{{Short description|Tourist attraction and shrine dedicated to Elvis Presley}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}} {{For|the Phoebe Bridgers song|Punisher (album){{!}}''Punisher'' (album)}} thumb|upright=1.22|Graceland Too in 2012|right '''Graceland Too''' was a tourist attraction and shrine dedicated to American singer Elvis Presley.<ref name="CST-1">{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4277267.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102195615/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4277267.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 2, 2012|title=Graceland Too Is Also a Shrine|last=McCutchan|first=Ann|date=January 8, 1995|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times|accessdate=January 1, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Graceland, Too packs Mississippi shrine with offbeat Elvis memorabilia Come to the KINGDOM">{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAD9787B0CF0F52&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Graceland, Too packs Mississippi shrine with offbeat Elvis memorabilia Come to the KINGDOM|last= McCutchan|first=Ann|date=January 7, 1995|publisher=Austin American Statesman|accessdate=January 1, 2010}}</ref><ref name="TBS-1">{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sandiego/access/1241177961.html?dids=1241177961:1241177961&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+03%2C+1993&author=ROBERT+P.+LAURENCE&pub=The+San+Diego+Union+-+Tribune&desc=TBS+special+takes+freaky%2C+funny+look+at+ever-faithful+Elvis+fans&pqatl=google|title=TBS special takes freaky, funny look at ever-faithful Elvis fans|last=LAURENCE|first=Robert|date=January 3, 1993|publisher=San Diego Union|accessdate=January 1, 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> It was located in Holly Springs, Mississippi, {{convert|40|mi|spell=in}} south of the original Graceland, to which it had no affiliation. Graceland Too was operated out of the two-story home of Paul MacLeod,<ref>Paul MacLeod was sometimes known as "Paul McLeod". {{Cite news|author=Barnett, Sheena|title=McLeod's Graceland Too lured thousands|date=July 18, 2014|newspaper=Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal|location=Tupelo, Mississippi|url=http://djournal.com/news/mcleods-graceland-lured-thousands|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719203021/http://djournal.com/news/mcleods-graceland-lured-thousands|archivedate=July 19, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> a Presley fanatic who collected hundreds of pieces of Elvis memorabilia. The shrine cost $5 {{USDCY|5|2014}} to enter and operated 24/7 year-round. The bizarre nature of the attraction, as well as MacLeod's eccentricity, made it a local landmark over its twenty-five years of operation.<ref name="AP-1">{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20091230/ap_tr_ge/us_travel_brief_obsessed_with_elvis_1|title=Graceland Too attracts offbeat tourism in Miss.|last= Wagster pettu|first=Emily|date=December 30, 2009|agency=Associated Press}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The attraction closed in 2014 after MacLeod shot a man dead on the property, and died himself one day later. Its contents were auctioned off and the site was purchased by a couple.

==History== American singer and actor Elvis Presley rose to prominence in the mid-twentieth century, becoming a significant cultural icon due to his contributions to development of rock and roll music. Presley died in 1977 at his mansion, a 13.8-acre estate known as Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. After his death, it was opened to the public as a museum in 1982, rapidly becoming one of the most popular domestic landmarks. It was once estimated that the museum attracts over 650,000 visitors per year—second only to the White House.<ref>{{cite book|last=Victor|first=Adam|title=The Elvis Encyclopedia|year=2008|publisher=Gerald Duckworth & Co Ltd|isbn=978-0-7156-3816-3|page=208}}</ref>

Paul MacLeod was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1942. He worked in prisons and at automobile assembly plants, but he was unemployed for the majority of his life. He developed an obsession with Presley at a young age; by the mid-1970s, he had relocated to Holly Springs, Mississippi—only forty miles south of Graceland. He was married twice throughout his life, with both women divorcing him due to his fixation on Presley. He opened Graceland Too in 1989 or 1990, and it became a local tourist attraction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/elisejordan/the-last-days-of-graceland-too-the-worlds-most-notorious-elv|title=The Last Days Of Graceland Too|website=BuzzFeed|first=Elise|last=Jordan|date=January 8, 2015|accessdate=July 12, 2020}}</ref>

==Attraction== Graceland Too was located at 200 E. Gholson Avenue in Holly Springs. The two-story home—MacLeod occupying the top floor—was filled with Elvis paraphernalia<ref name="CST-1"/><ref name="AAA"/> to the point of being a fire hazard.<ref name="AP-1"/> MacLeod operated Graceland Too 24/7 and would personally give visitors a tour, claiming that his collection was valued at millions of dollars. He became renowned for his eccentricity,<ref name="TD-1">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jlYeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pscEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1345,3218886&dq=graceland+too+eccentric&hl=en|title=Graceland Too is filled with Elvis Presley Nostalgia|date= August 22, 2003|publisher=Times Daily|accessdate=January 1, 2010}}</ref><ref name="In Elvis they trust Obsession, anyone? Father, son open their home to a King's ransom in curios">{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AT&p_theme=at&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADA131B3DC2F96&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=In Elvis they trust Obsession, anyone? Father, son open their home to a King's ransom in curios|date=August 14, 1994|publisher=The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution|accessdate=January 1, 2010}}</ref> based upon his reverence for Elvis,<ref name="TBS-1"/> and his claim to drink at least two dozen cans of soda per day.<ref name="AP-1"/> The home was routinely remodeled in various gaudy color choices; it was originally painted pink,<ref name="AAA">Baker, Terence (October 2008) [http://www.aaany.com/CarandTravel/Web_Only_Stories/Mississippi_Meandering.asp "Mississippi Meandering"] ''AAA New York Car & Travel'', American Automobile Association of New York {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203060820/http://www.aaany.com/CarandTravel/Web_Only_Stories/Mississippi_Meandering.asp |date=December 3, 2009 }}</ref> then white,<ref name="AAA"/> then blue. The home remained a popular tourist spot for years, particularly among students at the University of Mississippi.

The town's assistant director of tourism, Suzann William, claimed MacLeod was Holly Springs' number one tourist attraction.<ref name="AP-1"/>

===Closure=== thumb|300px|Graceland Too in May 2014, one month before its closure|right In June 2014, MacLeod was involved in an altercation that resulted in the death of David Taylor, a twenty-eight-year-old Black man. Taylor had been assisting MacLeod with repainting the exterior, and the two were arguing over an unpaid ten dollars. MacLeod shot Taylor at point-blank range, killing him. MacLeod cooperated with police and was released with no charges filed.<ref>{{cite web|first=JB|last=Clark|title=Man killed at Graceland Too by owner|url=http://djournal.com/news/man-killed-graceland-owner|publisher=Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal|date=July 17, 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718193926/http://djournal.com/news/man-killed-graceland-owner/|archivedate=July 18, 2014|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Barnett">{{Cite news|last=Barnett |first=Sheena|title=McLeod's Graceland Too lured thousands|date=July 18, 2014 |newspaper=Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal |location=Tupelo, Mississippi|url=http://djournal.com/news/mcleods-graceland-lured-thousands/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719203021/http://djournal.com/news/mcleods-graceland-lured-thousands|archivedate=July 19, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Thirty-six hours later, MacLeod suffered a heart attack and died on the front porch of Graceland Too. His death was mourned on social media and made national headlines.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Graceland Too Owner Found Dead 36 Hours After Fatally Shooting a Man |date=July 17, 2014 |newspaper=Memphis Flyer |url=https://www.memphisflyer.com/graceland-too-owner-found-dead-36-hours-after-fatally-shooting-a-man |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507195941/https://www.memphisflyer.com/graceland-too-owner-found-dead-36-hours-after-fatally-shooting-a-man |archive-date=May 7, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Robertson |first=Campbell |date=July 17, 2014 |title=Two Lives Collide, and End, at an Elvis Shrine |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/18/us/two-lives-collide-and-end-at-an-elvis-shrine.html }}</ref> After his funeral a vigil was held at the museum; mourners decorated the property with cans of soda.

The contents of Graceland Too went up for auction in January 2015, with the entire lot of items sold for a reported $54,500 to an anonymous buyer from Georgia. An issue with the online bidding company required a new auction held that May. The vast majority of Graceland Too's property—including hundreds of pieces of Presley memorabilia—was sold for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cascone |first=Sarah |date=July 29, 2015 |title=Murder and a Mysterious Death at an Elvis Museum |newspaper=ArtNet News |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/paul-macleod-elvis-museum-death-and-murder-320774 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227193931/https://news.artnet.com/art-world/paul-macleod-elvis-museum-death-and-murder-320774 |archive-date=December 27, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Associated Press 7:42&nbsp;am. CT May 4, 2015 |url=http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/05/04/second-graceland-too-auction/26860413/ |title=Elvis memorabilia sells at 2nd 'Graceland Too' auction |publisher=Clarionledger.com |date=May 4, 2015 |accessdate=May 14, 2017}}</ref> Later that year, the home and all remaining property were purchased for $5,500 by Marie and Jeffrey Underwood, as well as members of the Friends of Graceland Too.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2015/12/22/graceland-too-home-bought-5500/77748326/|title=Graceland Too home bought for $5,500|work=The Clarion Ledger|access-date=April 16, 2017|language=en}}</ref> As of 2022, Marie Underwood still dreams of reopening Graceland Too.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Alsup |first=Blake |date=May 1, 2022 |title=Graceland Too Forever: Current owner dreams of reopening legendary Elvis shrine |newspaper= Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal |url=https://www.djournal.com/news/local/graceland-too-forever-current-owner-dreams-of-reopening-legendary-elvis-shrine/article_42117792-ad5a-59ea-95b4-30c601315af9.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501093902/https://www.djournal.com/news/local/graceland-too-forever-current-owner-dreams-of-reopening-legendary-elvis-shrine/article_42117792-ad5a-59ea-95b4-30c601315af9.html |archive-date=May 1, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==In popular culture== Shortly after MacLeod's death, it was revealed that documentary filmmakers had been working for five years on a film about MacLeod and Graceland Too. The same week as the auction an art photography book, ''Graceland Too Revisited'', was published by authors/photographers Darrin Devault and Tom Graves.<ref>{{cite web | title = Entire 'Graceland Too' Elvis Collection Purchased by 1 Person at Auction | publisher = Al.com | date = February 1, 2015 | url = http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/02/entire_graceland_too_elvis_col.html}}</ref>

Graceland Too has been commemorated in American popular culture: indie rock band Parquet Courts were inspired to write "Uncast Shadow of a Southern Myth" (2014) after a visit to the museum,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/featured/parquet-courts-2014-band-of-the-year-interview/|title=The Story Behind Every Song On Phoebe Bridgers' New Album Punisher|first=David|last=Bevin|work=Spin|date=December 11, 2014|accessdate=July 12, 2020}}</ref> while singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers included a song named after Graceland Too on her 2020 album ''Punisher''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2086915/phoebe-bridgers-interview-punisher-conor-oberst-1975-boygenius/franchises/interview/footnotes-interview/|title=The Story Behind Every Song On Phoebe Bridgers' New Album Punisher|first=Ryan|last=Leas|website=Stereogum|date=June 18, 2020|accessdate=July 12, 2020}}</ref>

In 2022, ''Graceland Too: The Building Elvis Never Left'', a play about MacLeod, Taylor, and the museum, written by Nicole Hughes with music by Matt Wood, premiered at the New York Theater Festival.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Beifuss |first1=John |title=Elvis-haunted home, 'Graceland Too,' resurrected in New York theater |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/2022/05/06/elvis-presley-graceland-too-house-mississippi-new-play-theater/9633061002/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |work=Memphis Commercial Appeal |date=6 May 2022}}</ref>

==See also== * List of music museums

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} *{{cite web|url=http://www.visithollysprings.com/about/galleries-and-museums/graceland-too/ |title=Local tourism information about Graceland Too|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016195750/http://www.visithollysprings.com/about/galleries-and-museums/graceland-too/|archivedate=October 16, 2013|url-status=dead}} *{{cite web|url=http://www.timetravelturtle.com/2011/10/elvis_graceland_too_holly_springs/|title= Images|date= October 24, 2011|publisher=Time Travel Turtle|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202105218/http://www.timetravelturtle.com/2011/10/elvis_graceland_too_holly_springs|archivedate=December 2, 2013|url-status=live}} *{{cite web|title=USA: Elvis Presley Fan Opens Graceland Too as Shrine to The King| date=August 10, 1997 | publisher=Associated Press Television (APTV)|url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/USA-ELVIS-PRESLEY-FAN-OPENS-GRACELAND-TOO-AS-SHRINE-TO-THE-KING/691a0cfc0a1d97aaa5e3a29df6525d48}}

{{authority control}} {{Coord|34.766642|-89.445018|display=title}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Graceland Too}} Category:Elvis Presley museums Category:Museums in Marshall County, Mississippi Presley Category:Music museums in Mississippi Category:Buildings and structures in Holly Springs, Mississippi Category:Defunct museums in Mississippi Category:1997 establishments in Mississippi Category:2014 disestablishments in Mississippi Category:Museums established in 1997 Category:Museums disestablished in 2014