Graceland Dropping Candlelight Vigil Charge

Above, Elvis Presley's grave in the Meditation Garden of Graceland. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thanks to nimrods of Black Lives Matter and large crowds, Graceland felt it had to charge for admission for the Elvis Week Candlelight Vigil as a security measure. 

But they are now dropping it for next year.

According to the Memphis Daily News:

Graceland is dropping a controversial admission fee for the Aug. 15 candlelight vigil that caps Elvis Week. 

The charge was instituted in 2017, when the vigil marking the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death drew an estimated crowd of more than 30,000, and continued this year. 

Originally billed as a safety measure, it started a year after Black Lives Matter protesters picketed during the 2016 candlelight vigil and were kept away from Elvis fans by police and security. The Graceland protest was part of a larger series of demonstrations that Memphis police took steps to monitor, leading to a civil liberties lawsuit that played out in federal court in August. 

During the vigils, fans holding candles walk through the gates of Graceland and up the driveway of Presley’s estate to pay their respects at his gravesite.

 To read more, go here.

Graceland Arena Controversy Shows Strings

Above, The Beast at the Graceland RV Park in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The saga between the proposed projects of Elvis Presley Enterprises and the City of Memphis marches on.

The Memphis Daily News reported:

Elvis Presley Enterprises and City Hall got together last week in Whitehaven on neutral ground to talk about Graceland’s expansion plan, specifically a 6,200-seat arena. And from a distance you could barely see the strings from the arena attached to the 1,000-job manufacturing facility Graceland has also talked about starting on Brooks Road. 

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland has said he has no problem with incentives for a manufacturing facility that would make such products as The Clapper and Chia Pets – made by a company recently bought by Graceland Holdings managing partner Joel Weinshanker. But he says Graceland hasn’t sought incentives for that project. 

At the May 16 forum hosted by City Council member Patrice Robinson at the Southwest Tennessee Community College Whitehaven center, attorney Clarence Wilbon, representing Elvis Presley Enterprises, said he hasn’t heard that before. And he indicated Graceland may begin moving in that direction.

But Wilbon also said there is a legal argument to be made for tax incentives that might be granted for any project on the Graceland campus – including an arena.

The map above shows a proposed exhibit area and a new arena west of the Elvis Presley's Memphis entertainment complex.  (Elvis Presley Enterprises map)  Note that the Graceland RV Park is still a part of the campus. This will make RVers very happpy (and it is a nice campground/RV park, I stayed there two years ago). It does look like it may be reconfigured from when I was there.

To read more, go here.

Walking Tour From Graceland Crossing To Elvis Presley's Memphis

Above, Graceland Crossing stores in November 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I visited Elvis Presley's Graceland last November, I had no idea that the facilities across the street from the mansion would be history in a few short months. Well, at least I don't recall this.

Above, the former tour shuttle facility, now demolished. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Anyway, last night I saw an interesting video on the now closed-up Graceland Crossing and Graceland Plaza. It is a walking tour of the closed-up sections that ends at the new Elvis Presley's Memphis entertainment complex and museums. Many, if not all, of the shops that closed are now relocated at the new facility.

Here's the video:




According to the Memphis Daily News, Graceland Plaza is currently being demolished. The former Heartbreak Hotel (near the Graceland RV Park) is also slated to be demolished.

To read the article, go here.