ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 2, 1995                   TAG: 9503020024
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MARY BISHOP STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


HARD TIMES AT LITTLE GRACELAND

THE KING, wherever he is, must be disappointed. Little Graceland needs rewiring, floodwaters have damaged the "Elvis room," and - worst of all - someone broke into the Civic Center and stole the 36 costumed Barbies.

Miniature Graceland has fallen on tough times.

Leaves are decomposing in Elvis' pool. Some of his patio furniture is strewn about. Candy wrappers litter his lawn. There's been vandalism, a burglary.

The lights have been out most nights since fall at one of Roanoke's most popular tourist attractions.

But don't be cruel.

Kim and Don Epperly, who still welcome strangers into their Southeast Roanoke yard to see the world-famous display of dollhouse-size Elvis venues, have been sick.

Don Epperly has multiple sclerosis and is in a wheelchair much of the time. Kim Epperly recently had gallbladder surgery. They have gone on disability.

It was a Blue Christmas at Graceland. Don Epperly suffered a seizure in November, about the time the couple usually puts up Little Graceland's Christmas lights. Normally, the Epperlys flick on the lights the day after Thanksgiving and the lights stay on through New Year's Day. They were on only about 10 days this past Christmas.

A rewiring of the exhibit hasn't been finished, so that's another reason the lights have been out lately.

Worst of all, there was a burglary at the Roanoke Civic Center a month ago. Not the real Civic Center - the mock-up in the Epperlys' yard.

Somebody stole 36 custom-costumed Barbie dolls attending an Elvis concert. The King himself escaped harm because Kim Epperly had wired him to his rotating stand.

People around the country had donated the Barbies. Their costumes were handmade by an Elvis fan. Dolls depicting some of Elvis' best-known band members and backup singers, such as the Sweet Inspirations, wore period dress created especially for them.

Bad things have been happening for months. Flooding damaged memorabilia last fall in Kim Epperly's basement ``Elvis room.''

``It just hasn't been a real good year for us,'' she said.

Little Graceland's fame grows, anyway. It was featured in the February issue of Life magazine. It's been written about in national newspapers and magazines. Visitors, including bus tours, come from all over the nation and the world.

Out of the hospital just a week, Kim Epperly walked stiffly around the hillside display on a recent afternoon. She fretted about its sorry condition.

``I thank people for still coming,'' she said, ``even though Graceland looks worse than it's ever looked.''

It won't look bad for long, she promised. Don Epperly still will repair Graceland's many buildings. A son will repaint them. The buildings and the bonsai-sized landscaping still are intact.

The Epperlys could use some volunteer help when the weather warms. Anyone with a couple of hours to do some maintenance would be welcome, Kim Epperly said.

Graceland always has been wide open. Night and day, people climb a bank into the Epperlys' yard to examine the little buildings. The Epperlys are going to build a chain-link fence now, and visitors will come through an entrance. Kim Epperly hates to restrict access in any way. ``It was built for everyone to enjoy it,'' she said, ``but I want everybody to be safe, too.''

A fence could keep children from running down her sloping yard into the street - and maybe discourage anyone who wants to damage Graceland. Epperly hopes to weave an Elvis message into the fence - yet another expression of her affection.

``Just tell people Graceland's not going anywhere,'' she said. ``It's still going to be here. It's going to be bigger and better - when we can do it.''

Anyone wanting to volunteer labor or contribute to Graceland's fence fund can write the Epperlys at 605 Riverland Road S.E., Roanoke 24014.



 by CNB