Editing Graceland (section)

== Tourist destination ==
{{more citations needed|section|date=June 2017}}
[[File:ElvisGravesite.JPG|thumb|The graves of Elvis and his grandmother Minnie Mae on the grounds at Graceland]]
After Elvis Presley's death in 1977, Vernon Presley served as executor of his estate. Upon his death in 1979, he chose Priscilla to serve as the estate executor for Elvis's only child, Lisa Marie, who was only 11. Graceland itself cost $500,000 a year in upkeep, and expenses had dwindled Elvis's and Priscilla's daughter Lisa Marie's inheritance to only $1 million. Taxes were due on the property; those and other expenses due came to over $500,000. Faced with having to sell Graceland, Priscilla examined other famous houses and museums, and hired a CEO, Jack Soden, to turn Graceland into a moneymaker. Graceland was opened to the public on June 7, 1982. Priscilla's gamble paid off; after only a month of opening Graceland's doors the estate made back all the money it had invested. Priscilla Presley became the chairwoman and president of [[Elvis Presley Enterprises]], or EPE, stating at that time she would do so until Lisa Marie reached 21 years of age. The enterprise's fortunes soared and eventually the trust grew to be worth over $100 million.

An annual procession through the estate and past Elvis's grave is held on the anniversary of his death. Known as Elvis Week, it includes a full schedule of speakers and events, including the only Elvis Mass at St. Paul's Church, the highlight for many Elvis fans of all faiths. The 20th Anniversary in 1997 had several hundred media groups from around the world that were present resulting in the event gaining its greatest media publicity.

[[File:Elvis Presley's Grave.jpg|thumb|left|Presley's grave]]

One of the largest gatherings assembled on the 25th anniversary in 2002 with one estimate of 40,000 people in attendance, despite the heavy rain. On the 38th anniversary of Elvis's death, an estimated 30,000 people attended the Candlelight Vigil during the night of August 15–16, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Candlelight Vigil 2015 |website=Official Graceland Blog |url=https://www.graceland.com/blog/candlelight-vigil/|access-date=June 17, 2018|archive-date=February 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218172109/https://www.graceland.com/blog/posts/candlelight-vigil/|url-status=live}}</ref> On the 40th anniversary of Elvis's death, on August 15–16, 2017, at least 50,000 fans were expected to attend the Candlelight Vigil. No official figure seems to have been released, maybe because, for the first time, attendees had to pay at least the lowest tour fare, $28.75, to cover the extra security costs due to a larger than usual crowd.<ref>{{cite news |title=50,000 Elvis fans converge on Graceland for 40th anniversary of his death |website=WJHL |date=August 16, 2017 |url=http://www.wjhl.com/news/50000-elvis-fans-converge-on-graceland-for-40th-anniversary-of-his-death/871447852|access-date=June 17, 2018|archive-date=February 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218171957/https://www.wjhl.com/news/50000-elvis-fans-converge-on-graceland-for-40th-anniversary-of-his-death/871447852/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Big crowds cause Graceland to change policy on Elvis Presley's candlelight vigil |website=commercialappeal.com |date=August 11, 2017 |url=https://eu.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/08/11/graceland-changes-policy-candlelight-vigil/560279001/|access-date=June 17, 2018|archive-date=February 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218172009/https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/08/11/graceland-changes-policy-candlelight-vigil/560279001/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Gladys Love Presley 12.21.19.jpg|thumb|Starting in 2018, the headstone of Gladys Presley, which was  placed on her original grave at Memphis' Forest Hill Cemetery in December 1964 and later stored in the Graceland archive after her remains were relocated to Graceland in 1977, would be publicly displayed in the Graceland Mediation Garden.<ref name=gladysheadstone>{{cite news |url=https://www.graceland.com/elvis-news/posts/gladys-presleys-headstone-added-to-meditation-garden |title=Gladys Presley's Headstone Added to Meditation Garden |publisher=Graceland |date=August 14, 2018 |access-date=February 17, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2018/08/15/gladys-presley-tombstone-returns-graceland/991529002/ |title=Gladys Presley's Elvis-designed tombstone returns to Graceland |first=John |last=Beifuss |publisher=Commercial Appeal |date=August 15, 2018 |access-date=February 17, 2024}}</ref>]]

For many of the hundreds of thousands of people who visit Graceland each year, the visit takes on a quasi-religious perspective.<ref name=Davidson>Davidson, James W.(1985). ''[http://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/297/ The pilgrimage to Elvis Presley's Graceland: A study of the meanings of place] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425045657/http://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/297/ |date=April 25, 2012}}'' (M.A. thesis) Wilfrid Laurier University</ref> They may plan for years to journey to the home of the 'King' of rock and roll. On site, headphones narrate the salient events of Elvis's life and introduce the relics that adorn the rooms and corridors. The rhetorical mode is [[Hagiography|hagiographic]], celebrating the life of an extraordinary man, emphasizing his generosity, his kindness and good fellowship, how he was at once a poor boy who made good, an extraordinary musical talent, a sinner and substance abuser, and a religious man devoted to the Gospel and its music. At the meditation garden, containing Elvis's grave, some visitors pray, kneel, or quietly sing one of Elvis's favorite hymns. The brick wall that encloses the mansion's grounds is covered with graffiti that express an admiration for Presley as well as petitions for help and thanks for favors granted.<ref>See Linda Kay Davidson and David Gitlitz ''Pilgrimage, from the Ganges to Graceland: an Encyclopedia'' (Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2002).</ref>

[[File:Lisa marie plane.jpg|thumb|right|Presley's [[Convair 880]], ''Lisa Marie'', named after his daughter]]

The Graceland grounds include a new exhibit complex, Elvis Presley's Memphis, which includes a new car museum, Presley Motors, which houses [[Elvis Presley's Pink Cadillac|Elvis's Pink Cadillac]]. The complex features new exhibits and museums, as well as a studio for [[Sirius Satellite Radio]]'s all-Elvis Presley channel.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/people/elvis-presley/2017/03/02/graceland-today-unveils-elvis-presleys-memphis/98497616/ |title='It's a new era': Graceland unveils Elvis Presley's Memphis |work=The Commercial Appeal|access-date=June 29, 2017 |language=en|archive-date=March 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307174638/http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/people/elvis-presley/2017/03/02/graceland-today-unveils-elvis-presleys-memphis/98497616/|url-status=live}}</ref> The service's subscribers all over North America can hear Presley's music from Graceland around the clock. Not far away on display are his two aircraft including ''Lisa Marie'' (a [[Convair 880]] jetliner) and ''Hound Dog II'' (a [[Lockheed JetStar]] business jet). The jets are owned by Graceland and are on permanent static display.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/despite-opposition-elvis-presleys-private-planes-will-remain-at-graceland-20150427 |title=Elvis' Custom-Designed Planes Will Remain at Graceland |magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=June 29, 2017|archive-date=August 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822142343/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/despite-opposition-elvis-presleys-private-planes-will-remain-at-graceland-20150427|url-status=live}}</ref>

In early August 2005, [[Lisa Marie Presley]] sold 85% of the business side of her father's estate. She kept the Graceland property itself, as well as the bulk of the possessions found therein, and she turned over the management of Graceland to [[CKX, Inc.]], an entertainment company (on whose board of directors Priscilla Presley sat) that also owns [[19 Entertainment]], creator of the ''[[American Idol]]'' TV show.

Graceland Holdings LLC, led by managing partner Joel Weinshanker, is the majority owner of EPE. Lisa Marie Presley's estate retains a 15% ownership in the company.

In August 2018, Gladys Presley's headstone, which contained the Jewish star of David on one side and a cross on the other and was designed by Elvis himself, which become publicly displayed when it placed in Graceland's Mediation Garden after being stored for many years in the Graceland Archive.<ref name=gladysheadstone /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/display-of-mothers-star-of-david-headstone-revives-talk-of-elviss-jewish-roots |title=Display of mother's Star of David headstone revives talk of Elvis's Jewish roots |first=Dan |last=Fellner |publisher=The Times of Israel |date=June 25, 2021 |access-date=February 17, 2024}}</ref>

Lisa Marie Presley's estate, which is being held in trust for her daughters [[Riley Keough]] and Harper and Finley Lockwood, retain 100% sole personal ownership of Graceland Mansion itself and its over 13-acre original grounds as well as Elvis Presley's  personal effects – including costumes, wardrobe, awards, furniture, cars, etc.<ref name="latimes.com" /> Prior to her death in 2023, Lisa Marie Presley had made the mansion property and her father's personal effects permanently available for tours of Graceland and for use in all of EPE's operations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.graceland.com/about/ |title=About – Elvis Presley's Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises |website=www.graceland.com |language=en-us|access-date=June 29, 2017|archive-date=October 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018095705/https://www.graceland.com/about/|url-status=live}}</ref>