This was published 1 year ago
The Guest House at Graceland, Memphis: A hotel fit for the King (of rock 'n' roll)
By David McGonigal
The Guest House at Graceland is owned and operated by Elvis Presley Enterprises.
When Elvis Presley bought the five-bedroom Graceland on 5.6 hectares on the outskirts of Memphis in 1957 he moved the whole family in. Indeed, his aunt Delta lived there not just after his death but for 11 years after public tours of the home had begun.
Of course, everybody wanted to visit the King of Rock and Roll but with the space constraints he often had to have even close friends stay at nearby motels. He always wanted to have a guest house at Graceland. In 2016 his wish was granted with the opening of the 450-room Guest House at Graceland (guesthousegraceland.com).
Obviously, this is not an intimate spare room where Priscilla fluffs your pillows each night. However, there are enough designer touches to make it feel an integral part of Graceland next door.
The decor was business-hotel grey but the cushions, drawer linings and closet are Elvis pink.
"Design an Elvis Presley-themed hotel and build it right next to Graceland. Oh, did we mention it'll be the largest hotel project in Memphis in 90 years?" That would not have been the easiest brief to receive. It was taken by two Memphis-based companies: Dreamcatcher Hotels for the hotel construction and HBG (Hnedak Bobo Group) that worked with them on the design. Priscilla Presley was involved in designing the themed suites.
The Guest House at Graceland is owned and operated by Elvis Presley Enterprises and the address I give my Uber is 3600 Elvis Presley Boulevard, just across the road from Elvis Presley's Memphis complex. I intuitively detect a theme.
At the top of the driveway, it's immediately apparent that the entrance shares Southern Colonial style with Graceland next door, but on a much grander scale. Arriving through the columned entry portico to the lobby is impressive with the facetted mirrored ceiling in the centre picking up the geometric patterns in the carpet. It's reminiscent of an Elvis Vegas cape. The lounge chairs have pointed high backs with one side higher than the other, a clear tribute to Elvis' collar-up attitude.
The Guest House check in is quick, friendly and seamless even though I'm a couple of hours early. As I open the door to my room I stop to regroup – yes the lamps by the side of each door really do have a wall mount spelling out "EP". I'm in King Room 629 and, unlike The King's Suites upstairs, my room category refers to the size of the bed rather than The King of Rock'n'Roll.
While many hotels have a bland welcome message and background musak playing, my room's HD TV greets me with Elvis' 68 "Comeback Special". "Heartbreak Hotel" seems a bit off message as Graceland's original Heartbreak Hotel closed when the Guest House at Graceland opened. Even so, I'm drawn to sit on the bed and watch one of the world's greatest performers at the peak of his powers.
While the limited-access top floor of the hotel has themed suites, mine is a regular well-appointed non-smoking hotel room with a twist. The decor was business-hotel grey but the cushions, drawer linings and closet are Elvis pink. A bedroom photo is detail of an Elvis bejewelled jumpsuit while the toilet's shows a razor sharp 1960's automobile tail fin. The rainshower and 120-jet wall body sprays are complemented by Aveda and Pure by Gloss toiletries.
There's a stylish Art Deco theme throughout the hotel but it's also a case of "pick the tribute". Some is blatant: outgoing mail goes in a box labelled Mail House Rock but only fans may notice that a stairway off the ground floor resembles the one in Graceland. At 10pm each evening free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (with all the trappings: M&Ms, choc sprinkles, cold milk and hot cocoa) are served near the gift shop.
At EP's Bar and Grill for lunch I score my own 60s style booth, though it's more comfortable than the shiny vinyl of that era. I have the choice of EP's Wings with buffalo sauce or Vernon's Jumbo of chopped pork but finally settle on Delta's Burger with Elvis sauce. I was impressed that the server asked how I wanted the meat cooked (medium rare) but less impressed that the buns were soggy.
The disappointing burger is a rare blemish on a hotel that deserves its Four Diamond rating, an accolade reserved for just six per cent of 28,000 AAA/CAA rated properties. The expansive pool area makes the Guest House a summer resort in the Midwest heat. There's an Elvis movie on in the 460-seat theatre and live music in the lounge from 7pm and shuttles run to Graceland every 30 minutes.
Mixing architectural styles, southern hospitality, modern amenities and an overarching Elvis theme could have been a disaster. Instead, the Guest House at Graceland adds significantly to a visit to Memphis. Double room rates start from $US209 ($315) and suites from $US349 to provide a catalogue of memories to complement the house next door.
David McGonigal was a guest of the Guest House at Graceland.
Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.