The world was shocked when news of the death of famed musician Prince broke. Now Paisley Park, his well known $10 million Minnesota mansion that has become a literal memorial for fans, will be opening for public tours this fall.
Prince Rogers Nelson collapsed and died on April 21st at Paisley Park, his Chanhassen, Minnesota estate and studio located in the suburbs of the Twin Cities. News of his passing instantly drew hundreds of thousands to his gates, with many leaving memorabilia and flowers to pay tribute to the passing of the fallen musical icon. The singer's untimely passing also created an inheritance limbo for his remaining family, with his estate temporarily being court appointed to Bremer Trust in a case that remains unsolved.
In a public statement issued by Prince's estate, the late singer's sister, Tyka Nelson, announced a new future for Prince's pad. The singer's home and studio will not sit dormant or be sold. Instead, it will be open to the public. "Opening Paisley Park is something that Prince always wanted to do and was actively working on," said Nelson.
Jules Ameel/Getty Images
Ever since its inception in 1987, the 65,000 square foot, Bret Theony designed Paisley Park estate has been as shrouded in mystery as Prince often was. "Only a few hundred people have had the rare opportunity to tour the estate during his lifetime," continued Nelson. "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."
While the upcoming tour will not allow a complete view of Prince's private dwellings, the opportunity will allow for guests to check out some of the most unique and exciting parts of the "Purple Rain" singer's creative fortress.
Sharing the same name as the Prince song "Paisley Park" and the now-defunct record label, the production complex on the grounds will be open to the public on this exclusive tour. The unique mash-up, catered to meet all the musician's technical and creative needs, includes recording studios, video editing suites, rehearsal spaces, offices and the private NPG Music Club.
CBS2
While the singer was known for keeping his personal life – including his private estate – out of the limelight, a few (and some noticeably dated) photos exist to give fans a sneak peek of what to expect when it officially becomes open to the public.
The main lobby of the home features several balconies, with unique designs including both cloud paintings on the walls and pyramidal skylights. A focal point of the room is the singer's Love Symbol No. 2 glyph, displayed prominently on the front entry hall's floor.
Prince's studio – expected to be included in the tour – provides a relaxing ambiance, with the singer's signature purple overtaking the color scheme of the space. The studio and the singer's working rooms were known to be completely barren of windows as to allow him to work without time as a constraint.
The second floor of the home is where Prince's private dwellings and executive offices sit. Perhaps the most speculated and discussed feature of this level is the singer's private vault, rumored to hold Prince's famous collection of unreleased music and master recordings. Not far from the secured vault is the singer's private nightclub, said to have a capacity of 1,000 people and feature a dance floor and multiple televisions and projectors.
"The new Paisley Park museum will offer fans a unique experience, an exhibition like no other, as Prince would have wanted it," reads the official statement from Prince's family. "Most important, the museum will display Prince's genius, honor his legacy, and carry forward his strong sense of family and community." Tours are scheduled to begin on October 6th, with ticket information available on the official Paisley Park website.
BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images
As of the announcement of public tours, his estate has not officially been settled, in part because he left behind no will. The judge in charge of the case has thrown out over 30 claims to Prince's estate.
Prince was worth an estimated $300 million at the time of his death.
