Roanoke, Virginia: Mini-Graceland, Elvis City

I'm pleased to say restoration work on Miniature Graceland is going well. Clean up is ongoing and repairs are being made as you can see in the pictures I've sent. We should have the lights up in time for Christmas. Hope to see you all there.

I'm the son of Donald and Betty Epperly and I'm writing to let people know that I am rebuilding [my parents'] Miniature Graceland. In the last update, a tree had fallen in the middle of Graceland, hindering the visibility of the buildings. However, there have been recent improvements and the tree has been removed. Furthermore, the lawn and buildings are currently being improved. Rebuilding may take a while, seeing that I'm the soloist on the project. The buildings that are still intact are in critical shape, so repairs most likely will be an on going process.

The long-awaited restoration has begun! Thanks to money raised by the Salem Men's Garden Club, one building is complete (I think it's the house Elvis grew up in) and a second is underway. To speed up the restoration effort, the club is now giving free Mini Graceland t-shirts ("the tiny little monument fit for a king") to anyone who donates $25 or more to the cause.

The deteriorating Miniature Graceland in Roanoke, Virginia may undergo restoration by the Men's Garden Club of Salem, Virginia. The small backyard attraction had fallen into a state of disrepair over the last few years due to health problems of its creator Don Epperly.

Why drive all the way to Memphis when you can visit Graceland in Roanoke, VA? Just think miniature, and you will hardly know the difference! As a bonus, Miniature Graceland also has a reproduction of Elvis' home in Tupelo, and the Roanoke Civic Center where Elvis performed on more than one occasion. Admission is free; donations accepted. It's open 10am-10pm every day.

Miniature Graceland is in the unfenced yard of the Epperly family on Riverland Road at Ivy -- just below the famous Mill Mountain Star, which, by the way, is the world's largest free-standing, neon-illuminated star. You can also access the spur to the Blue Ridge Parkway from Mill Mountain Star, or find the spur just two blocks above Miniature Graceland.