter, the actor Riley Keough, filed a lawsuit to prevent the auction of the estate, alleging that the signatures on the loan documents were forged.

A temporary restraining order was granted, delaying the auction. An injunction hearing is scheduled for May 22, per USA Today .

Also known as the "King of Rock 'n' Roll," Presley was a cultural icon of the 20th century.

Presley was born on January 8, 1935, in Mississippi. Heavily influenced by the country, gospel, and blues music that he listened to as a child, Presley started his singing career in 1954.

With hits such as "Hound Dog" and "Can't Help Falling in Love with You," he would go on to become one of the most successful performers of all time, with 14 Grammy nominations and millions of records sold, per the Recording Academy .

On August 16, 1977, Presley collapsed in his Graceland home and was found unconscious by his girlfriend, Ginger Alden. She documented the moment she found him on the master bathroom floor in her 2014 memoir, The Mirror reported.

According to The New York Times , coroners pronounced him dead on the same day, with the official cause of death attributed to heart failure. He was 42 years old.

Presley purchased the Graceland estate in 1957 for $102,500.

The Colonial Revival-style mansion, which was built in 1939, has eight bedrooms and four bathrooms, The Guardian reported after a tour of the house. About half of the 23 rooms in the house are off-limits to visitors, including the entire second floor — where the star's master suite is located.

According to the Graceland website , visitors are only allowed access to common spaces, including the living room, the kitchen, and the TV room. Spanning 17,552 square feet, the sprawling residence has five sets of staircases, three fireplaces, and a kidney-shaped swimming pool.

Presley frequently had friends and family over at the mansion, including an entourage of confidants and associates the media dubbed the " Memphis Mafia ." Some members of the group were childhood friends of Presley's, including his bodyguards Red and Sonny West.

In 2006, Graceland was designated a National Historic Landmark, per the National Park Service .

One of the most iconic features of Graceland is the entrance gate. Designed to resemble a musical score, there are figures on the gate depicting the star with his guitar.

According to the museum's website , Presley had the gate — which cost $1,339 — installed shortly after he purchased the residence. Throngs of fans would wait by the gate in hopes of catching a glimpse of their idol. Occasionally, he would also sign autographs for them through the gate.

"Back in the day, if you were ever at the gates of Graceland and you saw the cars around the front of the mansion, that meant Elvis was home," Angie Marchese — the Graceland archivist — told The Daily Express .

The brick wall that surrounds the estate is also popular with fans, the website states. Over the years, it has been covered in personal messages that fans have left in memory of their idol.

The interiors of Graceland are lavishly decorated. The living area has a custom-built 15-foot sofa and a 10-foot coffee table.

The sofa was originally a metallic blue, but Presley later had it reupholstered in white — which is what it still looks like today, per the Graceland website . He added the stained-glass windows in 1974 and chose to use a peacock design, which symbolizes eternal life and resurrection in ancient Christianity.

The dining room, which has black marble flooring in the center, was a place for Presley and his friends to gather.

"Elvis sat at the head of the table because it did give him one of the best views of the TV that's over to the corner on the right," Marchese said during a 2020 Instagram Live on the estate's official account .

She added that there was also a button under the table where they could call the kitchen for more food.

One of the most famous rooms in Graceland is the Jungle Room.

The room's name only came about after the mansion opened to the public.

Presley personally picked out the Polynesian-inspired furniture because it reminded him of Hawaii, which was his favorite holiday spot, per the museum's website . He installed a waterfall and covered the room with plants to complete the look.

A shag carpet covers both the floor and the ceiling, per the website. This soundproofed the room and allowed Presley to turn the space into a makeshift recording studio. Presley recorded some of the songs on his album "From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee," here.

The pool room features fabric-lined walls and ceiling, which took 10 days to install.

The Graceland website states that Presley worked with a designer, Bill Eubanks, to develop the room's concept.

A crew of three was needed to cut and attach 350 to 400 yards of cotton fabric strips to the walls and ceiling.

Presley died upstairs in his master suite, and it has been preserved exactly as he left it.

"It looks as if he just got up and left," Marchese said during the 2020 Instagram Live. "The record on the record player is the last record he listened to. There's a styrofoam cup that sits on a bookshelf."

Towards the end of his life, Presley spent much of his time holed up in his bedroom upstairs, especially if he was "in pyjamas or unshaven," Alden told The Daily Express .

The TV room, which is designed in a navy, white, and yellow color scheme, has three television sets.

Inspired by US President Lyndon Johnson, who liked to watch three news broadcasts simultaneously, Presley also wanted three television sets in his TV room, per the official Graceland website .

Although the upper floor remains off-limits, Presley's office desk has been brought down and turned into an exhibit for fans to see.

Presley's record label, RCA, gave him the desk as a gift for selling one million copies of the "Blue Hawaii" soundtrack, Marchese told The Daily Express .

Presley's gold records are on display in the Hall of Gold in the Trophy Building.

Presley constructed a new wing in the mansion in the mid-1960s to store a slot car track, as stated in Graceland's National Historic Landmark Nomination application .

Connected to the main house via a sheltered walkway, the estate renamed the new wing the "Trophy Building" and remodeled it to house his awards.

The estate updated the building in 2017 to feature an exhibit that focuses on Presley's personal life and his family, per the Graceland website . Some items on display include his wedding outfit, family photos, and his daughter's childhood toys.

Presley enjoyed playing racquetball. After he died, the racquetball building was transformed into an additional trophy hall for a few years.

The entire room was filled with posthumous awards and included a display of his famous jumpsuits, per the museum's website . In 2017, the racquetball court was restored to its original condition and all the trophies were moved into a new exhibit.

Presley has been laid to rest alongside his parents on the grounds of the Graceland estate, in the Meditation Garden.

Elvis Week, which commemorates the anniversary of Presley's death, takes place between August 9 and August 17, per the museum's website .

Every year, fans from around the world flock to Graceland to leave flowers at his grave. The estate hosts around 500,000 visitors every year.

Presley's only daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, is also buried in Graceland, next to her late son Benjamin Keough and close to her father.

Lisa Marie Presley died on January 12, 2023, at 54. The announcement of her death came hours after her mother, Priscilla Presley, confirmed she had been rushed to the hospital.

In an August 2022 essay she wrote for People Magazine , Lisa Marie spoke about grief and how she was "destroyed" by her son Benjamin Keough's death. She also blamed herself "every single day."

Keough died by suicide in July 2020 , at 27, and was buried at Graceland.

In January 2023, a representative for Riley Keough, Lisa Marie's eldest daughter, confirmed in a statement to BI that her mother would be buried next to her son.

Elvis Presley saw a resurgence in popularity in 2022 when the Baz Luhrmann movie, "Elvis," starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks, came out in theaters.

Members of the cast showed up at Graceland for the Memphis premiere of the film on June 12, 2022, per the daily Memphis newspaper The Commercial Appeal .

A press junket to promote the film was also in the screening, including a GMA interview with Tom Hanks and Austin Butler recorded in the Jungle room.

May 22, 2024: This story has been updated to reflect details of the ongoing lawsuit regarding the property's foreclosure.

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W.A.S.P. ALBUM ONE ALIVE WORLD TOUR '24

With death angel / unto others.

• Date & Time Nov 26 , 2024 7:30 PM
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Ryman Auditorium

Ryman Auditorium, located at 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the most celebrated venues in modern music. Built in 1892, the historic 2,362-seat live performance venue is the most famous former home of the Grand Ole Opry and is revered by artists and music fans for its world-class acoustics. A bucket list moment for both fans and artists alike, her iconic stage has hosted performers from across genres, such as Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Harry Styles, Wu-Tang Clan, Lizzo, and thousands more. While offering a diverse lineup and thriving concert schedule with over 200 shows per year, the venue is also open for daytime tours year-round. Along with best-in-class production technologies and livestream capabilities, the Ryman has been named  Pollstar ’s Theater of the Year for 13 years through 2021.

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Man accused of killing Star Trek Ticonderoga tour guide, Elvis tribute artist out on bail

A 69-year-old man accused of killing Thomas Krider (most commonly known as T.J. Greene), a beloved Star Trek Ticonderoga tour guide and Elvis tribute artist is out on bail.

"Why does he get to be free and do whatever he wants," said Heidi Greene, wife of T.J. Greene.  "Yes, maybe he's being watched, but he's free and able to walk around and breathe the air and my husband can't."

Ronald Rayher is accused of restraining Greene and administering a substance described as chloroform.

Rayher faces a second-degree manslaughter charge and tampering with physical evidence.

Rayher's lawyer says Rayher's family helped post his bond a few weeks ago, and Greene's death is a tragic accident. Meanwhile, Greene's family is saying the opposite.

"That was my husband, the love of my life," said Heidi Greene. "Never coming back because it wasn't his choice. It was the choice of the murderer."

T.J. Greene was found dead at Rayher's Milton home on April 10th, five days after he was killed.

"He was the brightest light that this world could've had," said Heidi Greene.

Heidi and T.J. were married for 15 years, 16 this July.

Friends say they were the kindest people.

"I met them 10 years ago through a friend who had asked them to take me in," said Stacy Frasier. "They moved me into their house and helped me on my feet. It's not T.J. to just disappear, it's not like him to not contact his wife. It's not like him to just not show up at home."

"They're Good people they always wanted to hang out and be there for people, for anybody. He would take his shirt right off his back," said Kim Lejeune. "When he first went missing, I knew immediately that that's not T.J. at all."

On April 5th, T.J. told his wife he was going to pick up her medicine, and help Rayher move furniture, then come home.

This was the first time she heard about Rayher.

"He picked up the prescription that's how they got him on on the surveillance camera coming out of Target because he picked it up around 12:06 range in the afternoon and then he had messaged at 3:04 saying he got down there and they were gonna be moving the China hutches and then load the box spring into the truck," said Heidi Greene. "He didn't show up at his job the next morning that Saturday and I knew it wasn't like him."

Rayher's lawyer says they were friends for years and had a consensual friendship.

"When you look at the evidence that I've seen so far it's a tragic accident that unfortunately T.J. had just as much if not more to do with than Mr. Rayher did," said Rayher's lawyer Kevin O'Brien.

Friends and family say the allegations are not true, and they are hoping police will bring justice to his death.

"He was not some monster or some sexually deprived man," said Heidi Greene. "He always trusted people way too way too much."

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Failed Graceland sale by a mystery entity highlights attempts to take assets of older or dead people

FILE - Fans wait in line outside Graceland, Elvis Presley’s Memphis home, in Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 15, 2017. A mysterious company has caused a stir for trying to auction Elvis Presley’s Graceland in a foreclosure sale this week. A judge has blocked the sale after Presley’s granddaughter filed a lawsuit alleging fraud. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill, File)

FILE - Elvis Presley with his girlfriend Yvonne Lime are photographed at his home, Graceland, in Memphis, Tenn., around 1957. A mysterious company has caused a stir for trying to auction Elvis Presley’s Graceland in a foreclosure sale this week. A judge has blocked the sale after Presley’s granddaughter filed a lawsuit alleging fraud. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Graceland, Elvis Presley’s home, is seen, Jan. 7, 2011, in Memphis, Tenn. A mysterious company has caused a stir for trying to auction Elvis Presley’s Graceland in a foreclosure sale this week. A judge has blocked the sale after Presley’s granddaughter filed a lawsuit alleging fraud. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

FILE - Fans get off a tour bus at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s home, Aug. 11, 2010, in Memphis, Tenn. A mysterious company has caused a stir for trying to auction Elvis Presley’s Graceland in a foreclosure sale this week. A judge has blocked the sale after Presley’s granddaughter filed a lawsuit alleging fraud. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The catalyst behind the failed gambit to sell off the iconic Graceland property in Memphis is a mystery.

The self-styled investment company also is under fire from a lawsuit alleging fraud , an aggressive attorney general and a community of Elvis Presley loyalists who consider the home-turned-museum of the the king of rock n’ roll to be sacred ground.

Among the many questions surrounding the attempt to auction Graceland is how often cases pop up in which an entity emerges to claim assets of older or dead people. Experts say it’s more common than one might think.

“I have never heard of a fraud targeting such a well-known institution. So it’s a bit surprising on that end,” said Nicole Forbes Stowell, a business law professor at the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus. “But I don’t think it’s surprising to everyday people that are the targets.”

Naussany Investments and Private Lending caused a stir when a public notice for a foreclosure sale of the 13-acre (5-hectare) Graceland estate was posted this month.

The notice said Promenade Trust, which controls the Graceland museum, owed $3.8 million after failing to repay a 2018 loan. Riley Keough , an actor and Elvis Presley’s granddaughter, inherited the trust and ownership of the home after her mother, Lisa Marie Presley , died in 2023.

Naussany said Lisa Marie Presley used Graceland as collateral for the loan, according to the foreclosure sale notice. Keough filed a lawsuit on May 15 alleging Naussany presented fraudulent documents regarding the loan in September 2023 and asking a Memphis judge to block the sale to the highest bidder.

“Lisa Maria Presley never borrowed money from Naussany Investments and never gave a deed of trust to Naussany Investments,” Keough’s lawyer Jeff Germany wrote in the lawsuit.

“It’s a scam,” actor Priscilla Presley, Elvis’ former wife, declared on her social media accounts.

On Wednesday, an injunction by Shelby County Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins halted the sale , which was planned for the next day. Jenkins said in court that Elvis Presley’s estate could be successful in arguing Nausanny’s attempt to auction Graceland is fraudulent.

One reason is an affidavit from Kimberly Philbrick, the Florida notary whose name is listed on Naussany’s documents. Philbrick indicated she never met Lisa Marie Presley or notarized any documents for her, according to the lawsuit. The judge said the affidavit brought the signature’s authenticity into question.

On the relevant documents, the signature blocks were not correct and the paperwork references an online notarization option that was not recognized in Florida until 2020, two years after the alleged notarization, Stowell said.

“That makes me wonder if these documents were created after Lisa Marie passed away,” Stowell said. “The whole thing does not pass the smell test.”

Mark Sunderman, a University of Memphis real estate professor, questioned why the lender would foreclose now if it had not received payments years after the loan was issued.

“If someone starts missing payments or hasn’t made a payment, you’re not going to sit around for a couple of years and then say, ‘Golly, I think we need to foreclose now,’” Sunderman said.

The lender’s legitimacy also is in doubt after unsuccessful attempts by The Associated Press to verify its existence beyond an email address and court filing signed by a Gregory Naussany.

Court documents included company addresses in Jacksonville, Florida, and Hollister, Missouri. Both were for post offices, and a Kimberling City, Missouri, reference was for a post office box. The business also is not listed in state databases of registered corporations in Missouri or Florida.

“I’ve never heard of that business,” Kimberling City Clerk Laura Cather said.

A search of online records for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority showed no registration for the company. No representatives of Naussany appeared in court, though the company filed an unsuccessful motion denying the lawsuit’s allegations and opposing the estate’s request for an injunction.

After the sale was halted, Naussany issued a statement saying it would drop its claim because a key document in the case and loan were recorded and obtained in a different state, meaning “legal action would have to be filed in multiple states.” The statement did not specify the other state.

Naussany has not responded to emailed interview requests from the AP. Online court records did not show any legal filings suggesting the claim, or the lawsuit, had been dropped.

Sunderman, the Memphis professor, said that apparently fraudulent claims involving real estate asset disputes arise more often than people think, especially in situations involving inheritances.

“It’s very difficult for someone to say, ‘Well, no, I didn’t take out this loan, I didn’t sign these papers,’ when they’re dead,’” Sunderman said.

Darrell Castle, a Memphis attorney not involved in the case but monitoring it, said he often sees cases where older people are targets of fraud.

“I get cases quite often where people who are really helpless in the final stages of life in a nursing home are financially victimized,” Castle said. “The human mind will think of some way to cheat and steal if it can.”

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said Thursday that his office was looking into the case to determine whether the estate was targeted with fraud.

Skrmetti’s office can investigate and bring civil lawsuits, including in instances of alleged consumer fraud. It could turn over evidence of criminal wrongdoing to the district attorney or federal authorities.

Opened in 1982, Graceland quickly became Memphis’ most famous tourist attraction and a touchstone for fans of Elvis Presley, the singer, actor and fashion icon who died in August 1977 at the age of 42. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock annually to the museum and the large entertainment complex across the street.

Who would target it with a scheme that “fell apart with the first email and phone call, or internet search,” and what holes in the legal system let it got closer to the auction block than it should have, should be the focuses of the attorney general, said Nikos Passas, a Northeastern University criminology and criminal justice professor.

“The chance of succeeding in what they were trying to do — that is, to get the property auctioned off and get the proceeds and then use the money — doesn’t seem to be the actual intent, unless they are incredibly stupid,” Passas said. “So, the question is then, ‘What was the intent, and who was behind it?’”

Mattise reported from Nashville, Tennessee. AP reporter Heather Hollingsworth contributed from Mission, Kansas.

Pearl Jam asked Bill Clinton to take on Ticketmaster 30 years ago

Three decades before the Justice Department sued Ticketmaster parent company Live Nation, Pearl Jam asked the president for help.

Pearl Jam was at the White House, and President Bill Clinton wanted some advice from the musicians. But first, the band had a favor to ask.

It was April 9, 1994, and Pearl Jam was at the height of its fame after releasing “Vs.,” its second album. Days earlier, Nirvana frontman and fellow Seattle native Kurt Cobain had been found dead in his home from suicide, and Pearl Jam was still reeling. But when it came time to meet Clinton, the band members had a calculated request: They wanted him to join their war against Ticketmaster.

Most presidents become accustomed to celebrity encounters and the favors that sometimes come with them. Kim Kardashian visited with Donald Trump to discuss prison reform. Elvis Presley offered Richard M. Nixon assistance on his anti-drug campaign.

And 30 years ago, Pearl Jam asked for help at the start of a fight that’s still rocking the entertainment world today.

On Thursday, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Live Nation , the parent company of Ticketmaster since 2010, in an attempt to break up the entertainment giant. The Justice Department alleges the company has used its monopoly power to suppress competition. The lawsuit seeks to change the company’s business practices and essentially undo the 2010 merger.

It’s not the first time the Justice Department has investigated Ticketmaster. Back in 1994, when Pearl Jam was in the Oval Office with Clinton, the government was investigating the company for antitrust issues.

At the time, Pearl Jam was feuding with Ticketmaster after it was discovered that the company had been tacking fees onto its ticket sales and had added a service charge, which the company refused to waive, to a pair of charity concerts in Chicago. Meanwhile, the Cold War had ended a few years earlier, and the U.S. military had abandoned multiple bases across the country that it no longer needed. The situation gave Pearl Jam an idea.

“We were there specifically to find out whether some of the U.S. military bases that had recently been shut down could be used as concert sites,” frontman Eddie Vedder wrote in “Pearl Jam Twenty,” the band’s 2010 book. “It would have been a way to avoid using Ticketmaster, and it would have been a boon to local economics.”

Ticketmaster had deals with most of the country’s large music venues that required tickets to be sold through the company, but the bases would have no such obligation. The band hoped to be able to tour without Ticketmaster overcharging its fans, while helping towns reeling from the loss of the bases.

The musicians had reason to think Clinton would be receptive. His 1992 campaign had centered on the economy and the idea that the country could begin to spend domestically instead of on increased defense. Clinton was also a musician, having famously played saxophone on “The Arsenio Hall Show” in 1992.

For Clinton, working with Pearl Jam made political sense, too.

“It never hurts a president to be associated with a wicked cool band,” said Jeff Engel, director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University. Clinton was the first baby boomer president, “which means he’s the first president to have grown up with the existence of rock-and-roll. A large part of his appeal was the generational transition.”

But Clinton didn’t approve the plan.

“This is something no one had really tried to do before,” said Steven Hyden, a music critic and author of “Long Road: Pearl Jam and the Soundtrack of a Generation.” He added, “In a way, I think it proved their point that this was a monopoly. Not even the most popular rock band in America at the time was able to work without this company. It really showed the amount of power and pull that Ticketmaster had at the time.”

Clinton had an agenda of his own at the meeting with Pearl Jam. He asked the band if the White House should put out a statement in response to Cobain’s death. But Vedder “was too shell-shocked to offer any help,” he wrote in “Pearl Jam Twenty.”

The band’s White House visit ultimately ended with a conversation about the University of Arkansas’s national basketball championship victory over Duke days earlier, which both Clinton — a big Razorbacks fan — and Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament had attended in Charlotte.

Pearl Jam returned to Washington two months later to testify before Congress about its battle with Ticketmaster. Ament and rhythm guitarist Stone Gossard testified that Ticketmaster used monopolistic practices to raise prices, prompting Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) to write a bill requiring ticket distributors to disclose the fees they add to ticket prices.

Ultimately, the Justice Department dropped its investigation of Ticketmaster, and Pearl Jam canceled its 1994 tour in protest of the company. Dingell’s bill failed, and the midterm elections that fall gave the Republicans control of both congressional chambers for the first time in 40 years. When Dingell reintroduced the bill in 1995, the band met unsuccessfully with powerful Republican senators in an attempt to sway the vote.

Pearl Jam continued to boycott Ticketmaster by refusing to play venues the company had contracts with, or by hosting charity events and benefits because Ticketmaster’s contracts generally had a clause allowing bands to sell their own tickets for such performances.

“It’s really unique for an artist who is at the peak of their commercial success to essentially take a hatchet to the music industry,” Hyden said. “Usually, a band in their position would be trying to tour arenas or stadiums and maximize their moment for as much money as possible. And they really did the opposite. They sacrificed a lot of money and in a way alienated their fans because they weren’t able to tour as much as they would have if they just played ball.”

Much has changed in the 30 years since Pearl Jam’s meeting with Clinton. Ticketmaster has been involved in multiple controversies, including when its website crashed during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour presale in 2022, and it’s fair to wonder how Pearl Jam’s scheme to circumvent Ticketmaster would have gone over had it been pitched more recently.

Last month, Pearl Jam released its 12th album, “Dark Matter,” and the band’s war against ticket prices is still going strong. Recently speaking on “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Vedder floated the idea of new legislation to protect customers.

“It’s battling out-of-control capitalism,” Ament said on the podcast. “It’s just like everybody’s trying to make money off something all the time. I think we do as good of a job as anybody in terms of like we have a really loyal fan club and people that run it that really care about it and try really hard to get tickets in the hands of our fans.”

Splendid day trips you can take from Las Vegas — each less than a two-hour drive

Places shown: Valley of Fire State Park, Emerald Cave, Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area and Las Vegas Ballpark.

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I have a new system for beating the casinos in Las Vegas: I don’t spend a penny on the slots, the tables or the sports books. Instead, I bet heavily on red and green.

Red rocks and green waters, that is. Hiking and kayaking.

I tested the system on a series of day trips last month. Though I slept three nights in a hotel on the Strip, I headed out of town every day.

First: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Later, Valley of Fire State Park and the Colorado River’s Black Canyon, where the waters of Emerald Cave eerily glow. Then a night of minor league baseball.

None of these adventures took me more than 60 miles from the Strip (a.k.a. Las Vegas Boulevard). Yet the psychological distance seemed enormous. Maybe it’s no surprise that many climbers and other outdoorsy types have moved to Las Vegas for the access it gives them to rocks, mountains and such.

You know that semi-vacant look on so many slot machine players’ faces? You don’t see that so much on the trail or the river, even when the path is uphill or the paddling is against the wind. And it’s tough to find a poker face in the Las Vegas Ballpark when management is staging an Elvis karaoke competition between innings.

Here’s a rundown.

Red Rock Canyon

Driving distance from the Strip: About 30 minutes from the Stratosphere tower.

What makes it great : You’ll have no trouble finding the scenery at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area .

Solitude might take a little longer, because the canyon is immensely popular and only an 18- to 22-mile drive from the Strip, depending on your route. Once there, you can hike, bike or drive a 13-mile loop through a landscape of stacked and tumbled boulders, some fiery red, some chalky white, many so strangely striated that you may suspect they’ve been scrubbed with steel wool.

Many of the formations are Jurassic sand dunes that have been hardened to sandstone by time. You can drive between or hike on 16 trails threaded through the rocks, junipers and some Joshua trees too.

For drivers and cyclists, it’s a one-way route, with a speed limit of 35 mph, on a wonderfully smooth two-lane blacktop. For hikers, the trails range from 800 feet to 14 miles, easy to difficult, and there are more just beyond the loop.

If you go: Once you start driving the loop, you’ll almost immediately want to pull over because the scenery is so arresting. Don’t. It’s illegal. And the first parking lot, Calico Hills, comes up soon, followed by about 10 more in 13 miles. Most have restrooms.

I made my visit just before sunset. Early morning would be good too — you get dramatic light and avoid the worst of the heat.

In cooler months (Oct. 1 through May 31), you’ll need to book a timed reservation to drive through between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. In summer, you don’t need a timed reservation, but you’ll still need to pay $20 per car (unless you have a national parks pass).

Black Canyon and Emerald Cave

Driving distance from the Strip: About an hour and 15 minutes.

What makes it great: What if you flooded a red rock canyon and set multitudes of Nevadans and visitors loose on assorted watercraft? Lake Mead National Recreation Area , a 38-mile drive east of Vegas, is the lively answer to that question.

Most of the action is on the lake itself, which was created in 1936 by the construction of Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam) along the Colorado River. But about 15 miles downriver from the dam, you’ll find Willow Beach and the Black Canyon Water Trail , a great place to kayak.

After a 60-mile drive southeast from the Strip, I was floating with a tour group in gentle waters (no rapids here) at the foot of 1,500-foot cliffs.

“Let’s go to Arizona,” our guide said — which simply meant paddling from one side of the river to the other.

I had signed on with Blazin’ Paddles , one of several kayak tour companies that paddle out of Willow Beach Marina on the Arizona side. The marina is about 15 miles downriver from the dam. Because it’s part of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, entrance is $25 per car.

There were dozens of kayakers in groups ahead of me, in part because paddling in a shady canyon is a pretty good way to spend a 95-degree day, in part because Instagram has made Emerald Cave a star.

The cave, a 2-mile paddle from Willow Beach, is only about the size of a two-bedroom apartment. But the way its waters glow green makes for great pictures. It’s the centerpiece of most half-day tours, and guides say they’ve fit as many as 23 kayaks in there at a time.

You can explore the Colorado River in an inflatable watercraft.

Kayak tours from Willow Beach explore the Colorado River. (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

If your excursion is like mine, you’ll run into a traffic jam outside the cave and the wait will be about 45 minutes. Sometimes it’s over an hour, guides say.

But remember, you’ll be in a kayak beneath tall cliffs, keeping an eye out for desert bighorn sheep, possibly engaging in splash skirmishes with fellow paddlers. Life could be worse. And once you’re in the cave, the sight is memorable. If you’ve ever taken a rowboat into the Blue Grotto on the Italian isle of Capri, this cave’s interior will give you déja vù in another hue.

For the record, we wedged 17 kayaks and a canoe into the cave. And on the way back to the marina, we spotted a bald eagle.

Four miles of kayaking, with a cave in the middle and a stop to hop out for a view, is just about perfect for a three-hour excursion. I paid $110. (With shuttle bus service from the Strip, it’s $149.)

If you go : The best time for Emerald Cave photos is said to be midday, when I was there. But if you get there early or late, you’ll have less company.

There’s a store at Willow Beach Marina that sells snacks, sunblock, hats, water shoes, dry bags and boating and fishing supplies; open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in summer. There’s also a restaurant, Black Canyon Grill, open daily for lunch in summer; open Fridays to Sundays for most of March, April, May, September and October; and closed November to February.

You can also take a quick, free look at Hoover Dam (22 miles from Willow Beach) by parking in a free lot on the Arizona side of the river (parking is $10 on the Nevada side) and walking across the dam. Entry to the Visitor Center exhibits and observation deck is $10. There are also guided dam tours available, first come, first served. Boulder City , 6.5 miles from the dam, has several restaurants and antique shops.

Valley of Fire State Park

Driving distance from the Strip: About 55 minutes.

What makes it great: Even after I saw Red Rock Canyon, I didn’t fully understand how easily outback Nevada can pass for outback Utah. The Valley of Fire — about 55 miles northeast of the Strip — educated me further.

It also lured me into a few furnace-hot gullies and showed me miles of red sandstone, gray limestone, slot canyons and crazy-shaped boulders, all scattered on a desert floor that long ago was an ocean floor. Some boulders are decorated with petroglyphs older than all of our leading presidential candidates put together.

More specifically, because I read some signs, I can tell you that the petroglyphs are more than 2,000 years old, and also that a petroglyph is cut into stone; a pictograph is painted on stone.

Petroglyphs at Valley of Fire State Park.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Valley of Fire, Nevada’s first state park, has one through road, two campgrounds and several rock-climbing spots. But keep this place’s name in mind. It gets so hot (up to 120 degrees) that from May 15 to Sept. 30 this year, rangers have closed all trails longer than 1 mile.

Sticking within that limit, I wandered among the Beehives rock formations near the park’s western entrance and climbed the stairs to Atlatl Rock (where an ancient inscribed hand seems to be giving the finger to all who pass). I also walked the 0.7-mile Mouse’s Tank Trail and 1-mile Rainbow Vista trail, but it was close to 100 degrees, and the sandy path may give you that swimming-in-syrup sensation.

If you go: Park entrance is $10 per vehicle ($15 for out-of-state vehicles). The rangers’ 1-mile limit means that until October, nobody can hike the Fire Wave, Seven Wonders Loop or the White Domes Loop.

Still, it’s a thrill to follow White Domes Road north from the visitor center as it twists and squeezes between boulders.

The Moapa Valley town of Overton, 9 miles north of the park’s eastern entrance, is home to the Lost City Museum , created in the 1930s to showcase Native artifacts that long predate the creation of Lake Mead. On Overton’s Main Street, the Inside Scoop cafe has ice cream and makes a topnotch $8 tuna salad sandwich.

Aviators baseball in Las Vegas Ballpark

Driving distance from the Strip: About 25 minutes.

What makes it great: Strictly speaking, the Las Vegas Ballpark isn’t a full day trip, but this may be the most family-friendly of these excursions, so it needs to be here.

The ballpark, home to the AAA Aviators baseball team, stands in the Vegas suburb of Summerlin, about 15 miles from the Strip. You could spend all day in a casino and still make 7 p.m. game time. (Or you could head for the ballpark after exploring Red Rock Canyon, which is practically next door.)

Whenever you arrive, your blood pressure is likely to ease once you step in. It’s a gorgeous ballpark, completed in 2019 with a capacity of just 10,000, so it feels intimate. You can spread a blanket on the grassy berm overlooking right field, and there’s a good chance a local 15-year-old will be singing the national anthem.

But there’s also a bright, high-resolution scoreboard, a swimming pool beyond center field (yes, that costs extra) and food options that include tri-tip sandwiches and avocado chicken burritos.

You can count on silly games between innings (including a cardboard airplane-throwing contest), brand ambassadors handing out merch and kids scrambling for foul balls. Beers start at $10, hot dogs at $6.50. (And there are cocktails, because Las Vegas.)

On the night I came, attendance was 5,042 people and 99 dogs (because it was bring-your-dog night).

Unless you’re a devotee of the El Paso Chihuahuas, Salt Lake Bees or Reno Aces, you won’t recognize any of these hopeful young players. But that will hardly matter — especially if (as I witnessed) the center fielder makes a leaping grab to save a 9-7 win for the home team.

If you go: Tickets start at $14 (for a spot on the berm in right field), but if you buy online in advance, the middleman fees will push that to about $20.

Las Vegas, a Dodgers farm team from 2001-08, is now a farm team for the Oakland Athletics. It’s a tad awkward that the Athletics have announced that they’ll be moving to Las Vegas in a few years. But for now, the Aviators are here and you can be too.

There are no slot machines in the ballpark and no sports betting area. In fact, the only casino with a prominent ad posted is nearby Red Rock Resort.

You can check the schedule to see when the Aviators are playing at home. The season runs through Sept. 22, and the AAA national championship game will be in the ballpark on Sept. 28.

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Born and raised in California, Christopher Reynolds has written about travel, the outdoors, arts and culture for the Los Angeles Times since 1990.

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