Introduction: A Door Forever Closed to the Public
Graceland is more than just a mansion—it is a living monument to the life, legacy, and mystique of Elvis Presley. Each year, millions of fans from around the world walk its halls, marvel at the Jungle Room, the Trophy Building, and the many symbols of a King who reshaped modern music. Yet one part of Graceland has remained forever out of reach: the upstairs floor, where Elvis lived, dreamed, and ultimately passed away.
Now, through the voices of those closest to him—his daughter Lisa Marie Presley and his granddaughter Riley Keough—the veil is slowly lifting. Their reflections offer rare, intimate insights into Elvis’s private sanctuary, revealing not just a rock-and-roll icon, but a deeply spiritual, complex man whose bedroom was a mirror of his inner world.
The Upstairs of Graceland: A Sacred, Untouched Realm
Since Elvis’s death in 1977, the second floor of Graceland has been deliberately preserved exactly as it was. Unlike the rest of the house, it has never been opened to the public. To the Presley family, this space is not a tourist attraction—it is sacred ground.
This upstairs area housed Elvis’s bedroom, a private office, and a bathroom. It was where he spent countless hours reading, praying, watching television, and retreating from the pressures of fame. It was also the place where his life came to an end, making it deeply emotional territory for his descendants.
Riley Keough, Elvis’s granddaughter and the current steward of his legacy, has spoken openly about the reverence surrounding this space. For the family, the upstairs is frozen in time—a deeply personal reminder of who Elvis was when the stage lights were off.
Graceland as a Home, Not Just a Museum
Despite its global fame, Graceland was always meant to be a home first. Riley Keough has shared tender memories of how the family continued to use the mansion privately, long after it became a public landmark.
She recalls how, during holidays—especially around Christmas—the family would wait until the public tours ended. Once the gates closed and the crowds disappeared, Graceland transformed back into a family home. Private dinners would be held, laughter would echo through the rooms, and for a few precious hours, Elvis’s house felt exactly as it once did.
These moments reflect a powerful truth: behind the legend, the Presley family worked hard to preserve intimacy, warmth, and continuity across generations.
Lisa Marie Presley’s Memoir: A Daughter’s View of a Legend
The most revealing insights into Elvis’s upstairs world come from From Here to the Great Unknown, the memoir written by Lisa Marie Presley and completed with Riley Keough’s help.
Lisa Marie lived upstairs at Graceland until she was nine years old. To her, Elvis was not just a global superstar—he was her father, and in her eyes, something almost otherworldly.
“I felt my father could change the weather,” she wrote. “He was a God to me, a chosen human being.”
This striking line captures how Elvis appeared through the eyes of a child raised in the orbit of unprecedented fame. Yet the memoir also reveals a quieter, more introspective Elvis—particularly in his bedroom and office.
A Bedroom That Reflected Power, Faith, and Excess
Elvis’s bedroom was unlike anything else in Graceland. While the main floor featured Southern elegance and earthy tones, the upstairs exploded with drama and intensity.
According to Lisa Marie, the bedroom was unapologetically “showy.” It was designed in Elvis’s favorite colors—red, black, and gold—symbolizing passion, authority, and luxury. Every element was custom-made, reinforcing the idea that this was not just a bedroom, but a personal kingdom.
At the center stood an enormous 8×8-foot bed, dwarfing standard furniture. Towering behind it was a 12-foot custom headboard finished in black lacquer and white faux leather. The bedspreads were corduroy, embroidered with Elvis’s initials using trapunto quilting—a detail that blended craftsmanship with extravagance.
Yet perhaps the most astonishing feature was above his head.
Televisions in the Ceiling: A Bold, Risky Design Choice
Installed directly into the ceiling above the bed were two massive televisions—an engineering marvel for the 1970s. These were not lightweight flat screens, but heavy, bulky television sets mounted overhead so Elvis could watch without sitting up.
It was a daring, almost surreal design choice—one that perfectly captured Elvis’s appetite for innovation, indulgence, and comfort. At the same time, it hinted at the vulnerability beneath the glamour: long hours spent resting, watching, thinking, and seeking distraction in solitude.
A Room Filled With Faith and Questions
Despite the opulence, Elvis’s bedroom was also a place of deep spirituality. Lisa Marie revealed that his bedside tables and office were constantly stacked with religious texts—Bibles, spiritual books, and philosophical writings from various traditions.
Elvis’s spiritual hunger was lifelong. He read obsessively, searching for meaning, truth, and peace. The upstairs of Graceland, therefore, was not just a luxurious retreat—it was a private chapel of sorts, where faith, doubt, and curiosity coexisted.
This contrast between excess and introspection defines Elvis perhaps more than any other aspect of his life.
Rare Photographs and a Legacy Carefully Guarded
Very few photographs of the upstairs exist. Most of what we know visually comes from images taken during the famous red, black, and gold redecorations, captured by Jeanie Lame, a friend of Linda Thompson.
These rare images have become priceless historical documents. They allow fans a fleeting glimpse into a space that otherwise exists only through stories.
Today, Riley Keough continues to honor this legacy with remarkable care. She proudly supports her mother’s memoir, often wears jewelry symbolizing three generations of Presleys, and even named her daughter Tupelo—after Elvis’s birthplace. Lisa Marie once described the child as “our little light,” a poetic reminder that the Presley story continues.
Keeping the Magic Alive
While fans may never climb the stairs at Graceland, the fascination endures. A detailed replica of Elvis’s iconic bedroom now exists at the Guest House at Graceland hotel, allowing visitors to experience the atmosphere—if not the true sanctity—of the King’s most private space.
Through memory, storytelling, and reverence, Elvis Presley’s upstairs sanctuary remains alive—not as a spectacle, but as a deeply human space where legend met vulnerability, and where a global icon simply lived.