Elvis Presley’s Luxurious Jet Finds a New Home
Elvis Presley, the legendary King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, is remembered not only for his groundbreaking music and iconic voice but also for his impeccable sense of style and flair for the extraordinary. While many fans know about his love for blue suede shoes and his eclectic palate, fewer are aware of his keen eye for interior design—a talent that extended even to his private jet.
In 1962, Elvis purchased a Lockheed JetStar, customizing it to reflect his lavish tastes. The interior features elegant wooden paneling, plush red velvet seats, and luxurious carpeting, creating an ambiance that perfectly encapsulates his larger-than-life persona.
Elvis treasured the JetStar for over 35 years. After his passing in 1977, however, the aircraft was left idle. Among his collection of planes, the Lockheed JetStar held a special place, though he also famously owned a customized Convair 880—dubbed the “Lisa Marie” with the call sign “Hound Dog 1”—and another JetStar known as “Hound Dog 2.” These aircraft symbolized his extravagant lifestyle and passion for aviation.
For decades, the Lockheed JetStar sat stationary in Roswell, New Mexico, exposed to the elements. Its vibrant red paint has faded, but the aircraft remains in remarkable condition, considering its long dormancy. Recently, the jet found a new owner when a devoted Elvis fan purchased it for $260,000 at the Florida Mecum Kissimmee Collector Car Sale on January 8th. The sale was conducted via phone bids, with the winning offer securing a piece of rock-and-roll history.
The jet’s interior is a testament to Elvis’ distinctive taste. Its spacious cabin includes cozy red velvet seats and wooden accents, exuding the charisma synonymous with the King of Rock. An advanced television—state-of-the-art for its time—is integrated into the design. The cabin also features a compact kitchenette, complete with vintage appliances, where one might imagine Elvis preparing one of his iconic peanut butter, banana, bacon, and mayonnaise sandwiches.
Even the lavatory reflects his penchant for luxury, with its velvet accents and opulent sink. Compared to today’s cramped commercial planes, this jet offers a glimpse into the grandeur of Elvis’ preferred mode of travel.
For over three decades, the jet remained a silent relic of a bygone era. Now, it embarks on a new chapter, preserved by a fan dedicated to honoring Elvis’ legacy. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or an Elvis devotee, this plane stands as a fascinating artifact of the King’s enduring influence.
If you know an Elvis fan, don’t hesitate to share this story and celebrate a piece of rock-and-roll history!
Dan Haggerty, Who Played Grizzly Adams
Dan Haggerty, who gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of the kind mountain man with a striking beard and his bear friend Ben in the NBC television series and 1974 film “The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams,” passed away on Friday in Burbank, California. His age was 73 years.
Terry Bomar, his manager and friend, stated that spinal cancer was the cause of death.
Dan Haggerty was creating a name for himself in Hollywood as an animal handler and stuntman before landing his famous part. When a producer requested him to appear in a few opening moments for a film about a woodsman and his bear, it was his big break. The plot, which is based on a novel by Charles Sellier Jr., centers on a man who flees to the woods after being wrongfully convicted of murder, becomes friends with the local wildlife, and takes in an abandoned bear.
Haggerty accepted to do the part, but he had one requirement: he had to appear in the whole film. Despite having a relatively low budget of $165,000, the film’s remake brought in close to $30 million at the box office. Because of this popularity, a television series was created, and in February 1977, Haggerty went back to playing the character of the wild and outdoorsy wilderness guardian.
The audience responded well to the show. It lukewarms the heart, as The New York Times’ John Leonard observed in his review. A large lump in the throat and a lot of communing with nature are experienced when a man and a bear hide out in a log cabin. Haggerty won a 1978 People’s Choice Award for being the most well-liked actor in a new series because of the series’ warm and sympathetic tone, which won over a lot of viewers.
The series also yielded two follow-ups: “Legend of the Wild,” which was broadcast on television in 1978 and eventually released in theaters in 1981, and “The Capture of Grizzly Adams,” a 1982 television film in which Adams ultimately exonerates himself of the false charge.
Born in Los Angeles on November 19, 1942, Daniel Francis Haggerty had a difficult upbringing. He had a turbulent childhood, breaking out of military school several times before coming home with his actor-father in Burbank when his parents divorced when he was three years old.
Haggerty was married twice in his personal life. When he was 17, he got married to Diane Rooker, but they later got divorced. In 2008, he lost his second wife, Samantha Hilton, in a horrific motorbike accident. His children, Don, Megan, Tracy, Dylan, and Cody, survive him.
In his debut motion picture, “Muscle Beach Party” (1964), Haggerty portrayed bodybuilder Biff. After that, he played supporting parts in motorcycle and wildlife movies. He was a hippie commune member in “Easy Rider.” He also played the role off-screen, living with a variety of wild creatures he had either tamed or rescued on a small ranch in Malibu Canyon.
His expertise with animals led to positions as an animal trainer and stuntman for television shows including “Daktari” and “Tarzan.” He kept taking on parts like “Where the North Wind Blows” (1974) and “The Adventures of Frontier Fremont” (1976) that highlighted his affinity for the natural world. His love of outdoor parts brought him roles evoking Grizzly Adams to movies like “Grizzly Mountain” (1997) and “Escape to Grizzly Mountain” (2000).
Haggerty had appearances in a number of horror movies later in his career, such as “Terror Night” (1987) and “Elves” (1989). He was involved in court in 1985 and was given a 90-day jail sentence for distributing cocaine to police officers who were undercover.
Tragic incidents also occurred in his life. Haggerty suffered third-degree burns to his arms when a diner carrying a burning drink unintentionally caught his renowned beard on fire in 1977 when he was dining. Despite being admitted to the hospital and supposed to stay for a month, he left after just ten days, claiming to have expertise of curing animals.
“The first couple of days I just lay in the dark room drinking water, like a wounded wolf trying to heal myself,” he said, reflecting on his injury, to People magazine.
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