Elvis is Back in the Building at Westgate Las Vegas
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino has partnered with Elvis Presley’s Graceland to bring the true Elvis experience back to Vegas. This week the timeshare group announced the opening of “Graceland Presents ELVIS: The Exhibition – The Show – The Experience.”
Graceland Presents ELVIS will feature live entertainment showcasing the life and music of Elvis Presley. The resort also plans to build a permanent exhibit to showcase Graceland memorabilia and artifacts—many never before seen outside the walls of Graceland.
CEO of Westgate Resorts, David Siegel, and Graceland Holdings LLC Managing Partner, Joel Weinshanker, held a press conference to unveil the plans for the exhibit. The press event was held on the 46th anniversary of Elvis’ first press conference in Vegas.
The new Graceland exhibit will feature 28,000 square feet of artifacts from Elvis and the Graceland Archives. Here guests can take a journey through Elvis’ life, career, and legacy. The exhibit will take you from Elvis’ early life in Tupelo, Mississippi, through the height of his career, and more. While attending the gallery, visitors can also watch a short film about Elvis’ greatest shows, including some of his 600 performances in Las Vegas.
Some of the articles will include Elvis’ first Gold Album, his high school yearbooks, his 1962 Lincoln Continental, 1957 Harley Davidson, 1971 Stutz Blackhawk, iconic jewelry, and legendary stage outfits. Visitors will even have the opportunity to see the outfit from Elvis’ first performance at the hotel back in 1969 when it was the International Hotel.
CEO of Westgate Resorts, David Siegel shared, “Elvis is synonymous with Las Vegas and this property, so we are tremendously excited to have this new attraction and live show here to entertain Las Vegas visitors. It is a true honor to join forces with Elvis Presley’s Graceland to bring Elvis to the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. We are thrilled to have Elvis back in the building.”
As for the live entertainment portion of the event, visitors can watch “The Elvis Experience” in the Elvis Presley International Showroom, the same theater that Elvis himself performed in the 60’s and 70’s.
Managing Partner of Graceland Holdings LLC, Joel Weinshanker, said, “After a 40-year absence, it’s time for the authentic Elvis Presley to return to Las Vegas. Elvis redefined live entertainment in Las Vegas, so there’s no better location for this new venture than the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, the very site where more people saw Elvis perform live than anywhere else in the world. The extensive exhibition, live shows, and wedding chapel will together create an unprecedented Elvis experience for visitors.”
The exhibition is scheduled to open on April 23, 2015. The grand opening will be a star-studded affair, featuring Priscilla Presley as one of the most anticipated VIPs. After the opening, the exhibit will operate from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week. Tickets are $22 to visit the exhibit and $49 to attend The Elvis Experience (plus taxes and fees).
To pre-order your tickets, visit Graceland.com/Vegas.