I miss the old visitor’s center and the feel of the event. The old buildings were closer to Elvis Presley Boulevard. The noise of the traffic blended with the noise of the crowd to give it the feel of an event. Visitors milling around at the shops were close to the people waiting in line to go on the tours. They were also close to a tent with non-stop performers. You could watch the performers or just hang out with people in the crowd. The mansion was just across the street so you could easily stroll across to get a picture at the gates or write your name on the wall. There was at least the feel of constant activity. The new visitor’s facility was built behind where the old one stood. All the new buildings are spread out. The feel of the old Elvis Week was like being at a fair, a community coming together to have fun. There were tales of Elvis fans hanging out together at the cheap hotels around Graceland at all night parties. Now everyone is off to themselves.
One of the areas where you feel the difference is the exhibition hall where they have moved the Elvis performers that were previously in the tent. The performers have gotten better, and the venue is more comfortable. But now if you go into that room, the people are only there to watch the singers. There is no milling around and visiting. There are enough seats for practically everyone and you are expected to sit and watch the singers. The performance is the thing now. I only peaked in this room this year because I didn’t pay to get access to the room. The room seats a lot more people that the tent ever would. I think all the people that helped create the festival feel in the past are now sitting orderly in these seats. Paying for access makes them able to provide a nice, air-conditioned venue, but it’s lost the magic that made Elvis Week special.
While I was peaking in the “Elvis Tent” room, I ran into a kid that I had met several previous years. When Brandon was younger, I had my picture taken with him several different years. He would usually be in a jumpsuit. Brandon’s mom had been dressing him in jumpsuits for Elvis Week since he was a baby. Brandon had dropped the jumpsuits. He’s graduated from high school and works for the small town in Illinois where he grew up. He talked about missing the old visitor’s center. He talked about all the things you could do in the past and you could fill a day with stuff to do. He sounded like he was bored with Graceland.
I missed the old visitor’s center too. I went to the discount gift shop located in one of the old shops next to where they set up the Elvis Tent in the past. They had a handful of official Elvis Week items from the 2018 and 2019. I was hoping to find something from 2020. I had almost made a special trip in 2020 just for a cap. They must have scaled back how much they bought quickly sold out everything last year. I suspect they did scale back this year too.