Michael Jackson’s Neverland to Be Recreated in Las Vegas

Neverland Train Station - Photo by Wikimedia

Neverland, the fantasy island of Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, is famous due to James Matthew Barrie, Scottish writer, and by pop start Michael Jackson, who named his Californina property Neverland Ranch. The fantasy world is once more taking the spot lights, as Cirque du Soleil wants to recreate it and turn it into a Las Vegas attraction.

Cirque du Soleil plans to turn the Mangalay Bay hotel and casino in Sin City into a top attraction, hosting Neverland, an entertainment complex featuring a Michael Jackson-themed lounge, an interactive memorabilia museum and a theatre.

“This place, Mandalay Bay, is going to become the home of Michael Jackson in many, many ways,” Cirque du Soleil president Daniel Lamarre said at an announcement at the casino, that had Jackson’s older brother, Jackie, as a guest.

Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil's Facebook Page

 

The Las Vegas Neverland is expected to become a permanent attraction for Michael Jackson fans where they can celebrate the King of Pop, while seeing some of the memorabilia from the Santa Barbara regions Neverland Ranch.

“Very few fans would ever get to visit Michael’s Neverland Ranch because of its remote location,” explained John Branca, co-executor of Michael Jackson’s estate.

The Las Vegas Neverland will open its doors to Michael Jackson fans in 2013. But the reproduction of the star’s eccentric ranch is not the first homage by Cirque du Soleil. In October, they will launch the most expensive show in the company’s history, Michael Jackson, The Immortal World Tour, worth 57 million US dollard will debut in Montreal and travel to 30 cities, including  New York, Miami, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil's Facebook Page

The show’s decor revolves around a massive tree symbolic of a favorite oak outside Jackson’s Neverland bedroom, called the Giving Tree by the worldwide famous star. The 90 minute homage show will also showcase excerpts of Michael Jackson music videos and no individual performe will represent the King of Pop.

Both the show and the new Las Vegas Neverland Ranch will be owned by Jackson’s estate and Cirque du Soleil each, sharing equally both the costs and the gains.