Neverland Ranch Rides Featured At CA State Fair

I almost feel bad for the regular attractions at the state fair because, really, how can they compare with amusement rides from Jackson’s personal collection?

Plus, I bet Jackson’s rides are a lot safer than the rickety contraptions you find at some fairs. I mean, how can you not trust rides with the King of Pop’s stamp of approval? If you go through the trouble of installing a mini amusement park on your front lawn, I’m pretty sure you’d only include the crème de la crème of rides.

The rides are being brought in by Bulter Amusements, which purchased the attractions from Jackson and his Santa Barbara Country, Calif., ranch last year.

Bulter lists the rides under the “Kiddie Rides” category so they are probably better suited for children.The rides include “Balloon Sama,” “Jeeps,” “Swings,” and “Dinosaurs.” 

MTV.com has the inside scoop on the rides – “Balloon Sama” is a ride that looks like a series of hot-air balloons, “Jeeps” features miniature jeeps riding around a track, “Swings” is a “speedy swingset that whips riders in a circle.” A press release from the fair describes “Dinosaurs” as  “eight revolving dinosaurs and elephants that passengers can control and make the animal go up or down.”

The California State Fair takes place at the Cal Expo fairgrounds in Sacramento. The festivities kick off Friday and run through Sept. 7.

Bulter Amusements, the largest carnival company in the Western United States, has a special offer for Jackson fans. Every Friday of the 2009 State Fair – Aug. 21, Aug 28 and Sept. 4 – the first 5,000 people through the fair gates will get a free ride on one of the Four Neverland Ranch rides.

This year’s California State Fair features concerts by artists such as David Cook (Aug. 21), Tonic (Aug. 24), Salvador (Aug. 25), M.C. Hammer (Sept. 3) and Three Dog Night (Sept. 4).

In other MJ news, although Jackson is being buried on Aug. 29, filmmaker Spike Lee is celebrating the pop star’s life the same day with a block party-style celebration.

Lee and Jackson collaborated on the music video for “They Don’t Care About Us,” the fourth single from Jackson’s 1995 HIStory album.

The fun goes down in New York City’s Borough of Kings and features DJ Spinna cranking out all of your favorite Jackson tunes.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is declaring Aug. 29, what would have been Jackson’s 51st birthday, as “Michael Jackson Day.”

Click here for the California State Fair’s Web site.

Click here for the MTV.com article.

Click here for the AP story.