The front gate of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch (AP Photo)
The media was recently given access inside the main house at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch. Jackson's house at Neverland occupied 13,000 square feet and had a surprisingly understated, comfortable decor.
As guests entered the house, they would be greeted by a statue of a butler holding a tray with cookies. The walls were decorated with huge paintings, some depicting Michael Jackson in a magical fantasy world. The foyer also had a large two-sided marble clock.
In the main living room there sat a baby grand piano covered with a multitude of framed photographs of Michael Jackson with friends and family. By the fireplace stood a rotating pedestal displaying the 1939 Academy Award for Best Picture for Gone With the Wind. A huge movie fan, Michael Jackson paid $1.5 million for the Oscar about 10 years ago.
In the kitchen and dining area, there is a beautiful wooden floor taken straight from an 18th century French chateau. The floor was dismantled in France and pieces of it were brought to Neverland and reinstalled.
To enter Michael Jackson's master bedroom, a secret code was required to get through the security system. Jackson had a peephole he could look out of to see who was outside his bedroom door.
Jackson's bathroom, which contained a jacuzzi bathtub, overlooked a patio area with fountains and pools. His bedroom contained a sitting area, couches, a tile fireplace, a huge flatscreen TV and a stereo system.
Up on the second floor of his two-story bedroom, Michael had a huge cedar closet with a secret room. This small storage-type room was located through a hidden door in the back of the closet. This secret room had its own security code panel and three locks. Michael's close friend, Miko Brando, described it as a safe room to be used "in case something ever happened."
Miko and his father, Marlon Brando, were frequent guests at Neverland. In fact, Miko Brando was married at the gazebo which sat outside of Jackson's master bedroom.
Neverland Ranch was formerly known as the Sycamore Ranch. Jackson purchased it from real estate developer William Bone in 1987. The "Sycamore Ranch" logo is still visible on much of the wood decor throughout the main house.
View pictures inside the main house at Neverland (below)
Read part one of this article: Inside Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch (The Grounds) (slideshow)
Comments
michael jackson's neverland was so amazing. love the photos! i would also love to visit neverland one day with my brother. this has been one of my dreams for a long time.
i would love to go there. it looks amazing. Ive been diagnosed with leukemia and my wish from the wish foundation was to go here. never happened. and now, i guess, it never will....
i wish Michael was still here ...we miss him so much
michaelJackson I love you so much you are my best friend in my
life I was to said I love you micael jackson.
thank you
love, mauresha monique taylor
from . Memphis Tennessee . I live in Memphis Tennessee
michael jackson i love you so much
michaeljackson send some back me
what are you do
hi your house is amazing i beat you have more houses
we all mis you michael and we all wish you were here and by we mean your fans and family
micheal jackson was a famous and well loved person and he will never be forgotten in our hearts and i love micheal jacksons music i grew up listening to the jackson five and that was when i was born til now and i am seventeen now and i am from foley alabama i love you micheal jackson and your neveer land was made for ever body not just one gender
woow i love michael jackson but this isnt inside his house maybe uts the outside but i know the inside nd its much different
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