Big Al NVR

I just arrived at this web site at the recommendation of a MJ fan on another web site. I hope to share some story's and maybe answer some questions while I am here.

The first few times I went to Neverland it was as a consultant ... when Mr. Jackson first bought the ranch and started putting rides in. Looking at it as a person who had been in the Amusement business all my adult life, it was mind blowing how much class and style the place had. After I started on full time it remained mind blowing but I finally got to see what it was all about ... helping children from the inner city or who were fighting life threatening illness forget about there troubles for the day and giving them a memory they will always cherish. This was incredibly rewarding to be a part of this magical moment in so many peoples lives.

I just noticed that an interview I did is a bit down the page on this forum topic ... Re-Visiting Neverland (MJTP Interview with Big Al) & Pictures ... this should give you an idea of what my experience at Neverland was like and my thoughts on Mr. Jackson.

Welcome to our site!  

Hello and welcome here AL  We are very pleased to have you with us. I chatted with you via private message on the other site a good while back now, about my banner that Michael got at one of his Dangerous concerts

You'll have a good old time here I guarantee.  

It was close to the end of a long day at the ranch ... we had a VIP party of about 200 guests. I do not recall what the event was for but there were several celebrities. It was one of those nights were the temperature drops a lot after the sun goes down. There was only about a dozen or so guests left before we could call it a night and shut off the lights. I walked into the theater to warm up and see how many guests were left. I noticed a person who I thought looked out of place ... the majority of the guests were dressed formal or close to it and this person was in blue jeans, flannel shirt and a wool hat, looked like he needed a shave. He was talking to some people who I knew and who were invited guests but I just was not sure about this guy ... I walked up into the projection room and asked the projectionist to have a look ... I asked ... 'Do you know who that person is?" ... his reply ... after a he laughed at me ... "Your kidding, right?" ... "That's Johnny Depp." Boy did I feel like a Bozo. To make matters worse ... a little later when we only had a few guests to go ... I am standing behind the snack bar trying to stay warm but look like I was doing something important ... when who walks up and starts a conversation with me ... you guessed it ... and he went on about what a great place this is and how great ALL the staff were ... little did he know I was about to call security on him because I thought he was an un-invited guest.

welcometo MJLIM we are a friendly bunch and i bet you'll fit in wonderfully!!!

can i ask how long it took for neverland to get built? and how michael was able to do all of it (buying neverland and everything that went along with that) while on tour?

thank you  

btw i forgot to mention i'm 14 years old and i'm always looking to find out more about michael and neverland!

Michael bought part of NL in 1987 (I think) around the time of his BAD tour. I believe someone else part owned it as well. I have a feeling NL was Michael's first big move away from Havenhurst. NL was his first bit of freedom and independence in life (the same as we do when we move away from our parents house, lol!) We flee the nest so we can have our own independence and FUN            "Freedom" and have no nagging LOL. Havenhurst I think was also Michael's to start with, I believe there was huge mortgage rates but Mr & Mrs Jackson were responsible for paying the mortgage when Michael got NL, I then think later on Michael paid off the Mortgage for them.

AL? Please say I'm close with that info LOL

Thanks for the questions (ijustcan'tstoplovinguMJ), I will do my best to give you correct answers ...
1)how long it took for neverland to get built?
When Mr. Jackson first bought NVR, then known as Sycamore Valley Ranch, the main house was already built as well as the Hill House, Ranch House, Administration Office, and various buildings in the Zoo. Since the purchase, the Theater, Amusement Park, Rail Roads and additional buildings in the Zoo were added. The majority of all those additions were completed in the first 2 or 3 years of Mr Jackson's ownership of the ranch. There were minor changes and additions up until about the last 2 or 3 years.
2)how michael was able to do all of it (buying neverland and everything that went along with that) while on tour?
On Mr Jackson's first few visits to the ranch ... before he purchased it ... I believe he had some visions of what he wanted ... from there it was just a matter of having artist renditions drawn up so MJ could approve / make changes as needed. He could receive plans / drawings while on tour and make decisions from there.
I can not confirm this part of my answer but I am told the first few times MJ saw the ranch, he was doing some work with Paul McCartney and they were working in the area ... that's when he had his Neverland vision and decided to make the purchase and start the process of turning this awesome ranch in to an even more awesome Neverland.

wow thanks!!! i bet he did all of it when on his breaks from touring? is this correct

I am sure that anytime he was at home ... his creative mind was working overtime on building Neverland. I am also sure that on his travels around the world ... he would often be inspired by something he saw.

me too! he went to so many places around the world there is no doubt that he wouldn't get inspired!

ooh yeah! he always made them so happy!

Kids from the inner city and the kids fighting life threatening illness' is what Neverland was built for. There is a whole book of stories to be told. It is very sad to think that Neverland is now closed and will not have that huge impact on any more of those children. If you could read the book of letters we got from Doctors, Nurse and family members of those kids ... it was a magical memory that they will cherish for the rest of their life's. It allowed the kids from the hospital to forget about their illness and the kids from the inner city to have some hope for a brighter future.

I was in LA on a Friday and planned on going back home on Monday. I got a call that we were going to have a Heal The World event on Saturday. The group was coming from the Lynwood area so I decided to call Rick (President of HTW) and see if I could ride up to the ranch on the bus with the kids. As we got up near Ventura and out of the 'big city', I heard one of the girls sitting behind me tell her friend in a very amazed tone of voice ... "LOOK, real cows". I thought to my self ... wait until they see Neverland ... then I realized, these kids have probably never been out of a few block area where they live. I am sure all those kids still talk about that day.

wow thts amazing! i wish i could read that book! did michael read ALL the letters from the children?

Absolutely.