'Elvis Is Alive' museum to move to the King's home state

The quirky 'Elvis Is Alive Museum' will pack up in Missouri and move to the King’s home state, Mississippi, the new owner said today.

Andy Key was the high bidder of a collection of photographs, books, FBI files, DNA reports and other memorabilia from the museum that promotes the theory that Elvis Presley never died. The eBay auction closed on Friday.

In his first interview after the auction, Key said he was “open to the possibility” that Elvis never died, though it was not a condition of the sale.

“I want to make this a tribute,” Key, who paid €5,607 for the collection, said of the move to Mississippi.

“If (Elvis) wants to come to the opening, he can certainly come back.”

The collection includes a tape recording of what is said to be Elvis’ voice made long after the date of his death, and piles of documents said to be FBI files proving Presley’s involvement with US government authorities.

Other items include replicas of the Cadillac Elvis drove and the coffin and gravestone from his 1977 funeral.

Key said he would like the museum to complement the tourist attraction in Tupelo, Mississippi, where Elvis was born and bought his first guitar.

And he said some people were already trying to buy the collection from him.

“So far, the highest offer I got today was $15,000 (€10,133),” Key said. “I said, ’No thank you’. This is part of history, to me it’s a pretty major thing. This needs to be carried on.”

Bill Beeny, 81, the founder of the roadside museum, sold the treasures on eBay in hopes the buyer would carry on his work.

Key said he was intrigued by the notion that Elvis did not die and said he wanted to spend some time with Beeny learning all he can.

“He knows a lot,” he said. “It raises a question in my mind.”

David Beckwith, a spokesman for Elvis Presley Enterprises, which manages Graceland, the King’s estate and mansion in Memphis, Tennessee, said previously that the company had no comment on the museum.