Fans of Michael Jackson may get to visit the King of Pop's Neverland Ranch after all - a Californian lawmaker wants to turn the property into a state park.
The Thriller hit-maker moved out of his Santa Barbara home in 2005 after cops raided it in 2003 following his arrest on child molestation charges. Private equity firm Colony Capital LLC now co-owns the sprawling estate with the Jackson family after the singer signed it over to them for $35 million in 2008.
Now, California assemblyman Mike Davis has suggested declaring Neverland an official state park - an area of land preserved on account of its historic interest, and administered by the Californian government. If his proposal gets the go-ahead, it could mean Jackson's fans will be free to visit the site.
Davis tells the Associated Press, "Given that we have an economic shortfall... I suspect it would be difficult for the State Parks Department to purchase the property alone... I am committed to finding out all details possible to make this a good proposal."
Last year residents in the nearby Santa Ynez Valley rallied against plans to turn Jackson's former home into a tourist attraction.
