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September 20, 2009

Michael Jackson's Ride Featured At The Lodi Grape Festival

In 1984, Jennifer Zajac made all her friends at what is now Lodi Middle School sign her yearbook as "Jenny Jackson." She also spent several months as a vegetarian, mimicking the lifestyle of her pop star "future husband," Michael Jackson.

While pointing at a ride at the Grape Festival with a set of about eight balloons, Zajac told her 3-and-a-half-year old daughter, "This is Michael Jackson's ride. He used to have it as his house. Can you believe it?"

The Balloon Sama ride is one of six that Butler Amusements purchased from an auction house last fall, when Jackson was selling part of his estate. The ride, geared toward younger children, will be at the Grape Festival the rest of the weekend.

There is a white sign letting riders know the ride came from Neverland, and the fence has original artwork of a Neverland seal.

Zajac's daughter, Christine Winters, did not hesitate to say she loves Jackson, and she is already following in her mom's footsteps by practicing the "Thriller" dance in front of the TV. But she has made it clear to her mom she does not like the part where Jackson turns into a werewolf.

Mid-afternoon on Friday, the two sat in a purple basket of one of the balloons and spun a black wheel to make the basket whip around so quickly that Christine's pink fisherman-style hat flew off.

"It's a really good ride," Jennifer Zajac said. "It gets you dizzy."

In the background, "Rock With You" played, because the funhouse next to Jackson's ride plays his music while showing his videos on a TV screen.

Zajac, who now lives in Napa, had read about some of Jackson's rides being at the California State Fair, but did not expect them at the Lodi Grape Festival.

Owen said previously in an East Bay Express story that the hot-air balloon ride cost the company about $40,000. The rides were not priced higher because they were from Neverland Ranch, Owen said. She imagines that is partially because they are older rides. Butler refurbished them, because they were dilapidated after sitting on Neverland Ranch.

It is rare to be able to purchase rides through an auction house, Owen said. Usually carnivals purchase their rides from the brokers, who specialize in selling rides.

At first, Butler had put the rides in circulation without letting the public know they were Neverland rides. When Jackson died near the end of June, some organizers for the Alameda County Fair, which started July 1, encouraged the company to advertise that the rides used to belong to Jackson.

The public's reaction has been overwhelming, Owen said, with people calling the company to find out where the rides will be next.

"I've gotten many 'thank you' letters, which was kind of weird. I didn't know people were so excited to be able to ride on those rides," Owen said.

The ride most geared toward Jackson that the company purchased is his bumper cars. Each car has handmade artwork, and Jackson's car had a light-up marquee that said Neverland.

At the California State Fair, Butler placed the marquee in between two of the four rides at the fair for people to take pictures in front of.

Because the sign is smaller in Lodi, some of the riders did not even know they were riding on a piece of Neverland history.

Stacey Green said she didn't even notice it used to be Jackson's while her daughter Alexis Newhall, 8, was on it.

"I think it's a great one," she said. "It's the one they've liked the most and have wanted to ride."

While watching her two sons on the ride, Jennel Daniel said the ride's appeal might be more geared toward adults.

"The kids don't know who he is," she said. "But I think it's a cool tribute."

Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at [email protected] or read her blog City Buzz.

Lidinews / Thanks Joy C!