Last Updated on December 18, 2023
Elvis Presley, The King of Rock and Roll, left a big footprint on the state of Florida … and Florida played a large part in the rise of a legend.
7 of Elvis’ ties to Florida
Check out 7 of Elvis’ ties to the Sunshine State:
May 7, 1955: Elvis’ First Concert in Florida
Elvis Presley was a part of a band called the Blue Moon Boys before he was a solo artist. His first concert visit in Florida was as a part of the Blue Moon Boys, playing the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach while on a tour with Hank Snow’s Jamboree.
Elvis wasn’t even listed on the billing for the performance when the ad ran initially!
Don’t miss all of our favorite things to do in Daytona Beach: Race to Adventure in Daytona Beach.
August 10-11, 1956: Elvis Plays Three Shows Per Day at the Jacksonville Theater
Elvis was slated to play six shows (three per day) at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville. After the first show, Juvenile Court Judge Marion Gooding warned him that he must tone down his act for the remaining shows, and showed him prepared unsigned warrants that would take him to jail if he did not comply.
The judge, along with Elvis’ lawyer Clarence Wood, watched the show to ensure that he was simply a young man trying to entertain his fans. While he did comply as he was asked, Elvis instead began showcasing his famous moves like the curled lip and finger wag and wiggling side to side instead of back and forth.
Don’t miss all of our favorite things to do in the Jacksonville area: Our Top 7 Authentic Things to Do in Jacksonville.
July 6, 1961 – Follow That Dream Motion Picture
In 1961, Elvis Presley arrived in Florida to film Follow That Dream. The musical film was shot in and around Citrus, Levy, and Marion Counties, specifically Inverness, Ocala, Inglis, and Yankeetown.
The courtroom scene of the movie took place in the 1912 Citrus County Old Courthouse in Inverness, which is now part of the National Register of Historic Places. This film, based on the novel Pioneer, Go Home was the 33rd highest-grossing movie of 1962.
Don’t miss a few of our favorite things to do in the Citrus County area: Discover New Adventures in the Manatee Capital of the World.
July 30, 1961 – Elvis Visits the Weeki Wachee Mermaids
When Elvis was filming his movie Follow That Dream, Elvis visited Weeki Wachee to see the famous mermaid show. 3,000 screaming fans showed up in an attempt to get a glimpse of Elvis at the park.
Not only did he watch the show, but he also gifted each of the mermaids with a signed copy of his latest LP.
Learn more about Weeki Wachee: Exploring Florida’s Adventure Coast, Brooksville – Weeki Wachee.
1961, Elvis Visits the Coney Island Drive-Inn in Brooksville
Coney Island Drive-In opened in 1960, and just one year later in 1961, they had an incredibly exciting customer!
Elvis Presley was in Inverness, Florida filming Follow That Dream and ventured to the Coney Island Drive-Inn for one of their Famous Footlongs!
To honor this customer, Coney Island regularly hosts a free Elvis show on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 6 pm in Brooksville and the 2nd Thursday of the month at 6 pm in Zephyrhills (bring your lawn chair in Zephyrhills).
Learn more about the Coney Island-Drive-Inn and all of our favorite hot dog restaurants: Let’s Be Frank – These Are the Best Hot Dogs in Florida
May 30, 1977 – Elvis’ Last Concert in Florida
Elvis played his last Florida concert to a crowd of 10,300 at the Jacksonville Coliseum for his fifth and final appearance in the city. It would be the last time to see Elvis on tour in Florida. Unfortunately, Elvis passed away a few short months later on August 16th of the same year.
Just north of the Jacksonville area is Amelia Island: 7 Top Things To Do on Amelia Island.
Bonus Book – “Elvis Ignited: The Rise of an Icon in Florida” by Bob Kealing
Elvis Ignited tracks the rising star through his tours of Florida. From 1955, when Presley was an unknown, to 1956 when he played more concerts in Florida than in any other state, people were struck by a new kind of music and performances so different from anything they had known before.
Floridians saw how special Elvis was before the rest of the world caught on. Before their very eyes, he transformed from Hillbilly Cat to the King of Rock and Roll.
“Presley’s four Florida tours, two in 1955 and two more in ’56, bookend his rise from hillbilly oddity to the unquestioned King of Rock and Roll.” — Bob Kealing
Award-winning broadcast journalist and pop culture historian/author, Bob Kealing, presents an in-depth look at Elvis’ early years. You can order Kealing’s book on Amazon.
Did you see Elvis in Florida? Let us know in the comments!