Graceland area improvements back in the news

[vivaelvis]

It's not expected to get underway until late 2013 at the earliest. It keeps getting pushed back more and more. I'm hoping that's a typo and meant to be 2012. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...-get-facelift/

[debtdbruno]

You feel like 'yawning'............like you say, it just keeps getting put off again, and again.......

I'm going again next August, having to stay at the West Western on Millbranch rd.....I'm hoping there will be a feeling of 'safeness' due to high numbers going, and being out of the EP Boulevard area......

[KPM]

Well Apollo is in charge-they have the expertise to know when to proceed!

[vivaelvis]

I was back home in Memphis for Thanksgiving and while there did some investigating the Graceland expansion and the city's involvement with improving EP Boulevard. Spoke to the highly respectable powers involved with city development projects and the word is that the city does plan to remodel the strip, but now it comes down to the state backing it. So there's still a couple of hurdles that have to be cleared before they can break ground on phase 1. They already have a definitive plan and the drawings are completed. They are waiting for the state to do it's promised part in funding.

As for Graceland expansion, nobody knows much at all. Apollo is a very private company and they don't even leak info or talk to the media the way Sillerman would. His biggest mistake was putting the buggy in front of the horse. The only thing I managed to get was that as far as they know expansion process is to begin sometime in 2012. Whether that be on the anticipated new Heartbreak Hotel or a new visitors center remains to be seen.

I was talking to a guy about EPE's lack of expansion since the mid 90's and he told me that EPE should do something with the current Plaza.

So, I came up with an idea that they could and should consider. If they do not plan on relocating the center next to Graceland as originally planned, then why not enclose the open air portion where visitors wait for the bus and venture to each attraction such as shops and eatery. They could also expand the museum space (which really needs a makeover) and build an additional 5-10,000 square feet onto the Plaza complex.

It's not right to charge what they do and force people in an uncomfortable atmosphere. From the wintery cold to the blistering heat waves than Memphis is known for in the summer. Not to mention the thugs who drive down EP Bouleavrd hollering out obscene comments about the visitors and Elvis.

Everyone I have talked to agreed that it cannot continue at the level it has for the past 3 decades. Times have changed and people demand better amenities or they won't pay the money. As is evident now with record low attendance numbers. EPE won't admit it because of business issues, but Graceland's crowds are getting smaller and smaller on a daily basis. It's due to poor appeal and amenities and not lack of interest in Elvis.

If EPE invested into a new attractive and appealing visitors center that was spacious and indoors, then attendance would reach their expectations thus bringing in records of amounts of income.