Graceland Too facts for kids
Graceland Too was a special place that celebrated the famous American singer Elvis Presley. It was like a small museum or a "shrine" dedicated to him. You could find it in Holly Springs, Mississippi. This town is about 40 miles south of the original Graceland, which was Elvis's real home. Graceland Too was not connected to the official Graceland in any way.
Paul MacLeod, a huge Elvis fan, ran Graceland Too from his two-story house. He had collected hundreds of items related to Elvis. It cost $5 to get in, and it was open all day, every day, all year long! This unique place and MacLeod's interesting personality made it a well-known spot for about 25 years.
Graceland Too closed in 2014. This happened after an incident on the property, and Paul MacLeod passed away the next day. All the items inside were later sold at an auction. A couple then bought the house itself.
The Story of Graceland Too
Elvis Presley was a very famous American singer and actor. He became a huge star in the mid-1900s. He was a big part of creating rock and roll music. Elvis passed away in 1977 at his large home in Memphis, Tennessee. This home is called Graceland.
After Elvis died, Graceland was opened to the public as a museum in 1982. It quickly became one of the most popular places to visit in the United States. Many people believe it attracts over 650,000 visitors each year. Only the White House gets more visitors!
Paul MacLeod was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1942. He worked in prisons and car factories for some time. However, he was unemployed for most of his life. Paul became very interested in Elvis Presley when he was young. By the mid-1970s, he moved to Holly Springs, Mississippi. This town was only 40 miles south of the real Graceland. Paul MacLeod opened Graceland Too around 1989 or 1990. It soon became a popular place for tourists to visit.
What Was Inside Graceland Too?
Graceland Too was located at 200 E. Gholson Avenue in Holly Springs. Paul MacLeod lived on the top floor of the two-story house. The entire home was packed with Elvis items. There were so many things that it was almost a fire hazard!
MacLeod kept Graceland Too open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He would personally give tours to visitors. He often said his collection was worth millions of dollars. Paul MacLeod was known for his unique personality. He deeply admired Elvis. He also claimed to drink at least 24 cans of soda every day!
The house itself was often repainted in bright, unusual colors. It was first pink, then white, and later blue. Graceland Too remained a popular tourist spot for many years. Students from the University of Mississippi especially enjoyed visiting it. Suzann William, who helped with tourism in Holly Springs, even said MacLeod was the town's top tourist attraction.
The Closing of Graceland Too
In June 2014, an event happened involving Paul MacLeod. The next day, MacLeod suffered a heart attack. He passed away on the front porch of Graceland Too. Many people shared their sadness on social media. His passing was even reported in national news. After his funeral, people held a special gathering at the museum. They decorated the property with cans of soda to remember him.
The many items from Graceland Too were put up for auction in January 2015. All the items were sold for about $54,500 to someone from Georgia. Because of a problem with the online bidding, another auction was held in May. Most of Graceland Too's property, including hundreds of Elvis items, were sold again. Later that year, the house and any remaining items were bought for $5,500. Marie and Jeffrey Underwood, along with members of a group called Friends of Graceland Too, purchased the property.
