Enjoy rock-star luxury at Graceland's new hotel

Think of the Guest House at Graceland as an Elvis Presley-inspired hotel, rather than as an Elvis Presley-themed hotel. You certainly don't need to be his No. 1 fan to stay here — it's pretty cool on its own.

The Guest House opened in October on property adjacent to the Graceland mansion in Memphis, where Presley lived from 1957 until his death in 1977.

With suites designed by the rock 'n' roll legend's former wife, Priscilla Presley, the 450-room resort is excessively stylish. In the glitzy lobby — where we spotted a bouffant and thick sideburns waiting in line at the check-in counter, along with several contenders for No. 1 fan — high-back chairs evoke the stand-up collars of Elvis Presley's jumpsuits. Splashes of color liven up midcentury-style furnishings. Stylized close-up photos in guest rooms and common areas highlight details from Presley's life: sunglasses, microphones, his iconic TCB ("Taking Care of Business") jewelry.

Above a grand staircase at one end of the hotel, a replica of Graceland's foyer stairs, is a chandelier originally purchased by Presley for his own mansion.

"Elvis never threw anything away," explains Anna Hamilton, the hotel's night manager. "When he discovered that the chandelier was too big, he went out and bought a smaller one."

Each of the well-appointed guest rooms is filled with luscious textures, silky-soft bedding, mirrored surfaces and basics such as a refrigerator, Keurig coffee machine and plenty of places to plug in USB devices. The Gideon Bible in the nightstand is gold, naturally.

Inspired by Presley

Themed suites such as the King's Suites were inspired by Presley's own master bedroom, with canopy beds and TVs on the ceiling. Living Room Suites use bold combinations of deep yellow and navy blue. TCB Suites have a living room and dining area.

"The furniture, to me, is extraordinary," Hamilton says. "Every piece is something that Elvis would have loved."

Guests can grab a drink at the lobby bar — we tried the crisp whiskey-ginger TCB and the tequila-based Blue Suede — and enjoy it out on the back lawn. That's where there's a pool, hot tub and heart-shaped fire pit, all set against a serene wooded backdrop.

A state-of-the-art fitness center also has great views of the courtyard — or you can focus on the TVs built into each machine.

Dining options at the Guest House include Delta's Kitchen, a fine-dining spot named for Presley's aunt, and the more casual EP's Bar & Grill, which serves up comfort food with a contemporary twist. There's also a Shake, Rattle & Go coffee shop serving Starbucks coffee.

At the lively EP's, we tried the mac-and-cheese bites, which our server recommended without hesitation. They arrived within minutes, piping hot and ooey-gooey. Also delicious was the Memphis Burger, a mess of cheese, onions, tomatoes both regular and fried green, bacon and house-made pickles, served with fries in a guitar-shaped basket.

(From $209 a night, Graceland packages available. 1-800-238-2000; guesthouse­graceland.com)

Elvis Presley's Memphis

Across Elvis Presley Boulevard, the new Elvis Presley's Memphis greets visitors as the welcome center for Graceland tours. The complex opened in March, and is the attraction's most significant expansion since opening in 1982.

Visitors can purchase tickets, board shuttles bound for the mansion, where 600,000 visitors tour annually, and browse well-designed exhibits of artifacts from Presley's life and career.

The 200,000-square-foot space allows for double the amount of memorabilia to be displayed, including, for the first time, Presley's boat. A room is also devoted to automobiles, including his pink Cadillac, and visitors can tour his airplanes outside.

But what visitors see is still only about 20 percent of a 1.5 million-item archive.

Libby Perry, a public relations coordinator for Elvis Presley Enterprises, says archivists aren't finished yet. "We've got tons of receipts, contracts and papers. They're still cataloging. It'll be 40 years in August. They're still working."

A new archives exhibit shows some of the more mundane yet oddly fascinating artifacts from the star's life — a shot-out TV set from his Palm Springs home, childhood toys, a Tab soda fountain from his TV room. There's also memorabilia from his time in the Army.

The Elvis the Entertainer Career Museum is home to a floor-to-ceiling collection of Presley's awards, including gold and platinum records. And a space devoted to Presley's influence on the music world includes costumes worn by other stars including Trisha Yearwood, Justin Timberlake, Gene Simmons and more. John Lennon's piano is also on view.

To display Dwayne Johnson's Elvis-inspired jumpsuit from a 2016 Spike TV special, Perry says, "We had to get a buff mannequin. It just kind of hung on a normal mannequin."

Since opening, she says, other artists have reached out, wanting to be represented. "We're trying to make space for everybody," she says.

Perry appears daily on Sirius­XM's Elvis Radio, which is broadcast from a new studio on the property. She also co-hosts a "Starring Elvis Presley" podcast, with commentary on Presley's 31 feature films. "If the podcast is successful, which it's been, we'll watch those, too," she says.

Touring Graceland and Elvis Presley's Memphis brings visitors closer to Presley's personality, says Perry.

"If you're a fan, you end up leaving an even bigger fan. If you're just an appreciator, you wind up leaving a fan. Whatever level you're at, Graceland kind of bumps you up."

Dining nearby

For food and drinks after the hotel's bar and restaurants close for the night, head about 1½ miles down Elvis Presley Boulevard to Marlowe's Ribs & Restaurant. It's hard to miss — there's a big, pink pig in front — but they'll even send a pink Cadillac limo to get you. There's live music most Fridays and heavy pours from friendly bartenders. Marlowe's smokes its award-winning meats daily for up to 16 hours. We recommend the ribs, of course; the meat was so tender it nearly fell off the bone.