Holly Springs, Mississippi: Graceland Too (Closed)

Graceland Too is definitely a unique experience, mostly because of Paul's character and extreme obsession with Elvis. However, like a lot of "offbeat" tourist attractions, as the word spread, it has become pretty gentrified and not as odd any more. Over the years, paul has welcomed over 250 000 tourists, amongst them Ashton Kutcher (...), Tom Cruise, President Bush's daughters etc., as he will explain to you. An hbo documentary has been made about him as well. Much of Paul's chat seems to have lost a bit of its originality, since he repeats the same stories day to day.

However, I still recommend a visit. Compared to the 30 bucks you will spend at the real Graceland, the 5 bucks you spend at Graceland Too is well worth it. The house is painted all white these days, and surrounded by dozens of Christmas trees that are painted white, blue and red. After next fall, Paul plans to recreate the original Graceland, and buy all the Holly Springs neighborhood property to create "Elvis Land."

I live in nearby Oxford (about 30 minutes due south) and used to often take out-of-town guests up to Junior Kimbrough's now-gone juke joint on Sunday nights. We'd drink unbonded whiskey and dance until two or three in the morning and then head over to Graceland Too. Here's the thing you have to understand about the place... it has almost nothing to do, really, with Elvis Presley. It's all about Paul and his wild obsession... you go to see him, not to learn anything in particular about Elvis. When bringing women I always warn them that he gives the tour in a poorly secured bathrobe and he will, when the tour reaches the kitchen, lipsynch an Elvis tune and, yes, do the whole lurid pelvis shaking.

Further things to note: his dentures flopping willy-nilly as he speaks, the nauseatingly stiff odor of bologna sandwich, and his explosive hostility at any request to use a restroom. All in all it's a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anybody.

I can hardly look at this place, it is so tacky. I have pictures of this house in its prime -- it was my great-grandmother's house. I remember being in there as a small child. I drove by there after my father's funeral and almost gagged -- what hideous "decorations"....ugh.

An experience for Elvis fans and non-Elvis fans alike. I brought my mom, dad, and girlfriend on separate visits and Paul remembered me each time (he even asked how my parents were doing and when he could expect to see them again!). Truly some unique Elvis artifacts, but the main attraction is meeting Paul himself. He is "The World's #1 Elvis Fan" and some of his stories about The King are priceless. If you're lucky he'll sing you an Elvis song on the tour, All Shook Up all three times. Perhaps he's expanded his repertoire since then.

I visited the first time in 1996 while on a road trip on my Harley-Davidson. Met Paul and Elvis McLeod. The tour was unimaginable. Best experience of my Elvis trek. Went back with my new wife in 2001 and he REMEMBERED ME. I was on a different bike and with my wife but he knew when I was there before etc. It was EERIE. This is one of the best things you can ever tour. Elvis is gone but Paul is still there. He talks nonstop and even farted during one part. He never stopped talking even while passing gas rather loudly. We laughed until we cried at the gas station after we left.