Graceland

Haunted Places in Tennessee > Haunted Homes Or Mansions

Elvis Presley's iconic home in Memphis, Tennessee, Graceland, is rife with ghost stories and eerie legends. The mansion is mostly known for its connection to the King of Rock and Roll, but many visitors and employees have reported strange occurrences over the years, leading to rumors of it being haunted. One of the most popular legends is that Elvis himself still haunts Graceland. Several visitors and employees have reported seeing his apparition, particularly around the meditation garden where Elvis, his parents, and his grandmother rest. Some have seen a tall, thin figure in black near the graves, and others have heard Elvis's voice or music when no one was around. People often suggest that Elvis's spirit remains, vigilantly guarding his home and legacy. One of the most well-known ghost stories involves a staff member who was working late at Graceland. While walking down the hallway, the employee suddenly felt an intense, cold sensation, as if someone was right behind them. When they turned around, they saw a shadowy figure that resembled Elvis. The figure then vanished into thin air, leaving the staff member shaken. Gladys Presley, Elvis’s mother, passed away in 1958. Some believe her spirit still resides in Graceland. There have been reports of a "motherly" figure seen wandering the halls of the mansion, and visitors have claimed to feel a comforting presence, almost as if Gladys is watching over them. Some have even claimed to have smelled her perfume or heard soft, calming whispers near her old bedroom. Graceland, like many homes, features a horseshoe hanging on the front door for good luck. Some say this horseshoe swings back and forth on its own, even without wind. Some people believe such behavior is a sign that Elvis’s spirit is trying to communicate, while others think it might be the work of other, more mischievous spirits. There have been numerous reports from Graceland staff of hearing footsteps in empty rooms, particularly upstairs in the “private areas” of the house. These footsteps are often described as heavy, as though someone is walking around in boots. When staffers go to investigate, there’s never anyone there, leaving them to wonder if it’s a lingering spirit of someone who used to live in the mansion. One of the eerier legends involves a large mirror that hangs in the hallway of Graceland. Some visitors say they see odd figures or faces in the mirror that aren't reflected. Others have reported seeing Elvis in the mirror, even when he’s nowhere near the room. There's also the legend of the "cursed room" in Graceland, where Elvis allegedly kept a guest bedroom he rarely used. Everyone who enters the room experiences a sense of discomfort due to its extreme coldness. Several guests have reported experiencing an unexplained sense of dread or feeling under surveillance during their stay in this room. Visitors sometimes see a "white light," especially around Elvis's death anniversary, which is one of the most intriguing ghost stories. Some people believe it’s a sign of Elvis’s spirit returning to Graceland. Some say it's an energy field linked to the mansion's past and the emotional events that happened there.

Graceland paranormal

Photo by: S. Donley
Location submitted by: sdonley on 01/22/2011
DBA Approved: Y

Larger Map

PANICd#: 1055

Publication date: 01/22/2011

Last visited: 10/19/2008

3734 Elvis Presley Boulevard
Memphis , TN 38116
Phone: 901-332-3322
Open to the public: Yes

https://www.graceland.com/

Lat: 35.046296
Lon: -90.02492

Database Summary:

Demographic Rank: 6
History: 1
Stories: 0
Claims: 3
Evidence: 0
Resources: 3
Retrievals: 10133
Vistor Rating: 1.3
Votes: 3

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History

History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.

Location

Graceland is located in Memphis, Tennessee, about 10 miles south of the downtown area. It sits along Elvis Presley Boulevard, a section of U.S. Highway 51S which was renamed in 1971 in honor of Presley's residence there. The land was originally owned by Stephen Toof---the original builder of the house. Mrs. Ruth Brown Moore, Toof's granddaughter sold the property to Presley. The original buildings are now joined by several structures housing museums centered around Presley's life and career, as well as the Heartbreak Hotel and Graceland Crossing, a center for souvenir and memorabilia shops.

Original Construction

Moore inherited the property from her aunt, Grace, after whom the property is named. In 1939, Moore and her husband contracted Memphis architectural firm Furbringer and Erhman to build the two-story classical revival residence and outbuildings. The house was designed specifically with the Moores' daughter, Ruth Marie, in mind. The girl was a musical prodigy and the front rooms of the house were designed to open into one another to serve as a venue for a musical performance.

Purchase

Driven by increasing fan attention to seek a more secluded and secure place of residence, Presley purchased Graceland in March 1957 as a home for himself, his parents and his paternal grandmother. He paid $102,500, and his family moved into the house in May, though Elvis himself was filming "Jailhouse Rock" and did not spend a night in the house until June.

Residence and Remodeling

Presley made many changes to the estate in the 20 years in which he lived at Graceland. Along with many interior decorating changes over the years, Presley built two additions, one on the back east section of the house (this addition would become known as the Jungle Room) and one on the south side. Presley also added a pool, turned the one-story wing on the north end of the house into an apartment, and the built the Meditation Gardens, where he, his parents and his grandmother were all eventually buried.

Open to the Public

Presley died in 1977 and left Graceland to his father Vernon, grandmother Minnie Mae and daughter, Lisa Marie. With the deaths of Vernon and Minnie Mae in 1979 and 1980, respectively, Lisa Marie Presley became the sole heir of the estate. In 1982, Lisa Marie and the trust left in place by Vernon Presley decided to open Graceland to the public. Since then, the estate has gradually purchased the surrounding businesses to create a unified and respectful attraction and tribute.

National Historic Landmark

Graceland was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, and in 2006 was designated as a National Historic Landmark. Graceland was cited in the National Park Service press release as "one of the five most visited home museums in the United States." More than 600,000 people visit Graceland each year, and it is estimated that the total economic impact on the city of Memphis is around $150 million a year.

Added by: sdonley on 01/22/2011 DB#:58
Source(s):
http://www.ehow.com/about_5104642_history-gracelan...

Graceland on Wikipedia Added: 09/07/2014 By: sdonley	Wikipedia entry for this location.
Elvis Presley Official Website Added: 09/07/2014 By: sdonley	Official website for Elvis Presley.
Graceland on Facebook Added: 09/07/2014 By: sdonley	Official Facebook page for this location.

Graceland

Database Summary:

History

Paranormal Claims

Additional Resources

Recently Added Locations

Claim #	Added	Added By	Claim
1164	01/22/2011	sdonley	Apparition of Elvis reported seen looking out the upstairs windows.
1165	01/22/2011	sdonley	Apparition of Elvis reported seen running up the stairs to the private quarters as visitors arrive.
1166	01/22/2011	sdonley	Apparition of Elvis reported seen late at night down by the graves.