Chapter 4: Neverland Ranch In March 1988, Michael paid $17 million to buy the 2,700-acre Sycamore Valley near Los Olivos in California, and created the Neverland Ranch. He installed a fairground, a railroad, a small zoo and a movie theater on the property. "You must believe that Neverland is a place of magic, love and fun, and you must believe in the magic of faith and miracles. You are as young as you will be. You can go there and heal your pain and sadness; it's a safe place for those of all ages, where you can rest and be happy, with no fears and no pain, and a freedom of heart. The serenity fosters happiness in your thoughts, and your dreams can come true. Those who are sick and go to Neverland get better. It's a peaceful, healing and loving place, and you leave your troubles outside the gates. In fact, I fired many of the staff because those who don't believe must leave!" "When Lary was on duty, I just wouldn't leave him alone. I let him stay in the bungalow on the ranch just so I could talk to him. We buried what we called a 'time capsule' on the ranch. It was a huge microphone case. We drove to the back of the ranch but the only shovel we could find was a gold ground-breaking award, and when that didn't work, we went to the tool shed to get a real one. I tried to dig the hole but was so hopeless with the shovel that Lary was in hysterics, and took over. I put in a music tape, pictures, some stuffed animals and Lary's Elvis tape. We swore to never reveal the location and hoped it would remain hidden for a hundred years, but someone will inevitably find it.

"Neverland Ranch" is excerpted from
"I Can See Clearly Now" by Lary Glen Anderson.

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