Graceland: Visitors Stand by Presley Family, Oppose Foreclosure

Graceland visitors express shock and support for the Presley family amid a legal battle threatening to sell the iconic mansion at auction. They emphasize the property's historical significance and its value to Memphis tourism.

Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, has been a beloved pilgrimage site for fans worldwide. Amid a recent legal battle threatening to sell the property at auction, visitors to Graceland have expressed their support for keeping it within the Presley family.

Joan Sutherland, a visitor from Scotland, expressed her dismay at the prospect of Graceland being sold. "It would be a shame if it disappeared altogether ... as a visitor attraction," she said. "It's not a huge amount to bail them out with. I wouldn’t like to do it myself, but somebody might come along and help them out, surely."

Robyn Dann of New Zealand echoed Sutherland's sentiments, expressing sadness at the thought of the family losing control of Graceland. "I think it will be really sad if the family loses control or an interest in Graceland," she said.

The battle over Graceland began when a loan company, Naussany Investments and Private Lending, claimed that Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis's only child, had taken out a $3.8 million loan and put the estate up as collateral in 2018, but never repaid it. Naussany Investments subsequently initiated plans to sell Graceland and its surrounding acreage to the highest bidder at a foreclosure sale.

However, Lisa Marie's daughter, Riley Keough, the sole heir to the property, sought an injunction to prevent the sale, claiming that the signatures on the deed of trust were forgeries. A judge on Wednesday agreed to adjourn the sale so that time can be made for adequate discovery and for the defense to address claims made about the potential sale.

Presley lived in Graceland until his death in 1977, and the property was subsequently inherited by Lisa Marie. It was opened to the public as a museum in 1982 and features costumes, artifacts, and personal mementos from Elvis and his family.

Graceland also displays a Convair 880 Jet called "Lisa Marie" that Elvis used in his heyday. A resort hotel and a chapel were added to the property, which is considered a pilgrimage site for die-hard Elvis fans. Elvis and Lisa Marie are buried on the property.

About 600,000 tourists visit Graceland annually, generating $150 million in overall economic impact for Memphis.

A group of three women who spoke with Fox News Digital emphasized that Graceland should remain in the hands of the Presley family due to its historical nature and expressed concern that new owners might not make the property publicly accessible.

"I would be very sad," said Marlie Randall. "Elvis is a very big part of history. A lot of parents and grandparents always looked up to him and loved his music, and I just think that [Graceland] should stay the same."

Leanna Randall added, "This is a part of our history."

Elvis Presley was an international superstar who shot to fame in the 1950s and was known for his charisma, good looks, and smash hits such as "Suspicious Minds," "If I can Dream," and "Jailhouse Rock." He starred in 33 films and became a cultural icon. He also served in the Army from 1958 to 1960.

Kevin Hogan, the president of Rock Island Auction Co., a firearms auction house that sold Elvis' Smith & Wesson revolver for nearly $200,000 last year, told Fox News Digital that it would be difficult to put a price tag on Graceland.

"Elvis was a big gun collector, and his Smith & Wesson was worth $10,000 intrinsically but sold for many times more due to its historical value," Hogan said. "The same could be said for Graceland. There are many priceless objects there that could be sold off separately, and his bed, for instance, could go for an astronomical sum."

"Graceland is really a priceless object," he said.