Some Elvis Fans Gripe Over Admission Charge

Above, the Presley gravesite in the Meditation Garden at Graceland. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some fans of the late King of Rock 'n Roll Elvis Presley are griping over the admission charge to view Elvis's grave during the candlelight procession. Some are calling it "gouging".

Fox News Entertainment reported:

Elvis Presley's fans were ticked off when they were charged a whopping $28.75 to visit the late singer's grave on the 40th anniversary of the rock 'n' roll icon's death. 

Presley fans have been making a solemn procession past the "Love Me Tender" singer's grave at his Graceland mansion during the annual candlelight vigil commemorating his death, without paying a penny for nearly four decades. 

Those who attended the vigil that began Tuesday night and runs into Wednesday were required to purchase the $28.75 Elvis Week Property Pass wristband to walk up the long driveway and past the graves where Presley and relatives are buried. The wristband also provided access to a new $45 million entertainment complex at the Memphis tourist attraction. 

Graceland, operated by Elvis Presley Enterprises, said it anticipated large crowds and it updated its security measures for Elvis Week, the annual celebration of Presley's life and career in music and movies. Presley died on Aug. 16, 1977, in Memphis.

Given that crowds of 30,000 to 50,000 (or even more) were expected for the 40th anniversary of Presley's death, to give them a safe visit, the charge was for security and crowd management was made necessary.

The $28.75 charge is not unreasonable, in my opinion. The gravesite in the Meditation Garden at Graceland is a small area and it is necessary to secure the site and manage the throngs coming through the gates. And, it also admits people into the new Elvis Presley's Memphis entertainment complex.

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