Michael Jackson’s Surprising Connection To Michigan’s Adventure
A rite of passage here in West Michigan is taking a trip to Michigan's Adventure. I still remember the first time I worked up the nerve to finally ride Shivering Timbers, one of the world's largest wooden roller coasters; when I stepped off, I had a chest full of hair, and my voice had dropped three octaves.
Okay, not really, but the park has been a fixture in Muskegon and has changed drastically since its days as Deer Park in the 1950s, and that is because of the attractions it has added over the years.
But one of its rides has some lore that few know about, largely because it centers on why it was removed from the park, and it involves the King of Pop himself.
From Michigan's Adventure to Neverland
Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop," who consistently broke Billboard records and had 13 No. 1 hits throughout his solo career, was known for his eccentricness as much as his music. That was most prominently seen in his massive Neverland Ranch homestead in California that he turned into a fantasy-themed amusement park throughout the 90s, complete with a petting zoo and over 18 rides.
These rides included Ferris wheels and merry-go-rounds, and more intense rides like a Sea Dragon and the Zipper (Michael's favorite). As it turns out, one of those 18 rides was purchased from Michigan's Adventure: the Eyerly Spider. It was a ride that raised and lowered riders while spinning them around on 6 (not 8, despite its name) arms. You can actually see the Spider in this tour video of Neverland at the 2:25 mark.
What Happened To Michael's Spider Ride?
The downfall of Neverland Ranch is unfortunately very documented, on account of the allegations of Jackson's inappropriate relationship with a child. After he was acquitted in 2005, Michael vowed to never visit it again. Thus, after his death a few years later, all the amusement rides were sold off.
READ MORE: Boblo Island: The History of Detroit’s Beloved Amusement Park
Parkworld Online reports that David Helm of Helm & Sons Amusements purchased the Crown steam train, CP Huntington train, Carousel, Spider, Slide, and Wave Swinger. This was as of 2009, so its whereabouts today are unknown.
Either way, it's still an interesting tidbit that something as random as a Spider ride from Muskegon could end up in the backyard of Michael Jackson.
Michigan's Forgotten Amusement and Theme Parks
Gallery Credit: Tommy McNeill
