since the passing of music legend michael jackson, what to do with his theme park of a home has been up for discussion. although mj had to sell the estate last year due to financial problems, neverland – as he named it – will always belong to him in America’s eyes.
but it isn’t quite the same neverland that mj and his fam populated. the ferris wheel is gone, as are the many zoo animals that jackson featured on the property. despite how weird it is that jackson’s adult home was a big playplace, it is no secret that the estate draws attention from fans & curious folks across the world. the neverland ranch has very obvious similarities to elvis’ home in tennesee, graceland. that begs the question – will the owners revamp the place and hold it open to the public?
a source close to the owners, the holding company colony capital llc, says that absolutely no decision has been made and there is not a reason to rush into anything. they did mention however that making neverland a tourist attraction is certainly not off the table.
while the prospect of visiting neverland may make mj fans giddy with excitement, santa barbara locals and neighbors are less than enthused. the holding company source says execs will heed the community’s concerns, but that they would not pass up the opportunity to make money off of mj’s legacy. my guess is that the company will focus on rehabilitating the property & eventually make it some sort of a museum. let’s face it – it’s a big, weird goldmine!
