He Took a Custom Double-Decker Bus from Memphis to LA

Who knew? Now I can certainly see why Elvis Presley, “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” wanted his own private plane, the “Lisa Marie,” named after his late daughter. But it wasn’t just because of the opulence his successful music career afforded him. Elvis had a lesser-known fear: he HATED to fly and would avoid it at all costs.

In a conversation with the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, formerly the International Hotel—where Elvis held his legendary Las Vegas residency—Elvis’ stepbrother David Stanley revealed this surprising detail. Elvis would only fly private, even before acquiring his own jet. David shared that when Elvis had to be in LA for movie shoots, he would use a customized double-decker bus to travel back and forth across the country to avoid flying. Elvis even enjoyed driving the bus himself, often seen at the wheel as it entered the gates of Graceland.

“Another surprising fact was that Elvis didn’t like to fly. He only started flying when he started touring and would only fly in private jets, eventually purchasing the ‘Lisa Marie,'” David said. “When he was doing movies and had to get to Hollywood, he would take a customized double-decker bus from Memphis to LA… and he loved driving for part of the trip. I recall seeing the bus returning through the gates of Graceland, and Elvis was often at the wheel.”

Elvis never toured internationally and only made one trip to the UK in March 1960. This brief visit wasn’t for a concert but merely a stop to refuel at the airport, during which he stepped out of the plane for a short while.

Speaking of his private plane, the “Lisa Marie” was a 1958 Convair 880, which Elvis purchased in April 1975. He spent over $800,000 remodeling the jet, making it an epitome of airborne luxury. The aircraft featured a living room, conference room, sitting room, and private bedroom. It also boasted gold-plated seat belts, suede chairs, leather-covered tables, 24-karat gold-flecked sinks, and more.

Additionally, there was the Lockheed Jet Star, which Elvis also customized with a yellow and green interior. This jet was mainly used to transport Elvis’ manager and staff between cities during his concert tours. It was evident that Elvis spared no expense in ensuring luxury and comfort, not only for himself but also for his team. Considering the opulence of these customized jets, it’s easy to see why anyone who boarded them might never want to fly any other way again.

Check it out here.