Introduction:
For more than four decades, the upper floor of Elvis Presley’s beloved home, Graceland, has remained shrouded in mystery. Millions of fans from around the world have wandered its grand halls—marveling at the music room, admiring the famed Jungle Room, and pausing for reflection in the meditation garden. Yet no visitor, no matter how privileged, has ever been allowed beyond the stairs to Elvis’s private sanctuary.
Now, Riley Keough, Elvis’s granddaughter and current custodian of Graceland, has offered a rare and heartfelt insight into this most private part of the King’s world. Her revelations do not uncover scandal or sensational secrets, but instead, they illuminate the deep emotional significance the upstairs rooms hold for the Presley family.
According to Riley, the decision to keep the upper floor sealed since Elvis’s passing in 1977 was made out of love and respect. It was there that Elvis laughed, rested, prayed, and found peace. His belongings remain exactly as he left them—his jumpsuits hang neatly in the closet, his records rest by the bed, and even the clock above his headboard has not been touched since that fateful day.
For Riley, these rooms are more than relics; they are a living connection to the grandfather she never met but has always felt close to. As a child, she recalls quietly sitting in his study, surrounded by books on faith and philosophy, and finding a page where Elvis had written the word “free” over and over again. These intimate discoveries painted a portrait of a man beyond the spotlight—a man of reflection, hope, and vulnerability.
Among the most poignant items Riley encountered was a small shoebox under the bed marked “Do Not Open,” containing letters too personal for public eyes. She has chosen to keep their contents private, honoring the intimate side of Elvis that few ever knew. Even the bathroom where Elvis passed away remains untouched—not as a place of tragedy, but as a room where he often found quiet moments to himself.
Graceland has long been more than a tourist attraction. Built in 1939 as a simple Southern home, it became Elvis’s refuge from the pressures of fame when he purchased it in 1957. Over time, it evolved into a reflection of his larger-than-life personality, from the tropical Jungle Room where he recorded his final songs to the serene meditation garden where he now rests alongside his parents and daughter Lisa Marie Presley.
As the new steward of Graceland, Riley carries both the weight of family history and the responsibility of protecting Elvis’s legacy. She works tirelessly to preserve his personal artifacts, digitize his handwritten notes, and share his story with future generations. Yet she remains resolute in keeping the upstairs private, believing that some parts of Elvis’s life should remain sacred.
Her decision may leave fans curious, but perhaps that is part of Graceland’s enduring magic. It is a place where the legend of Elvis Presley lives on—not just in gold records and iconic performances, but in the quiet, untouched spaces that still hold the heartbeat of the man himself.