Neverland Ranch ‘In Immediate Danger’ as Lake Fire Blazes

A wildfire dubbed the Lake Fire has burned over 20,000 acres in Santa Barbara County since Friday, and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials said Sunday that Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch is in immediate danger.

The fire ignited around 4:00 p.m. near Zaka Lake, about five miles away from Neverland. The cause is still under investigation, and as of Monday morning the flames were 8% contained. Evacuation orders for the area are in place, and Cal Fire warns that growth is possible in the coming days due to high temperatures, low moisture levels and wind.

The blaze grew 4,800 acres in the last day, and 700 people live within five miles of the fire according to the New York Times . No injuries or deaths have been reported so far. The most aggressive growth and high intensity flames are towards the Southeast, pushing towards Neverland Ranch alongside several other ranches and wineries north of Los Olivos. It is unclear if the blaze has reached Neverland as of Monday.

Jackson purchased Sycamore Valley Ranch in the late 1980s, rebranding it as Neverland Ranch after the fantasy island in Peter Pan where children never age. During his time on the ranch he added fantastical amenities like amusement rides, multiple railroads and a petting zoo. He even kept his pet chimpanzee, Bubbles, at Neverland, who was later sent to the Center for Great Apes where he turned 40 last year.

The pop star abandoned Neverland Ranch after being charged with molesting a 13-year-old child there in the highly publicized 2005 case People v. Jackson . On November 18, 2003, authorities searched Neverland in connection to the alleged crimes, and despite being acquitted, Jackson never lived there again .

Neverland was listed on the market for $100 million in 2015, sans amusement parks and a fully staffed fire department. The 2,700 acre property boasting 22 structures sat on the market diminishing in value until 2020, when businessman and associate of Jackson’s Ronald W. Burkle purchased it for just $22 million. A spokesman for Burkle told the New York Times that the buyer viewed it as a “land banking opportunity.” It is unclear if Burkle has made any significant changes to the property since his purchase.

“Our staff has been out to the site multiple times for about the last four to six months,” Errin Briggs, a supervising planner for Santa Barbara County, told SFGate in 2022. “We don’t yet have any permit requests for new structures, but they’ve pulled permits for roofing, existing structures, electrical — pretty minor stuff, but we can confirm work is being done.”

In 2019, a documentary called Leaving Neverland came out, detailing the separate experiences of sexual abuse two young boys — aged 7 and 10 at the time — that allegedly occurred at Neverland at the hands of Jackson. This film, alongside various other allegations against the late star, may have contributed to the dramatic price cuts Neverland took on the market before its eventual sale.

Despite this, Jackson’s legacy hasn’t left the forefront of popular culture since his death in 2009. A new biopic, Michael , is set to hit theaters in April 2025. Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, is set to play the late King of Pop, starring alongside Miles Teller and Kat Graham.