Kaylah Walton
A wildfire raging in California has put various ranches, including Neverland formerly owned by Michael Jackson, in jeopardy. The fire, known as the Lake Fire, has torn through more than 20,000 acres (8,093 hectares) of the Los Padres National Forest, making it the largest fire in the state this year. This has led to the evacuation of numerous residents.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported the extensive reach of the fire.
Mandatory Evacuations
The fire, only 8 percent contained, has become the largest blaze in the 2024 fire season, prompting the deployment of around 1,000 firefighters to combat it.
High temperatures in California have exacerbated the challenges faced by firefighters battling the 17 active fires in the region.
An evacuation order was issued by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office for an area near the forest, including the renowned ‘Neverland’ ranch once owned by the King of Pop.
Named ‘Neverland’ after the enchanted island in J.M. Barrie’s ‘Peter Pan and Wendy’, the property was bought by Michael Jackson in 1987 from William Bone for $17.5 million.
Sale of Neverland
Following the passing of Michael Jackson in 2009 at the age of 50 due to a drug overdose, his heirs opted to sell the iconic 1,100-acre estate located in the Santa Ynez wine valley for $100 million six years later.
In 2017, the estate’s asking price was reduced to $67 million, with reports indicating that the ranch remained in pristine condition albeit missing certain iconic features like elephants and an amusement park that were part of Jackson’s era.
In 2020, ‘Neverland’ was ultimately sold for slightly over $22 million.
