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Graceland tours: the best options & what to expect.

Advice for making the most of your time at Elvis' famous home.

The Best Graceland Tours

Andrea Zucker | Courtesy of Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau

A visit to Graceland is a popular activity for both Elvis fans and Memphis tourists.

Note: Some tour providers on this list may be running more limited operations due to COVID-19 or may impose testing or vaccine requirements. Check with your tour operator about availability before you book.

When Elvis Presley was just 22 years old, he purchased Graceland – a 10,266-square-foot mansion that occupied a nearly 14-acre property in Memphis, Tennessee . After the singer's death in 1977, the executors of his estate found that the mansion's exorbitant operating costs proved difficult to maintain, so they decided to open Graceland for tours in 1982. Since then, more than 20 million people from around the world have visited the mansion – which now spans 17,552 square feet – and its surrounding Elvis-themed museums and shops. Read on to plan your Graceland visit.

What is Graceland?

• Where is Graceland located?

Is Graceland open for tours?

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Graceland is a 120-acre institution dedicated to the life and music of Elvis Presley. The main draw is the mansion, but there's more to see than Elvis' former abode. Visitors can stop by Elvis Presley's Memphis, a 200,000-square-foot museum and entertainment complex. This building houses the Presley Motors Automobile Museum and a series of exhibits, such as "Elvis' Tupelo," which explores Elvis' early life in his hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi. The Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum, which displays the entertainer's gold and platinum records, his famous jumpsuits and movie memorabilia, can also be found here. Tourists will also have access to 10 interactive exhibits and games. Located throughout the complex, the interactive features include quizzes, a simulated golf cart ride and photo booths that put travelers on Elvis' movie posters and album covers. Finally, the complex houses two restaurants, a coffee shop, an ice cream parlor and a soundstage where tourists can watch Elvis' movies and attend live music performances.

After you learn all about the King, check out the Graceland Exhibition Center. This 80,000-square-foot venue features a variety of rotating museum exhibits, covering a variety of subjects, including motorcycles, Muhammad Ali and Van Gogh. The complex also boasts a food court, a bar and a separate, rentable event space.

Where is Graceland located?  

Graceland   is located in the Whitehaven community of Memphis, nearly 3 miles west of Memphis International Airport and 10 miles south of downtown.

Yes, Graceland is open for tours.

The cost per person varies depending on which tour experience you choose. Expect to pay about $30 to $200 for children 10 and younger. Adults can expect to pay around $50 to $200 per person. Keep in mind: Higher ticket fees mean a premium experience complete with VIP access, keepsakes, meal vouchers and more.

There are multiple tour options for visiting Graceland.

• Elvis Presley's Memphis + Planes Tour : This is the basic tour option. It grants visitors access to Elvis Presley's Memphis Entertainment Complex and the Elvis' Custom Jets exhibit, but does not include access to the mansion. Tickets for this tour start at $48 for adults, with discounts for children.
• Elvis Experience Tour : Tickets for this tour, which start at $77 per adult, include everything in the above tour, plus access to the mansion complete with an audio tour.
• Elvis Entourage VIP : The Elvis Entourage VIP tour includes everything in both the other tour options, plus skip-the-line access to the mansion, a VIP shuttle to the mansion, access to a special exhibit, and a keepsake pass. Tickets start at $128 per person.
• Ultimate VIP Tour : The Ultimate VIP Tour includes everything in the Elvis Entourage VIP, plus a guided tour of the mansion with an experienced guide, access to a VIP lounge, a meal voucher to an on-site restaurant, an archives show and tell, the chance to buy exclusive souvenirs and a photo-op. Tickets for this experience start at $196 per person; children 2 and younger tour for free.

The mansion tour will take about 90 minutes to complete. Those who decide to tour the rest of Graceland's offerings should budget at least 3 1/2 hours to explore.

Tourgoers can purchase tickets online or at the box office on-site. Tickets purchased online can be printed at home or downloaded on a smartphone (which saves time). You can also choose to pick up your tickets at will call; you must have a photo ID to pick them up. Patrons may also purchase a multiday ticket to access Elvis Presley's Memphis for an additional one, two or three days. Multiday tickets start at $17 per adult and can be purchased on-site only.

Tickets for exhibits at the Graceland Exhibition Center are not included in any Graceland tickets and require additional entrance fees. Tickets for those exhibits can be purchased on Graceland's website.

Which Graceland experience you choose largely depends on your fascination with the King. Graceland visitors mention that even non-Elvis fans will enjoy the tour and the up-close look at the entertainer's famous lifestyle. Visitors also appreciate the audio tour narrated by John Stamos. They recommend upgrading your tour to one of the VIP options, saying it is well worth the additional cost.

Graceland is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m. (depending on the day of the week and time of year). It closes or has abbreviated hours on holidays. The last mansion tour begins at 4 or 5 p.m., depending on the day and time of year.

The best time to visit Graceland depends on what kind of experience you want. Travelers should check out Graceland's events calendar as the complex and its hotel, the Guest House at Graceland, host numerous weekend events, concerts and daytrips to Elvis' hometown throughout the year. Visitors in the mood for a festive atmosphere will want to book a trip in late November, December or early January to see the estate's holiday lights display and decorations.

Andrea Zucker | Courtesy of Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau

• Visit the mansion after 2 p.m. to enjoy fewer crowds and shorter wait times, as this is the slowest time of day. (Multiple travelers note long wait times when arriving before this time). Check Graceland's website for exact opening times; there are certain days and holidays where hours vary.
• You're welcome to bring cameras, but flash photography is not permitted.
• Video cameras cannot be brought into the mansion, attractions or gift shops.
• Note that two rooms in the basement of the mansion and the airplanes are not wheelchair accessible.
• Bring a permanent marker to sign the famous Graceland wall before you leave.

Patrons can reach Graceland by car. On-site parking costs $10. The lot is located next to Elvis Presley's Memphis and the ticket booth. The only way to get to the mansion itself is by shuttle, which is included in your ticket price. The shuttle pickup is across from the ticketing pavilion.

There are also a few public transportation options. The Memphis Hop, a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, makes stops every hour at several attractions in the city, including Graceland. This bus generally runs Wednesday through Saturday (it may not operate on Fridays during select months), and tickets cost approximately $35 for adults and $25 for children ages 4 to 12. Memphis Area Transit Authority No. 42 bus route stops close to Graceland.

Nashville sits about 215 miles northeast of Graceland (an approximately 3 1/2-hour drive).

Yes. You'll find options for tours from Nashville (and more) below:

• Gray Line Tennessee:  Nashville to Memphis with Skip-The-Line Graceland VIP Tour & Sun Studio. View & Book Tickets: Viator | GetYourGuide  
• Graceland:  Elvis Presley's Childhood Home with Lunch & Transportation from Memphis. View & Book Tickets: Viator | GetYourGuide  
• Memphis Best Tours:  Memphis City Tour with Admission to One Memphis Attraction.  View & Book Tickets »
• Blues City Tours: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour. View & Book Tickets »

You may also be interested in:

• The Best Memphis Tours
• The Best Nashville Tours
• The Best Whitewater Rafting in Tennessee
• The Top Things to Do in Tennessee
• The Best Places to Visit in Tennessee

Tags: Elvis Presley , Tennessee , Tours , Vacations , Travel , Tennessee Vacations , US Vacations , Southeast Vacations

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How to visit Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley

Elvis’s beloved, outré mansion is the second-most visited private home in the US, beaten only by the White House. Here are some tips on making the most of a visit to the former residence of the King.

Pay your respects for free

Time it well and you can visit Graceland ’s grounds without spending a dime. Every morning (aside from Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, when the site is closed), from 7.30am to 8.30am, fans can pass through the gates free of charge for an hour of quiet contemplation at Elvis’s graveside.

Plan around peak season

The party kicks off from 5-8 January for Elvis’s birthday celebrations, where crowds flock for a cake-cutting ceremony sometimes hosted by his ex-wife, Priscilla Presley. There are events all across Memphis, too, but plan ahead as hotels book up lightning fast. The bustle returns for the week surrounding 16 August, the anniversary of Elvis’s death, when celebrations go all out, with tribute artists in bejewelled jumpsuits and a moving candlelight vigil.

Hop on the shuttle

Combine Graceland with a visit to Sun Studio and stand in the precise spot where Elvis first belted out That’s All Right. A free shuttle whisks guests between the two landmarks every hour.

Bring the kids

Graceland is family friendly. A new entertainment complex includes interactive attractions such as an LED dancefloor quiz and a photo booth. Inside the mansion, children gravitate towards the hyper-themed rooms, including the Jungle Room, with its green carpet and neon-lit indoor waterfall.

Arrive fashionably late

Dodge the queues by visiting after 2pm, when things start to wind down, but there are still a couple of hours to take it all in before the site closes at 4pm.  

Don't miss

Sample a peanut butter and banana sandwich grilled in bacon grease — one of Elvis’s favourite eats — at the on-site Gladys’ Diner.

Published in the March 2023 issue of  National Geographic Traveller (UK)  

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Visiting Graceland Review: Thoughts, Tours, Prices, and More!

When my mom and I first started planning our trip to Nashville, my mom mentioned that she would also like to visit Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley. That was before we realized it would add an extra three and a half hours to our trip! However, we had no clue when we would be in the area again, so we decided to work a day trip to Graceland into our itinerary, and I’m glad we did! Find out what it’s like to visit Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, in Memphis, Tennessee!

Graceland History and Info

Elvis presley’s graceland, presley motors.

• Private Presley

Entertainer Career Museum

Overall thoughts of graceland, graceland tickets, tours, and costs, other tips for visiting graceland, getting to graceland, hotels near graceland.

Graceland was originally part of a family farm and was named after one of the family relatives named “Grace.” A mansion was built on the land in 1939, and was later purchased by Elvis Presley in 1957 about a year after he really started becoming famous. Although Elvis owned many houses, Graceland served as his sort of “home-base.”

Graceland Ticket Office Address: 3765 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN 38116

Graceland Parking Address: 3717 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN 38116

Graceland hours of operation vary based on the time of year and on holidays, but it general opens at 9AM and closes at 4PM or 5PM. A detailed breakdown of operating hours can be found on the Graceland website .

Our Graceland Experience

Despite only ever having listened to one or two Elvis songs, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed my time at Graceland. My mom decided to do the Elvis Experience tour, which meant we would get to see not only Elvis’s mansion, but also various exhibits about Elvis’s life as well as his car collection.

Once we got our tickets, we watch a short intro video before catching a shuttle to the mansion. Once we returned, we were free to explore the various exhibits before hitting the many gift shops!

As we waited in line for the shuttle to the mansion, everyone was handed tablets and headphones. Personally, I chose to decline the equipment because I was more interested in taking pictures than listening to fun facts about Elvis. Plus, my mom had taken the audio guide so if there was anything interesting she could just tell me.

For regular visitors (i.e. somebody who isn’t obsessed with taking pictures like I am), I highly suggest taking the audio guide. For one, it’s free. Secondly, there really aren’t any informational plaques to explain what things are, so you really miss out on the tour of Elvis’s mansion if you don’t have it.

The house tour was actually really cool. I’ve been to a lot of historic homes, but this one was definitely unique. One of the rooms was called the jungle room and featured green carpet with several different statues of various animals. Another room had clothing fabric grouped into bunches covering the walls and ceiling. The stairwell into the basement was completely surrounded by mirrors. Have you ever been to any houses like this? I didn’t think so…

In the Presley Motors Automobile Museum, we were able to see Elvis’s car collection, including his famous pink Cadillac. It was also cool to see the golf carts and go karts he used to race around the property in with his friends and family.

Elvis Discovery: Private Presley

The Elvis Discovery Exhibits give you’re a deeper look into his life. In particular, it highlights the time he spent in the military. I personally found it interesting if only because it was so hard to picture a celebrity like Elvis being a Private in the military.

In the Entertainer Career Museum, we were able to see many of the various outfits he wore for his performances, as well as Grammy awards and various other awards he had received over the years. Probably my favorite part was all of the inspirational quotes from him on some of the walls.

Despite the fact that I’m not a big Elvis fan, and didn’t even know what Graceland was until a few months ago (gasp!), I actually really enjoyed my time at Graceland. I especially enjoyed the tour of the mansion, if only because of how unique it was. It was definitely unlike any other historical home I had ever toured. The one and only downside is that people file through the mansion in a single file line (due to the way things are roped off), which means the pace of your tour is pretty much set by the pace of the people in front of and behind you.

I personally wasn’t as interested in some of the other exhibits such as the Entertainer Career Museum or Presley Motors,  although I thought the Private Presley exhibit was a little interesting since I hadn’t known he’d served in the military. My mom on the other hand thought the Presley Motors section was really cool and worth seeing.

Overall, I’d say it’s a great place to visit, regardless of whether or not you’re an Elvis Presley fan. However, I think the more in-depth tours and ticket options are best for those who have a stronger interest in Elvis.

Tour Options:

A tour of the mansion takes about one to one and a half hours. The Elvis Experience tour, which includes the mansion, car museum and several other exhibits, takes anywhere from two and a half to three and a half hours.

Graceland Ticket Prices:

A tour of Elvis’ airplanes can be added onto the Graceland Mansion Only, Elvis Experience, and Elvis Entourage VIP tours for an additional $5 USD. All prices are as of August 8th, 2018. Please check the Graceland website for the most up-to-date information.

A 10% discount on tickets is also available for the following:

• AAA members
• Military personnel
• College students (with ID)
• Graceland Insiders

Parking at Graceland costs $10 USD for standard vehicles and $15 USD for oversized vehicles (RV’s, trailers, etc).

• You can sign one of the walls at Graceland, so make sure to bring a sharpie
• There are free kids activity books for children available at Guest Services
• You can also get a free poster at Guest Services by “checking in” to Graceland on Facebook.
• You can check out GracelandCam , a live video camera, to see how busy it is in advance

Sun Studios offers a free shuttle that stops at Sun Studio, Graceland and the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum so you can easily get to Graceland from one of the other popular attractions around town.

Take a Road Trip to Graceland–

• From Nashville TN: ~3.5 hours
• From St. Louis MO: ~4.25 hours
• From Jackson MS: ~3 hours

Disclaimer: This section of my post contains affiliate links. Find more information about affiliate links on our policy page .

Days Inn at Graceland

When we made our plans to visit Graceland, we chose to stay at Days Inn Memphis at Graceland because it was literally right next to the entrance of Graceland. We could have walked between the two! I’m not normally a fan of the motel style accommodations where there are no interior hallways and hotel room doors can be directly accessed from the parking lot. However, like I said it was right next to our one and only attraction in Memphis, and it was a good price.

Not long after we checked in and got to our room, we noticed a decent amount of mold on the bathroom wall. I’m sorry, but that much mold doesn’t grow over night. Either that room hadn’t been cleaned in a long time, or the cleaners just hadn’t bothered to clean it. Regardless, we called the front desk. Of course, we asked for another room, but there were none available. In the end, we decided to check out without staying the night. I was given a full refund without any issues.

Honestly, I think we just got unlucky. The hotel was completely booked, and the reviews online had all been relatively good. Obviously plenty of other people have stayed there and enjoyed it, so I don’t want to say it’s a terrible place to stay, but we definitely had a less than pleasant experience.

Crowne Plaza

In the end, we decided to stay at Crowne Plaza Memphis East a few miles away. It was a little ways from downtown Memphis and from Graceland, but it was a much nicer hotel, and we got it at a fantastic rate since it was so last minute (and they were trying to fill empty rooms). We definitely felt much more comfortable here.

The Guest House at Graceland

If you are looking for something as upscale as the Crowne Plaza but closer to Graceland, you can also check out The Guest House at Graceland . It is also right next to Graceland and was inspired by the hospitality Elvis always showed his guests. They also offer special package deals that combine your stay with tickets to Graceland.

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1 thought on “visiting graceland review: thoughts, tours, prices, and more”.

Your article on Graceland was right on. The only thing is on Days Inn we didn’t check out. The nightmare continued the next morning. Taking all our belongings to a laundry mat and running to the store for medications. Unable to receive a refund. Days Inn should be shut down. As it is a disgrace to Graceland and Memphis

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Elvis Presley's Graceland Tour with Audio Guide & Airplanes

• Audio-guided Tour of Graceland with orientation film
• Graceland Archives Experience
• Self-Guided tour of Automobile Museum
• Self-guided tour of Elvis: The Entertainer Career Showcase Museum
• Self-guided tour of Elvis Discovery Exhibits
• Full access to state-of-the art visitor entertainment complex
• See Elvis' Two Custom Airplanes
• Audio Guides in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese
• Entry/Admission - Graceland
• Meals and Beverages
• Graceland, Memphis, TN 38116, USA Departure Point: Graceland Tours depart from the Ticket Office located on Elvis Presley Blvd Address: 3765 Elvis Presley Blvd. Memphis, TN, 38116
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• From time to time, certain exhibits at Graceland may be closed to the public due to artifacts being changed out or for cleaning or repairs. These occasions are rare and are strategically planned during slower times of the year
• Guests may take photographs with a regular still camera in all areas of the Graceland complex, inside and out, including the mansion property. Flashes of any kind are not allowed inside the mansion or any museums or attractions. Tripods are not allowed as they present a safety hazard for guests walking by.
• When visiting Graceland, audio and video recording equipment cannot be carried on the Graceland Mansion grounds, inside any museums, attractions or gift shops and are not permitted on the tour shuttles. In addition, video mode on digital cameras and cell phones may not be used inside Graceland, on the Graceland Mansion grounds, inside any museums, attractions or gift shops.
• Wheelchairs are available at no charge for use on the mansion property only. Inquire at the shuttle boarding area or with your shuttle driver for assistance at the mansion property. Graceland also has mansion tour shuttles equipped with a wheelchair lift.
• All gift shops, restaurants and visitor facilities, the automobile museum, and the Sincerely Elvis museum are fully wheelchair accessible. The mansion tour is wheelchair accessible except for two rooms in the basement. The airplanes tour is not wheelchair accessible, but guests who cannot physically take the on-board tour may have free access to the terminal to enjoy the video and free access to the airplane display area to view the plane exteriors and take pictures.
• Mansion tour scripts for hearing impaired guests are available at the Guest Services desk and at the mansion.
• Elvis images(s) used by permission, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• You'll start at Graceland Memphis, TN 38116, USA Departure Point: Graceland Tours depart from the Ticket Office located on Elvis Presley Blvd Address: 3765 Elvis Presley Blvd. Memphis, TN, 38116 See address & details
• 1 Graceland Stop: 5 hours - Admission included The journey to Graceland begins on Elvis Presley Boulevard at Graceland Plaza. Elvis Experience Tour: Package includes the Graceland Mansion audio-guided tour with orientation film, Elvis' two custom airplanes (if option selected), along with self-guided tours of the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum, Elvis The Entertainer Career Showcase Museum, Elvis Discovery Exhibits, and More! Elvis' two custom jets can be added to this tour. All exhibits, except Graceland Mansion are located in the Graceland plaza or at Graceland Crossing. Read more
• You'll return to the starting point

• jonathanlS8780WN 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles UVIP Tour at Graceland - A Must! Took the UVIP tour with a tour guide named John and it made all the difference. Just 7 of us (tours are limited to 12 people). Clearly John loves his job and more particularly Graceland. In a tour that moved along at a great pace, he gave us all sorts of insider knowledge about Elvis, his family and the estate. I have never been a big Elvis fan but I would say everyone should visit Graceland and take the guided tour. Read more Written May 25, 2024
• Beemoney97 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A Must Do! You could easily spend the whole day here. There is so much to see. We are not the biggest Elvis fans, but there was a lot to take in and learn. Read more Written May 24, 2024
• Peter W 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles It's Graceland!! What can I say? It's Graceland! The home is truly iconic. It is so emblematic of the period, yet there was still a feel for home. It was truly moving to stand beside the graves of Elvis, his parents, his daughter, and grandson. We were there when there was supposed to be an alleged bankruptcy sale. It was encouraging to see Riley step up and protect the home. I pray the home stays in the family for a long time. The museums were set up well giving you a good understanding of the man Elvis was and what was important to him. Read more Written May 23, 2024
• juetten44 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highly recommend the Ultimate VIP Tour of Graceland Our tour guide, John, was outstanding in his knowledge and handling of our very private 7-person tour. The limit for the Ultimate VIP Tour is 12 people. We felt so special to have an opportunity to visit areas of Graceland and see things that were only available to folks on this Ultimate VIP Tour. It was truly VIP! The actual tour with John lasted 3 hours, but we had total access to any area we wanted to return to after the tour ended. We were also treated to lunch at Vernon's restaurant. Read more Written May 22, 2024
• 465tammyy 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Graceland VIP tour Our VIP tour of Graceland exceeded all of our expectations. The staff was super friendly and so very helpful! There is so much to see. It suggests planning on 4 hours but my friends and I were there for 7 hours and probably did not see everything. We now call it Elvisland! It was fantastic. So worth the money for the VIP tour. Read more Written May 22, 2024
• Zabrian 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles If you enjoy queuing and surly staff this is for you. Elvis had everything, looks, voice charisma and creativity. It is a pity that the Graceland experience does not live up to this reputation. In my opinion none of the staff enjoyed working there and they let the customers know they were unhappy. Their rudeness almost spoiled what had been on my bucket list for years. Read more Written May 22, 2024
• C9956LVpamelam 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Graceland UVIP Your Did the UVIP Tour John Beach was our tour guide. He’s wonderful, knowledgeable, and answered all are questions with so much knowledge. The whole experience was breathtaking. Highly recommend, and if you can request your tour guide, request John, you won’t be disappointed. Read more Written May 20, 2024
• A839EBanitad 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Graceland dream trip/anniversary trip Our tour guide was John Beach, he made the tour so much more than just a tour. He took time and answered questions and made you feel like you were "home". We had an amazing tour and are already making plans to come back. I have loved Elvis since I was a child and this was a dream trip for me and I'm so grateful that we got to tour with John Read more Written May 19, 2024
• lorimI4339YJ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Graceland Tour We had a VIP Inclusive tour of Graceland and it was all we could have hoped for. Our tour guide was John and he was amazing. He was so knowledgeable and had great stories and answered all our questions. Memories forever!! Thank you John! Read more Written May 16, 2024
• susannet175 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Bucket list fulfilled! This was a bucket list place to visit and it did not disappoint! We had booked VIP tickets; came into the parking lot ($ 10,00 for the day), and walked into the ticket center; will call was done within a minute, then over to the VIP counter; we signed in, were given our passes and within minutes got on the shuttle; preferred entrance to the mansion...it was beautiful and very informative. We had opted to take the I-pad 'tour guide', but abandoned it quickly. Everything the I-pad tells you is available on printed signs. The van took us back to the main grounds and we visited all of the exhibits, which are plentiful (car exhibit, costumes, movie making; lots of fun stuff!). Five hours later we left and learned a lot and had a lot of fun. Totally recommend it! Read more Written May 15, 2024
• vlawson58 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Self Guided Tour We enjoyed the mansion but we felt rushed even though it was a self guided tour. Everyone of the employees was pleasant! Glad we went! All in all it was a very pleasant experience. Read more Written May 13, 2024
• MarkT5183 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent tour with John Beach - he looked the part. Knew his subject and spoke with passion and emotion excellent tour with John Beach - who in himself is a walking encyclopaedia of all things elvis and a credit to the establishment .. John took me on the vvip tour, his Knowledge and passion for Elvis was clear. I was a solo Brit on my own in a group of couples - he made sure I was ok, enjoying myself and a genuine nice guy. Read more Written May 12, 2024
• Brenda M 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Add this to your bucket list!! What an incredible experience, we loved our entire experience. The tour was so informative and well ran, with all the hundreds of people that pass through its doors. I had knee replacement surgery 4 months prior and all the staff were very understanding of others. We never felt rushed or pushed aside for being a bit slower. The mansion is beautiful and exquisite, we highly recommend to have on your bucket list. You’ll see TCB with a lighting bolt, Elvis’s saying “taking care of business in a flash”. The value for the price was worth it, lots to see and learn! Read more Written May 9, 2024
• linfrat 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Thank You, Thank You Very Much This trip was my 60th birthday present and it definitely did not disappoint. The Ultimate VIP tour was a bit pricey, but it was well worth it. Our tour guide, Paige, did a great job. Our tour consisted of approximately 10 people - not too large and not too small. The Ultimate VIP tour gave us access to everything in the complex. Even though our tour was at 9:15 a.m., we still did not have enough time to see everything so we may need to come back. The only thing I would mention is that there is too little time (15 minutes) between tours, which resulted in lots of crowding between tour groups. I would recommend 30 minutes. Had lunch at Vernon's, which was just okay. The banana pudding was great, however. Enjoyed being able to touch and take a pic with a cape that had been worn by Elvis. Read more Written May 9, 2024
• elizabethpN6658BZ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful! Excellent Fantastic. Wouldn’t order peanut butter banana bacon sandwich! Bacon was soft ready made bacon blah! The trip was really fun. All host were friendly and bus driver awesome and very helpful Read more Written May 8, 2024

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Elvis Presley's Graceland Tour with Audio Guide & Airplanes provided by Graceland

(901) 332-3322

Www.graceland.com.

• Air conditioning
• Parking for customers
• Accepts credit cards
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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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Graceland - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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With our gracious staff providing unmatched service, and bringing you that Southern hospitality for which the King was known, you’ll enjoy the rock ‘n’ royal treatment from the moment you enter the lobby until you’ve left the building.

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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.

How much is Graceland worth in 2024? How much did Elvis Presley pay for it in 1957?

Elvis Presley spent much of his childhood on the move . Born in a humble, two-room cabin in Tupelo, Mississippi which had been built by his father Vernon, with help from his grandfather and uncle, it was an inauspicious start for the young Elvis Aaron, who would grow up not just to become one of the best selling artists in history but a cultural icon who changed the course of popular music.

The Presleys moved from Tupelo when Elvis was 13 , renting temporary homes at 370 Washington Street and 572 Poplar Avenue in Memphis before moving into an apartment in Lauderdale Courts at 185 Winchester Avenue in 1949, paying a monthly rent of $35. The family stayed there until 1953 when they were prospering and no long eligible for low income housing.

Elvis Presley’s rags to riches story

A year later Elvis cut his first record for Sun , “That’s All Right” which gained a lot of airplay in Memphis and led to bookings and more recording sessions. Over the course of the next two years, major labels were queuing up to sign Presley. He ended up signing for RCA for $40,000 - now the 20-year-old Elvis could afford a place of his own .

In March 1956, he used the royalties that he had received from “Heartbreak Hotel” to buy a four-bedroom family home at 1034 Audubon from the Welsh Plywood Corporation, costing $29,000. It would be another temporary home for the nomadic Presleys - as soon as fans found out his home address, their privacy was compromised and one year after signing the property deeds, they were on the lookout for somewhere where they would not feel so encroached upon.

Elvis purchases Graceland

Elvis bought Graceland from Ruth Brown Moore on 19 March 1957 for a price of $102,500 (about $1.1 million today). Built in a Colonial Revival–style in 1939 by Thomas and Ruth Moore, the residence stood on a 13.8-acre estate. It was Elvis’ home right up until his death on 16 August 1977. His lifeless body was found slumped in the bathroom by his fiancée Ginger Alden. Elvis was just 42.

Graceland was bequeathed to Elvis’ father Vernon, then his only child Lisa Marie following his father’s passing in 1979. Graceland was opened to the public for tours on 7 June 1982. Around 600,00 visitors visit the estate every year . Several members of the Presley family were buried in the Meditation Garden at Graceland - Elvis , his parents Vernon and Gladys , his paternal grandmother Minnie Mae , Lisa Marie and her only son, Benjamin Keough , who apparently took his own life in 2020.

In August 2023, after a series of legal proceedings regarding the custody of the estate, a Los Angeles, California, judge ruled that, as Lisa’s eldest daughter and Elvis’ granddaughter, Riley Keough would be the sole heir to the exclusive Graceland estate. According to Rolling Stone , the property has an estimated market value of $718 million .

Graceland is not for sale, Elvis Presley's granddaughter Riley Keough says in lawsuit

Elvis Presley’s estate is fighting what it says is a fraudulent scheme to auction off Graceland to the highest bidder

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Elvis Presley’s estate is fighting what it says is a fraudulent scheme to auction off Graceland to the highest bidder.

An auction had been scheduled for Thursday this week, but a Memphis judge blocked it after Presley’s granddaughter Riley Keough sought a temporary restraining order and filed a lawsuit, court documents show.

A public notice for a foreclosure sale of the 13-acre estate in Memphis posted earlier in May said Promenade Trust, which controls the Graceland museum, owes $3.8 million after failing to repay a 2018 loan. Keough, an actor, inherited the trust and ownership of the home after the death of her mother, Lisa Marie Presley , last year.

Naussany Investments and Private Lending said Lisa Marie Presley had used Graceland as collateral for the loan, according to the foreclosure sale notice. Keough, on behalf of the Promenade Trust, sued last week, claiming that Naussany presented fraudulent documents regarding the loan in September 2023.

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

Kimberly Philbrick, the notary whose name is listed on the documents, indicated that she never met Lisa Marie Presley nor notarized any documents for her, the court filing said. The Associated Press texted Philbrick at numbers believed to be hers, but she didn’t immediately respond.

W. Bradley Russell, a lawyer for Keough, declined comment Tuesday.

Kurt Naussany, who was identified in court documents as a defendant, directed questions in an email to Gregory Naussany. Gregory Naussany told the AP in an email: “The attorneys can make comment!” Court records do not show a lawyer for the company.

The court documents included addresses for the businesses in Jacksonville, Florida, and Hollister, Missouri. Both were for post offices. A Kimberling City, Missouri, reference was for a post office box.

An injunction hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Shelby County Chancery Court.

“Elvis Presley Enterprises can confirm that these claims are fraudulent. There is no foreclosure sale. Simply put, the counter lawsuit has been filed is to stop the fraud,” Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. said in a statement Tuesday.

Graceland opened as a museum and tourist attraction in 1982 as a tribute to Elvis Presley, the singer and actor who died in August 1977 at age 42. It draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. A large Presley-themed entertainment complex across the street from the museum is owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Tim Marshall, of Queensland, Australia, went to the gates of Graceland on Tuesday as part of a weekslong U.S. tour with his partner. Marshall, 54, said he heard the news about the Graceland sale attempt.

“I was surprised,” Marshall said. “We don’t know enough about it. I think it would be not very good if they lose it.”

Associated Press reporters Sarah Brumfield in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, contributed to this story.

This story has been corrected to reflect that Russell is a lawyer for Keough, not Naussany Investments.

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Iatse continues bargaining with amptp; more basic agreement talks set for june, elvis presley’s ‘graceland’ foreclosure sale ends as company apparently withdraws claims.

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A judge today halted the foreclosure sale of Graceland , the former Memphis, Tennessee home of Elvis Presley, noting that the Presley estate could be successful in proving fraud by an investment company.

The ruling came shortly before the company trying to foreclose on Graceland issued a statement dropping its case, according to the Associated Press.

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A public notice for a foreclosure sale of the 13-acre estate posted earlier in May said Promenade Trust, which controls the Graceland museum, owes $3.8 million after failing to repay a 2018 loan. Keough inherited the trust and ownership of the home after last year’s death of her mother, Lisa Marie Presley.

Later on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported that a statement from someone who appeared to be a representative of the company trying to foreclose said it would drop its claim, which the Presley estate has argued is based on fake documents.

Naussany Investments and Private Lending claimed Lisa Marie Presley had used Graceland as collateral for a loan, according to the foreclosure sale notice. A lawsuit filed last week by Keough alleged that Naussany presented fraudulent documents regarding the loan in September 2023.

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

A statement emailed to The Associated Press after Wednesday’s ruling said Naussany would not proceed because a key document in the case and the loan were recorded and obtained in a different state, meaning that “legal action would have to be filed in multiple states.”

“The company will be withdrawing all claims with prejudice,” the statement said.

Graceland opened as a museum and tourist attraction in 1982 after Elvis Presley’s death in August 1977 at age 42.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

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