Elvis' Graceland Gets An Overhaul

Elvis bought Graceland in 1957 for just over $100,000. Now the property is getting a $250 million facelift. Elvis' Memphis home draws close to 600,000 visitors a year, with many more expected to show up August 16th since it will mark the 30th anniversary of his death. (“Elvis Week,” commemorating the 30 years since the King's untimely death will take place over 9 days in Elvis’ hometown of Memphis (August 11 -19). For more info head to http://www.elvisweek.com.)According to the AP:"Managers of Presley's famous home want to overhaul its tourist complex — with a new visitors center bigger than a football field, a convention hotel and high-tech museum displays that can give a new, digital life to the King himself."Last year Graceland alone, one of Memphis' biggest tourist attraction, brought in $27 million in revenue. His daughter Lisa Marie Presley still owns the white-columned mansion on the property, which opened to the public in 1982, and 15% of Elvis Presley Enterprises. But CKX is the cash cow in the Elvis empire, controlling Graceland and its souvenir shops and memorabilia museums.The nearby 128-room Heartbreak Hotel will also be replaced by a high-rise with upto 500 rooms.In other Elvis news, the soundtrack for the King's Viva Las Vegas ABC television special, scheduled to air on September 18th, was released this week. Elvis: Viva Las Vegas is a 16 track offering that includes 15 live cuts from Elvis' of prime Vegas years (“See See Rider,” “The Wonder Of You,” and “Polk Salad Annie.”) The first track on the album, “Viva Las Vegas,” is from the movie of the same name. The special focuses on how Elvis' music re-invented Las Vegas and himself. Source:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070801/ap_en_mu/graceland_overhaul