Things I Wish I Owned

Today I wouldn't mind having an ownership interest of any size of Neverland Ranch near Los Olivos, CA. The former home, zoo and theme park of Michael Jackson is a gold mine waiting to happen.

If I had an interest in that place I'd be buying land for a very large parking lot, ordering shuttle buses, and would be making plans to open the property to paying tourists as quickly as I could. The Elvis estate was in deep trouble until they opened Graceland and turned it into a tourist mecca that is still drawing crowds more than 30 years after Elvis' death. Neverland Ranch has the potential to be just as big.

The day after the Jackson funeral and national holiday I would hold a press conference to announce in somber tones (while trying to stifle maniacal laughter) that the home would soon be open as a permanent memorial to the King of Pop. Within 6 months I'd have misty-eyed pilgrims walking the halls in hushed reverence to their Pop God and I'd be making money faster than the government could print it.

Although there is a "creepy" factor to the place, his fans don't seem to mind and I'll bet millions of them from around the world would shell out a pretty penny to walk the grounds, tour the home, and get their picture taken next to a cardboard cut-out of Michael and his pet chimp Bubbles.

Or perhaps try on his original nose?

Michael may be gone, but the entrepreneurial spirit will live on.