Graceland Celebrates 37 Years As A Tour Destination

Above, the Graceland living and music rooms in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Elvis Presley's Graceland was opened to the public back in 1982. Within a year or two after that, my parents were taken there by my Great Aunt and Uncle.

My first visit was in 2001 and I returned there in 2016.

Graceland is celebrating 37 years as one of America's iconic tour destinations. A press release was posted by the Associated Press.

It begins with:

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 5, 2019-- Elvis Presley’s Graceland ® opened for public tours on June 7, 1982, and since that day over 20 million people have visited the mansion, known as the second most recognized home in the United States (after the White House). In the past 37 years, the Graceland campus has expanded considerably, offering a wealth of new and different experiences and entertainment for visitors, who will find there truly is always something happening at Graceland.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190605005134/en/

To read more, go here. 

Johnny Rockets Partners With "Godzilla: King of the Monsters"

Companies are lining up to tie-in with the hype of the upcoming Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

The latest is Johnny Rockets hamburger restaurants.

According to Business Wire:

WILBRAHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Johnny Rockets today announced a cross promotional partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ epic action adventure Godzilla: King of the Monsters – in theaters May 31, 2019 – to tout the restaurant’s new over-the-top avocado menu items.

The much-anticipated cinematic event corresponds with the debut of Johnny Rockets’ new avocado menu, which features several heroic items, such as an Avocado Bacon Ranch Burger and Chicken Sandwich, each piled high with fresh avocado slices, thick cut bacon, swiss cheese and crunchy onion rings. Also on the menu is an Avocado Chicken Salad, topped with bacon and bleu cheese crumbles, and Loaded Totchos, a sizable, shareable starter with tater tots smothered in cheese, chili, avocado and jalapenos. 

“With the rise of the avocado – the undisputed king of food trends – comes an opportunity to incorporate Godzilla fans’ epic taste of adventure into a variety of mouth-watering dishes, from loaded salads to starters to our beloved burgers,” said Linda Sangiacomo, Senior VP of Marketing, Johnny Rockets. “We pride ourselves in entertaining our guests every day, whether it’s through our iconic dancing servers, timeless upbeat music, creative ketchup art, or blockbuster partnerships such as this one.

“We pride ourselves in entertaining our guests every day, whether it’s through our iconic dancing servers, timeless upbeat music, creative ketchup art, or blockbuster partnerships such as this one. ”

To read more, go here.

6 Million New North American Campers Since 2014

Above, a new Winnebago Intent under transport to a dealer at
the Jamestown, New Mexico Flying J. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When sitting on my outside deck and watching the traffic go by on Interstate 40 through New Mexico, the vehicles I've really noticed (besides semi-trucks) are recreational vehicles of all types. There's many of them passing by.

Additionally, I've noticed a lot of RVs being transported from factories to dealers while at the local Flying J travel center. The Flying J is a popular refueling and rest stop for transporters. The RV business is booming and Business Wire has noted that there is a big growth in camping families going on.

They wrote:

BILLINGS, Mont.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 6 million new North American households have adopted the camping lifestyle since 2014, with the number of campers who camp three times or more each year – the most avid group of campers – having increased by 64 percent. This growth, according to the results of the 2018 North American Camping Report, an annual independent study supported by Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA), is an indicator that camping is fast becoming a lifestyle attribute among U.S. and Canadian households – and there is no indication this trend is slowing down.

In the U.S. there was an increase of 2.6 million new camper households in 2017. Further, representation among all ethnicities is beginning to appear more like the overall population. Building on 2017 report findings, campers at all experience levels and among all ethnicities continue to express the desire to camp more and are equally likely to say they intend to increase their camping trips in 2018: 45 percent of all campers indicated they will increase camping trips in 2018, an increase of 3 percent from last year’s report, while 39 percent of new campers in 2017 will increase camping trips in 2018.

To read more, go here.

How Much Does Recreation Vehicles Account In Annual Economic Activity?

Above, The Beast at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Travel and leisure is a big industry in the U.S. and around the world.

One may wonder, "How much does the RV industry account to annual economic activity?

Business Wire has just the anwer:

RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Coming on the heels of a record-breaking year of sales for the RV industry, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced today that RVs accounted for $30 billion in direct economic activity in 2016, the most recent year for which statistics are available. The data from the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account (ORSA), the first ever government report recognizing outdoor recreation as a significant contributor to the U.S. economy.

$30 billion? That's a nice chunk of change!

To read more, go here. 

10 Great Trips and 10 Great Campsites

Above, The Beast at the Grand Canyon/Williams KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

GEICO and KOA Kampgrounds have teamed up with suggestions of ten great trips and ten great campsites for your next RV trip. I have stayed at two of their suggested campsites.

Their suggestions are posted at Business Wire and they begin with:

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Camping on the roadside has always been a part of the American landscape, starting with covered wagons. 

However, it was not until 1910 when Pierce-Arrow introduced the Touring Landau in Madison Square Garden that ‘RVing’ as we know it began. For RV enthusiasts who like to know these things, the Landau included a chamber pot, a sink, a folding rear seat that converted to a bed and a telephone that connect the passengers to chauffeur, reports the RV Museum and Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Ind. 

Whatever your call to the open road may be – an adventure, family time, or solitude – preparation is key. When stocking your cabinets with games and supplies, take the time to review your insurance policy. Did you add some features to your RV? Do you need to add more coverage to replace your personal effects? Should you increase your emergency expense coverage? There’s a good deal to review. 

Once you’re covered, and if you’re having trouble deciding where your next epic RV trip will be, you can’t go wrong with the classics. 

GEICO and KOA campgrounds suggest 10 great trips at 10 great campsites for you to consider.

To read more, go here. 

Graceland Celebrates Elvis’ Birthday With Special Events and Auction

Above, inside the former racquetball court building today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's a number of articles on the festivities commemorating  Elvis Presley's 82nd birthday at Graceland this weekend.

One of which was a press release posted at Business Wire, which begins with:

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Graceland® celebrated Elvis’™ birthday as construction continues on schedule for the new, state-of-the-art “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” entertainment complex across the street from the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s™ Memphis mansion. Graceland guests, fans from around the world, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell officially celebrated with a proclamation of “Elvis Presley Day” on the front lawn of Graceland and by cutting the largest birthday cake in Graceland history. Other birthday events included concerts and panel discussions, with special guests including “Follow That Dream” movie co-stars Robin and Gavin Koon and award-winning filmmaker Andrew Solt, who made a number of acclaimed films and television specials about Elvis Presley. For the first time ever, birthday celebration events were hosted at Graceland’s new AAA Four Diamond-rated resort hotel, The Guest House at Graceland™. The birthday celebrations kick off the 40th anniversary of Elvis’ passing. 

A highlight of the celebration was The Auction at Graceland held in The Guest House Theater on January 7. Elvis fans and pop culture enthusiasts gathered to bid on memorabilia from Elvis’ personal life, all consigned by third-party collectors and expertly authenticated by Graceland Authenticated. Highlights included a Gold and Diamond Lion Head Ring Elvis owned and gave to Charlie Hodge, one of the Memphis Mafia. It was estimated to sell for $10,000 - $15,000 and went for $37,500.00. Elvis’ Colt “Police Positive Special” .32 Caliber Pistol which he gave to bodyguard Richard Grob sold for $10,625.00 on an estimate of $4,000 - $6,000. Over 160 items were sold in the auction.

Above, concert jumpsuits on display in the former racquetball court building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What caught my eye about the article, besides the now-under-construction entertainment complex, was the news that Presley's racquetball court will be restored to its original appearance.

According to the article:

The acclaimed Graceland Mansion tour will continue to present the personal and family side of Elvis’ life, and will soon include a full restoration of Elvis’ racquetball court, so that it once again looks exactly as it did when Elvis was last in the Racquetball Building. “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” will tell the rest of the story, exploring the beginning of the incredible music and pop culture explosion that all started here in Memphis, with the greatest entertainer of all time.

Above, the walkway to the racquetball building. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Currently, the former racquetball building houses displays of gold & platinum records, awards, jumpsuits and other memorabilia. Three of the accompanying photos show the inside of the building as it is currently configured.

Above, the wall of gold and platinum records. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.