Friends of Elvis - Save the Circle G Campaign
by Lesley Pilling
My name is Lesley Pilling. I have been an Elvis fan since the age of 7 way back in 1968. In August 2010 whilst in Memphis celebrating Elvis Week, as well as our usualvisits to Graceland we also visited another much less glamorous site – The Circle G ranch. Elvis’ ranch house, the cottage where he and Priscilla spent much of their honeymoon is being allowed to rot by the roadside. So began the Friends of Elvis – Save the Circle G Campaign’. We have to save this significant piece of Elvis history before it’s too late! The Aims and Objectives of the campaign are:– To rescue, restore and preserve the property formally known as the Circle G Ranch. To open meaningful dialogue between all interested parties and in doing so,secure the future of the Circle G in Elvis' memory We have written numerous letters to Elvis Presley Enterprises, Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie – as yet we have had no response. This is a very unfortunate state of affairs – but one that will not stop our drive to SaveThe Circle G. I now firmly believe that it will fall to an individual Elvis fan out there to purchase the ranch (which is on the market for $6.5 million), and with the help and support of fans from all over the world, will rescue, renovate and restore the ranch to how Elvis knew and loved it. We have to make the people who matter realise how important this is to thousands of Elvis fans from all over the world! We have received some wonderful messages of support and encouragement from those who knew and loved Elvis including, Joe Esposito, Linda Thomson, DJ Fontana, Barbara Hearn-Smith, Lowell Heyes, to name but a few. Thousands of supporters of the campaign from all over the world have joined in letter writing campaigns. Regular press releases are distributed worldwide .As I said in our January Press Release “To be able to conserve and protect this very significant piece of Elvis’ history is vitally important. Elvis loved the ranch and spent a significant period of time there at a particularly important time of his life – as a new husband, expectant father as well as an artist anxious to pursue new avenues in his career”. To find out more about the campaign, show your support join the thousands of fans from around the world who have pledged their support and learn how you can become involved – visit the campaign’s facebook page – Friends of Elvis – Save the Circle G Campaign or e-mail Lesley Pilling at friendsofcircleg@talktalk I have also just started a survey which I am sending out to fans all around the world. I truly believe that the survey results will be a very useful tool in future meetings etc as we strive to secure the future of the ranch. Here is the survey: After some considerable thought I have decided that it would be a very useful exercise to carry out a survey of fans to gauge their feelings, thoughts and ideas on the Circle G Ranch. I think it is really important to find out what you are really thinking about our efforts to save the place and how you would like to see it developed etc. I do hope you will take a few moments to complete this quick survey as the results could be a very useful tool when we get to meet the Horn Lake City Council and other interested parties. All I would ask is that you give your honest opinions. Once completed you can either mail it back to me at the address at the bottom of the survey or e-mail your answers to me at friendsofcircleg@talktalk.net Survey a) Do you believe? 1. That it is important to save the Ranch 2. Saving the ranch doesn’t matter b) Do you think that? 1.The ranch is a significant piece of Elvis history 2.The ranch is not important in the ‘Elvis’ story c) Are you disappointed at the lack of interest shown in preserving the ranch by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie? 1. Yes, I am surprised and disappointed 2. No I am not at all surprised. d) Would you welcome the development of the ranch in the same style as 1.Graceland 2.The Birthplace at Tupelo e) Do you think that the ranch (or part of it i.e. the ranch house, bar-b-cue pit, bridge and cross) should be recognised by the state of Mississippi as of historic and cultural interest? 1.Yes 2.No f) Have you visited the ranch previously? 1.Yes 2.No g) If you had the opportunity 1.You would love to visit the ranch (again or for the first time ) 2.You may consider adding it to your list of Elvis sites 3.You are not at all interested. h) If you would like to visit, would you like to see – Please list these in order of importance to you by numbering the boxes 1 to 6 1.The ranch sympathetically restored to how Elvis knew and loved it. 2.Open just as a museum. 3.A place where you could enjoy some of the interests Elvis did (i.e. horse riding, bar-b-cues, etc) 4.A place where you could stay in bungalows or cabins 5.A venue for concerts and other Elvis themed events 6.A place where children from disadvantaged backgrounds could experience life on the ranch. Thank you for taking the time to complete this short survey - I look forward to hearing from you Lesley Pilling On behalf of the Friends of Elvis – Save The Circle G Campaign. Click here to read or post comments. |