In the mid-1950s, the Gulf Hills Golf Club and Resort in Ocean Springs, MS was a favorite hangout of Elvis Presley.
Presley would rent out the entire resort, all the villas and several nearby houses in the Gulf Hills subdivision when he came to town.
Now, after wrestling with the notion, the resort has decided to embrace the Elvis factor. It took years of preparation, remodeling and redecorating, but it has opened for reservations the "Love Me Tender Love Me Suite."
The suite is a three-bedroom wing on the second floor that has a mezzanine, a parlor with upholstered bar and a hall of fame that runs the length of the suite.
General Manager Donna Brown says part-owner Karen Mavar and interior designer Ray Ebberman created the suite's authentic look and feel of the 1950s.
The "Love Me Suite" rents for $1,000 a night. No children are allowed because it is furnished with antiques and irreplaceable memorabilia, like an ashtray from the Pink Pony Lounge where he performed on the grounds.
Resort Taps Into Its Elvis Factor
September 25, 2007 | Other
Bill E. Burk wrote on
September 25, 2007
I seriously doubt Elvis rented out ALL the cabins and villas at Gulf Hills in those days. I was very close to the then-owners and they never made that claim -- then. And Gulf Hills' dining room, on Friday nights, served the most delicious Peanut Butter Soup on Planet Earth. I even flew down there from Memphis twice on Fridays just to have some of their soup.
oldie56~2 wrote on
September 26, 2007
This is a very interesting 'post'. However, according to all information, I've read and know to be true during the 1950's, it would at best be questionable to believe the totality of these claims as far as the amount of rooms Elvis rented. Some houses maybe.
Jerome wrote on
September 26, 2007
there's another reason why there aren't any children allowed in the 'Love Me suite'..
loftmanuk wrote on
September 26, 2007
Because it is furnished with irreplaceable memorabilia, like an ashtray from the Pink Pony Lounge. What! Wonder what other treasures they have. Rumour has it they have found a beer mat as well and might have to charge $2000 a night instead. Another rip off.