Home » In The News » Building Design & Construction » Construction

Weird Wednesday: Finding Neverland Among The Tumbleweeds

While the glitzy enclave once served as a happy retreat for many children (and some adults with overly developed Peter Pan complexes), the scene took on a sinister tone after Jackson's 2005 child molestation trial. The property has been left relatively unattended ever since, as Jackson became more reclusive and found it increasing difficult to maintain the property and pay its operations staff.

April 28, 2012

It just doesn’t get much weirder.

Michael Jackson, a man who moonwalked his way to fame and then fell in an equally dazzling fashion, has seen his beloved retreat, Neverland Ranch, decay to a sad and depressing shell of its former self. Reflecting the state of the pop icon’s career, the scene of happier times may be up for auction any day, despite protests from Jackson family members.

What fun this must have been: The Neverland Ranch railway station. The floral clock in front of the building is overgrown. The clock has stopped, and numbers are missing. (Photo: The Daily Mail.)

According to gossip Web site, TMZ.com, Jermaine Jackson claims brother Michael’s Neverland ranch will be sold “over my dead body,” even though the younger Jackson would need to come up with $24.5 million to save the 2,800 estate in Santa Barbara, California.

Neverland Bumper Cars — From thriller to dangerous: On what was the bumper car rink, the canopy is clearly ripped and discolored by the harsh Californian sun. Grass verges around the rink look bare and don’t appear to have been watered for months. (Photo: The Daily Mail.)

While the glitzy enclave once served as a happy retreat for many children (and some adults with overly developed Peter Pan complexes), the scene took on a sinister tone after Jackson’s 2005 child molestation trial. The property has been left relatively unattended ever since, as Jackson became more reclusive and found it increasing difficult to maintain the property and pay its operations staff.

According to Eric Munn of the Daily Mail, “The annual upkeep for the property was estimated to be a staggering $4 million, and during its heyday, 54 full-time paid staff manned the estate.”

Jackson has agreed to refinance the property through a deal with Fortress Investment Group LLC. As for the physical upkeep of the facility and its future, those issues are still unresolved. Oh how the mighty have fallen.