Graceland opened to the public 40 years, just five years after Elvis Presley’s untimely death at 42-years-old. But even to this day, the upstairs remains private as was the case in The King’s lifetime. This isn’t too surprising given he died up there back in 1977. Nevertheless, there is another upstairs bathroom at Graceland that isn’t accessible on the regular tour.
The unseen room is located upstairs in Graceland’s racquetball court behind the house, which was erected in September 1975 for $250,000 – well over the $102,500 Elvis paid for the whole property in 1957.
Fans can walk through the sports building, including its lounge area with the last piano The King played on the morning of his death. However, the first floor isn’t on the usual tour.
Express.co.uk took part in a virtual tour of Graceland during lockdown in which archivist Angie Marchese headed upstairs in the racquetball court with a camera.
Up there on the landing was a viewing area for watching games but also an iPod that plays Elvis singing Unchained Melody throughout the building since that’s what Ginger Alden and his cousin Billy Smith remember him singing at the piano in his last ever performance.
Behind the first door on the left, there is a guest changing room with a couple of showers, a toilet area and gold-plated fixtures in the duel sinks. Also, built into the wall are some shelves for storing towels, shoes and other clothes.
Further along the corridor and there the other door leads to what is the entrance to Elvis’ secret private bathroom.
Directly inside is a greeting or resting area with a couple of leather chairs that Memphis Mafia members would have reclined in. The large space also has a walk-in closet for clothes, towels and even a built-in jacuzzi covered in gold-plated fixtures.
The King’s private sink is cased in the precious metal just like those on his private jet, the Lisa Marie. However, the most impressive part of the bathroom lies further inside this exclusive room.
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At the back of the bathroom is Elvis’ private walk-in wet room with a bench and no less than five gold-plated showerheads to fire water at every inch of his body.
If this is how lavish his sports washroom was, just imagine what his ensuite upstairs inside the Graceland mansion must have been like.
Whatever the case, the latter has been perfectly preserved just as The King left it in 1977 at the request of his daughter Lisa Marie.
Only she, Priscilla and special members of the archivist team like Angie are allowed up there.
