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About Neverland
Now you know that Neverland is where Michael Jackson used to live. But what type of home is Neverland actually, and how did Michael choose this exact home? Well, we have the answers. Continue reading if you want to know more about Neverland.
Neverland isn't originally called Neverland. It is orinigally called Zaca Laderas Ranch. Someone named William Bone bought this property in 1977 and named it Sycamore Valley Ranch. Then in 1983 Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson together came there to shoot a music video for the song 'Say Say Say'. Michael Jackson was in awe of the property. According to LaToya Jackson, Michael's sister, Michael told her he wanted to buy this property. That happened in 1988. And that's when Michael Jackson named this place Neverland Ranch.
Neverland Map
Those children were the most important for Michael. Every 3 weeks he would invite organizations with sick children, to have a whole day of fun at Neverland. And when you look all the things in Neverland, a lot of things are designed for sick children. A beautiful example is the movie theater. Michael had built beds in the walls of the movie theater. These were hospital beds that you could turn up or down. This way the children that were bedwritten could still watch a movie or a magic show. He showed this also in a interview with Oprah Winfrey in 1993.
Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney in the'Say Say Say' music video
Michael Jackson litteraly made a Paradise out of this place. He built a full scale amusement park and a zoo. He also build a movie theater. There was a game room, a tennis court, and a basketball court. He also built a train station, with a train that went through the whole ranch. There was also a swimming pool with an outside dining area. At the ranch there was a main residance. That's where Michael lived. That was his home. Michael also had guest houses all over the ranch. He turned this ranch into one big playground for himself, his family and friends, but most importantly, all the children in the world.
The beds that are build in the walls. In the first picture you see how they were build in. The second picture shows the inside of these little rooms. The beds are taken out in this picture
Michael told many more things about Neverland in the Oprah Winfrey interview. He explained his love for children. There were a lot of children that often visited Neverland. They were close friends with Michael. Sadly, it didn't all go well for Michael. In 1993, a boy named Jordan Chandler accused Michael Jackson of molesting him. This case was settled by Michael, and he continued his life. Sadly, in 2003, after a documentory with Martin Bashirt, it went wrong again. This time, a boy named Gavin Arvizo accused Michael, again, of molesting him. This time there was a whole trial Michael had to go through. In 2003, before the trial happened, there were about 73 sherrifs that visited Neverland for a house search. Michael wasn't home at that time. He was shooting a music video for the song 'One More Chance' when these sherrifs came into his house. According to Michael himself, and the people who worked at the property, these sherrifs tore his house apart. Ripping things open, going into places that they're not supposed to come, breaking things, turning all the rooms completely upside down in one big garbage place. Because of this, Michael didn't want to live at Neverland anymore.
Michael moved out of the house. To him it didn't feel like a home anymore after what the sherrifs had done. It was a house now, according to Michael. Although he moved out, he never sold Neverland. He kept it, visiting the place every now and then. Then in 2009, Michael sadly died. That's when the property wasn't in his hands anymore. The place got in hands of other people. All the furniture went to an auction, and the same happened with the rides of the amusement park. Most of the animals were also sold to other zoo's or animalkeepers. Then in 2015 the place got on sale for a 100 million dollars. In 2017 the price got dropped to 67 million dollars, due to lack of interest. Still no one has ever bought it.
The state of Neverland right now
The state of Neverland right now
Probably the reason why it won't sell, is because Neverland, which is called Sycamore Valley Ranch again, is not worth these 67 million dollars. Neverland right now is in a very poor state, in a desperate need for repair. No one has ever maintained this place properly ever since Michael died.
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This is why we need to fix this. We want to buy Neverland, repair it, and make it a wonderful public place, to keep Michael's legacy alive.
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