Prince’s former home and studio has finally been approved to open as a museum to the pubic, it has been announced.
The complex, in Minneapolis will open permanently for tours after receiving approval on Monday by the City Council of Chanhassen, where Paisley Park is located.
The museum has already welcomed about 12,000 people and there have been no reported complaints, according to Joel Weinshanker, the managing partner of Graceland Holdings, which is overseeing Paisley Park, according to NME.
Three weeks ago the Council decided to delay voting on a zoning change for the museum, citing concerns about traffic, parking and public safety — a move that complicated the opening of the museum, which was planned for just three days later, saying they needed more time to study its potential impact on Chanhassen (Paisley Park is expected to attract 600,000 visitors a year). After receiving complaints from traveling fans who could have lost money if the museum didn’t open, the Council granted temporary permits that allowed the museum to open for tours on select days.
Paisley Park will be open for tours Thursday through Sunday beginning this week. Tickets are priced at $38.50 for a standard tour and $100 for a VIP tour. Two tours are being offered. A general admission trek lasts 70 minutes and includes stops in the main floor studio where Prince often worked; his video editing suites and rehearsal rooms; the sound stage he used for tour rehearsals and private events and concerts; and his private NPG music club.
The tours come with a strict ban on photographs and videos, including mobile phones. The website states that “If you are caught taking photos or videos at Paisley Park, you will be banned permanently from the property.”
Prince, who died back in April from an accidental overdose, always intended for the compound to be transformed into a museum once he passed away, leaving behind guidelines on such aspects as how he wanted visitors to walk through Paisley Park during the tour.