Elvis’s Honeymoon Hideaway Open This August

Visiting Palm Springs next August? Here’s a suggestion: Elvis’s so-called Honeymoon Hideaway at 1350 Ladera Circle opens its doors to the public. A tour of the house costs you 25 $US, the Indoor Gospel Concert (4 – 7 pm) another 50 $US. More info at www.elvishoneymoon.com. History: On September 16, 1966, Elvis leased the estate at 1350 Ladera Circle, Palm Springs, California for one year for $21,000. Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis's manager, lived in the neighborhood and he thought that it would be the perfect place for Elvis to relax, entertain his friends and escape from Hollywood. However, Rona Barrett, the famous Hollywood gossip columnist, also lived around the corner. She became suspicious that Elvis and Priscilla were going to be married when Priscilla Beaulieu arrived on the weekend of April 29th 1967 with her entire family. Elvis' entourage also began to assemble (Joan and Joe Esposito, George Klein, Sandy and Jerry Schilling, Marty Lacker, Dee and Vernon Presley). Apparently "Miss Rona" even had the estate's maid followed in order to find out when and where the wedding would take place. Then she announced on her nightly television broadcast that "the King and Priscilla are to be married in Palm Springs."Originally the plan was to have the wedding and reception take place around the pool at the estate but because of the onslaught of the press and media, Colonel Parker arranged for Elvis and Priscilla to be married in Las Vegas. Escorted by Joe Espositio, the best man, they slipped out of the house at 3:00 a.m. on Monday morning, May 1st, 1967, going out the back way, by the pool and across the fruit orchard to Rose Avenue where limos were waiting to drive them to the airport. They flew to Las Vegas in Frank Sinatra's Lear jet, the "Christina", and by 4:00 a.m. the marriage license was obtained at the court house. At 9:40 a.m. the wedding ceremony took place at the Aladdin Hotel, in owner Milton Prell's suite. The ceremony was followed by a breakfast reception for approximately 100 guests. On the same day, May 1, 1967, at 2:50 p.m., Elvis and Priscilla flew back to Palm Springs to begin their honeymoon. Elvis carried Priscilla over the threshold and up the stairs of the Honeymoon Hideaway singing "The Hawaiian Wedding Song". Lisa Marie was born on February 1, 1968, exactly 9 months from the date of the honeymoon. The next day Elvis went to United Artists in L.A. to finish "Clambake" and then hurried back to Palm Springs the same evening. It is believed that the "1968 Comeback Special" was planned during the many months he spent at the estate. After this concert Elvis made numerous personal and concert appearances which led to him becoming the "Entertainer of the Century".Elvis loved Palm Springs! Elvis' favorite time of the year was the summer, even thought he wasn't too fond of the heat. He resolved this problem by installing hotel-style air-conditioning units throughout the estate and he would keep the thermostat constantly low. His friends constantly commented that the house was like "a meat locker". Elvis often sang gospel music in the living room until dawn. Elvis at times would ride his Harley-Davidson to downtown Palm Springs for ice cream and at other times he would go to a bookstore called Bookland. Occasionally he would visit Colonel Tom Parker, his manager, who resided around the corner. One day Elvis saw Robert Goulet on TV and he jokingly shot a gun at the TV screen. Later that evening he went to an appliance store in Indian Canyon and bought 10 TVs. Elvis had fun racing go-carts in Palm Springs at Camelot Park on E. Palm Canyon Drive. At the Indio Casino, Elvis played blackjack. He liked the game so much, that when he was in Vegas he had a blackjack table put in his Hilton suite…