Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this article:
- From dogs and horses to a turkey named Bowtie, Elvis Presley surrounded himself with all kinds of animals at Graceland, his Memphis estate.
- Presley even kept a mynah bird that mimicked staff phrases, while his chimpanzee, Scatter, caused chaos with his antics.
- Although fans now visit for its music history, Graceland’s animals were once its heart and soul.
Elvis Presley didn’t just live at Graceland—he built his own private world there, alongside many unusual housemates.
At his famous Memphis estate, the King of Rock ’n’ Roll surrounded himself with animals of all kinds, from dogs that dutifully followed him across the grounds, to horses grazing in the stables, to a turkey named Bowtie who strutted around like he owned the place.
Presley also kept a mynah bird with a weirdly specific talent: The bird had been trained to mimic the phrases the Graceland staff used whenever the King didn’t want to take a call. (Imagine hearing a bird deliver lines like “Elvis isn’t available right now.”)
Then there was Scatter, the chimpanzee with a reputation. After making his Graceland debut in 1961, Scatter became part of Presley’s inner circle. The chimp wore human clothes and often hung out with Elvis and his friends but eventually became difficult to control. He was known to drink alcohol and trash dressing rooms on film sets. It’s alleged that Graceland servants became so tired of dealing with Scatter’s antics that they poisoned him.
Although the estate’s manicured lawns and famous rooms draw the most attention today—hundreds of thousands of fans visit the residence every year—when Presley lived at Graceland, the home was defined by the sounds of dogs barking, horses running, and birds chatting.
Graceland now stands as a monument to the man and his music, but back in Presley’s heyday, the unpredictable animals of Graceland were as much a part of the place’s story as the gold records on the walls.
Read more about Elvis Presley’s life, career, and the legacy of Graceland in his full Biography.com profile.
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