Lucille Barilla
Thu, November 13, 2025 at 8:50 AM PST
2 min read
Elvis Presley's greatest love opened up about a priceless piece of his legacy, which celebrates its 50th anniversary at Graceland.
On November 11, 1975, Presley's plane, the Lisa Marie, took its first flight as his personal aircraft. The official Graceland Instagram page shared details of the inaugural flight.
A reel shared the story of the aircraft, stating, "Fifty years ago this month, Elvis took his first flight on the Lisa Marie. Customized to match his style and comfort, the jet featured gold accents, velvet seats, and a bedroom fit for the King of Rock and Roll."
It continued, "Named after his daughter, the Lisa Marie became his flying Graceland and a symbol of his legendary life on the road. The Lisa Marie jet, 50 years of Elvis' flying Graceland."
In response to the post, Linda Thompson, Presley's girlfriend of four years, wrote, "And I was on that flight with him! We actually went together a few times to Dallas to oversee the remodeling, etc. of the Lisa Marie… precious memories for sure!"
Presley bought the aircraft in 1975, per the official Graceland website. He purchased the 1958 Convair 880 in April, named it after his daughter, and spent more than $800,000 to remodel it.
He also had a second jet, a Lockheed Star, used to take Colonel Tom Parker and his staff from city to city during concert tours. Both jets sit in a large parking lot next to each other, in the Elvis Presley's Memphis complex across Elvis Presley Boulevard from the main house.
However, there was a time period when the Presley family didn't own these airplanes. Vernon Presley sold the plane in 1978. They were ultimately purchased by the OKC partnership by Graceland and returned home to the Presley family.
Getting the plane to Graceland was quite a sight. The Lisa Marie was towed down Elvis Presley Boulevard, backing up traffic for upwards of three hours. It was then placed in a lot across from Presley's Graceland home in Whitehaven, in Memphis.
The plane is now a part of a complex called Elvis Presley's Memphis. It houses various museums and exhibits on his life and career, such as his cars, stage outfits, and military service.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 13, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.