For over 20 years, Elvis Presley‘s Memphis, TN home, Graceland, was the place where he could seek refuge from the outside world. Visitors to Graceland are welcome to many parts of the building. These include a tour of the downstairs area, a tour of Elvis’ custom jets, and his automobile and career museums. However, there are still areas off-limits to tourists, including the family’s private quarters. Fans often inquire what is behind the drapes at the top of a staircase at Graceland. Elvis’ cousin Billy Smith shared the answer.
Parts of Elvis Presley’s Graceland remain sealed off from tourists
Presley’s master suite was on the second floor of Graceland. It was his private space, where his bedroom and bathroom are located.
Presley’s body was found in his private bathroom on Aug. 16, 1977. Five years later, after Elvis’ wife, Priscilla opened the home to the public in 1982.
Out of respect for the family, the second floor of the mansion is shut off from tourists.
Sealing upstairs was to avoid any attention at the scene of Presley’s death.
The rooms have reportedly been left exactly the way they were on the fateful day the King of Rock and Roll passed.
This is what is behind the drapes at the top of one set of Graceland stairs
Express reported Smith explained what is behind the set of heavy drapes atop the first landing of Elvis Presley’s Graceland.
He joked that behind the curtain there is a “real big statue of Elvis, and it’s back behind there.”
He further explained the King of Rock and Roll had heavy drapery installed to blend in with the interior downstairs. It allowed him privacy upstairs.
However, there is no big secret about what is located behind the closed curtains.
“Behind it was a door, and this door led out to a little balcony that was over the top of the Jungle Room,” Smith explained of what is located behind the heavy drapes.
Express reported that in 1960 Presley added a den, later known as the Jungle Room, to the home. The upstairs area was just a way to get to an outside balcony area located above the room.
Who is allowed in the upstairs areas of Graceland?
No one can enter Presley’s private suite except for his ex-wife Priscilla and his daughter Lisa Marie. The only outsider that can reportedly venture into the area is the Graceland curator.
A Graceland employee said, as reported by Express, that the area upstairs has remained untouched since the day he died. The same record he was playing on his player remains on the turntable. There is also a styrofoam cup that has remained in the same place since he died.
Reportedly only one person other than the family and curator has been allowed upstairs.
Showbiz Cheat Sheet previously reported that Nicolas Cage, married to Presley’s daughter Lisa Marie for two years, was one of the few invited to see the private suite of rooms.
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