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Vega, with assistance from the Los Fresnos Area [[Chamber of Commerce]] and the City of Los Fresnos (meaning "ash trees"), held two Elvis festivals annually in January and August, the months of Presley's birth and death. The festivities have included live music, food and beverages, a lookalike contest, a sing-alike competition, automobile shows, trivia questions, and museum tours. The highlight of the festivities was the impersonators that come from far and wide to perform the Elvis hits on stage.<ref>''Texas State Travel Guide, 2008'', p. 59.</ref>

Vega, with assistance from the Los Fresnos Area [[Chamber of Commerce]] and the City of Los Fresnos (meaning "ash trees"), held two Elvis festivals annually in January and August, the months of Presley's birth and death. The festivities have included live music, food and beverages, a lookalike contest, a sing-alike competition, automobile shows, trivia questions, and museum tours. The highlight of the festivities was the impersonators that come from far and wide to perform the Elvis hits on stage.<ref>''Texas State Travel Guide, 2008'', p. 59.</ref>

On February 6, 1958, Vega was inducted into the Army at Fort Carson [[Colorado]], and was sent to Fort Hood near [[Killeen]], Texas, for his four-week basic training. During that same period of time, Presley arrived at Fort Hood from Fort Chaffee near [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]], [[Arkansas]]. At Fort Hood, Vega introduced his wife Teresa to Presley for a photograph. Teresa recalls that Elvis was nervous while he placed his arm around her for the picture. After the picture was taken, Elvis responded, ''Gracias." The photo of Elvis and Teresa is among those in Little Graceland. Although Vega had met Elvis at Fort Hood, the two did not become friends until they reached the barracks in August 1958 at Freiburg in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. They were assigned to Company D Spearhead 3rd Army Division. While awaiting a meal, Vega reintroduced himself to Presley, and the two became "army buddies" who often shared guard duty. Vega recalled that Presley wanted equal treatment from the other soldiers, not favoritism because of his celebrity status.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913235116/http://governor.state.tx.us/music/events/tmec.main/|title=January – Texas Music Events Calendar 2008|website=Texas Music Office|accessdate=May 17, 2017}}</ref>

On February 6, 1958, Vega was inducted into the Army at Fort Carson [[Colorado]], and was sent to Fort Hood near Killeen, Texas, for his four-week basic training. During that same period of time, Presley arrived at Fort Hood from Fort Chaffee near [[Fort Smith, Arkansas|Fort Smith]], [[Arkansas]]. At Fort Hood, Vega introduced his wife Teresa to Presley for a photograph. Teresa recalls that Elvis was nervous while he placed his arm around her for the picture. After the picture was taken, Elvis responded, ''Gracias." The photo of Elvis and Teresa is among those in Little Graceland. Although Vega had met Elvis at Fort Hood, the two did not become friends until they reached the barracks in August 1958 at Freiburg in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. They were assigned to Company D Spearhead 3rd Army Division. While awaiting a meal, Vega reintroduced himself to Presley, and the two became "army buddies" who often shared guard duty. Vega recalled that Presley wanted equal treatment from the other soldiers, not favoritism because of his celebrity status.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913235116/http://governor.state.tx.us/music/events/tmec.main/|title=January – Texas Music Events Calendar 2008|website=Texas Music Office|accessdate=May 17, 2017}}</ref>

Vega was so devastated at the death of Elvis that he began collecting anything with a connection to his friend. Vega's memorabilia are displayed in glass cases or line the walls of the museum. The items include a bottle of "Love Me Tender" shampoo, key chains, playing cards, dolls, pocketknives, neckties, watches, and a complete set of Presley collector plates. Word of Little Graceland spread nationally, as vacationers and winter residents heading to South Padre Island on the [[Gulf of Mexico]] stopped to view the replica of the gates of Graceland in front of Vega's house. Vega also constructed a doghouse-size replica of Presley's boyhood home in Tupelo, [[Mississippi]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/columns/2007-03-16/456241/|title=Simon Vega pays tribute to Elvis with his own Little Graceland|author=Gerald E. McLeod.|date=March 16, 2007|publisher=''The Austin Chronicle''|accessdate=May 17, 2017}}</ref>

Vega was so devastated at the death of Elvis that he began collecting anything with a connection to his friend. Vega's memorabilia are displayed in glass cases or line the walls of the museum. The items include a bottle of "Love Me Tender" shampoo, key chains, playing cards, dolls, pocketknives, neckties, watches, and a complete set of Presley collector plates. Word of Little Graceland spread nationally, as vacationers and winter residents heading to South Padre Island on the [[Gulf of Mexico]] stopped to view the replica of the gates of Graceland in front of Vega's house. Vega also constructed a doghouse-size replica of Presley's boyhood home in Tupelo, [[Mississippi]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/columns/2007-03-16/456241/|title=Simon Vega pays tribute to Elvis with his own Little Graceland|author=Gerald E. McLeod.|date=March 16, 2007|publisher=''The Austin Chronicle''|accessdate=May 17, 2017}}</ref>