Schellhase 2018-2019 Gulf Coast and Southwest Trip: 3 Dec 2018

3 Dec 2018

This morning we toured Graceland, home of Elvis Presley. Neither of us are huge, over-the-top Elvis fans, but it is a "must-do" in Memphis and the tour was both interesting and educational. They are geared up for huge crowds which undoubtedly visit during the peak tourist season which is not now. There was just one tour bus there and just a few cars, so we got parked and right in quickly.

The sparsely filled parking lot. The RV park in the background. The RAM parked "way out yonder"!

So we exited the parking lot and headed towards the main building where you buy your tickets.

Christmas decorations line the entrance

Once you select your tour package (most expensive was $169 and cheapest as about $40), you are issued an iPad with headphones as the tour is audio/video-guided. You enter a small theater and watch a quick movie and then get in line to board a bus which takes you to the Graceland Mansion which is across the street.

Another advantage of visiting this time of year is the mansion and grounds are beautifully decorated for the Christmas holidays

Christmas trees and lights

Doreen at the entrance of Graceland mansion

So we arrived in front of the mansion and entered through the front door. The audio/video tour takes you through the rooms on the main floor first which included the living room, dining room, one of the bedrooms and the kitchen. The rooms are elaborately decorated, suited for a King, but have the 70's written all over them. Shag carpet and other decorum popular back then. Here are just a few pictures:

Living Room

Formal Dining Room

Stairs to second floor (closed to tour)

Elvis's mother bedroom on main level

Kitchen

Kitchen. Notice the huge microwave oven enclosed in Plexiglas. Few had microwave ovens back then.

Just past the kitchen we headed down stairs and toured the recreation room, billiards room, etc

A bar in the rec room where Elvis would entertain

Recreation room. Notice the three RCA TV's. RCA was his record label after Sun Records, so RCA provided these TV's, one for each channel

The lightning bolt along with "TCB" stood for "Taking Care of Business" "in a flash".

Beautiful billiards room

The famous "Jungle Room" as mentioned in the "Walking in Memphis" song.

From the Jungle Room we headed outside past the carport where he kept his cars. They have all since been moved to his Car Museum we will tour later. Past this was Vernon's Office, which is located in the Smokehouse Building. Vernon Presley was Elvis's father and manager, and he handled all the incoming mail and business matters.

Vernon's Office

Elvis and his buddies used to shoot firearms is the Smokehouse Building as well.

Past the Smokehouse was the pasture where he kept his horses. Some horses are still kept here.

The rear view of Graceland mansion

Next was the Trophy Building. It was filled with artifacts from Elvis and his family, from birth through death. There are too many things to describe here, but one picture I captured was of Elvis's World War I Commemorative 1911 pistol with turquoise grips.

Exiting the Trophy Building we passed his swimming pool and then toured his Racketball Court Building. Like the other areas, it had it's own bar and lounge area for Elvis's visitors.

Swimming Pool

Racquetball Court

The last area at Graceland was the Graceland Memorial Park where Elvis and his relatives are buried. It is a beautiful and solemn place with a fountain

That wrapped up the tour of Graceland mansion area. We boarded the bus and headed back across the street. They dropped us off at Elvis's Car Museum which is tied to several others displays such as his military service. There are too many pictures so here are just a few:

Entrance to the car museum

The iconic 1955 "pink Cadillac"

Elvis's pedal car

My pedal car!! We got this from my sister Karen and enjoyed it for many years! Daughter Michelle is in the passenger seat!

Elvis served in the Army for about two years, 1958-1960. There was a huge room of pictures and artifacts from his military service

Another area displayed performers who were influenced by Elvis.

Outside courtyard area with restaurants and other shops

From the museum areas we walked down to where the airplanes are parked.

Presley's 1959 Convair 880, the "Lisa Marie". It was retired after transporting Elvis's wife and daughter to his funeral.

Inside the "Lisa Marie". Extravagant gold plated lap belt buckles, leather and suede upholstery, 24kt gold fleck sinks, etc.

Presley's 1962 Lockheed Jetstar, named "Hound Dog II"

That wrapped up the Graceland tour. It was about three hours end to end. We finished up the day having dinner with a retired military comrade who I served with in our Comm unit in Des Moines. Jason Hunt and his wife Kim met us at Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken restaurant.

Gus's serves up a spicy coating that gives the chicken a great taste. Jason retired while I was still in Comm and then his civilian job with the US Department of Agriculture brought him from Urbandale IA to the Memphis TN area. It was great to reconnect with Jason and meet Kim, plus the dinner was fantastic! I gave Jason one of my retirement coins and hope we can stay in touch. Kim fixed us up with some Christmas cookies to take back to the RV. Much appreciated!