The Sweet Reason Elvis Once Made A 30 Minute Trip To Idaho

In 1975, Elvis wasn't the same guy as when he performed his big NBC Comeback Special in December 1968. He had just gone through a divorce, he had gained a significant amount of weight, and he was tired from his brutal performance schedule.

He was surrounded by people that weren't great for him. The King of Rock 'N Roll was depressed, probably upset with himself when he looked in the mirror; he was coping with overeating, drinking, and using prescription drugs. He is in and out of hospitals because of increasing health problems brought on by his lifestyle. His concerts were becoming known for being erratic and declining in quality. Even so, he was earning almost $300,000 a week from his residency at the Las Vegas Hilton.

The only times Elvis seemed happy were when he was with his daughter, Lisa Marie, who was seven years old at the time. His ex-wife, Priscilla, was the strict parent, while Elvis was the fun dad, probably trying to make up for his absence. Elvis saw Lisa Marie quite a bit, considering that he lived in Memphis and she lived with her mother in Los Angeles. She spent holidays and summers at Graceland.

As she and Elvis watched Christmas specials on TV and decorated the Christmas Tree in Graceland's living room, the two began talking about things that seven-year-old girls talk about with their fathers.

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"Daddy, can I stay up late with you tonight?" "Daddy, how far away are the stars?" "Daddy, do you think I could be a singer one day?" "Daddy, are you happy?"

As he answered his little girl's rapid-fire questions, she asked, "Daddy, what is snow like?" Realizing that Lisa Marie might have grown up with many privileges that most kids didn't have, but something so simple as seeing snow was never something she'd been able to experience between her two homes in Hollywood and Memphis, he made a quick call.

A few months earlier, he purchased a Convair 880 airplane from Delta Airlines. He spent almost one million dollars renovating it and turning it into a flying version of Graceland. He named it Lisa Marie, after his daughter.

He called the pilot and told him to gas up; they were flying to Idaho. Lisa Marie and Elvis made the trip to the Gem State, where she could play in the snow. After about 30 minutes, they climbed back into the plane to warm up and headed home for dinner.

This trip is the only time we know about Elvis being in Idaho. He never played a concert here, although he played a few in Salt Lake City in the 70s. He played several times in Seattle and Portland, but Idaho is one of nine states where Elvis never held a concert.

There is nothing that dads won't do for their daughters if they can. Elvis had the means to pull off a trip that Lisa Maire talked about for the rest of her life, and because of that, Idaho will always have a special place in the hearts of her family.