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Elvis Presley museum: Graceland invests in an attraction fit for the King
POSTED 22 Aug 2016 . BY Kim Megson
The museums in the complex will explore Elvis Presley's music, movie and live touring career
Elvis: Past, Present & Future will enable our visitors to live a day in the life of Elvis Presley
– Joel Weinshanker, managing partner at Graceland Holdings
Construction has begun on a 200,000sq ft (18,600sq m) entertainment complex devoted to Elvis Presley, located across the street from his famous Graceland Mansion in Memphis.

The project is the most significant expansion in the history of Graceland, which has been open to the public as a museum since 1982. Called Elvis: Past, Present & Future, the US$45m (€40m, £34.3m) complex will explore Elvis’ personal interests and activities throughout his life, including his passion for automobiles, aircraft and new technology.

The site, which will open in Q1 2017, will feature a 20,000sq ft (1,860sq m) museum called Elvis: The Entertainer. Dubbed by Graceland Holdings company as “the largest and most comprehensive Elvis museum in the world”, it will explore Presley's music, movie and live touring career through hundreds of artefacts.

Additional attractions include a new Elvis Presley Automobile Museum with his famous pink Cadillac, 19 other motorised vehicles and a 200-capacity theatre; a 20,000sq ft Graceland Soundstage for live music performances; two themed restaurants named after Elvis’ parents; retail stores offering the world’s biggest collection of Elvis merchandise; and a permanent exhibition about Sam Phillips – the founder of rock and roll label Sun Records and the man who discovered Elvis in Memphis.

“Elvis: Past Present & Future will enable our visitors to live a day in the life of Elvis Presley” said Joel Weinshanker, managing partner at Graceland Holdings. “Whether you’ve been to Graceland multiple times or have yet to make the trip, we know that you’ll be entertained, educated and inspired.

“We’re thrilled to bring Elvis fans the opportunity to explore the things that Elvis loved and what he would have loved today – the music, the technology, the experiences.

The complex is the second phase is a wider Elvis-themed development around Graceland. A 450-room resort hotel called The Guest House at Graceland will open on 27 October this year at a cost of US$92m (€81.3m, £72m). Every aspect of the hotel will reflect Elvis’ personal style and the character of his famous Memphis mansion, with 20 specialty suites designed in collaboration with his former wife Priscilla Presley.

In total US$137m (€121.1m, £104.5m) has been invested in the Whitehaven community of Memphis to create a landmark tourist destination for fans of the King.

The museums in the complex will explore Elvis Presley's music, movie and live touring career Credit: Wiki Commons
US$45m has been invested in the Elvis: Past, Present & Future complex Credit: Graceland
An automobile museum will showcase Elvis' love of cars Credit: Graceland
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Twenty years on from his tragic death, legendary Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain could be immortalised in a museum at his former home, a site the local Mayor hopes could become as big as Elvis Presley attraction Graceland.
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NEWS
Elvis Presley museum: Graceland invests in an attraction fit for the King
POSTED 22 Aug 2016 . BY Kim Megson
The museums in the complex will explore Elvis Presley's music, movie and live touring career
Elvis: Past, Present & Future will enable our visitors to live a day in the life of Elvis Presley
– Joel Weinshanker, managing partner at Graceland Holdings
Construction has begun on a 200,000sq ft (18,600sq m) entertainment complex devoted to Elvis Presley, located across the street from his famous Graceland Mansion in Memphis.

The project is the most significant expansion in the history of Graceland, which has been open to the public as a museum since 1982. Called Elvis: Past, Present & Future, the US$45m (€40m, £34.3m) complex will explore Elvis’ personal interests and activities throughout his life, including his passion for automobiles, aircraft and new technology.

The site, which will open in Q1 2017, will feature a 20,000sq ft (1,860sq m) museum called Elvis: The Entertainer. Dubbed by Graceland Holdings company as “the largest and most comprehensive Elvis museum in the world”, it will explore Presley's music, movie and live touring career through hundreds of artefacts.

Additional attractions include a new Elvis Presley Automobile Museum with his famous pink Cadillac, 19 other motorised vehicles and a 200-capacity theatre; a 20,000sq ft Graceland Soundstage for live music performances; two themed restaurants named after Elvis’ parents; retail stores offering the world’s biggest collection of Elvis merchandise; and a permanent exhibition about Sam Phillips – the founder of rock and roll label Sun Records and the man who discovered Elvis in Memphis.

“Elvis: Past Present & Future will enable our visitors to live a day in the life of Elvis Presley” said Joel Weinshanker, managing partner at Graceland Holdings. “Whether you’ve been to Graceland multiple times or have yet to make the trip, we know that you’ll be entertained, educated and inspired.

“We’re thrilled to bring Elvis fans the opportunity to explore the things that Elvis loved and what he would have loved today – the music, the technology, the experiences.

The complex is the second phase is a wider Elvis-themed development around Graceland. A 450-room resort hotel called The Guest House at Graceland will open on 27 October this year at a cost of US$92m (€81.3m, £72m). Every aspect of the hotel will reflect Elvis’ personal style and the character of his famous Memphis mansion, with 20 specialty suites designed in collaboration with his former wife Priscilla Presley.

In total US$137m (€121.1m, £104.5m) has been invested in the Whitehaven community of Memphis to create a landmark tourist destination for fans of the King.

The museums in the complex will explore Elvis Presley's music, movie and live touring career Credit: Wiki Commons
US$45m has been invested in the Elvis: Past, Present & Future complex Credit: Graceland
An automobile museum will showcase Elvis' love of cars Credit: Graceland
RELATED STORIES
Plans for home and recording studio of Prince to become museum


Sheila E, long-time collaborator with Prince, has said there are plans to turn his Paisley Park home and recording complex in Chanhassen, Minneapolis, into a museum dedicated to the musician’s career.
Fan bids to turn Kurt Cobain's childhood home into museum


Twenty years on from his tragic death, legendary Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain could be immortalised in a museum at his former home, a site the local Mayor hopes could become as big as Elvis Presley attraction Graceland.
Architect named for Elvis' birthplace project


The Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation has selected Memphis-based architecture company Haizlip Studio to redevelop the Elvis Presley Birthplace attraction in Tupelo, Mississippi, US.
MORE NEWS
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Movie Park Germany reveals new Paramount attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 
Efteling expands family offer with new Hooghmoed drop tower
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COMPANY PROFILES
TechnoAlpin Indoor

TechnoAlpin is the world leader for snowmaking systems. With the Indoor snow division, TechnoAlpin c [more...]
iPlayCO

iPlayCo was established in 1999. [more...]
Holovis

Holovis is a privately owned company established in 2004 by CEO Stuart Hetherington. [more...]
Sally Corporation

Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
+ More profiles  
FEATURED SUPPLIER

Iconic Liverpool attraction opens door to new operators
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its next phase. [more...]
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT NEWS
ATTRACTIONS HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS