“Wise men say/Only fools rush in.” Isn’t that how one of Elvis Presley’s greatest hits begins?
Well, fools are being invited to rush into Graceland at the end of this week, when Elvis’s tourist attraction home in Memphis, Tennessee re-opens from the virus lockdown.
Paul Simon sang, “We’re going to Graceland, Graceland…” But will we go to Graceland? I guess Priscilla Presley and her daughter, Lisa Marie, can’t afford to keep the cash cow closed any longer. All that shag carpeting is going to waste. Someone’s got to ooh and ah and pet it (on the walls, if I recall correctly).
Elvis, you know, died for our sins. Now we can die for his.
The gates of Graceland re-open May 21st. On the website: “Graceland has been working diligently to reconfigure all of our operations, including tours, retail and restaurants, to ensure the health and safety of our guests and associates for our re-opening. Our COVID-19 plan and protocols meet or exceed the social distancing, capacity, and health and safety guidelines outlined by local, state and federal authorities. Below are highlights of these protocols and what you can expect during your upcoming visit.”
Elvis is buried at Graceland. If you’re not careful, you can be, too.
Also on the website:
Here is what you can expect during your visit:
 Health & Safety Protocol
- All Graceland Associates are required to wear masks while at work.
- Guests are highly encouraged to wear masks, as well. Additionally, anyone who is persistently coughing or sneezing – for any reason – will be asked to wear a mask during their visit.
- All Guests and Associates will be required to undergo temperature check screenings upon entering the property. Anyone with a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher will not be permitted to enter.
- All Associates are required to participate in scheduled handwashing breaks throughout their work day.
 Enhanced Sanitization
- Thorough, commercial-grade cleaning of the campus and all surfaces will be conducted continuously throughout the day. This includes use of UV Light Sanitizer Wands.
- Hand sanitization stations are widely available throughout the property for the use of our Guests and Associates.
- Shuttles and iPads will be rotated to allow for thorough sanitization between uses.
 Capacity Control – Limited Tour Groups
- Graceland Mansion tour capacity has been reduced to 25% to allow for proper social distancing.
- Shuttle seating capacity will be reduced by 50%.
- Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex offers an expansive 200,000 square feet of Elvis exhibits and attractions, which allows Guests to spread out and tour at their own pace in their own space.
 Social Distancing
- Signage has been placed throughout Elvis Presley’s Memphis to create awareness of proper physical distancing between guests. Please be respectful of other’s space.
- Queue lines that allow for social distancing have been implemented to avoid crowding in the ticket plaza, in our retail shops and in our restaurants.
- Restaurants will offer both indoor and outdoor seating at 50% capacity.
