Neverland Rides Find New Life

Posted by Miss Cellania in Everything Else on September 30, 2009 at 11:33 am


When you pay a visit to your county or state fair, or when a carnival comes to town, you may get a chance to ride on one of Michael Jackson’s amusement park rides. The rides were sold to amusement companies around the country and have been refurbished and put back into use.

“It was a blast!” said Benny Vasquez, a Visalia, Calif., welder who was regaining his bearings after a dizzying turn on the Spider, an arachnid-shaped contraption with blazing green bulbs lining its black legs. “It’s exciting for people to be able to sit on something that he owned.”

Over the years, Jackson acquired about 18 rides for his 2,600-acre ranch in Santa Barbara County. Some gradually were swapped out for newer models and hit the carnival circuit without fanfare. But most stayed in place even after Jackson, acquitted on child molestation charges in 2005, left Neverland for good.

Several big amusement companies purchased what remained in 2008, repainting and sprucing up rides run down by weather and lack of use.

Link -via Fark

(image credit: Tomas Ovalle/LA Times)


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COMMENT

7 comments to "Neverland Rides Find New Life"

  1. FishBottleT
    September 30th, 2009 at 11:41 am

    They should have made a traveling circus out of all of his stuff.

  2. No
    September 30th, 2009 at 12:43 pm

    “It’s exciting for people to be able to sit on something that he owned.”

    Seriously? That's a hell of a quote.

  3. Cnidaria
    September 30th, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    I went there a long time ago, when he still owned it. It was really fun, but I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement before going in, so I can't describe the specifics. It was beautiful and very peaceful. The rides were fun, and he had some really interesting animals.

  4. Tim Giachetti
    September 30th, 2009 at 4:19 pm

    hahahaha No, that got me too.

    I'm over MJ, was for about the last 10 years of his life. But it's nice his toys are finding new homes.

  5. Mike Johnson
    September 30th, 2009 at 11:40 pm

    So let me get this straight...children can once again ride on Michael Jackson's zipper?

    It's like he never died...

  6. Life it up
    October 1st, 2009 at 12:43 am

    It's makes us feel great that all the toys and stuffs of Michael Jackson are getting new home!!!.MJ might be getting his new lifeagain.

  7. Sue Dunham
    October 1st, 2009 at 7:39 am

    Oh good. Pedo-rides for all the kids.


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