Elvis Presley’s Graceland: Archivist Reveals if Secret Upstairs Area Will Ever Be Opened to Public
Elvis Presley‘s Graceland home opened up for tours in 1982. The house remained unchanged from when the King of Rock and Roll resided in the Memphis estate from 1957 to 1977. However, per the family’s request, no tours of the private upstairs area were allowed. This mandate remained in effect as Lisa Marie Presley, Graceland’s owner, became an adult until her January 2023 death. Today, the home’s archivist reveals whether the secret upstairs area will ever be opened to the public.
Will fans ever be able to tour Graceland’s private upstairs areas?
In an interview with Express.co.uk, Vice President of Archives and Exhibits Angie Marchese revealed whether or not there will ever be an option to tour the private upstairs areas of Graceland. It’s a question fans would love answered.
Marchese said that the rule remains the same about upstairs visitors. There are no immediate plans for tours of Elvis’ bedroom, office, bathroom, or Lisa Marie’s bedroom.
“No. [Riley] knew how much it meant to Lisa. And how important it was to her and even her sisters [Harper and Finley],” she explained. “So that remains private, yeah. Unfortunately, [the upstairs won’t be opened to the public as] it still means a lot to them.”
Graceland has been open to the public for over 40 years
Elvis Presley’s Graceland home first opened to the public in 1982. The decision was made to allow fans to tour Elvis’ after the estate found itself in financial difficulties.
Although Elvis toured until the end of his life, his earnings stalled after his death. With Graceland costing half a million dollars in maintenance and yearly taxes, a decision was made to generate cash flow.
Graceland’s official website writes, “In late 1981, they hired Jack Soden, a Kansas City, Missouri investment counselor, to plan and execute the opening of Graceland to the public and oversee the total operation. Graceland opened for tours on June 7, 1982.”
At that time, fans paid $5 each to tour the following areas of the home: the living room, music room, dining room, TV room, pool room, and the trophy building. Those were the only areas included in the tour, as there was still one resident of Graceland, Elvis’ Aunt Delta. Rooms such as the kitchen, what is now Vernon and Glady’s room, and the Jungle Room were off limits.
During the first years of Graceland house tours, fans could see Elvis’ cars and motorcycles lined up in the carport. The trophy building was also included, where fans saw Elvis’ gold record collection, awards, costumes, gun collection, and other memorabilia.
In 2023, the home was featured in its first televised Christmas special
Elvis Presley loved the Christmas season. Historically, it was when Graceland was decked out for the holidays, and Elvis was home for an extended period.
Therefore, it made sense for Riley Keough, Elvis’ granddaughter and the current executor of his estate, to open the home for the holiday season. Via NBC, some of the home’s rooms and outdoor areas featured musical acts singing Elvis songs and holiday standards.
This was the first time Elvis’ home was used as the focus of a holiday special. “Christmas at Graceland” was the estate’s first live musical televised holiday special.
“My family and I are elated to open the doors to Graceland in this first-of-its-kind special,” said executive producer Riley Keough in a statement shared on the official Graceland website. “With intimate musical performances drawing inspiration from my grandfather Elvis’s cherished Christmases in Memphis, viewers will be invited to experience firsthand the magic of Christmas at Graceland.”
Elvis Presley is buried at Graceland alongside his parents, Vernon and Gladys, his grandmother, Minnie May Presley, grandson Benjamin Keough, and daughter, Lisa Marie Presley.
