It’s been 10 years since Graceland Too – a local Holly Springs tourist spot dedicated to Elvis Presley – tragically closed its doors. But now, under new ownership, the once 24/7 attraction will be reopening to the public for one weekend only.
As part of the city of Holly Springs’ first annual three-day Elvis Week, Graceland Too will reopen on Saturday, Aug. 17. Tours will be $5 and led by new owner Marie Underwood, who plans to capture the history of the private museum while celebrating all things Elvis through different events held over the weekend.
The festival will go from Friday, Aug. 16 through Sunday, Aug. 18, and include live music, a youth workshop, and a gospel revival service.
Graceland Too, operated out of a two-story home at 200 E. Gholson Avenue in downtown Holly Springs, rose to fame under the ownership of Paul MacLeod. MacLeod, who boasted himself as the biggest Elvis extraordinaire the world has ever seen, would paint the otherwise normal looking home eccentric colors such as blue and pink while inviting anyone who wanted to come see his collection of thousands of pieces of Elvis memorabilia inside at any hour of the day or night.
MacLeod became renowned for bizarre behaviors such as drinking at least two dozen cans of soda a day and possibly sleeping inside a coffin. He was a hit among Elvis fans and nearby University of Mississippi students alike. He claimed his collection was worth millions of dollars and it quickly became the No. 1 tourist attraction in Holly Springs for at least a quarter of a century.
In 2014, Graceland Too closed after MacLeod shot a contractor dead after an argument over an unpaid $10. The Elvis guru died himself one day later from a heart attack and the contents and knickknacks inside the home were sold at auction. Underwood purchased the home later that year for $5,500 with dreams of reopening it day.
While those dreams are still alive, according to the Holly Springs Tourism Office, Underwood will only be reopening Graceland Too for next month’s event. Afterward, she will continue to work toward a plan of reopening the attraction on a full-time basis.
The schedule for Elvis Week in Holly Springs is as follows:
Friday, Aug. 16: Blues on the Back Porch
Elvis tribute artist Tim Hembree will take the stage alongside Big Heath. Karaoke and open mic sessions will also be available. Food and drinks will be provided by local vendors with tickets going for $5. Festivities last from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 17: Blue Hawaii Theme
An ode to the 1961 film Presley starred in, fans are invited to dress beachy and enjoy the festivities from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 with the event including Elvis-themed workshops for the kids, a water slide, performances from various tribute artists, and a comedy show. Graceland Too tours will be running each hour.
Sunday, Aug. 18: Gospel & Revival Service
Presley was never shy about his love for gospel music, so as part of the festival, a fitting service will be held from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the front porch of Graceland Too. Admission to the gospel service is free. At 6 p.m., Duwayne Burnside Bar & Grill will host a contest for the best Elvis lookalikes and singers. The entry fee is $10.
