Wildfires Force Evacuations Near Michael Jackson’s Former Neverland Ranch

The Lake Fire in southern California has been causing havoc, forcing evacuations in Santa Barbara County, including the area that was once home to Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. The fire, which is currently zero percent contained and spans over 13,000 acres, is one of 21 wildfires burning in California, according to CAL FIRE.

Residents in the county, including those near the 5000 block of Figueroa Mountain Road where the Neverland Ranch is located, have been evacuated by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. The western edge of the Lake Fire was just one mile away from the property as of Saturday night.

Michael Jackson purchased the 2,700-acre estate in 1988 and transformed it into an amusement park with various attractions. However, allegations of sexual abuse on the property have tainted its history, with two men claiming in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland that they were abused by Jackson as children on the ranch.

After Jackson’s death, the property was listed for sale multiple times, with the price dropping from $100 million to $31 million. In December 2020, the Neverland Ranch was sold for $22 million to businessman Ron Burkle, who had previously advised Jackson on business matters.

Coincidentally, the property was recently used as a filming location for an upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, undergoing a cosmetic refurbishment to restore it to its former glory. Despite its troubled past, the Neverland Ranch continues to be a significant piece of pop culture history in California.