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Image via Harry Benson
By now, it’s a fairy tale, albeit a dark one: Michael Jackson’s life, once so filled with joy and talent, was mired by accusations of child abuse once he reached adulthood. It all ended tragically in 2009 when the pop star died after suffering cardiac arrest.
One of Jackson’s most ambitious non-musical projects was the Neverland Ranch, a 2,700-acre expanse that included two train stations, a mansion, a zoo, amusement parks, a movie theater, two lakes, endless fountains, arcades, and other amenities mostly geared towards children.
Allegations that Jackson was molesting children on the ranch, however, led federal officials to raid the property in 2003. Jackson left Neverland Ranch forever shortly thereafter, claiming it had been forever tainted.
The property has sat relatively empty ever since, maintained by a small staff and the real estate company that owns the lease. This week, however, the ranch officially went back on the market, to the tune of $100 million. Jackson bought the property for $19.5 million. Much of the extravagance that the King of Pop installed has been removed, but the sheer scope of the place has remained intact. Take a look inside the Neverland Ranch (back when some of Jackson’s toys were still in the building) below:
