Today, we offer you to take a moonwalk into the infamous Neverland Ranch of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, located near Santa Barbara, California. Michael Jackson is arguably the most successful pop star in world history. His 1982 “Thriller” album was the second-highest-selling album ever, with over 33 million copies sold.
His 2,700-acre property in Los Olivos (about 120 miles north of Los Angeles) was named after the fantasy island in “Peter Pan” by the Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. In the novel, Peter Pan, a boy who never ages, spends his never-ending childhood having adventures and interacting with pirates, fairies, mermaids, Native Americans, and ordinary children.
The pop star adopted the idea when he purchased this property from a golf entrepreneur in 1987 for a stunning 19.5 million dollars. It became his favorite retreat. Michael transformed the house into a private amusement park. He built three railroads on the territory, an electric train with 100 feet of track, a Ferris wheel, and a merry-go-round.
Remember our previous video about Walt Disney’s Carolwood Estate in Holmby Hills? In that case, you’ll find the connection between the train station Michael had built to accompany the working train, train tracks weaving throughout the Neverland property, and Disney’s iconic creation. Another similarity was a red working barn, which highly resembles Walt Disney’s barn. The climbing tree Michael Jackson made famous in a television interview recalls Disney’s childhood dreaming tree, where young Walter often drew or imagined stories. Jackson’s climbing tree is still on the territory.
Other amusements included a sunken tennis court, a basketball court, a roller coaster, bumper cars, a 14-foot lagoon-style pool with an accompanying big pool house, and a fire department with a 1950s fire truck. The pool house had a grilling station covered by the roof but open at the sides for more effortless entertaining. It stood near a lovely working fountain. There was also a separate building with a dance studio and a 50-seat movie theater.
Neverland’s private arcade used to be full of games. A game room included Jackson’s stunning collection of video game machines such as Jurassic Park, X-Men, Pinball, Mortal Kombat, and the like. The unique property also featured buildings in the Tudor style and savannah-like grasslands. The landscaped gardens around the main house were designed to resemble European mansions.
Furthermore, Jackson established a private menagerie toward the rear of his ranch. There, he kept exotic animals, such as an elephant presented by his close friend Elizabeth Taylor, llamas, and orangutans. By the way, the zoo still exists, albeit empty. Elizabeth Taylor also presented Michael Jackson with a vintage ice-cream bike, which he displayed on the territory of his property.
For more details, please check our video about Michael Jackson