Neverland Ranch From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Coordinates: 34°44′43.516″N 120°5′17.750″W / 34.74542111°N 120.08826389°W / 34.74542111; -120.08826389 Mansion area in south, February 2008Neverland Valley Ranch (formerly the Sycamore Valley Ranch)[1] is a developed property in Santa Barbara County, California, most famous for being a home of American entertainer Michael Jackson from 1988 to 2005.[2] It is named after Neverland, the fantasy island in the story of Peter Pan, a boy who never grows up. The ranch is located about five miles (8 km) north of unincorporated Los Olivos, and about eight miles (13 km) north of the town of Santa Ynez. Midland, a college prep boarding school, is the southerly neighbor and also separates it from the Los Padres National Forest just east of the ranch; the Chamberlin Ranch is to the west, and the rugged La Laguna Ranch, where the Zaca Fire began, is to the north. The Santa Barbara County Assessor's office says the ranch is approximately 2,676 acres (10.83 km2).[3] It is currently owned by the Sycamore Valley Ranch Company, LLC.[1] Contents [hide] 1 Michael Jackson residence 2 Financial status 3 Death of Michael Jackson 4 References 5 External links [edit] Michael Jackson residence Train station, July 2009 Amusement rides, August 2008Jackson purchased the property from golf course entrepreneur William Bone in 1988[4] for a sum variously reported to be $16.5 to $30 million.[5] It was Jackson's home and private amusement park and contained, among other things, a floral clock, numerous statues of children, and a zoo. The amusement park included two railroads: one 36" gauge with a steam locomotive (Crown 4-4-0, built 1973, with 4 coaches) and the other a 24" gauge amusement train ride-type); and a ferris wheel, carousel, zipper, spider, sea dragon, wave swinger, super slide, dragon wagon kiddie roller coaster and bumper cars. During his residency there, Jackson brought groups of children and their families to the facility as day visitors. He also hosted various children overnight, a practice which came under scrutiny when Jackson was accused of sexual misconduct with minors at the ranch, first in 1993 and again in 2003. Jackson said in 2005 that he would not return to the property, saying he no longer considered the ranch a home, feeling the 70 police officers had "violated" it in their searches.[6] In 2006 the facilities were closed and most of the staff dismissed, with a spokesperson stating that this was a reflection of the fact that Jackson no longer lived there.[7] [edit] Financial status Foreclosure proceedings commenced against Neverland Ranch on October 22, 2007.[8][9] However, a spokeswoman for Jackson said that the loan was merely being refinanced.[10] Former zoo buildings, July 2009On February 25, 2008, Jackson received word from Financial Title Company, the trustee, that unless he paid off $24,525,906.61 by March 19, a public auction would go forward of the land, buildings, and other items such as the rides, trains, and art.[11][12] On March 13, 2008, Jackson's lawyer L. Londell McMillan announced that a private agreement had been reached with the private investment group, Fortress Investment, to save Jackson's ownership of the ranch.[13] Before the agreement, Jackson owed three months' arrears on the property.[13] McMillan did not reveal the details of the deal. On May 12, 2008, a foreclosure auction for the ranch was canceled after an investment company, Colony Capital LLC, purchased the loan, which was in default.[14] In a press release, Jackson stated, "I am pleased with recent developments involving Neverland Ranch and I am in discussions with Colony and Tom Barrack with regard to the Ranch and other matters that would allow me to focus on the future."[15][16] On November 10, 2008, Jackson transferred the title to Sycamore Valley Ranch Company, LLC, and neighbors reported immediate activity on the property, including removal of the amusement rides, being trucked along the highway.[1] Jackson still owned an unknown stake in the property, since Sycamore Valley Ranch was a joint venture between Jackson (represented by McMillan) and an affiliate of Colony Capital LLC (an investment company run by billionaire Tom Barrack].[17][18][19][20] The Santa Barbara County Assessor's Office stated Jackson sold an unknown proportion of his property rights for $35 million.[21][22] [edit] Death of Michael Jackson Following Jackson's death, press reports during June 28–29, 2009 claimed that his family intended to bury him at the Neverland Ranch, eventually turning it into a place of pilgrimage for his fans, similar to how Graceland has become a destination for fans of Elvis Presley.[23][24][25] However, the singer's father Joseph Jackson later denied the reports.[26][27] Construction equipment and gardeners entered the grounds on July 1, prompting speculation that preparations were being made for something related to Jackson's death, but local officials stated that a burial there would not be lawful. Jackson's 2002 will gives his entire estate to a family trust.[28] The ranch was the setting for two media appearances on July 2, 2009. Jermaine Jackson took The Today Show's Matt Lauer on a tour of the main house, and he was interviewed on the grounds of the house by Larry King for his show. [edit] References ^ a b c "Neverland Never More", by William Etling (author of Sideways in Neverland: Life in the Santa Ynez Valley), EdHat.com, 2009, webpage: Ed52. ^ Toumi, Habib (January 23, 2006). "Jackson settles down to his new life in the Persian Gulf". Gulf News. http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/01/23/10013403.html. Retrieved on November 11, 2006. ^ "Dispute shuts down Jackson ranch". BBC News. 2006-03-10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4792028.stm. Retrieved on 2007-03-03. ^ Soriano, Cesar G (2003-11-24). "At Neverland, they believe". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-11-23-neverland-believe_x.htm. ^ "Vegas Hosting Big Jackson Family Auction". The Associated Press (Fox News). 2007-05-29. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,276076,00.html?sPage=fnc/entertainment/jackson. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1100646/Michael-Jackson-silences-rumours-money-trouble-renting-100-000-month-mansion.html ^ Ryan, Joal (2006-03-17). "King of Pop Downsizes Kingdom". E! News. http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=f5eecd55-59ad-4b7a-a7dd-f7213bafc174. Retrieved on 2007-03-03. ^ "Neverland in Foreclosure?". TMZ.com. 2007-11-06. http://www.tmz.com/2007/11/06/neverland-in-foreclosure/. Retrieved on 2007-11-07. ^ "Foreclosure Detail Report". http://ml-implode.com/info/jackson-NOD.pdf. Retrieved on 2007-11-07. ^ "Jackson 'will not lose Neverland'". BBC News. 2007-11-10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7088491.stm. Retrieved on 2007-11-10. ^ Notice of Trustee's Sale, Santa Barbara County Recorder via Fox News Record no. 2008-0010131, February 25, 2008 ^ "Neverland Ranch Set for Auction". Associated Press (Forbes). 2008-02-26. http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/02/26/ap4700673.html. ^ a b "Michael Jackson 'saves Neverland'". BBC News. 2008-03-13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7295101.stm. Retrieved on 2008-03-13. ^ "Foreclosure auction on Jackson's Neverland Ranch is canceled". Associated Press (CNN). 2008-05-13. http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/12/jackson.neverland.ap/index.html. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. ^ Business Wire (2008-05-11). Neverland Ranch Note Sold to Colony Capital. Press release. http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/news/sections/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&newsId=20080511005036. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. ^ "Neverland Ranch foreclosure auction canceled". Associated Press (Google News). 2008-05-12. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hZNgbrgnco68wdSY5q0bFdgp2MYgD90KF3F80. Retrieved on 2008-05-13. ^ Jackson's Neverland ranch is sold ^ tmz.com, Neverland May Be Jacko's Ticket to Vegas ^ ukpress.google.com, Jacko gives up Neverland ranch deed ^ http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/14/michael-jackson-auction-lifestyle-collecting-michael-jackson.html ^ eonline.com, Michael Jackson Lets Neverland Fly Away ^ www.smh.com.au, Neverland peters out for pop's Peter Pan ^ [1] The Daily Mirror June 28 2008 ^ [2] The Daily Mail 28 June 2009 ^ [3] Billboard report June 28 2009 ^ [4] New Musical Express 29 June 2009 ^ [5] MTV website June 29 2009 ^ [6] [edit] External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Neverland Ranch Photographs of the Neverland interior, taken on July 2nd, 2009. Satellite Images of Neverland Night images of Neverland Ranch Aerial photos of Neverland, before and after removal of rides [hide]v • d • eMichael Jackson Main articles Health and appearance · Neverland · 1993 accusations of child sexual abuse · Living with Michael Jackson · People v. Jackson · Death · Memorial service Studio albums Got to Be There · Ben · Music & Me · Forever, Michael · Off the Wall · Thriller · Bad · Dangerous · HIStory · Invincible Compilations The Best of Michael Jackson · Anthology · Number Ones · The Ultimate Collection · The Essential Michael Jackson · Visionary: The Video Singles · King of Pop Other releases One Day in Your Life · E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial · Farewell My Summer Love · Looking Back to Yesterday · Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix · Thriller 25 · Michael Jackson: The Stripped Mixes · Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection Concert tours Bad World Tour · Dangerous World Tour · HIStory World Tour · This Is It Videography The Wiz · Thriller · Captain EO · Moonwalker · "Stark Raving Dad" · Ghosts · Miss Cast Away · Dome Project Video releases Dangerous - The Short Films · Video Greatest Hits - HIStory · HIStory on Film, Volume II · Number Ones · The One · Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour Assets Northern Songs · Sony/ATV Music Publishing Influence on society Moonwalk · Heal the World Foundation · Thrill the World · Thriller (viral video) · Michael Jackson tribute concert Related articles Jackson family · The Jackson 5 · Singles discography · Awards · Records and achievements · Moon Walk · Bubbles · Michael Jackson's Moonwalker · Lisa Marie Presley · Debbie Rowe Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neverland_Ranch" Categories: Michael Jackson | Santa Barbara County, California | Houses in California | Ranches | Amusement parks in California