elvis presley house tour graceland

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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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Everything You Need To Know About Elvis Presley's Graceland

The King of Rock 'n' Roll bought the property when he was 22 years old.

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

So, Elvis fans, before you plan a trip to the iconic Tennessee property, here are all of the answers to your most pressing questions—including why you should visit, how much it costs, and where you should stay. Plus, dive into the history of the estate, from how much Elvis purchased it for to who owns it today. And if you're curious about Elvis's other former homes, like his possibly haunted Hollywood apartment or his iconic Palm Springs honeymoon house , we have you covered there too.

Who Owned the Graceland Mansion Originally?

Graceland was built on 500 acres of farmland in Memphis, Tennessee, owned by the S.E. Toof family for generations and named after Grace, a member of the family. In 1939, "Grace's niece, Ruth Brown Moore, and her husband, Dr. Thomas Brown Moore, built the mansion, which became well-known to the locals of Memphis," according to the estate's official website .

Ruth was a harpist with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, so classical recitals were often held in the front formal rooms.

Why Is Graceland So Special?

Aside from being beautiful, Graceland was known as Elvis Presley's home after he purchased it from the Moores in spring 1957—when he was just 22 years old—for a bit more than $100,000. With inflation, that price tag is the equivalent of more than $1 million today. The same year, the King of Rock 'n' Roll skyrocketed to superstardom, making historic network television appearances, giving record-breaking live performances, and receiving armloads of gold records.

What Happened After Elvis?

On August 16, 1977, Elvis died at Graceland, leaving his father, Vernon Presley, as executor and trustee. His beneficiaries were his grandmother, father, and only child, Lisa Marie Presley. Lisa Marie personally owned Graceland and her father's personal effects until her sudden and tragic passing in January 2023. Shortly after Lisa Marie's death, a representative for Graceland confirmed to People that the property would benefit Lisa Marie's three daughters, Riley Keough, 34, and twins Harper and Finley Lockwood, 14. Lisa Marie's mother, Priscilla Presley, challenged the will with a petition. In the petition, she specifically questioned a 2016 amendment that replaced her as a cotrustee with Riley and her late brother, Benjamin Keough.

In May 2023, Riley and Priscilla reached a settlement over that dispute. Court documents, which the family attempted to keep private , revealed that Riley will be the sole trustee of her late mother's estate and the subtrusts of her sisters . The settlement appears to include a $1 million payment to Priscella, and Riley agreed to cover up to $400,000 of Priscella's legal fees related to the petition, The New York Times reported. Priscilla will act as a "special advisor" to the trust "for which she would be paid an undisclosed annual amount for 10 years, or until her death, whichever came first," according to the outlet. She will also be the trustee of the subtrust of her son, Navarone Garibaldi, who is Lisa Marie's half-brother. He will be granted 1/9 of the trust; the rest will be split among Riley, Harper, and Finley, People reports. The agreement awaits approval by a judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court. If approved, the settlement would end months of legal battles over the Elvis estate's trust.

Prior to recent inheritance issues, Graceland has been open to the public since 1982. Proceeds were meant to cover the cost of more than half a million dollars a year in maintenance and taxes. The estate has hosted millions of visitors since then and typically makes $10 million annually, Forbes reports. In 2020, the entire Presley estate, including Graceland, was estimated to be worth between $400 to $500 million, according to Rolling Stone .

What Can I Do There?

Explore the Mansion

Walk through the living room, kitchen, TV room, pool room, the famous Jungle Room, Elvis's parents' bedroom, his father's office, the Trophy Building, the Racquetball Building, and the Meditation Garden of the Graceland Mansion via an interactive iPad tour hosted by John Stamos, with commentary and stories from Elvis's daughter, Lisa Marie.

Visit Elvis the Entertainer Career Museum

Learn about Elvis's career with the help of hundreds of artifacts and photos from his life.

Tour Presley Motors Automobile Museum

Check out his iconic Pink Cadillac and more of his favorite automobiles.

See Various Exhibitions

Explore the themed discovery spaces that showcase Elvis’s influences and important parts of his life—from the Graceland archives experience to the new movie exhibition about the making of Baz Luhrmann's Elvis .

Check Out Elvis's Airplanes

Tour Elvis's customized airplanes, including the Lisa Marie and the Hound Dog II.

Taste the flavors of Memphis at one of Graceland's dining experiences, including Vernon's Smokehouse and Gladys's Diner.

Purchase souvenirs from "the largest collection of Elvis merchandise in the world."

How Much Do Tickets Cost?

Depending on the experience you are looking to have at Graceland, ticket prices range . For adults, costs start at about $50 for Graceland Mansion access to $215 for Ultimate VIP Tour packages (per person).

Where should I stay?

Of course, if you'd like to eat, play, and sleep at Graceland, you can! The Guest House at Graceland is located just a few steps from the gates of Graceland Mansion. The resort hotel is inspired by the same warm Southern hospitality that Elvis Presley always showed his guests.

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This Graceland Virtual Tour Takes You Inside Elvis’ Home

The magnificent mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, known as Graceland was the pride of singer and actor Elvis Presley. He spent his first night there on June 26, 1957, opening the gates to an amazing era of music history that remarkably lives on to this day. Over the 20 years he spent there, the property was “Elvis-ized,” with myriad changes to suit the eclectic taste of “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

Today, it’s part museum and shrine, a bucket-list destination for millions of fans, as well as Elvis’ gravesite. With more than 600,000 annual visitors, it’s the third-most visited house in the U.S., behind the Biltmore Estate and the White House. 

Ready to take a peek inside? Slip on something comfortable (we recommend “Blue Suede Shoes”), and join us for this Graceland virtual tour!

Entering the Estate

The property is located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard.

It’s encircled by a wall constructed of pink Alabama fieldstone, built at a cost of $65,000 and installed shortly before the Presleys moved here. 

Signing the Wall

Today, the wall is covered with graffiti and professions of affection for Elvis.

Don’t worry, there’s still room for your personal contribution, which we recommend you add before entering the gates.

The Front Gates

The gates at the bottom of the curving driveway were installed at a cost $1,339 in 1957. They were designed by Abe Saucer and built by John Dillard, Jr. of Memphis Doors.

Adorned with musical notes and artistic outlines of Elvis playing guitar, they resemble sheet music. 

The Perfect Photo-Op

There are a number of photographs like this one of a beaming Elvis posing with the gates. He would even sometimes stand here and sign autographs for fans.

Just behind the gates to the right is the guardhouse, which was added in 1970.

Entryway to Graceland

At the top of the hill is the Entryway to Graceland. Here, you’re greeted by a pair of white lions, two white iron benches and four imposing Corinthian columns flanking the front door. 

The home’s exterior is covered with a special limestone, sourced from a quarry in Mississippi. It has a tan color that contrasts pleasantly with the green shutters on either side of the eight paned windows. Surprisingly, it exudes an air of subtlety.

The Doorway

A beautiful panel of ornate stained glass sits above the doorway — four flowers around a “P” in a golden circle. The flower pattern flanks the front door as well in thin, vertical panes. 

Extravagant stained-glass artwork is found in many locations throughout Graceland.

A Little Graceland History

Before we step inside the estate, here’s a little bit of history first. The estate received its identity from the original owner, who named it Graceland Farms after his daughter Grace. 

The nearly 14-acre property remained in the prominent Memphis family for several generations, leading to the construction of the 10,266-square-foot Colonial Revival style mansion in 1939.

The King Takes Over

Under the guidance of his parents, Elvis purchased it on March 19, 1957, for the then-princely sum of $102,500. He was just 22, less than a year from his groundbreaking “Ed Sullivan Show” appearance, a breakout star looking for a little privacy and something to grow into.

He’d spent only a year at his previous “Music City” residence (the nearby 1034 Audubon Drive), ultimately realizing the constant crush of fans gathered at the driveway was too much for the neighbors. 

A National Treasure

Graceland, which has 23 rooms, was extensively remodeled by Presley (his mother reportedly vetoed purple walls and white corduroy drapes) and authentically reflects his taste, as well as style influences of the 1960s and early ’70s. 

It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

First-Floor Map

Elvis’ parents, Vernon and Gladys, and his grandmother, Minnie Mae, actually lived with him in the 17,552-square-foot dwelling, which served as Elvis’ headquarters for two decades until his fatal heart attack there on Aug. 16, 1977.

The first floor features a luxurious living room and the adjacent, slightly understated music room. On the other side of the first floor is a formal dining room, with the kitchen tucked just behind it. A ground-level bedroom, accessed from the back of the foyer, was occupied primarily by Elvis’ parents. 

Shall we take a look?

Upon entry into the foyer, you face the staircase to the second floor, which is roped off and closed to the public. To the left, behind a white urn on a mirrored pedestal, is a framed baby portrait of Lisa Marie. Elliptical arch openings on either side lead to the Living and Dining rooms.

To the right of the stairs is a short hallway which ends at a first-floor bedroom. A small table, with a mirror hung above it, is the only decoration on it. As was the case when Elvis was alive, there’s always a vase full of flowers.

The white-carpeted 15-step staircase has a white-and-gold accented railing on the right side, with mirrors covering the left wall. 

Along with the mirrors, there’s a portrait of Elvis as a young man. He’s wearing a white shirt and a placid expression. His hair is noticeably lighter, which suggests he’d recently been discharged from the Army. Elvis wasn’t able to dye his hair black when he was a soldier.

The Chandelier

The chandelier that hangs above the stairs was the third installed by Elvis. It was placed there in 1974.

Atop the stairs, at the first landing, there are blue drapes covering the wall, with gold trimming. To reach Elvis’ bedroom, you turn right to a landing that’s just outside the bedroom door.

Living Room

Immediately to the right of the foyer is the living room. It features white furniture and white carpet, with an open doorway to the music room at the far end. 

A pair of elegant rainbow-hued stained-glass peacocks captures your attention immediately. The artful cacophony of color was the creation of Laukuff Stained Glass. The birds were installed in 1974 at a cost of $9,345, a price that included several other stained-glass pieces. Elvis commissioned them as an ancient Christian symbol of eternal life and resurrection.

Custom-Made Decor

The living room boasts mirrored walls, a white-marble fireplace and a 10-foot, glass-topped, custom-made coffee table. Just inside, to the left, is a portrait of Elvis hung on a mirrored wall above a cabinet with a framed photo of his parents. 

The sofa, while not wide enough to hold Elvis’ famed “Memphis Mafia” collection of friends and advisors, was a spacious 15 feet from armrest to armrest. It was purchased for $1,375 in 1957.

Just beyond the living room, as you pass between the preening peacocks, is the music room. Originally used as a solarium by the previous owners, Elvis transformed the 17-by-14-foot space into a cozy location to entertain dinner guests on the piano. 

Several pianos occupied the room through the years, but the King’s favorite was a 1912 Knabe grand that he purchased in 1957 and had painted white.

The room also contains the ubiquitous television. Elvis had them installed in countless locations throughout the house. 

As an RCA recording artist, he received them for free from the company, which was a leading TV manufacturer. 

Dining Room

The formal dining room is located on the other side of the foyer. It has curio cabinets in both corners, black marble flooring in the center and a carpeted perimeter.

The dining table featured a hidden button, installed on the underside, used by Elvis to buzz the kitchen, which is just through an open door to the right. 

Dining Room Windows

The windows in the dining room, which face the front yard, are nearly floor to ceiling, framed by lush blue drapes with gold tassels. 

A mirror sits between the two windows, partially obstructed by a massive oak cabinet displaying a collection of silverware.

The King of Blue Drapes

Elvis loved blue drapes so much that they didn't just adorn the dining room.

The same drapes are found in the living room and atop the foyer staircase. 

The kitchen has an upscale 1970s look, right down to the appliances. It’s cozy and functional, not grand. There’s a TV (of course) on a small counter and a breakfast bar with stool seats. 

In addition to the TV, two black-and-white monitors provide the live video feed from Elvis’ security cameras. A pair of stained-glass lights hang from chains; their artwork depicts fruits and vegetables.

Top-of-the-Line Kitchen Gadgets

The refrigerator, which held all of the fixin’s for Elvis’ favorite meals, is a double-door model that was uncommon in most kitchens. The oven, a Tappan Fabulous 400, is similarly state of the art for its time. Elvis loved to own the latest gadgets, evidence of which is an early model microwave oven.

Notably, patterned carpet covers the floor. One can only imagine the mess if a griddle-fried, peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich or perhaps BBQ spaghetti (among Elvis’ favorites) fell onto the floor. 

First-Floor Bedroom

Tucked behind the living room is a small bedroom, originally used by Elvis’ parents and later by his grandmother and aunt. 

There’s a bathroom, allowing complete privacy for the inhabitant, despite its proximity to the main quarters. The bathroom’s wallpaper is decorated with poodles in various forms of fun and frolic.

Remodeled in 1974 with a yellow-and-black theme, Elvis had a lightning bolt and cloud painted on the back wall in tribute to the logo he adopted in the 1970s.

A wall in the TV room is embedded with three TVs (inspired by the knowledge that then-President Lyndon Johnson had a trio of sets to simultaneously watch the network news) with a deep-pillowed couch to relax in.

A Closer Look

If you look closer at the TV room, the ceiling and one wall are mirrored, and the carpet is yellow shag. A fireplace adds a feeling of warmth to the room, even if it appears that it was never lit.

Elvis’ collection of vinyl LPs and 45 RPM records sits on a shelf.

In-Home Theater Experience — Complete With a Wet Bar

A pull-down projector screen descended from the ceiling for movie viewing. For sound, there’s high-powered audio equipment located in custom-cut shelves in the TV wall.

A U-shaped wet bar, with yellow Formica countertop and padded elbow-rests, along with shelves of cocktail-related curios, completed the entertainment hideaway. 

Jungle Room

Added by Elvis as one of the first true “man caves,” the jungle room looked out to the backyard. It was designed by Bernard Grenadier, who also created the estate’s meditation garden. 

On the room’s north end was a built-in waterfall wall of cut fieldstone.

The Ultimate Man Cave

The rest of the jungle room features, among other extravagances, faux fur-covered Polynesian-themed furniture, hard-carved chests and cabinets, and lime-colored, shag carpet.

Note that the ceiling is also covered in the same carpet. 

A Temporary Studio Space

There are hanging ferns, mirrors, an array of jungle-themed lamps and a Tiki bar at the far end of the jungle room. Animal figures are everywhere. Elvis had a thing for primates, in particular. His favorite was a chimpanzee named “Scatter” whose previous owner was a Memphis TV personality.

In early 1976, a mobile recording unit was set up at Graceland, and Elvis transformed the jungle room into a temporary studio, from which he recorded “From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee.”

Billiards Room

Adjacent to the jungle room is the billiards room, where Elvis shot pool and relaxed with his crew. Originally a library, Elvis channeled the vision for his personal pool hall from a painting of an 18th-century billiards room. 

The room is covered in fabric — more than 300 yards of it! — including the ceiling. It reportedly took a team of workers 10 days to hang it. The project required the installation of hundreds of special rods so the fabric could extend from the walls in cascading ribbons. 

Other Billiards Room Accents

The stained-glass chandelier above the table’s green felt is surprisingly understated for a man of Elvis’ flamboyant tastes. The colors are blue and green, with a touch of red. 

A rip in the table’s green felt top remains, reportedly from a colleague’s failed attempt at a trick shot.

Second-Floor Map

The second floor of Graceland remains closed to the public out of respect for the family’s privacy. It features a master bedroom and accompanying master bathroom, a small office and a dressing room that was converted into a bedroom for Elvis’ bodyguard. 

In the rear corner, diagonally opposite the master bedroom, is the bedroom that was occupied by Lisa Marie, Elvis’ baby daughter.

Master Bedroom

Unfortunately, we can't show you the luxurious master suite because the only people allowed to enter are Elvis’ former wife Priscilla, daughter Lisa Marie and the Graceland curator. It faces the front yard and was accessed by climbing the foyer staircase and turning right. 

A door at the top of the stairs leads to a short hallway with a black-upholstered leather door that opens to Elvis’ private area. What we do know is his black bed was 9 feet by 9 feet, and beside the bed, which at one time was draped in a red canopy with large gold tassels, sat a red telephone. The bathroom where Elvis died is to the right of the bed as you enter the suite.

Elvis' Upstairs Office

While you can't see Elvis' upstairs office in person, a mock version of it was part of a VIP exhibit at Graceland.

The exhibit titled, "Elvis Through His Daughter's Eyes,"  ran from 2012 to 2014.

Lisa Marie’s Bedroom

The room occupied by Elvis’ daughter looked out on the sundeck above the jungle room with a view of the backyard. 

It contained a circular, faux-fur, canopy bed and a private bathroom.

Racquetball Building

Set aside from the house, the racquetball building was added to the grounds in 1975, coming in at $200,000, nearly twice the price of the original Graceland purchase. 

It was Elvis’ personal sports complex, with a weight-training area on the ground floor, full-size racquetball court, Jacuzzi and dressing room upstairs. His shower was equipped with five gold-plated showerheads.

Racquetball Building Lounge Area

The building also had a lounge area with leather furniture, a bar, pinball machines and a piano for relaxing after a workout. 

The court is exactly as it was the day of his death, save for Elvis’ racquet under glass, just beyond a velvet rope that keeps visitors off the hardwood floor.

Trophy Building

Known today as the trophy building, the wing was built in 1966. Elvis first used it for elaborate slot car racing tracks. 

Later, it housed his growing collection of awards. 

The Hall of Gold

The Hall of Gold is, perhaps, the most striking aspect of the trophy building.

It displays all of Elvis’ Gold and Platinum albums and singles, along with three Grammy Awards.

Elvis Memorabilia to the Max

The trophy building also displays a stunning array of stage costumes, musical instruments and movie memorabilia.

You can gaze at his birth certificate, his junior high report card and Priscilla’s spectacular wedding dress. 

Swimming Pool

Added in 1957, the simple kidney-shaped pool and cut-stone patio was a playground for Elvis and his pals. Measuring 18 feet wide and 36 feet in length, it’s virtually unchanged in the decades since he passed. 

It’s surprisingly basic: white plaster, pale-blue tiles, old-style concrete coping and a diving board without railings or stairs.

Pool Maintenance

Nobody is allowed to swim in the pool, but it has been maintained by Roy Reed for years. Reed has his share of stories, one of which features an opportunistic employee who sold tiny vials of Elvis’ pool water for $1 each. There’s also the tale of Elvis using the freshly dug pool as a temporary donkey pen.  

It’s filled with saltwater and was built at a cost of $8,481.

Meditation Garden

Just south of the pool, the meditation garden was created in 1965 as a contemplative space. Now, it’s Elvis’ final resting place, alongside his parents and grandmother. There’s also a small monument in honor of Elvis’ stillborn twin brother, Jessie.

The garden was converted to its current configuration, as a burial memorial ground, after an attempt to steal Elvis’ coffin from nearby Forest Hill Cemetery. Reportedly, the plan was to hold it for ransom. 

Elvis' Grave

Elvis’ body and that of his mother were brought to Graceland on Oct. 2, 1977.

His father was interred there two years later, followed by his grandmother in 1980. 

The Eternal Flame

Within the meditation garden, there’s a circular pool with five fountain jets, a pergola with Ionic columns and a brick wall with four works of stained glass set in arched openings.

An eternal flame burns above a plaque that includes the words “may this flame reflect our never ending respect and love for you.” 

The Barn and Stables

Built in 1939, the barn is one of the oldest structures on the property. It’s located near the rear property line and serves as a stable for the horses at Graceland.

Horses still graze in the surrounding pastures, reportedly one each for Elvis, Priscilla and Lisa Marie. The barn proudly remains a historic link to the estate’s original identity.

Elvis’ Source of Peace

The presence of the steeds and the stillness of the barn were considered therapeutic and a source of peace for Elvis. His favorite was a golden Palomino quarter horse named “Rising Sun” who was purchased in 1966. Fittingly, he named the barn “House of the Rising Sun.” 

Elvis also owned a black Tennessee Walking Horse known as “Bear.” His daughter, Lisa Marie, rode a Shetland pony named “Moriah” that Elvis led on a halter.

Vernon’s Office

The business of running Graceland was largely the responsibility of Elvis’ father, Vernon Presley.

He worked out of a little building that had the pictured hand-drawn message on a sign affixed to the door. We can't help but love the use of the word "loafing" here.

A Place of Normalcy

Vernon's office is oddly normal — like a traditional office, albeit with a number of Elvis portraits (much of them sent by fans) set here and there. It had wood-paneled walls, a collection of desks, file cabinets, a copy machine and electric typewriters. 

In a departure from the rest of Graceland, the carpeting isn’t shag, or eye-catching. It’s a tight, simple weave in a neutral color.

The Smokehouse Turned Shooting Range

A one-story, two-room brick structure was a part of Graceland Farms before Elvis’ ownership. It was used as a smokehouse by Vernon Presley to cure and smoke pork. At one time, he even raised hogs on the property. 

Later, the humble smokehouse structure was converted into a Shooting Range for Elvis and his gun-loving cronies. At the rear of the building were four thick wooden posts, with a target hung in front of them. 

One of those paper targets, loaded with bullet holes from Elvis’ many firearms, fetched $27,000 at auction.

The ‘Lisa Marie’ Aircraft

Elvis owned five planes. Two are on permanent display at Graceland. The largest is a Convair 880 purchased in 1975 for $250,000. He named it “Lisa Marie” after his daughter. Elvis spent $350,000 refurbishing it, adding two half-baths, a lounge area, conference room, sitting room and a master bedroom with a queen-size bed. 

The custom touches include gold-plated seatbelt buckles, 24-karat gold-flecked sinks, leather-topped tables, state-of-the-art 8-track stereo connected to 52 speakers and a phone system.

‘Hound Dog II’

There’s also a 10-seat Lockheed Jetstar on the grounds. Elvis dubbed it “x.” He purchased it for roughly $900,000 while waiting for the “Lisa Marie” to be refurbished. 

The interior has a funky green-and-yellow theme, and while not as customized as its counterpart, it was still luxurious. He didn’t fly on the jets for very long. Elvis died two years after their purchase, at age 42.

His Legacy Continues

Elvis fans continue to celebrate the life of the beloved rock star. Each year, there are candlelight vigils held at Graceland on the anniversary of his death.

This photo shows fans at his home on Aug. 15, 2017, to celebrate the 40th anniversary.

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Graceland Mansion: See Photos of Elvis Presley’s Beloved Home Over the Years

By Zoey Goto

There is no place on earth quite like Elvis Presley’s Graceland mansion. The superstar had a 20-year residency there from 1957 to 1977, treating the decor of his cherished Memphis, Tennessee, home as an outlet for his boundless creativity. Assisted by a cast of Memphis-based interior designers, shortly after moving his family and their fleet of gleaming Cadillacs into Graceland, Elvis set about transforming it into a revolving carousel of increasingly theatrical room sets, often mirroring the unadulterated drama of his stage performances. Design trends spanning the eras—from ultra-thematic rooms to the burgeoning use of tech within the home—can all be found beyond the fabled music gates of Graceland, often in their purest and most authentic forms.

Graceland is again set to return to the silver screen with the release of Priscilla, written, directed, and coproduced by Sofia Coppola. The anticipated biopic charts Priscilla Presley’s relationship with her famous husband, with Cailee Spaeny playing Priscilla and Jacob Elordi slipping into Elvis’s blue suede shoes for the role. Priscilla called Graceland home in the 1960s until her divorce from the singer in 1972, later playing a crucial role in opening the mansion up to the public in 1982, creating the ultimate pilgrimage for music fans and design lovers alike.

Below, take a peek inside Graceland.

Before Graceland was home to the King of Rock and Roll, it belonged to the Memphis socialite Ruth Brown Moore. Built in 1939 and designed by local architectural firm Furbringer and Erhmanis, the Classical Revival–style mansion was based on a scaled-down version of a grandiose Southern plantation and featured Corinthian columns inspired by the Tower of Winds in Athens.

Aged just 22 and fresh from starring in his first movie, Love Me Tender, Elvis purchased Graceland for $102,500. He had initially expressed concerns about maintaining the estate, a 10,000-square-foot house set on almost 14 acres of rolling pastures, but fellow showman Liberace provided the verbal encouragement Elvis needed to sign the contract, which he did in March 1957.

With Elvis’s fame meaning that his homes were increasingly mobbed by enthusiastic fans, one of the first changes made to Graceland, in 1957, was the installation of a boundary wall, made from pink Alabama fieldstone and costing $65,000. Pens poised, as today the wall remains a site for visitors to leave handwritten reflections on Graceland and Elvis’s legacy.

Shortly after buying Graceland, Elvis invited journalists to tour the property and discuss his vision for the decor, which included a black bedroom suite and the night sky painted onto the ceiling of the entrance hall—although his cosmic master plan was eventually vetoed by his mother in favor of a lighter color palette.

By Perri Ormont Blumberg

By Katherine McLaughlin

By Mayer Rus

Within six months of purchasing the property, the swivel-hipped star had already spent a staggering half a million dollars (the equivalent to over $5 million today) on renovations. With the leading man mostly away filming in Hollywood, interior designer and Memphis furniture store owner George Golden was drafted in to oversee the upgrades, including installing a kidney-shaped swimming pool and the symbol of midcentury modernity: a full-scale soda fountain.

Though visitors touring Graceland today may feel that they’re looking at its interiors exactly as Elvis left them, before opening to the public in 1982 the living room had been restored to its late ’50s glory, save for a few more recent additions such as the stained-glass peacock panels. This vision of midcentury plush, using a neutral cream color palette with flashes of gold trim, replaced a more theatrical 1974 decorating spree orchestrated by interior designer Bill Eubanks, where red shag pile and satin had been splashed throughout the ground floor rooms.

Elvis was savvy to the power of personal branding long before this became a mainstream concept. In 1957 he employed Abe Saucer to design a set of bespoke entrance gates, featuring larger-than-life wrought-iron versions of himself surrounded by musical notes, acting as a Presley suit of arms to all those who passed by.

Beneath a twinkling chandelier and flanked by an entourage of friends and family, Elvis would sit at the head of this formal dining table to eat his evening meal, usually at the night-owl hour of 10 p.m. The table here is set with Elvis and Priscilla’s wedding china by Noritake, exported from Japan, with the silverware from Towle in the classic Chippendale style.

In 1965, fans were treated to a rare peek inside the King’s Palace, when he posed for Mid-South Magazine on his 15-foot custom built stretch sofa. It wasn’t just the furniture that was supersized, as the living room itself was so spacious that the Mississippi shack where Elvis was born could have fitted snugly inside this room—something that the star himself would marvel at.

This photo, also taken in 1965, shows Elvis standing proudly with his storied white baby grand piano, which is, incredibly, the very same instrument that he’d heard his favorite gospel and blues performers playing on as a boy. Having bought the instrument directly from Memphis’s Ellis Auditorium, where the ivories had been tinkled by legends including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Cab Calloway, Elvis had it lovingly restored to take pride of place in his music room.

From a dazzling lamé suit and an all-gold grand piano to a bling Cadillac limousine, there were few items in the Elvis-verse that escaped his Midas touch. This gilded telephone sat in Elvis’s bedside table in the mid-1960s, later replaced by a model with press buttons.

In the 1960s Elvis developed an interest in spirituality, making frequent visits to the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine in California, a site of lush gardens, waterfalls, and lakes where a portion of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes are held. Wanting to create a similar space at Graceland for quiet contemplation, Elvis commissioned Memphis builder Bernard Grenadier to design the Meditation Garden, incorporating the existing semicircular pergola of Ionic columns.

The sheer flamboyance of Elvis’s Las Vegas stage shows soon became reflected in his home decor during the era. In 1974 Elvis teamed up with interior designer Bill Eubanks to create this Deco meets disco basement hideaway, complete with a mirrored ceiling. Elvis’s personal logo of “taking care of business, in a flash” was hand-painted across a wall, while three television sets flickered continuously—an idea that Elvis borrowed from President Lyndon Johnson.

Inspired by a photo of an 18th-century billiard room, Elvis again worked with designer Bill Eubanks in 1974 to create his own take in Graceland’s basement. In the room, 400 yards of kaleidoscopic print cotton fabric, purchased from a local department store, were lavished across the ceiling, walls, and couches, taking a crew 10 days to complete the meticulous pleating, its raw edges cleverly concealed in a patterned ceiling medallion tucked above the pool table.

Elvis’s flair for showmanship reached a crescendo in the Jungle Room—the ultimate man cave. In 1974 Elvis spent a cool 30 minutes on a shopping spree buying up an entire tiki-tinged window display, supposedly as a prank after his father complained about the awful furniture that he had just seen in a downtown store.

The Polynesian-inspired furniture in the Jungle Room, including carved wood thrones, faux-fur upholstery, and a neon-lit indoor waterfall trickling down the wall, reminded Elvis of Hawaii, a beloved destination for the performer. An unexpected benefit of the green shag carpeting flowing across the floor and ceiling was that it offered phenomenal acoustics, leading Elvis to record an album here in 1976.

The kitchen interiors were last changed in the mid-1970s, tapping into the trend for rustic harvest tones and farmhouse-inspired mahogany paneled cabinets. Graceland’s kitchen had all the mod cons of the time, including a rare early model of a microwave, for which Elvis paid around $1,000, and a KitchenAid dishwasher in avocado green.

Elvis’s treasured outré mansion still averages 600,000 curious visitors a year, making it the second-most visited private home in the US, beaten only by the White House. The attraction has expanded to include a sprawling exhibition complex; a car museum; and access to Elvis’s private jet, the Lisa Marie, complete with 24k gold sink in the tiny onboard bathroom.

By Charlotte Collins

By Nora Taylor

By Zoë Sessums

By Carly Olson

Elvis Presley

Today in Elvis Presley History

Upstairs at Graceland 13 Rare Photos

January 24, 2021, 11:48 am 19 Comments

The upstairs area of Graceland is often referred to as the “private” or “personal” quarters of Elvis Presley’s mansion. It is where Elvis and his immediate family primarily resided and where he spent much of his time. The upstairs area is not open to the public during regular tours of Graceland.

Elvis’ bedroom, known as the “Jungle Room” due to its tropical-themed décor, is located upstairs. It features shag carpeting, wood-paneled walls, and various exotic furnishings. This room holds a significant place in Elvis’ history, as it is where he spent many hours recording music and relaxing.

Elvis Presley – Upstairs of Graceland photos

These were taken by Linda’s friend Jeannie Le May who wrote a book about her friendship with Elvis and Linda.

Elvis’ bedroom graceland – Above the television. You can just make out what does appear to be Elvis (but also may not be) in the lower left portion of the mirror.

Elvis Bathroom photo graceland

Elvis’ Office

Entry doors to Elvis’ bedroom

Hallway to Elvis’ bedroom (through black padded doors)

Elvis’ bed and nightstand

Linda sitting on Elvis’ bed

Getlo in Linda’s bathroom upstairs

Elvis’ Bed Graceland 1968

stairway to Elvis heaven

Inside Graceland – Building Plan for Graceland

What did Elvis Presley think about The Beatles?

elvis bathroom when he died photo elvis bedroom photo elvis graceland rare photos elvis private room graceland upstairs rare pics

19 Comments

I met Lisa And Percilla at jennsons at LAKEARROWHEAD Ca. They are BEAUTIFUL LADIES THEY LIKED MY BLUE LIGHTING AROUND MY HOME THEY LIVED 5 HOUSES DOWN ON THE RIGHT

Rick King-Her name is Priscilla nor Percilla.

Who cares? Learn how to spell.

I thunk it was kool. Piss off

How about you stfu and worry about your own business I barely know how to spell because of my autism so have some respect

To reiterate what TY was saying, Who cares? No worries. I’ll answer that for you. NO ONE CARES!! Also please note the proper use of caps lock. I didn’t caps the ENTIRE sentence, rather JUST the part I wanted to emphasize. TY is absolutely correct. Rick has the brainpower of a sugar cookie. Bubba and Logan? Same, minus the sugar.

I loved your input, Rick, regardless of how it was written. Ignore trolls.

Rick you are fantastic person Rock on Brother love the info Cool

yall bringing the heat and wow

Wow. I’m surprised that I’m surprised. I guess it’s just a reflection of the hate that pollutes the world today. Why would you want to be the problem and not the solution?

There must be peace and understanding sometime Strong winds of promise that will blow away the doubt and fear If I can dream of a warmer sun Where hope keeps shining on everyone Tell me why, oh why, oh why won’t that sun appear Elvis incorporated a lot of good messages for the era he was in, I wish things had turned out different

Get a life trolls

Bunch of lowlife trolls

This is crazy people are so busy trying to insult someone that we aren’t even talking about the subject that this forum was for… stop trying to critique everyone and just learn to love and encourage one another. We have to at least try to make this world a better place. Love each other

Nossa….quanta gente amarga e invejosa andam aqui! RICK deve ter sido fantástico conhece-las. Isto não é pra qualquer um!!!!

Wow a good example hoe Elvis fans really are. Hate and more hate. Elvis would have been so upset. . Elvis said : ‘ Jesus is King.’ Read your Bibles boys and gals. Have a nice day.

‘ Elvis’ bedroom, known as the “Jungle Room” it says on this site.

Everybody knows that the Jungle Room is not Elvis’ bedroom. It’ s a room downstairs where he made his last recordings. You must read a biography. Don’t make up things. The story is that Vernon saw this ugly furniture for sale and he told Elvis and Elvis bought it all. It is in all the books!

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Parent item expand the sub menu, chanel praises creative director virginie viard after revenues rise 16% in 2023, inside ralph lauren’s chicago store renovation, cate blanchett on cannes and industry’s ‘desire for change’, inside graceland mansion through the years: details behind elvis, priscilla and lisa marie presley’s iconic home.

The famous Graceland Mansion was home to many members of the Presley family from Elvis and Priscilla to his aunt Delta.

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Elvis Presley , known as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, is estimated to have sold over one billion records worldwide, according to Guinness World Records. His fame extended well beyond his records, and throughout his life he also acted in 31 feature films and two theatrically released concert documentary films. His prolific career saw no less 149 songs of his appear on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart in the United States.

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Growing up as a young boy, he lived in a single family two-room shotgun house that his father, grandfather and uncle built. The humble abode would become a fraction of the size of his most famous real estate acquisition. In 2022, the home would go up for auction through Rockhurst Auctions, with bidding starting at $25,000. The home eventually sold at auction for $46,000.

With his fame and fortune, Presley purchased his home Graceland in 1957 for $102,500 in Memphis, Tennessee. The price was the equivalent of over $1.1 million today.

The property was originally a 500-acre farm owned by the S.E. Toof family. The land was in the Toof family for generations and was named after one of the family’s relatives, Grace. In 1939, Grace’s niece, Ruth Brown Moore, and her husband Dr. Thomas Moore, built the mansion, which became well known to Memphis locals.

Some of Elvis’ modifications to Graceland included a pink Alabama fieldstone wall surrounding the grounds, that now has years of graffiti. Presley also had Abe Sauer, a local artisan, design and build a wrought-iron gate designed in the shape of sheet music with silhouettes of him playing guitar.

The mansion also includes a kidney-shaped swimming pool and a racquetball court .

The exterior of the mansion is a Colonial Revival style, with a side-facing gabled roof covered in asphalt shingles. Two one-story wings are featured on the north and south sides of the property. The mansion has two chimneys, one on the north and south side. The central block’s front and side faces are veneered with tan Tishomingo limestome from Elvis’ birth state, Mississippi.

The mansion boasts 17,552 square feet of space and 23 rooms, including eight bedrooms and four bathrooms. There is a first floor, second floor and basement. Elvis also had rooms for his trophies, which are now on display in the first-floor museum portion of the property. Known for his love of cars, the property also features an extensive garage.

When Elvis originally bought the property, it followed a momentous time in his career. The previous year, 1956, saw the singer and actor make network television appearances, perform numerous concerts and saw many of his albums be certified gold. Due to his career, Elvis spent much of his time on the road or in Los Angeles, but Graceland was always his home base.

Upon Elvis’ death in 1977, his father Vernon Presley served as the executor of his estate. Lisa Marie became the sole heir of the estate; her inheritance was held in a trust until her 25th birthday, on Feb. 1, 1993.

After Elvis’ death, Graceland cost around $480,000 a year to keep up, according to LA Times . Faced with estate’s expensive costs, Priscilla came up with a plan to turn it into a business opportunity.

She hired a chief executive officer to turn Graceland into a museum, making it a tourist destination. Graceland opened to the public in 1982, attracting around 300,000 visitors throughout the year.

Visitors are not allowed on the second floor, which is where Elvis’ body was discovered when he was pronounced dead in 1977.

In 1968, Priscilla gave birth to their daughter Lisa Marie Presley, who spent her early years at Graceland until her parents’ divorce in 1972, when she moved to California with her mother. She would frequently visit throughout her childhood.

Lisa Marie Presley’s estate has full ownership of Graceland mansion and her father’s personal belongings ranging from costumes to cars. Before her death, she made the mansion permanently available for tours.

In 2006, Graceland was declared a National Historic Landmark and now attracts 650,000 visitors annually. The mansion is so famous that’s even inspired a wedding chapel in Las Vegas.

Lisa Marie Presley passed away on Jan. 12 at 54, hours after being hospitalized following an apparent cardiac arrest. She was the only daughter of the late music legend Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley.

The mansion itself was passed onto Lisa Marie’s oldest daughter, Riley Keough, following her death. Presley’s son, Benjamin Keough, passed away at 27. In August, a Los Angeles judge approved Riley Keough as the sole heir of her late mother’s estate, also making her the owner of Graceland.

In May 2024, Riley Keough enlisted a team of lawyers to stop what they claim is “a fraudulent scheme to sell Graceland,” per the New York Times . Court documents filed by Keough’s lawyers say that the company threatening to sell Graceland fraudulently claimed that Lisa Marie Presley borrowed money to pay her existing debts, offering Graceland as collateral.

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Pop Culture

A judge blocks the foreclosure sale of elvis' graceland, after his heir alleges fraud.

Rachel Treisman

Elvis Presley pictured with then-girlfriend Yvonne Lime at his home Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee around 1957. AP hide caption

Elvis Presley pictured with then-girlfriend Yvonne Lime at his home Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee around 1957.

A judge in Tennessee has blocked a foreclosure sale of Elvis Presley's Graceland compound, after his granddaughter sued to stop it.

A company called Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC advertised that such a sale would take place on Thursday, saying the trust that controls Graceland owed the property as collateral after failing to repay a 2018 loan taken out by Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis' only child.

Actress Danielle Riley Keough, who goes by Riley, became the owner of the Memphis property after her mother's death in January 2023. She alleged in a lawsuit earlier this month that Naussany Investments not only forged documents, but doesn't actually exist.

Fans and celebrities gather at Graceland to eulogize Lisa Marie Presley

The 61-page complaint says that in September 2023, the company "presented documents purporting to show that Lisa Marie Presley had borrowed $3.8 million from Naussany Investments and gave a deed of trust encumbering Graceland as security."

But Keough says Presley never borrowed money from or gave a deed of trust — for Graceland or any other property — to Naussany Investments, alleging "these documents are fraudulent." Moreover, the lawsuit argues that Naussany Investments "is not a real entity" at all.

"Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC appears to be a false entity created for the purpose of defrauding the Promenade Trust, the heirs of Lisa Marie Presley, or any purchaser of Graceland at a non-judicial sale," it reads.

Shelby County Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins sided with Keough after a hearing on Wednesday.

The Associated Press reports that he issued a temporary injunction to block the sale, essentially extending a restraining order he had placed on Naussany Investments last week.

Jenkins said in court that it would be prudent to delay any foreclosure sale of Graceland, given its prominence.

"The public interest is best served, particularly here in Shelby County, for Graceland is a part of this community, well loved by this community and, indeed, around the world," Jenkins said, according to NBC News .

Priscilla Presley is disputing the trust of her late daughter, Lisa Marie Presley

The 14-acre compound is a popular tourist destination as well as the final resting place of several of Keough's family members, including Elvis and his parents, as well as her own mother and brother.

Jenkins also said that Keough will likely succeed in her lawsuit, "provided that you prove the fraud that has been alleged."

Keough was not present on Wednesday, and her lawyers declined to comment on ongoing litigation. Naussany Investments did not have representation in court, according to multiple media outlets.

Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE), the company that manages the late singer's estate, told NPR via email that "there will be no foreclosure."

"As the court has now made clear, there was no validity to the claims," it said. "Graceland will continue to operate as it has for the past 42 years, ensuring that Elvis fans from around the world can continue to have a best in class experience when visiting his iconic home."

Keough is accusing the company of forging documents

Riley Keough, pictured at the Met Gala earlier this month, is fighting a foreclosure sale of Graceland. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Riley Keough, pictured at the Met Gala earlier this month, is fighting a foreclosure sale of Graceland.

The lawsuit names as defendants both the LLC and Kurt Naussany, whom it says has acted on the company's behalf by sending Keough's lawyers "numerous emails seeking to collect the purported $3.8 million debt and threatening to conduct a non-judicial sale of Graceland."

Emails NPR sent to several addresses linked to the company have not been returned, and a Naussany phone number listed in the legal filing is out of service.

Adding to the intrigue, Kurt Naussany told NBC News via email that "he left the firm in 2015 and should not be named in the filing" — though one of the exhibits attached to the complaint shows a signed email he purportedly sent in 2023.

A lawyer for Keough told NPR he could not comment on pending litigation. EPE said in an emailed statement that any outside claims to the Graceland property "are fraudulent."

"There is no foreclosure sale," it said. "Simply put, the counter lawsuit [that] has been filed is to stop the fraud."

Priscilla Presley — Elvis' ex-wife and Lisa Marie's mother — also refuted claims of a foreclosure sale on her social media accounts on Monday. She shared a picture of the front of the Graceland mansion, covered by animated red text reading: "It's a scam!"

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The lawsuit alleges that the documents purporting to show the loan and deed of trust at issue are "forgeries."

"While the documents bear signatures that look like the signatures of Lisa Marie Presley, Lisa Marie Presley did not in fact sign the documents," it says.

And it points to two clues that further suggest they are fake.

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Elvis songwriter mike stoller looks back on his hits.

The documents were supposedly acknowledged before a notary public — an officer appointed by the state to witness such transactions — named Kimberly Philbrick in Duval County, Fla., in May 2018, according to the lawsuit.

The notarial acknowledgment on one of the documents includes language saying it was acknowledged before the notary "by means of ( ) physical presence or ( ) online notarization," with the option to check either. But online notarization — and therefore, the language mentioning it — wasn't authorized in Florida until 2020.

Secondly, Philbrick herself says she did not notarize either of the documents. She swore as much in an affidavit signed earlier this month, which was submitted alongside the complaint.

"I have never met Lisa Marie Presley, nor have I ever notarized a document signed by Lisa Marie Presley," she wrote. "I do not know why my signature appears on this document."

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Sofia coppola imagines priscilla's teen years, living at graceland with elvis.

Another attachment shows Naussany Investment's notice of the foreclosure sale, published online on May 12, on the grounds that the loan using Graceland as collateral was not repaid.

It said it would hold public auction outside the Shelby County Courthouse at 11 a.m. on May 23, and sell the property to the "highest and best bidder for cash."

Keough, arguing that the company has "no right whatsoever" to conduct the sale, asked the court to issue an injunction permanently blocking the sale and declare that the note and deed of trust are fraudulent (and therefore unenforceable).

Last week, the judge issued a restraining order that prohibits the company, defendant Kurt Naussany "or any party acting in concert with either of them" from conducting a sale ahead of Wednesday's hearing.

Elvis' home base is now a major tourist draw

Visitors line up to enter the Graceland mansion in 2017, 40 years after Elvis' death. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Visitors line up to enter the Graceland mansion in 2017, 40 years after Elvis' death.

Graceland started as part of a cattle farm. Elvis bought the grounds and existing mansion for $102,500 in March 1957. Its worth was estimated between $400 million and $500 million as of 2020 .

Elvis moved in later in 1957, after he finished filming "Jailhouse Rock." He would go on to expand the mansion to 17,552 square feet, adding fixtures like the kidney-shaped swimming pool and sheet music-styled gates.

Graceland remained his home base for the next two decades, until he died there in August 1977.

40 Years After His Death, Elvis Presley Still Draws Large Crowds

The estate then went to Elvis' dad, Vernon Presley, and subsequently to Lisa Marie upon her 25th birthday in 1993. Keough officially became the owner in August 2023, after a months-long legal dispute with her grandmother over her mother's will.

Graceland has been open to the public since 1982, and has expanded over the years to include a hotel, several museums, restaurants and an entertainment complex, among other attractions.

Pop Culture Happy Hour

In 'elvis,' an icon remains an icon, and little else.

It employs hundreds of workers and draws upwards of 500,000 visitors annually, according to the venue, which calls itself the "most famous home in America after the White House."

Graceland joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006, becoming the first rock-n-roll site to be named to both lists.

• Riley Keough
• Elvis Presley

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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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.

• Anniston/Gadsden

Graceland up for foreclosure auction, but Elvis heir claims fraud

• Published: May. 20, 2024, 5:23 p.m.

Graceland, Elvis Presley's home, is shown on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) ASSOCIATED PRESS

• Mark Heim | [email protected]

Graceland will be sold at a foreclosure sale Thursday, but Elvis Presley’s granddaughter is fighting the sale with a lawsuit, claiming fraudulent.

According to WREG , a temporary restraining order was granted Monday, per the attorney for heir Danielle Riley Keough.

An injunction hearing is set for Wednesday.

A  notice published this month  in the Commercial Appeal states Graceland and surrounding acreage on Elvis Presley Boulevard is set to be auctioned off for cash to the highest bidder on the Shelby County Courthouse.

Per Fox 13 , a Missouri company named Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC presented court documents claiming that Lisa Marie Presley, the former owner of Graceland prior to her death in 2023, borrowed $3.8 million and gave a deed of trust using Graceland as collateral.

The company, per the report , claims Lisa Marie Presley never paid back that money before her death.

In a 60-page lawsuit, Keough - Lisa Marie Presley’s daughter - claims her mother never borrowed any money from the company.

“These documents are fraudulent,” the lawsuit states , claiming Lisa Marie Presley’s signatures on the deed are forgeries, and that Naussany Investments is not a real entity. The notary denied she notarized Lisa Marie Presley’s signature or ever met her, per the suit.

Meanwhile, it appears to be business as usual at Graceland.

The official web site states Graceland is open daily for tours and tour tickets are available to be purchased.

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On July 4-6, Graceland Manion will be lit in red, white, and blue as it celebrates the nation’s independence during its annual All-American Weekend. The weekend includes a Memphis Music Salute; an Elvis tribute concert featuring Cote Deonath; a gospel brunch with the Tennessee Mass Choir; plus, the All-American Party on July 5th celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Elvis’ groundbreaking hit “That’s All Right” with Elvis-themed fireworks! Tickets and hotel packages are available at HERE.

Elvis Week 2024 marks the 47th anniversary of Elvis’ passing, with nine days of events, Aug. 9-17, celebrating Elvis’ life and legacy.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter  @Mark_Heim . He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

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The messy fight to see who really owns Elvis' Graceland is over

• A company had claimed it owned the rights to Graceland and planned to auction it.
• Elvis Presley's granddaughter Riley Keough accused the company of fraud and forging documents.
• The company said it would withdraw its claim just hours after a judge ruled in Keough's favor.

A bizarre legal battle over who actually owns Elvis Presley's Graceland estate came to an end on Wednesday, leaving the iconic site in the hands of the King of Rock and Roll's family.

A company that claimed it owned the deed to Graceland has now said it'll withdraw its claim on the estate, the Associated Press reported .

Hours earlier, a Tennessee court had ruled in favor of Elvis' granddaughter, the actor Riley Keough , who had been fighting to keep the property.

Keough became the owner of the 13.8-acre Memphis property and trustee of Promenade Trust, which operates the estate, after her mother, Lisa Marie Presley , died in January 2023.

The saga started when a company called Naussany Investments and Private Lending said it owned the deed to the property and announced plans last week to auction it off .

The company said that Lisa Marie Presley had taken out a $3.8 million dollar loan from Naussany, using the estate as collateral. Naussany argued that it had the right to sell the property for repayment after Presley never paid the firm back.

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But Keough sued Naussany, accusing the creditor of forging the signatures that purportedly gave it the deed to Graceland.

"While the documents bear signatures that look like the signatures of Lisa Marie Presley, Lisa Marie Presley did not, in fact, sign the documents," the lawsuit says.

"These documents are fraudulent," Keough's lawsuit said. "Lisa Marie Presley never borrowed money from Naussany Investments and never gave a deed of trust to Naussany Investments."

The lawsuit also argues that Naussany isn't a real company.

"Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC appears to be a false entity created for the purpose of defrauding the Promenade Trust, the heirs of Lisa Marie Presley, or any purchaser of Graceland at a non-judicial sale," the suit continues.

Naussany said in an email to the AP that it would be "withdrawing all claims with prejudice." Naussany told the AP that it was dropping the case because the loan and another critical document had been filed in a different state, meaning the company would have to take legal action in multiple states.

"As the court has now made clear, there was no validity to the claims," a spokesperson for Graceland told Business Insider. "There will be no foreclosure. Graceland will continue to operate as it has for the past 42 years, ensuring that Elvis fans from around the world can continue to have a best in class experience when visiting his iconic home."

Lawyers for Keough declined to comment on the situation.

BI wasn't able to reach Naussany Investments.

• Main content

Graceland to remain in Elvis Presley’s family as Tennessee court halts sale of the King’s house

A ruling concluded that the company that intended to sell the mansion to cover an alleged debt owed by lisa marie presley, elvis’ only daughter, could be acting fraudulently.

Graceland is not for sale. Elvis Presley’s legacy will remain in the hands of his heirs, as ruled by a court in Tennessee on May 22, which considered that the company that intended to sell the property could be committing a possible fraud and decided, for now at least, to halt the transaction. A day earlier, the artist’s granddaughter and heir, actress Riley Keough , denounced that a company called Naussany Investments & Private Lending claimed that the house was hers though legal chicanery and that it intended to carry out a foreclosure sale, which she and her lawyers have strongly opposed.

The hearing took place in Shelby County, Tennessee, on Wednesday morning, although Keough was not present and her case was presented by her attorney, Jeff Germany. Chancellor JoeDae L. Jenkins stated that the sale will be postponed until the rightful owner of the mansion, which the singer bought in 1957 and where he lived until his death in 1977, is established.

The chancellor not only took into account that it is unclear who owns Graceland, but also the importance of the property. “The real estate is considered unique under Tennessee law and, in being unique, the loss of the real estate would be considered irreparable harm,” he said. In addition, Jenkins asserted there is evidence the company falsified certain documents that would thus entitle it to sell the property.

The issue goes back a long way. Naussany claims that, years ago, Lisa Marie Presley — who died in January 2023 — and who is Keough’s mother and Elvis Presley’s only daughter, asked them for a loan of $3.8 million. The exact date is unknown, but it appears to have been about six years ago (precisely when it became known that she was filing for bankruptcy), because the company has submitted what it claims is a promissory note allegedly signed by a Florida notary public named Kimberly Philbrick in 2018, although Philbrick has now disavowed the document in an affidavit: “I have never met Lisa Marie Presley, nor have I ever notarized a document signed by Lisa Marie Presley.”

Keough is also of the opinion that the documents are forged. “The purported note and deed of trust are products of fraud and those individuals who were involved in the creation of such documents are believed to be guilty of the crime of forgery,” she asserts in her lawsuit. In Keough’s view, Naussany is “a false entity created for the purpose of defrauding” the fund that manages the estate of the “the King.”

Chancellor Jenkins ruled Philbrick’s affidavit has provided evidence of sufficient value to delay the foreclosure, at least until a hearing can determine the facts. In addition, Jenkins asserted the evidence shows that Keough is telling the truth. “It appears you’ll be successful on the merits … provided you prove at the ultimate hearing fraud alleged by your client and the notary,” he said of Keough’s case.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Riley Keough (@rileykeough)

Naussany insists that Lisa Marie Presley failed to pay back the loan and that they can therefore collect on the collateral she put up against it — Graceland. The house was appraised in 2021 at $5.6 million ($6.5 today due to inflation). However, Keough claims Naussany is lying and has denounced its actions through the company that manages Graceland and the family’s assets. “Elvis Presley Enterprises can confirm that these claims are fraudulent,” it said. As such, the company filed a counterclaim earlier this week, the intent of which was to “stop the fraud,” their lawyers said.

Lisa Marie Presley’s 2022 tax return showed that the singer’s daughter owed more than $3 million, but did not reflect to whom or the source of the debt. In 2004, when the assets of Elvis’ legacy exceeded $100 million, she decided to sell 85% of the company that managed it. Elvis Presley Enterprises continues to hold 15% of the company, which today is managed by Riley Keough after a tense fight with her grandmother, Priscilla Presley . In 2022 Graceland, which receives 600,000 visitors a year, managed to generate about $80 million, with around $12 million going to the family. That year, Lisa Marie Presley received about $1.25 million from the trust.

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Memphis Mafia confirms: Priscilla was victim of Elvis’s worst side

Sofia Coppola: ‘I never wanted Elvis to be a villain’

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Graceland Auction Called Off—The Battle Over Elvis Presley’s Estate, Explained

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A lending company that claimed it had a collateral deed to Elvis Presley’s legendary Graceland estate and announced a foreclosure auction for the property has reportedly withdrawn all of its claims to the mansion hours after a judge in Tennessee temporary halted the auction as a matter of “public interest,” multiple Memphis news stations reported .

Rock and roll singer Elvis Presley strolls the grounds of his Graceland estate circa 1957.

The Graceland mansion, where Elvis lived until his 1977 death, was listed as coming up for auction in a notice released earlier this month that said the mansion and the 14 acres it sits on would be sold "to the highest and best bidder for cash” on the steps of the local courthouse.

The actress Riley Keough, one of three living grandchildren of Elvis, responded to the notice by filing a lawsuit against the company purporting to run the auction, called Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC.

The company, she said in a court filing obtained by CNN , was claiming her mother Lisa Marie Presley, once the sole heir to her father’s estate, had put the mansion up for collateral against a $3.8 million loan before she died, and the loan was never paid back.

Keough’s lawsuit claims her mother never borrowed money from Naussany Investments and never signed over a deed to the property, and also said the Florida-based notary whose name is on the paperwork "never met Lisa Marie Presley nor notarized any document for her," CNN reported.

The lawsuit claimed the signatures on the forms were fake and that Naussany Investments, which could not be found through a search of secretary of state records , is not a real business.

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A judge on Wednesday agreed to halt the sale of the Graceland mansion, in part because of how unique the estate is to the state of Tennessee. Shelby County Chancellor Joe Dae Jenkins called the sale a matter of public interest, multiple outlets reported, adding that the loss of the real estate "would be considered irreparable harm." Shortly after the judge's decision, Naussany Investments withdrew all claims to the estate, according to local news outlets .

Key Background

Elvis Presley purchased the property in 1957, 18 years after it was built, for $100,000, according to the estate's official website . Presley was 22 years old at the time and working on his second film, "Loving You." He lived at Graceland until he died there in 1977, and is buried there, along with his daughter, Lisa Marie, and several other family members. It opened as a museum in 1982. Lisa Marie Presley inherited the estate when she turned 25 in 1993, and when she died last year, the estate was left to her three daughters: Keough and twins Harper and Finley Lockwood, who are 15 years old. Today, the archives of Graceland serve as the official history record of Presley's life, complete with 50,000 photographs, thousands of documents and a collection of memorabilia that includes cars, instruments, awards and other items. An executive told Rolling Stone in 2020 Presley’s estate was worth between $400 million and $500 million.

More than 600,000 visitors tour the museum each year, according to the Graceland website, making it the second-most visited home in the United States (the White House is first).

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The sale of Elvis's iconic home Graceland has been halted. What's happening with the Presley estate?

The company that had intended to auction off Graceland — singer Elvis Presley's iconic mansion in Memphis — has abandoned its plan after a judge in the US state of Tennessee blocked the sale following allegations of fraud.

A representative for the company, Naussany Investments & Private Lending, said that it would withdraw all of its claims over Graceland where the iconic musician is buried. 

It comes after Presley's granddaughter, Riley Keough, filed a legal complaint against a private investment firm alleging that it is attempting a fraudulent sale of Presley's former home. 

So how did it all unfold?

Graceland up for auction

In early May, a public notice was issued for the foreclosure sale of the 5-hectare estate in Memphis. 

Naussany Investments and Private Lending said that Promenade Trust, which controls Graceland Museum, owes $US3.8 million ($5.7 million) after failing to replay a 2018 loan.

It said that Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, who died last year, had used Graceland as collateral for a loan.

An auction was scheduled for Thursday this week, but a Memphis judge blocked it after Ms Keough sought a temporary restraining order and filed a lawsuit, court documents show. 

Riley Keough sues

However, Keough sued last week on behalf of Promenade Trust, 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," Ms 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 notarised any documents for her, the court filing said.

The notary's statement, Judge JoeDae L. Jenkins said on Wednesday, "brings in the question as to the authenticity of the signature" as well as whether the underlying document is fraudulent.

What will happen now?

The latest injunction essentially keeps in place a previous restraining order issued at the request of Ms Keough.

"Graceland is a part of this community, well-loved by this community and indeed around the world," the judge said.

Neither Ms Keough nor lawyers for Naussany Investments were in court on Wednesday, local time.

Naussany did file an unsuccessful motion denying the lawsuit's allegations and opposing the estate's request for an injunction.

In a statement, Elvis Presley Enterprises, which operates Graceland, said: "As the court has now made clear, there was no validity to the claims. There will be no foreclosure."

Who owns Graceland?

Since the death of Lisa Marie Presley last year,  Ms Keough now owns the home. 

Graceland opened as a museum and tourist attraction in 1982 as a tribute to Presley, 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.

"Graceland will continue to operate as it has for the past 42 years, ensuring that Elvis fans from around the world can continue to have the best in class experience when visiting his iconic home," Elvis Presley Enterprises said in a statement.

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