Millions of fans have walked through Graceland since Elvis Presley’s famous Memphis home opened for public tours. Visitors can explore many spaces associated with the King of Rock and Roll, but one deeply personal area remains off-limits. The entire second floor, including the Elvis Presley bedroom, has never become part of the public tour.
According to Parade, the decision has helped preserve one of Graceland’s greatest mysteries. Elvis treated the upstairs rooms as a private retreat while he lived there, and following his death in 1977, his family chose to keep that part of the home private. Nearly five decades later, only a small number of people have received permission to enter.
Elvis Presley’s Upstairs Bedroom Was Off-Limits At Graceland
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Elvis purchased Graceland in 1957 and spent roughly 20 years transforming the 13-acre estate into a home that reflected his personality and success. Even during his lifetime, guests could not simply wander upstairs. The second floor included his bedroom, bathroom, office, dressing area, and additional rooms. Visitors needed a personal invitation from Elvis to enter the private space.
That privacy took on greater significance after Elvis died at Graceland on August 16, 1977. His family kept the upstairs closed and preserved the rooms rather than including them when Graceland later opened to tourists. Today, members of the Presley family and Graceland’s Vice President of Archives and Exhibits, Angie Marchese, remain among the few people who have regular access to the area.
A Few Famous Guests Have Seen Elvis’ Private Space
Over the years, the Presley family has allowed a select few upstairs. Nicolas Cage, briefly married to Lisa Marie Presley, recalled lying on Elvis’ bed and noticing a small fiber-optic decoration. Oprah Winfrey, Baz Luhrmann, and Austin Butler have also visited. Luhrmann and Butler received access while working on the 2022 film Elvis, though no photos or videos were taken.
Marchese has revealed how carefully Graceland preserves the space. While maintaining the upstairs, she once found blue slippers beneath Elvis’ bed, where they remain today. The fragile carpet prevents regular vacuuming around the bed, helping preserve such personal items. For fans, keeping the Elvis Presley bedroom closed adds to Graceland’s emotional significance. While visitors can explore much of his life throughout the estate, the upstairs remains a protected family space, preserving a deeply personal side of the king.
