BACKGROUND: Neverland: Jackson's refuge from reality

Los Angeles - It was the scene of many of his happiest moments but also the site of harrowing allegations of child molestation. Rumours that Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch was to be the venue for a public viewing and private memorial sparked a frenzy among fans and media at the remote property in central California. Even though he is unlikely to ever be buried there due to local restrictions, Neverland Ranch will always symbolize the fantasy and failings that were at the centre of his turbulent life. Jackson bought the 1100 hectare spread for 30 million dollars in 1987 from a golf course entrepreneur and immediately set about creating a fantasy refuge from the real world. Almost 30 at the time, Jackson was still close to the peak of his popularity. But he seemed to yearn for the childhood he had missed out on as young star - lost years during which he claimed to have been psychologically and physically abused by his father. Jackson named his new home Neverland, after the fantasy island in the classic children's book Peter Pan, about a boy who never grows up. Hundreds of workers spent a year preparing the property for the King of Pop - and by the time the facility opened in 1988 it contained a zoo filled with lions, elephants and dozens of other exotic animals. A few steps from the main house was Jackson's personal amusement park with two railroads, a train station and an amazing array of rides. There was a giant Ferris wheel, a classic carousel spinning beautifully crafted animals, and a huge red marquee housing a bumper- car attraction, not to mention other rides and slides and even a kiddie roller coaster. Inside, the house was 'a regular-looking Beverly Hills mansion,' according to filmmaker Larry Nimmer, who made a video tour of the house for use during the 2005 molestation trial. The Tudor-style house was filled with outlandish antiques, mementoes and books. The house also had numerous mannequins, and the gardens were filled with statues. According to Nimmer, Jackson told him that having all those figures around made him feel less lonely. Jackson sought to ease his isolation by inviting groups of children to visit the fantasy retreat. One visitor was a young cancer patient named Gavin Arvizo, who later accused Jackson of molestation. Police searched every inch of Neverland looking for evidence to use against Jackson. Jackson was acquitted of all charges but left Neverland soon after the trial in 2005, saying that he felt it had been violated by the police searches. The property was closed in 2006, and most of the staff were dismissed. Jackson staved off several foreclosure proceedings and eventually partnered with an investment company to redevelop the property, which has been valued as high as 120 million dollars. By this time, much of the property appeared to be in disrepair. The zoo animals were long gone, the grounds were disheveled, and the weather-beaten amusement park rides were removed. A buzz of construction activities at the ranch in recent days appears to be aimed at rehabilitating the star's fantasy retreat. But it's unlikely that Neverland will become Michael Jackson's Graceland, as the estate is situated in a remote farming area that is incapable of handling large numbers of fans. Even the influx of reporters and fans this week raised the ire of many locals. 'We have lived here a long time, and to see it suddenly invaded by people coming for the viewing seems very strange,' one local told reporters.