Graceland still a rockin’ destination after 3 decades

MEMPHIS, Tenn. » When Graceland opened to the public 30 years ago this month, nobody knew if it would be a success. Nearly 18 million visitors later, the house where Elvis Presley once lived is a money-making business that’s helped transform the city of Memphis into a top destination for music lovers.

But Presley’s ex-wife says it’s the spirit of Elvis, and not just music history, that keeps the crowds coming to Graceland.

"Every time I go in there, I feel like Elvis is going to come down the stairs any minute," Priscilla Presley said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press about the landmark’s anniversary. "I have no doubt that he’s there, somewhere, his spirit. I think people feel that."

The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll died on Aug. 16, 1977, and by the early 1980s, Graceland had become a burden on his estate, which faced high estate and inheritance taxes. Accountants and bankers wanted to sell the home.

The idea to open Graceland to the public came to Priscilla Presley after Elvis’ father, Vernon, died in 1979 and she was thrust into the role of managing the estate. "I realized as it was going on that there really wasn’t any money that could support Graceland or any of the people that worked for Elvis that were still there," she said. "I had a decision to make to somehow save Graceland."

Priscilla Presley secured a $500,000 investment and visited other tourist attractions — Hearst Castle, Will Rogers’ home, even Disney World — for inspiration.

Graceland opened for tours on June 7, 1982. "We had no idea whether 30 people were coming, or 300, or 3,000 that first day, Fortunately, it was the latter," said Jack Soden, CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises, who helped Priscilla Presley with her plan.

They sold out all 3,024 tickets on the first day and never looked back. Graceland’s success led to a worldwide merchandising and licensing business that keeps Elvis’ legend strong while generating $32 million a year in revenue. And the flow of tourists has remained steady, with an average of 500,000 annual visitors to the mansion and exhibit area across the street, according to Soden.

Visitors come all year, but they peak in August during the annual commemoration of Elvis’ death, which includes a candlelight vigil. Graceland expects to welcome its 18 millionth visitor this year.

Graceland’s popularity has also helped turn Memphis into a major music destination. "When Graceland opened, city leaders saw the impact it brought from visitors from all over the world," said Regena Bearden, vice president of marketing for the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau.

When Presley died, Beale Street in downtown Memphis, which had been known for the blues since the early 1900s, was in disrepair and shunned by visitors, but today it’s a bustling attraction featuring blues-themed bars, shops and restaurants.

Graceland, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Memphis on a hill in the Whitehaven community, remains focused on Elvis’ life and music. Visitors walk through the house in a line, passing through the living room, dining room, kitchen and the famed Jungle Room, where the King held court. Gold records gleam on the wall of a long hallway. His Army uniform and outfits he wore in movies and concerts are displayed in another room.

Outside, tourists — some crying — file past the graves of Elvis, his mother, father and grandmother. The burial site, adorned with flowers, includes a fountain.

Recent visitors to the 11-acre property included Orlis Dow, 77, who drove with two friends to Memphis in a motor home from Mineral Wells, Texas. Dow said he liked Elvis — he recalls watching the young singer on a small black-and-white TV — and points out that he was married on Jan. 8, Elvis’ birthday.

Dow said the permanence of Graceland’s popularity is a tribute to the performer’s talent and ability to connect with fans.

"It’s just a phenomenon," Dow said. "He had a gift, and he used it in the right way."