Even though the Michael Jackson memorial was not held at Neverland Ranch, that hasn't stopped fans of the departed icon from flocking to his former estate to pay tribute to him. Fans have come from around the world to write their remembrances, leave flowers or stand at the gates of the home where the man used to live. The general sentiment in the fan community is that Neverland should be turned into a shrine dedicated to the singer's life and career the way that Graceland became a destination for Elvis Presley devotees following his death.
Jackson's family still haven't announced where the singer will be buried, though the likelihood of him having his final resting place at Neverland is slim. Since it's a private residence, the Jacksons would have to get a permit and enter into a lengthy approval process to get the nod to bury Jackson at Neverland. Since Santa Barbara County already expressed consternation over the crowds at the estate when the aborted memorial at the site was first announced, it would likely be a protracted process.
As for turning his old home into a living museum, it isn't as simple as setting up a ticket booth. The first big problem is that the house is almost entirely empty at the moment, as NBC's Matt Lauer proved earlier this week. Jackson permanently moved out of the property following his trial in 2005, so most of Jackson's possessions are in flux — especially those that were supposed to be auctioned off earlier this year.
Plus, the ownership of the Neverland property itself is in a state of flux, as the title is currently co-held by the Jackson estate and Colony Capital LLC, which helped Jackson keep the property after he ran into financial trouble in 2008. But even if it doesn't end up being Michael's final resting place, Neverland will always remain associated with Jackson in the minds of the fans.
UPDATE: Maybe it's not as remote as once thought.