Introduction
Why the Public Isn’t Allowed Upstairs at Elvis Presley’s Graceland
Graceland, the legendary home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee, welcomes over half a million visitors each year, making it one of the most visited private homes in the United States—second only to the White House. Yet despite the estate’s widespread accessibility, one part of the mansion remains strictly off-limits: the upstairs.
Even presidents and world dignitaries have been turned away from the second floor of Graceland. This area housed Elvis’ private master suite and was always considered his personal sanctuary. During his lifetime, the upstairs was a restricted zone where only those closest to him were allowed. It was a space of peace and privacy for the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, away from the pressures of fame and the public eye.
The preservation of that privacy continues today. Elvis died in the bathroom adjacent to his master bedroom in 1977, and since then, the second floor has remained closed to the public out of respect for the man and his memory. It’s believed the room has been left exactly as it was on the day of his death—untouched and frozen in time. Graceland officials fear that allowing public access would shift focus from celebrating Elvis’ life to a morbid fascination with his death.
Only three people are known to have been allowed into this space after Elvis passed: his ex-wife Priscilla Presley, his late daughter Lisa Marie Presley, and the mansion’s longtime curator. There was one notable exception—actor Nicolas Cage, a devoted Elvis fan who briefly married Lisa Marie, was once granted access.
Graceland remains not only a tribute to Elvis’ musical legacy but also a symbol of his deeply personal life. The upstairs, closed and silent, preserves a final piece of the man the world adored.