Elvis' Pet Chimp Wasn't the Only Unusual Thing About Graceland

Elvis Presley, who died Aug. 16, 1977, would have been 88 years old this year. Whether you're a devoted fan or fascinated by the mystique surrounding the King when it comes to legendary musical destinations, there are few places as iconic as Graceland, Elvis' former home-turned-museum outside Memphis, Tennessee. The tourist attraction was named a National Historic Landmark in 2006, and its ownership will transfer after the Jan. 12 death of Elvis' daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, but there's lots more to know about the part paradise and part theme park that Elvis created for himself. 

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In early 2019, on what would have been Elvis' 84th birthday, Graceland held its annual auction. A red velvet shirt worn on stage by Presley at a 1956 show in Tupelo, Mississippi, sold for $37,500. A gold and diamond ring that Presley wore on stage (and later gave to his father Vernon) sold for $30,000. Overall, the auction made $600,000. As for the mansion and its contents, they are not for sale and all continued to be owned by Lisa Marie Presley, until her recent death when ownership was transferred to her three daughters. 

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Once upon a time, Graceland was one of the most-visited homes in America, surpassed only by the White House. And then COVID came along. Apparently, the pandemic impacted Graceland to such a degree that the Tennessee state-issued bonds linked to tourist revenue went into default, causing some serious blame game between the state, the city of Memphis, and Elvis Presley Enterprises. In 2017, The economic development agency, EDGE issued $104.3 million in Graceland Project bonds, and some of them were unrated or considered high risk. Now, nearly $20 million worth of those bonds are in default. Previous bond proceeds funded a huge expansion at Graceland, including a 450-room hotel, which generated a lot of traffic and subsequent revenue. But the hospitality industry took one serious gut-punch when COVID reared its ugly head, halting visits to the estate and stalling income, creating this hard-to-bounce-back-from state. 

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The newly released "Elvis" biopic covers 42 years' worth of ground, from "The King's" birth all the way to his death in 1977. Director Baz Luhrmann researched the singer's roots in both Tupelo where he was born and Memphis, where he resided at the iconic Graceland. To make things all the more accurate, award-winning designer Catherine Martin was brought in to meticulously replicate the famous estate. Filmed in Queensland, Australia, the set of "Elvis" was just a bit more than a hop, skip, and a jump away from Tennessee. To recreate Graceland in the Land Down Under, the production team visited the estate several times, scoured over photographs, and reviewed plans in the Graceland archives. No detail was too small during the recreation — the team even took a paint chip from a closet and was able to match the blue paint from it.

Elvis enlisted his parents in the real estate search after his neighbors in Memphis proper grew tired of fans and press constantly in the neighborhood. Elvis purchased Graceland at age 22 in 1957 for $102,500 (about $1.1 million in today's money), and put a down payment of $1,000 on the estate.  

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When Elvis bought the house, it was already called Graceland. It was named after the original owner's daughter, Grace, who inherited the property after her parents died and later passed it on to her niece, who sold it to Elvis.

Graceland is 17,552 square feet, with 23 rooms, including eight bedrooms and bathrooms, plus a basement game room that was modeled after the painting of an 18th-century billiards room. Graceland has five sets of stairs and three fireplaces: two gas-burning and one wood-burning. There is also a kidney-shaped pool, installed at Elvis' request. 

Graceland is the second-most recognized house in the U.S., after the White House, with over 650,000 visitors a year. In May 2016, Graceland welcomed its 20 millionth visitor. 

Having a stocked fridge was important to Elvis — some of the "necessities" that had to be stocked "at all times" were shredded coconut, gum (Spearmint, Doublemint, and Juicy Fruit, three packs each), Fresh, lean unfrozen ground round steak, cans of sauerkraut and wieners, and banana pudding (made nightly), and at least six cans of biscuits. His grocery bill was about $500 a week. 

There is a TV room in the basement where Elvis liked to watch three television sets at once, right next to his wet bar. He reportedly got the idea from President Lyndon Johnson, who liked to watch all three major network news channels at once.

Yes, Elvis had a chimpanzee named Scatter, who was known for pulling down women's skirts. Elvis liked to dress him up in costumes, and would drive around Memphis with Scatter in the front seat. But Scatter's misbehavior became too much for Elvis to handle and Scatter was sent to live in a climate-controlled room in Graceland. "Scatter wasn't the only animal friend who called Graceland home," says Christian Ross, marketing specialist at Graceland. "Elvis also had pet donkeys, peacocks, turkeys, just to name a few." These days, Ross says, there are still horses at Graceland Stables.

When Elvis toured, the rooms he stayed in would be rearranged — and sometimes even remodeled — to resemble Graceland. Furniture would even be shipped so he could relax in a more familiar setting.

After the death of Elvis, the care of Graceland went to his father, Vernon. After Vernon died in 1979, Priscilla Presley, Elvis' ex-wife served as an executor to the estate, along with National Bank of Commerce in Memphis and Joseph Hanks, Elvis' longtime accountant. Due to the $500,000 it required a year in upkeep and the hefty property taxes, they were worried about having to sell it. Instead, Priscilla hired a CEO to turn Graceland into a museum, and once it opened to the public on June 7, 1982, it took only a month to make back the investment Priscilla put into it. 

Should you decide to visit Graceland, you can explore via an interactive iPad tour, hosted by John Stamos and featuring commentary and stories by Elvis and his late daughter, Lisa Marie. You can also take a tour of the customized planes that Elvis traveled in — the Hound Dog II and the Lisa Marie, named for his daughter — complete with a living room, conference room, and a private bedroom, plus gold-plated seatbelts, leather-covered tables, and 24-karat gold-flecked sinks. "It's possible to immerse yourself in Elvis' life and career at the Elvis Presley's Memphis exhibit and entertainment complex (opened in 2017) and experience Elvis' roots, his influences, and his artistry," Christian Ross says.

One of the additions Elvis made to Graceland was a secluded meditation garden, featuring plants and fountains, where he liked to reflect on life. The meditation garden also became his final resting place, after thieves tried to steal his remains for ransom shortly after his death.

In 2007, Graceland launched an Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest for Elvis impersonators looking to shine. The semifinal round usually happens every year at Graceland's Elvis Week, typically in mid-August. Elvis was apparently fine with his impersonators and, in a complimentary letter to one such artist, wrote that "mimicry is a sincere form of being a fan."

Looking to go home with a souvenir? Graceland has seven gift shops, each with a range of apparel, jewelry, CDs, books, magnets, mugs, and more. A pair of Elvis-inspired gold sunglasses or a gold-plated TCB ring are definitely memorable keepsakes. 

Presley Motors, located inside the Elvis Presley's Memphis exhibit complex, is home to some of Elvis' favorite rides. "While no one knows exactly how many cars Elvis purchased or owned during his life," Christian Ross says, "Presley Motors is home to some Elvis' favorite automobiles, including his iconic Pink Cadillac, Stutz Blackhawk, 1956 Cadillac Eldorado, Dino Ferrari, Mercedes Benz limousine, Rolls Royce sedans and more."

"Christmas is one of the most festive times to visit Graceland," says Christian Ross. Christmas was one of Elvis' favorite times of the year, which Graceland celebrates with special Christmas-time tours. The property sparkles with the same original lights and decorations Elvis used to display at the Graceland mansion, including hundreds of blue lights along the driveway, a life-size Nativity scene, and Santa and his sleigh.

When it's time to take a break, The Guest House at Graceland is located just a few steps from the gates of Graceland Mansion. It's been given a Four Diamond designation by AAA.