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Never, Neverland

Posted by Alex Turnbull, Friday, 26th June 2009

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As we’re sure you’ll have heard by now, Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, has died in Los Angeles.

We first posted Neverland Ranch to the site back in April 2005, but at the time Jackson was in the news for very different reasons.

This is the theme park at Neverland – a property which Jackson built here in 1988 at a cost of $17 million. Neverland Ranch was Jackson’s permanent residency from 1988 until 2005, when the main house was eventually closed as a cost-cutting measure in the wake of the star’s declining fortunes.

Despite having been out of the property since 2005, it wasn’t until November 2008 that Jackson finally transferred the title deed to the Sycamore Valley Ranch Company, and in April 2009 a widely reported exhibition of Neverland’s contents opened in advance of all the items going to auction.

In truth however, the Sycamore Valley Ranch Company is a venture that Jackson himself set up1 – and the auction was actually cancelled at the last minute. Meaning that at the time of his death, Michael Jackson still owned at least some proportion of Neverland Ranch itself, as well as all of its contents.

So maybe this isn’t the last we’ll see of Neverland – perhaps one day it will be reborn to become the Graceland of the pop-era.

Goodbye MJ, thank you for the music.


  1. In partnership with Colony Capital

8 Responses to 'Never, Neverland'

  1. RobK says:

    This is the house where Jackson was living at the time of his death: 100 N Carolwood Drive, Los Angeles.

    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

  2. This is the house where Michael grew up in Gary, Indiana.

    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

  3. And here’s the UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

  4. Tony Thomas says:

    I think they should turn never never land into something like graceland. All would come and visit. It would be a great way to keep his work and music alive for a very long time. Have Audio tours and all there it would be an amazing thing.

  5. Nellie Tallent says:

    I think that Michael should be buried at Neverland and I think all his personal belongings including everything he had there should be restored as it was when he lived there. And I also think his kids should be given the opportunity to live there there also. Maybe it could be dedicated to children.

  6. Angie says:

    Perhaps returning Michael to Neverland, now that he is in a different life, he could once again enjoy being there, knowing and perhaps even seeing so many devoted fans that will undoubtly come to visit him to pay their thanks and respect. I think his children will appreciate it once they are grown up more and can understand their father better. Restoring Neverland is a wonderful idea, especially for his kids and other family members. Elvis has Graceland, Michael should have Neverland back, as it was, when he was happy there.

  7. irene says:

    Michael est retouné à Neverland, car “Neverland c’est moi’ avait il dit au journaliste fourbe dont je ne citerais pas le nom Je suis sûre en tout cas qu’il y retourne de temps en temps, il y avait laissé son âme j’honore sa mémoire et sa belle âme, son coeur pur, il avait voulu nous “rencontrer” et nous l’avons abandonné, maintenant qu’il n’est plus physiquement parmi nous, nous le pleurons. Mais sa présence est si forte et il aimait tellement les gens (pas tous) et surtout les enfants, que je sais qu’il vient parmi nous, et tous ces gens qui le pleurent, cela lui a permis de nous revenir comme une lumière , c’est presque palpable, vous devez le ressentir aussi.L’Esprit de l’amour et de la Compassion est plus fort que la mort physique. RIP M.Michael Joseph JACSKON

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