Graceland West?
The owner of the Palm Springs estate once owned by Elvis Presley has big plans for the future. Reno Fontana and his wife, Laura, purchased the home at 845 West Chino Canyon Road from a Japanese businessman at a bargain price of $1.25 million in 2003. Since the previous owner discovered his fear of flying overseas from Japan to the U.S. after he bought the estate, he rarely visited the property over the 18 years that he owned it. As a result, the Spanish-style white stucco property was in disrepair when the Fontanas bought it and they have been renovating the outside of the house for the last six years.
But they won't stop there. The Fontanas have put plans into motion to create an entertainment complex surrounding the estate. Similar to
Graceland in Memphis, the Palm Springs property will have buildings next door to house an Elvis museum, theater, recording studio, bowling alley, wedding chapel, guest houses and plenty of parking. This is a unique proposition since the estate is surrounded by other houses in close proximity. However, the Fontanas are planning on utilizing vacant land across the street and in the back of the property to create what they call "Graceland West."
The property has recently been designated as the first event home to be registered in Palm Springs which permits a commercial business to operate in a residential area. Reno Fontana estimates the expansion will take five years to complete.
However, unlike
Graceland, Elvis Presley's Palm Springs Estate will feature modern decor and not the original furnishings and atmosphere of the 1970s when Elvis and Priscilla lived there. Fontana calls it the "Elvis of the Future". They have hired renowned interior decorator Carleton Varney to recreate a luxury lifestyle fit for "The King."
The Chino Canyon estate was purchased by Elvis and Priscilla Presley on April 14, 1970. They put $20,000 as a down payment and financed $85,000 for a total purchase price of $105,000. When Elvis bought the house, it was 3500 square feet. After Elvis and Priscilla got divorced in 1973, Elvis expanded the house with an additional 2000 square feet for a party room, a new bedroom with two bathrooms, and a sauna.
Palm Springs has not been on the radar of most Elvis fans except for the other house linked with Elvis in Palm Springs which is nicknamed the "honeymoon" house. Fontana is quick to point out that the honeymoon house at 1350 Ladera Circle was never owned by Elvis Presley. According to Fontana, the house on Ladera Circle was leased only for 9 months in 1967 under Elvis' father's name of Vernon Presley. Elvis and Priscilla stayed there the night of their honeymoon on May 1, 1967.
Fontana has been a huge Elvis fan since he first heard the "Blue Hawaii" album in 1961 at the age of eight. Like Elvis, Fontana's family was poor while he was growing up. Fontana recalls telling his mother at age 12 that "one day I'll buy you Elvis Presey's house." Forty years later, Fontana's innocent dream as a child came true. Fontana and his wife live in the Palm Springs house along with their son and Fontana's mother. They live in the private quarters of the house where Elvis and Priscilla lived during the early 1970s.
30-minute tours of the house are offered Monday through Saturday from 10 to 4. The cost is $20 per person. Special events are also planned to coincide with famous dates in Elvis history.
25.05.2009, 23:12
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