Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, is not just a famous mansion but also the final resting place for the King of Rock and Roll and several of his family members. However, many visitors are unaware of the true origins of the Meditation Garden, where Elvis and his loved ones are buried. While it’s often assumed that the garden was created specifically after Elvis’s death in 1977, the truth is much more fascinating.
The Meditation Garden: Not Originally for Burial
The Meditation Garden at Graceland was actually created more than a decade before Elvis’s passing, in 1965. The garden, which now houses the final resting places of Elvis, his family, and his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, was built at Elvis’s personal request for a completely different purpose. Elvis was on a spiritual journey in the 1960s and began practicing meditation to cope with the stress of his demanding career. He wanted a quiet, private space at Graceland to reflect, meditate, and converse in peace.
Elvis envisioned the garden as a personal retreat, a place to get away from the chaos of his life. According to Larry Geller, Elvis’s hairstylist, the garden was built between October and December 1965 and included Italian marble statues, an elaborate fountain, and underwater lights. It was designed as a place where Elvis could be alone with his thoughts. Geller described it as “a place to go to get away from people or have a quiet chat,” and Elvis spent a lot of time there when he was in Memphis.
From Meditation Garden to Final Resting Place
Although the garden was created for spiritual reflection, it would later become the burial site for Elvis Presley and his family. In fact, Elvis was originally buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis, but just weeks after his burial, a plot to steal his body and hold it for ransom was uncovered. As a result, Elvis’s body, along with his mother Gladys Presley’s remains, were moved to the Meditation Garden on October 7, 1977, for safekeeping.
Elvis’s grave is marked with a memorial plaque, and it sits next to the grave of his beloved mother, Gladys Presley. Other family members buried there include Vernon Presley (Elvis’s father), Elvis’s paternal grandmother, and a memorial plaque for his twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley, who died at birth.
The Eternal Flame and the Epitaph
Elvis’s grave is marked with an eternal flame, a tribute paid for by a group of his friends. The inscription on the eternal flame, written by Janelle McComb, reads: “You gave yourself to each of us in some manner; you were wrapped in thoughtfulness and tied with love. May this flame reflect our never-ending respect and love for you.” This flame serves as a reminder of Elvis’s eternal presence and the love that still surrounds him.
The Legacy of the Meditation Garden
The Meditation Garden, once a personal retreat for Elvis, has become a place of pilgrimage for fans from around the world. In addition to Elvis, other members of the Presley family, including his daughter Lisa Marie Presley, who died in 2023, and her son, Benjamin Keough, who passed away in 2020, are buried there. Lisa Marie’s grave sits next to her son, on the opposite side of Elvis’s resting place.
The garden is now a symbol of the Presley family’s legacy and a place where fans can pay their respects to Elvis and his loved ones. It’s a powerful reminder of how a space originally meant for reflection and meditation became the final resting place for one of the most beloved figures in music history.
Conclusion
Elvis Presley’s Meditation Garden at Graceland, while now home to his and his family’s final resting places, was originally conceived as a sanctuary for personal reflection. It’s fascinating to think that Elvis, in his pursuit of spiritual peace, unknowingly designed a memorial for himself and his family. Today, the garden continues to be a place where fans can remember the King of Rock and Roll and his enduring legacy.