Prince’s Minn. estate will open as a museum

Public tours at Paisley Park to begin in October.

Paisley Park, Prince’s storied private estate and music complex in Chanhassen, Minn., plans to open as a museum this fall, according to an announcement from the singer’s estate.

Public tours are scheduled to begin on Oct. 6, with tickets going on sale this week at OfficialPaisleyPark.com. The family is also planning an official tribute concert for Prince on Oct. 13 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

“Opening Paisley Park is something that Prince always wanted to do and was actively working on,” Tyka Nelson, Prince’s sister, said in a statement. “Only a few hundred people have had the rare opportunity to tour the estate during his lifetime. Now, fans from around the world will be able to experience Prince’s world for the first time as we open the doors to this incredible place.”

Fans can expect guided tours through the 65,000-square-foot complex’s main floor, recording studios, video suites and rehearsal spaces, which were used by the singer from the late 1980s until his death by accidental overdose on April 21 at 57.

The Paisley Park museum will also feature thousands of items from Prince’s personal archives, including instruments, clothing, cars, motorcycles, awards, rare music and videos, according to the announcement from Prince’s family and the estate’s special administrator, Bremer Trust. The planners predict between 1,500 and 2,000 visitors on peak days.

Filings with the city of Chanhassen indicate that Prince’s family has entered into an operating agreement with a subsidiary of Graceland Holdings LLC, which has been involved in running Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate in Memphis since 1982.

“From the documents that I’ve seen and the conversations that I’ve had with family members and close friends, I believe that the plans for Paisley Park are in full accordance with Prince’s wishes,” Chanhassen Mayor Denny Laufenburger said in a statement. “Much of his vision and design activity for Paisley Park as a museum is already in place. He knew exactly how to showcase his production studio for his fans in preparation for this eventual outcome.”

Tickets for Paisley Park will cost $38.50 for standard admission and $100 or more for VIP tours, according to the proposal.