Phoenix is relatively close to Tucson, so it only took us around 2 hours to get there by US Hwy 10. As in Tucson, we did some non-Elvis related things like watching an NBA game,and visiting Taliesin West built by architect Frank Lloyd Wright
We were able to explore the famous Apache Trail which was a stagecoach trail that ran through the Superstition Mountains. It was named the Apache Trail after the Native Americans who originally used this trail to move through the Superstition Mountains.
While we were headed to the Apache trail, we ended up in Apacheland where The Elvis Chapel is located. It was originally built to be destroyed for the movie 'Charro!' filmed entirely at Apacheland. Highly charged explosives were placed in the bell tower and destroyed most of the ridgeline and entrance to the building as can be clearly seen in the movie1. While the outside and the surrounding areas were nice, the inside of the chapel is painful for those of us who don't appreciate Elvis kitsch.
Now, it is time for the Elvis venues in Phoenix. Elvis performed once in Phoenix during the 50s, on June 9, 1956 at the State Fair Grounds.
Jerry Eaton, The Arizona Republic reporter, wrote that Elvis Presley kayoed 5,000 shrieking teenagers last night at the state fairground with throaty rock and roll songs and violent jerks and twitches.
That night Elvis at least sang "Heartbreak Hotel", "Long Tall Sally", "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" and "Blue Suede Shoes"
The Arizona State Fair is an annual state fair, held at a permanent fairgrounds in Phoenix, Arizona. It was first held in 1884, but has had various interruptions due to cotton crop failure, the Great Depression era, and World War II years. Since 1946, the fair has been held regularly each year. It was a territory fair before Arizona was a state.2
Lucikly enough, across from the parking lot of the State Fair Grounds, we found The Arizona Veteran's Memorial Coliseum where Elvis performed two times during the 70s.
1 According to : Apacheland
2 According to : Wikipedia
