Fans, news crews flock to Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch

Fans, news media flock to Jackson’s Neverland

LOS OLIVOS, Calif. — Adoring fans and dozens of news crews poured into this bucolic town near Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch on Wednesday expecting to witness the finale to the story of the King of Pop — only to learn their hasty trips were unnecessary.

A large crowd of mourners set up camp outside Neverland’s gates with lawn chairs and coolers of bottled water, while hotel rooms surrounding Jackson’s estate sold out within minutes of the first — and eventually, erroneous — reports Tuesday that the pop icon might be buried there.

Residents of Los Olivos, who were plagued by reporters following Jackson’s 2003 arrest on child molestation charges, once more had their lives upended by streams of TV vans and fans eager to mark the passing of a pop culture giant.

The excitement, however, appeared to be for nothing.

A Jackson family spokesman said in a statement Wednesday that a public memorial was being planned, but it would not be held at Neverland. No further details were provided.

Also Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Jackson would likely be buried in Los Angeles, although the family could have a private memorial at Neverland after Jackson is buried. The source, who was not authorized to speak for the family and requested anonymity, told the AP that nothing is planned at least through Friday.

One site under consideration for a public memorial is the Los Angeles Coliseum, where the Los Angeles Lakers held their championship celebration last month, a City Hall official not authorized to speak publicly told the AP. The person stressed that talks were “completely preliminary” and a date for the event was not discussed.

Many of Jackson’s die-hard fans refused to believe that the family would bury their most famous son without acknowledging the supporters who helped propel him to superstardom.

More than three dozen TV news trucks and several hundred cars parked outside the gates of Neverland and yellow police tape kept gawkers off the property of two private schools across the street.

The narrow, two-lane road lined with cattle ranches and oak-studded hills was nearly impassable to traffic and fans, forcing visitors to park more than a mile away and make the final pilgrimage to Neverland on foot.

In a scene reminiscent of a latter-day Graceland, many mourning fans placed notes and flowers and then departed, but about 100 settled in to wait. By noon, county officials had set up portable toilets and a large trash can, and California Highway Patrol officers were directing traffic. Officers also began placing no parking signs along the road.

Rosie Padron had roped off a spot just outside the gates of the sprawling ranch in hopes of being the first in line if the public was admitted. Padron and two friends were ready to wait overnight or longer and had set up lawn chairs and a photo montage of Jackson’s career.

“I can’t believe they wouldn’t do something for his fans,” said Padron, who also videotaped the events. “Michael loved his fans.”

Without a Jackson-sanctioned memorial, at least one industrious promotions company hoped to appease fans with a weekend-long event hosted by a nearby, 1,000-acre private ranch. Promoter Releve Unlimited circulated fliers advertising three days of music and video tributes to Jackson, with a $40 parking fee and food and drink available from local vendors and wineries.

“We’re going to have a safe environment so people aren’t just standing by the side of the road,” said Christine Souza, a spokeswoman for the company.

Inside the gates of the theme-park-style Neverland estate, at least two dozen workers could be seen placing fresh sod along the drive to the main house, mowing the lawn and doing maintenance on an ornate, iron-and-gold gate within the ranch.

The fountains were on and sprinklers had been set out to water the grass. Fresh flowers surrounded its train station.

A receptionist at KW Custom Iron, which had a crew at Neverland, said the company was not authorized to comment on what kind of work they were doing there. She declined to give her name.

Meanwhile, at Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn, rooms sold out within 20 minutes of the first media reports that Jackson would be buried — or at least memorialized — on the grounds of Neverland, said Jessica Larsen, the hotel’s general manager.

“It was first media, and then after about an hour, the fans were calling in,” she said. “There’s been quite a few people calling, even internationally, and it’s been hard for them” to learn the inn is fully booked.

Residents in Los Olivos, a laid-back town used to wine tourists, took the crush of fans and reporters in stride — especially after weathering a similar onslaught during Jackson’s arrest, trial and eventual acquittal. More than 2,200 reporters camped out at the Santa Barbara County courthouse for the proceedings and dozens roamed the winding roads around Los Olivos during that time.

Rebecca Gomez, a local artist, was busy early Wednesday setting up an exhibition of her work that was scheduled to open later that day. She said she’d already noticed that the people arriving for this chapter in the Michael Jackson story seemed different than the ones who jammed the city when he was on trial four years ago.

“Whatever happens now is respectful instead of that other crowd we had the last time,” she said.

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Associated Press Writer Michael R. Blood reported from Los Angeles. AP Writers Gillian Flaccus, Anthony McCartney and Nekesa Mumbi Moody in Los Angeles and AP Photographer Chris Carlson in Los Olivos also contributed to this report.