Neverland Valley Ranch Map and Brochure (1990)
Location: Los Olivos, California
Years Active: 1981 – Active
Sycamore Valley Ranch, formerly Neverland Ranch or Neverland, is a developed property in Santa Barbara County, California, located at 5225 Figueroa Mountain Road, Los Olivos, California, on the edge of Los Padres National Forest. It was the home and private amusement park of American entertainer Michael Jackson from 1988 until 2005.
The ranch is about 5 miles north of unincorporated Los Olivos, and about eight miles north of the town of Santa Ynez. The Chamberlin Ranch is to the west, and the rugged La Laguna Ranch, is to the north. The Santa Barbara County Assessor’s office says the ranch is approximately 2,700 acres
Originally named Zaca Laderas Ranch, the estate was renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch shortly after it was purchased by property developer William Bone in 1981. In 1988, the ranch was sold to Jackson, who renamed it after Neverland, the fantasy island in the story of Peter Pan, a boy who never grows up. Jackson first went to the ranch when he visited Paul McCartney, who was staying there during their filming of the “Say Say Say” video in 1983. According to Jackson’s sister La Toya, he expressed interest in someday owning the property at that time.
Jackson left the property in 2005 shortly after his acquittal on child molestation charges and never returned; he owned it until his death in 2009. After Jackson’s death, the property was put up for sale in 2015. In 2020, after several price drops, billionaire Ronald Burkle purchased it for $22 million.