ELVIS PRESLEY'S MEMPHIS 3PM - 6PM. What remains, what envelops us all, is that powerful, unmistakable voice. Experience the magic and beauty of Graceland this holiday season with festive events to celebrate one of Elvis' favorite times of the year. Its the same at the hotel, the gift shops, the museums, the restaurants. Ask Road44344061719 about The Guest House at Graceland 4 Thank Road44344061719 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Ive never done anything lasting.. Reviews are most valuable when they are original and unbiased. The new hotel is helping to revitalize the Whitehaven area in South Memphis. . The Guest House also includes a 464-seat theater for presentations or ceremonies. People fainted, and they got lifted over everyones heads., The people would not let us leave the stage, says Masekela. A new movie, Elvis, starring Austin Butler as Elvis and Tom Hanks as his scheming manager, Col. Tom Parker, will premiere on June 24. Loved the theater with Elvis movies. Please arrive on time for your tour; if you miss your scheduled tour time, you will be assigned the next available tour time. The world is suddenly dancing to a South African beat, much to the dismay of some antiapartheid activists. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. The Guest House at Graceland offers a variety of Memphis, Tennessee vacation packages to help you enjoy Graceland and the Memphis area. When I emailed her recently to see whats changed over the past 23 years, Doss, now a professor in the Department of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame, replied that she hasnt followed the Elvis phenomenon in recent years. EPs Bar & Grill is a casual dining option featuring a pool table and big-screen TVs for showing live sporting events. For Weinshanker, though, the experience was more profound. Thats really how they interact with older culture now: as images. Among White devotees, part of Elviss idealized appeal is his humility, his generosity, his spirituality and, yes, his supposed lack of prejudice. And on that day, I said, One day, Im going to be involved in Elviss legacy. , Linking Elvis to the worlds most noteworthy humans is common among aficionados, I find. Mike said that before Elvis died, he had plans for a guest house albeit much smaller than a 450-room Guest House to be built at Graceland, so this new hotel is, in fact, an extension of the Kings own brainchild. It was everything we thought it would be and more!! Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property is taking steps to protect the safety of guests and staff. Room service is offered for guest convenience. One TV channel continuously shows Elviss Hawaii concert; another shows the 68 Comeback Special. On a third channel I find a program about Graceland at Christmas, where a gloved archivist displays daughter Lisa Maries stocking with the care one might show the Shroud of Turin. 27junAll Day02julPerforming Arts CampAN UNFORGETTABLE PERFORMING ARTS CAMP EXPERIENCE FOR KIDS - AND UNIQUE VACATION FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY - ONLY ATELVIS PRESLEY'S GRACELAND! Elvis came from nothing, Weinshanker says, and became everything.. During the two all-too-brief weeks of rehearsal, says Masekela, we hoped it would be as good onstage as much as we enjoyed playing it. Perhaps the most fun to be had is at a wedding reception at The Guest House, which can take place in one of the five ballrooms or on the event lawn outside. The Guest House at Graceland is located at 3600 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN 38116. The studio space is unremarkable, like an old garage with microphones, yet it tingles with the magic of history. Please arrive on time for your tour; if you miss your scheduled tour time, you will be assigned the next available tour time. Its really about whats best for Elvis and whats best for his brand. if the writer is claiming to be someone else). Expect to pay about $30 to $200 for children. Check out our Calendar of Events to see what's happening while you're here at Graceland, or plan your trip around some of these special events! But Graceland showed him the colossal hugeness of Elvis. Graceland Guest House Theater is an intimate venue that can seat up to 464 concert goers. In a 2017 YouGov survey of more than 2,000 Brits age 18 to 24, 29 percent said they had never heard an Elvis song. Attitudes evolve, and race will be linked to Elviss long-term appeal. After their trip, guests tell us about their stay. Our largest meetings & events space, The Ballroom, is perfect for any gathering with up to 1,000 people. Peter Guralnick is the author of two seminal biographies of Elvis Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love and he has written books on giants such as Sam Cooke, Robert Johnson and Sam Phillips. Who knows? The most helpful contributions are detailed and help others make better decisions. 3600 Elvis Presley Blvd. And todays youth have entertainment options we never imagined: TikTok, YouTube, elaborate video games, hundreds of cable channels, streaming services. By 1989, in Public Enemys Fight the Power, Chuck D raps, Elvis was a hero to most / But he never meant s--- to me you see / Straight up racist that sucker was. Yet in a Newsday interview tied to the 25th anniversary of Elviss death in 2002, Chuck D offered a more nuanced view: As a musicologist and I consider myself one there was always a great deal of respect for Elvis, especially during his Sun sessions, the rapper said. Couples in particular like the location they rated it 9.0 for a two-person trip. with valid membership card receive 6% off Elvis Experience Tour for up to fourindividuals (tickets must be purchased by the member in one transaction). [He] said nothing about Presley being racist, Bertrand notes. You can have your meetings, and you can have fun at the same time.. The problem isnt Elvis the artist or Elvis the man. The Guest House at Graceland is more than a full-service hotel. Only 10 minutes from downtown and 3 minutes from the Memphis Airport. I know your pet friendly.. We welcome your dogs less than 35 pounds at The Guest House in our South Tower rooms, with daily pet cleaning fee of $50 per dog. Elvis isnt Shakespeare. Then came his electric black-leather 68 comeback. Today theres no such thing. In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property. It is part of The Guest House at Graceland, Memphis' second largest hotel and a Four Diamond luxury resort. A woman walks by in blue suede cowboy boots, suggesting shes an employee donning the required Elvis flair. Browse upcoming events at Graceland and The Guest House below and book your stay today! Founders member Angela Henderson of Kiawah Island, South Carolina, has attended two auctions at The Guest House. Deltas Kitchen offers an array of Southern comfort dishes, including contemporary twists on some of Elvis Presleys favorite foods. And the discussion will be dictated not by octogenarian record producers, septuagenarian actresses-businesswomen or middle-aged academics. That night, the magic kicked in, and the audience with it. AAA discounts require a valid AAA card (that has not expired) with government-issued photo ID in the same name presented at Ticket Office. At Graceland, I notice two things about the birthday crowd: We are old and we are White. Simon, who twice turned down million-dollar offers to play Sun City the South African entertainment complex located in the black homeland of Bophuthatswana in the past, has never appeared on the UNs published register of performers who have violated the cultural boycott; earlier this year, he wrote a carefully worded letter to the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid, which monitors the boycott, reiterating his status as an artist who has refused to perform in South Africa and pledging to maintain this position in the context of the UN cultural boycott. Nevertheless, Simon has been challenged by civic leaders, interviewers and fellow musicians throughout the Graceland tour about his position on the South African governments racist policies, the lack of overtly political songwriting on Graceland and in the words of a spokesperson for the South African antiapartheid group the United Democratic Front the exploitation of the talents of the African musicians for the furtherance of Simons own aims.. To be sure, Pretoria cast a long shadow of fear over Rufaro Stadium that weekend. With 128 rooms, the Heartbreak was a busy little hotel, says Frances McNutt, who worked in the gift shop there for eight years before transferring to The Guest House. They are detailed after where [she and Elvis] lived around the States., Filled with mid-century flair and located on the hotels higher floors, these one-bedroom Vernon & Gladys suites are named after Elvis parents and are inspired by Elvis and Priscillas iconic Palm Springs home. It's classic elegance and modern luxury - friendly, refined and uniquely Elvis. But they know the look those iconic photographs performing on Ed Sullivan or him decked out in his white suit in his Vegas incarnation. In 2019, JUST at Graceland we sold over $12M of merchandise/memorabilia.. Everybody gets paid and makes his or her money. We were very happy here. Angela grew up hearing Elvis because her mom was a big fan, and her Aunt Rosie saw him perform in Las Vegas. If you continue using our website, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on this website and you agree to our Privacy Policy. To retrieve the shuttle: The bathroom was large enough for two to very easily be doing things at the same time. We also liked having restaurants to choose from. Our room was very clean and quiet. When I arrive at my sleek room at the Guest House at Graceland resort on Elvis Presley Boulevard, a black-and-white Elvis stares from the TV screen to the sound of Jailhouse Rock. The screen, I discover, has a choose-your-own-Elvis feature, and depending on my selection, I can be greeted by a 50s, 60s or 70s Elvis image, along with tunes from that era. This hotel was highly-rated for its very comfy beds. Paul Simon was sweating bullets . As a result of his musical field trip to Johannesburg in February 1985, during which he recorded much of Graceland with the cream of South Africas black singers and players, he has been publicly censured by the African National Congress and other antiapartheid organizations in the United States and Europe for violating the United Nations cultural boycott of South Africa. During the holiday season, visitors can enjoy our. He shares a line from Dundys book: You can hear the soil in Elviss voice the way you can hear the cement in Sinatras.. Projects under development include Agent King, an animated Netflix series featuring Elvis as a government spy. Elvis spent the night at Sams and vice versa, and they ate at each others homes, he says. With or without luggage, whether self-parking or valeting, visitors are treated as invited guests. On the second night in Rotterdam, he says, the audience gave the musicians a standing ovation after their stirring performance of the unofficial African national anthem, NKosi Sikeleli (God Bless Africa). There are several lounge areas around the property for guests to relax or converse. The resort seems full, even though the coronaviruss omicron variant is at its peak, and its all a reminder: Predicting the end of Elvis is a foolish enterprise. Graceland gift cards are redeemable for tours, concert tickets, special event tickets, at Graceland gift shops and restaurants, at The Guest House at Graceland resort hotel, plus online at ShopGraceland.com, where you can find exclusive Graceland and Elvis merchandise. A flat-screen cable TV, work desk and coffee maker is provided in each room. Aside from two alley walls with Elvis murals and a statue in the town square commemorating a 1956 homecoming concert, Tupelo seems quiet and quaint. Today Elvis fandom seems divided on racial lines, though that wasnt always true. Women in their 20s, he says, are the second-highest demographic for Graceland visits and Elvis merchandise. One Fans Search for Seeds of Greatness in Bob Dylans Hometown. Events. All cribs and extra beds are subject to availability. She estimates shes been to Graceland about 300 times and admits to having a storage unit for her growing collection of Elvis memorabilia. The crack rhythm section, led by guitarist Ray Phiri, put real spring into Simons rhymin as the forty-four-year-old singer-songwriter ran through such Graceland numbers as I Know What I Know and You Can Call Me Al with pride and relish, making only minimal concessions to his past (The Boxer, a high-stepping Mother and Child Reunion, a zesty reading of an old doo-wop favorite, the Del-Vikings 1957 hit Whispering Bells, grafted onto the tail end of Gumboots). It has 450 spacious rooms and a range of contemporary facilities, including two restaurants, spaces for meetings and special events and a 464-seat theater for live performances and movies. If we find any, we delete them and, if necessary, take action against whoever is responsible. Located just steps away from the iconic Graceland Mansion, The Guest House at Graceland welcomes music fans, Graceland guests, Memphis visitors and groups from around the world with Southern hospitality, royal treatment and luxurious amenities that would make the King of Rock n Roll himself proud. Outdoor Swimming pool: Closed from Sat, Oct 01, 2022 until Mon, May 01, 2023. Like learned historians, Elvis fans are eager to share what they know and love about him. Gift shop employees Gretchen Peless and Frances McNutt stand amidst black-and-white Elvis photos behind the counter at the gift shop. Einstein was a revolutionary. After the eccentric opulence of Graceland, Sun exudes a refreshing grit. During the COVID-19 pandemic we are only going to the Memphis International Airport and Graceland. Every night, theres live music in the Lobby Lounge and an Elvis movie, concert or stand-up comedy show in the theater. Roger Ebert once noted something similar about the Marx Brothers. Ticket office staff cannot call AAA offices to verify memberships. In 1982, when Graceland opened to the public, it received 400,000 visitors. Our room was very clean and quiet. As guests approach the large white columns and pull into the porte-cochere, theyre sure to encounter Southern hospitality. The movie theater was great as well as the PB&J sandwiches at 9:00pm every evening. 22/23 . Joan Gansky, a lifelong Elvis fan and friend of Tupelos Roy Turner, met him multiple times in the 60s while living in Santa Monica, Calif. He always stopped and talked to us on his way home from the [movie] studio, says Gansky, an expat from England. And X No. A few of the options include relaxing in the outdoor pool or hot tub, reading a book atop a Memphis-made DreamCatcher Hotels mattress in a guest room, grabbing a Delta burger at EPs Bar & Grill, or enjoying an adult beverage on the back patio. Watch Paul Simon Surprise Newport Folk Festival During Tribute Set. Ill take Mystery Train and Blue Moon of Kentucky over anything recorded in Studio B. Tour includes: Self-guided tour of Exclusive VIP Exhibit. Everything was amazing! There are similar hotels available. Soon after Heartbreak Hotel topped the charts in 1956, critics deemed him a hip-swiveling flash in the pan (The only consolation, a Sioux City Journal reporter wrote in a concert review, was that Elvis Presleys sensational popularity will be short lived). We were very happy here. This discount is not available for VIP or Elvis Presley's Memphis + Planes options. Ken Budd has written for National Geographic Traveler, the Atlantic, the New York Times and many more publications. Its an unusual gift, he said. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. When guests stay at the property, they check out how quiet the room is, how friendly the staff is, and more. Plan for at least a half-day, as visitors have spent several hours just in the complex itself. Additional sorting options might be available (by type of traveler, by score, etc). In fact, the Memphis resort hotel, which opened in October 2016, was designed for the Elvis impersonator and the suspicious-minded visitor alike. 2,835 reviews. Memphis, TN 38116. Potato Head. Guests can enjoy the outdoor lawn and courtyard area. Young people are always craving something new. ADDRESSES Ideally, we'd publish every review we get, positive and negative. Great shower., Amazing hotel, friendly staff, very tastefully done. Music has changed so much: the fragmentation of genres, the emergence of specific subcultures attached to genres, the domination of hip-hop, the eclipse of rock as a popular musical form, says Charles L. Ponce de Leon, author of the Elvis biography Fortunate Son. Even with the top 40, insofar as there is such a thing, you see what the top hits are, and few if any songs have any connection to the older rock and pop for which Elvis is known.. See his mansion, the gold records, the jeweled jumpsuits, the classic cars and interactiveexhibitsthat let you experience Elvis like never before. Throughout my childhood, Elvis was ever-present in our home, like a good-looking, sequined uncle. Soundstage at Graceland 3717 Elvis Presley Blvd. Lock in a great price for The Guest House at Graceland rated 8.6 by recent guests! The room was great. everything it was spectacular from the staff to the hotel was beautiful the food we ate was above great. They're also applicable regardless of the comment's tone. Originally from Michigan, Gretchen grew up coming to Memphis on vacation. By making a donation to the Graceland Poinsettia Campaign, you will support the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation, as well as add to the beauty of Graceland during the holiday season. Woefully under rehearsed, playing together onstage for the very first time, he and his twenty-four-member Graceland ensemble of black South African singers and musicians were about to make their concert debut, not under a sparkling, starlit African sky but amid the dreary concrete and steel of the Ahoy sports arena in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. When we arrive at Studio B, Debbie shares some history, then instructs each of us to sit at a piano that Elvis used to play. 1674130|5,1687860,1674130|1,1680920,1680330,1687990,1674130,1680920|1,1687640,1683680,1682270,1687300,1683680|1,1687140,1682270|4,1653460,1687860|3,1682710,1686320, The Guest House at Graceland (Hotel), Memphis (USA) Deals, National Civil Rights Museum Lorraine Motel, Personal or sensitive info (e.g. The lighting was above expectations and very well done. All rights reserved. I see no shortage of bald spots and middle-aged bellies. Respect the privacy of others. After your tour, spend the night with us at our AAA Four-Diamond resort hotel, The Guest House at Graceland. Nice sized rooms. How much does it cost to tour Graceland? It also has over 17,000 square feet available for events and weddings, a 464-seat theater and two full-service restaurants. I felt a sense of safety in Elvis, of being fully alive and happy. This lets us know our reviews come from real guests like you. Theyre not going to remember me, he told backup singer Kathy Westmoreland shortly before his death. Details for both are still in the works, but the luau will feature an outdoor barbecue, fire entertainers and the Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii concert playing on an outdoor screen. To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search. Whether from the Memphis area or within day-trip distance, friend groups would do well to organize a weekend getaway to The Guest House. I have a small service dog, for my seizures, hypoglycemia and due to several major health issues he offers emotional support. Promotional content will be removed and issues concerning Booking.coms services should be routed to our Customer Service or Accommodation Service teams. The entire world, it seems, is suddenly moving to a South African beat. Great peanut butter banana beer., First night stop at bar & grill; food was good. But the first audience was a sea of smiling faces, giving us ovations and encores. A nearby couple speaks German; a man with Elvis sideburns and a late-Elvis paunch speaks with a thick Scottish brogue. Book The Guest House at Graceland, Memphis on Tripadvisor: See 3,756 traveller reviews, 2,817 candid photos, and great deals for The Guest House at Graceland, ranked #19 of 154 hotels in Memphis and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor. For Whites, there was well-to-do Tupelo and lower-class East Tupelo. In Careless Love, Guralnick tells a story of a news conference after Elviss 1969 opening in Las Vegas. The Guest House at Graceland Check In / / Check Out / / Guests Contact accommodation for availability. Enjoy our 464-seat theater home to live music and entertainment shows all year long. White bigots saw the rise of Elvis and the integrated crowds as a threat to Jim Crow and segregation. For updated information on specials and events, call (800) 238-2000 or (901) 443-3000, or visit guesthousegraceland.com. Its a great place to watch the NCAA basketball tournament and NBA playoff games. And just as the hotel is designed to appeal to more than only Elvis fanatics, couples of all types with weddings of any size will enjoy hosting receptions at The Guest House. Food and service at the restaurants were very good. As I look through the boxs clear plastic, I realize: For some young people, Mr. Elvis would go in the front door, and Sam would go around to the side and then into the colored section, says Turner. You also may make return visits as many times as you would like before closing time. With our gracious staff providing unmatched service, and bringing you that Southern hospitality for which the King was known, youll enjoy the rock n royal treatment from the moment you enter the lobby until youve left the building. She was an executor of Elviss estate, and one of the attorneys urged her to sell Graceland. Loved Elvis music. Food, atmosphere and location. In March 2020, Rolling Stone published a story with an ominous headline: Can Elvis Rise Again? The story cited a Forbes report stating that the Presley estate was annually pulling in $60 million a decade ago, but the number had dropped by 30 percent. When popular music grows stale, a jolt is inevitable, from the progressive rock of the 70s to punk or grunge. The pricing is not valid otherwise. 3 marks where 19-year-old Elvis Presley sang Thats All Right, the song that changed American music. Why is it just as popular today as it was when it came out? The resort includes 450 beautiful rooms and suites, several restaurants, a bar/lounge, pool and easy access to the Elvis Presley's Memphis Entertainment I can still hear Also Sprach Zarathustra (the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey) before Elvis took the stage, then the sudden barreling drums and gonging cymbals, the horn section blasting the riff to See See Rider like the furious thump of a fighters jab. Im working essentially for free., But for Simon and the South African musicians at his side, the hardest part of withstanding the slings and arrows of antiapartheid outrage is reconciling the volatile criticism that has dogged every step of the tour with the rapturous audience reception that greets the troupe not just Simon but Masekela, Makeba and especially Ladysmith Black Mambazo every night. Image: The Guest House at Graceland, One of the five ballroom spaces available for rent at The Guest House, Vignettes from Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum, a part of Elvis Presleys Memphis entertainment complex | Images: Graceland. I defy you to find Tom Petty oven mitts or Jimi Hendrix ice trays. For on-site purchases after 2:00 p.m., facility fee is $1.50 per adult/senior and $0.75 per youth. She sold some of her prints in The Guest House gift shop on March 4, 2017, during the opening weekend of Elvis Presleys Memphis. The room was well appointed and very comfortable. Average Tour Time: 2 2.5hours Beale Street is 8 mi from The Guest House at Graceland, and the Memphis Zoo is a 15-minute drive away. Loved Elvis music. Her two most-prized items are an Elvis autograph, which she bought at the Collingwood Elvis Festival in Canada, and one of the white scarves that Elvis passed to audience members during his final tour in June 1977. I think it just does that to people., At the time, he says, he was a cocky manager for a band that had sold millions of records. When Mom died, we all took an Elvis knickknack from her home. With Graceland tickets and hotel? But Im here for a tour of nearby RCA Studio B, where Elvis recorded many of his hits in the 1960s. Food and service at the restaurants were very good., The place was perfect. If you book your ticket in advance and are unable to tour on your scheduled tour date for any reason, you can make changes to your tickets prior to 5:00 PM CT the day before your scheduled tour. Average Tour Time: 3.5 4 hours You can sort and/or filter them by time of year, review score, and more. It was very uplifting. With his mix of country, gospel and blues, nobody sounded like Elvis before Elvis. Hotel made our first visit to Graceland priceless., We really enjoyed our stay at The Guest House at Graceland. 3600 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38116, USA Guests can ask concierge for local area suggestions. Whether in the gift shop, the lobby or one of the two restaurants, there is no shortage of things to do or people to meet. But when Debbie turns off the lights and plays the 62-year-old recording, something unexpected happens. 03marAll Day05Ultimate ETA WeekendThis unforgettable weekend will include concerts with Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest winners, conversations, photo ops, and more! The Guest House also includes a 464-seat theater for presentations or ceremonies. Your contribution should be yours. Graceland has various ticket options to meet the needs of our visitors. We stayed at the Graceland Guest House which is lower in cost than many of the hotels we looked at and they provide a shuttle to the Graceland tours. It doesnt put a great taste in my mouth.. WHAT'S GRACELAND LIVE; FAN FAQ; WHAT FANS ARE SAYING; More. And a revolutionary. (In South Africa, the album has been Number One for nine weeks and has sold 110,000 copies, making it the biggest-selling international release there since Michael Jacksons Thriller.) The audience applauds, but that comparison may be part of the long-term problem. I am so surprised how many people are here, the King of Rock-and-Rolls ex-wife tells the crowd. When his beloved mother, Gladys, died, he wanted to open the service to fans before the colonel convinced him otherwise. Outside, the furor over Simons controversial journey to South Africa a trip many antiapartheid activists claim was in violation of the United Nations cultural boycott against that country continued to accelerate. Subscribe. EPs Bar & Grill plays all blues music and no Elvis, just to mix it up. This property has taken steps to provide more sustainable and eco-friendly travel. MEETINGS Blues, Country, Gospel & Rock make up our 4 meeting spaces to get your team in harmony. Musky smelling room. Check your selected option for more info. It wasnt just music and pop culture it was his outfits, it was being a first adopter. The music scene has changed a lot in the past few decades and Elvis is not a part of that at all, she wrote. My heroes were probably his heroes. But for many people of color, a different image persists. Food, atmosphere and location. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room. Although many Elvis fans opt to have their ceremonies at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in the Woods, Mike says there are both wedding ceremonies and receptions on the books at The Guest House in 2017.