Current Events > People are being charged $28.75 to visit Elvis' grave

(+) Yeah! (+)

http://www.nydailynews.com/newswires/entertainment/28-75-charge-visit-elvis-grave-vigil-upsets-fans-article-1.3414535

For nearly four decades, fans of the late singer Elvis Presley have made a solemn procession past his grave at his Graceland mansion during the annual candlelight vigil commemorating his death, without paying a penny.

This year, on the 40th anniversary of the rock 'n' roll icon's death, it cost them $28.75.

Many fans were not happy.

Visitors attending the vigil that began Tuesday night and runs into Wednesday had to have an Elvis Week Property Pass wristband to walk up the long driveway and past the graves where Presley and relatives are buried, Graceland told the Associated Press in a written statement. The $28.75 wristband also provided access to a new $45 million entertainment complex at the Memphis tourist attraction.

The announcement surprised fans who didn't know about the charge when they made plans to come to Elvis Week. Some reacted with angry messages on social media, saying they won't attend another vigil.

Longtime fan Fred Schwarz of Springfield, Illinois, said Tuesday that he and his wife have been to several vigils and have enjoyed them. But not this year. He says fans should be insulted at the new charge.

"I looked forward to going down there this year, and they come up with all this," Schwarz said. "I don't want to even go to Memphis anymore. The people running that are not Elvis fans. They are in business. Corporations, they want the bottom line."

Cheryl Skogen, of Los Angeles, was third in line waiting on Tuesday morning for the vigil later that evening.

"I don't think Elvis would like it if he knew the fans were charged to go up and see," she said.

Some fans didn't have a problem with the charge. Joe Makowski, who saw Presley more than 80 times in concert and came to Graceland after Presley died in 1977, said it's a good idea because of the cost of security. He also said these types of charges are seen at other tourist attractions.

"It goes along with the territory of the popularity of Elvis," said Makowski, of St. Petersburg, Florida. "There's a price for that as well, to accommodate all the people."

News of the vigil charge also upset Anthony Stuchbury, of Bolton, England, who has been to Graceland more than two dozen times but did not come this year.

"I understand they are a business, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with them making money," Stuchbury said. "But the current price-gouging situation has created so much friction, it's even dividing fans."
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I mean, the King's gotta eat somehow

I visited the graves of Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, Strauss, and Schoenberg without spending a red cent, so...

sorry elvis
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