| Knott's Berry Farm | |
|---|---|
| Location | Buena Park, California |
| Website | www.knotts.com |
| Owner | Cedar Fair Entertainment Company |
| Opened | 1940 |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Area | 160 acres (65 ha) |
| Rides | 41 total
|
| Slogan | "America's 1st Theme Park", "The Fun and Only" |
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California.
Starting in 1920, farmer Walter Knott and his family developed their Buena Park berry farm into a popular tourist attraction. Originally selling berries, homemade berry preserves and pies from a roadside stand, Knott built a restaurant, shops and stores onto the property by the 1930s. These were then augmented with minor attractions and curiosities until Knott gradually created Ghost Town, transforming them from a way-point to a Western themed destination in 1940. World class rides were then built and free entertainment drew crowds. Disneyland in nearby Anaheim complemented the theme park, making Orange County a tourist destination to Southern California visitors. As more elaborate rides were included, and big name acts were featured in Knott's John Wayne Theater, a fence was built and admission charged, turning it into a commercial theme park.
The theme park continues to be competitive with special events such as "Halloween Haunt" and with new thrill rides.
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In 1920, Walter Knott (1889–1981) and his family sold berries, berry preserves and pies from a roadside stand.[1] beside State Route 39, near the small town of Buena Park.[2] In 1932, on a visit to Rudolph Boysen's farm in nearby Anaheim, Walter Knott was introduced to a new hybrid berry of blackberry, red raspberry and loganberry cross-bred by Boysen, who gave Walter his last six wilted berry-hybrid plants. Walter planted and cultivated them, then the family sold the berries at their roadside stand.[2] When people asked what kind they were, he called them "Boysenberrys".[3]
In 1934, to make ends meet, Knott's wife Cordelia (1890–1974) reluctantly began serving fried chicken dinners on their wedding china. For dessert, Knott's signature Boysenberry Pie was also served to guests dining in the small tea room. As Southern California developed, Highway 39 became the major north-south connection between Los Angeles County and the beaches of Orange County, and the restaurant's location was a popular stopping point for drivers making the two hour trip in those days before freeways. Until Interstate 605 and State Route 57 were built in the late 1960s, Highway 39 (now known in Orange County as Beach Boulevard) continued to carry the bulk of the traffic between eastern Los Angeles and Orange County. Great location and good value were the restaurant's conditions of success which developed long lines of diners.
As time went on, more shops and interactive displays were opened to entertain patrons waiting for a seat[4] at the Chicken Dinner Restaurant.[5] The Berry Market expanded South from Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant along Grand Ave. with the addition of wishing wells, rock gardens[6] with miniature waterfalls, water wheels and a grindstone "Down by the Old Mill Stream",[7] near a replica of George Washington's Mount Vernon fireplace[8] which the Knotts had seen while on vacation and admired it so much that they replicated it behind Jams & Jellies; Lost and Found, Nursery, Preserving Kitchen and Administration Offices. Before long, the Knotts had added Virginia's Gift Shop and several more shops and attractions such as a 15 million year old petrified log,[9][10] a thirteen foot diameter cross section of coastal redwood cut at age 750 years,[11] a visible bee-hive and an oxcart,[12] with several wagons[13] [14] provided additional photo opportunities. The entire operation would soon be renamed Knott's Berry Place.
Walt built a 12-foot-tall volcano[15] of lava rock trucked in from the Pisgah Mountain and equipped it with a boiler that rumbled, hissed, and spit steam at the push of a button. Two signs posted nearby read:
"It's not half as fool a thing as it seems," Knott told the Farm Journal. "When the customers pile up so we can't seat them, the girls send them out to ... play with the volcano. They get so interested that I've had to install a loud speaker system to call them to their meals when the tables are ready." The volcano cost $600, and Knott figured it paid for itself the first month.[16] At some point in the late '50s or early '60s, a fanciful mechanical contraption displayed within a 2'x2'[17] box replaced the manual push button. A small red devil with fiery wings cranked a chain behind the glass driving a larger black drum fitted with bent sheet metal acting as cams around its edge, several turns of the demon would cause the cams to strike switches and the active volcano would illuminate, rumble, hiss and/or steam – simulating vulcan activity. The caption sign above the enclosure read "This is the apparatus that controls the volcano. It was made by Henry Legano, and is operated by the gentleman turning the crank. (Sound effect by Bob Halliard.)". The volcano became the "Cornerstone" for a real gold mine,[18] both figuratively and literally.
The most popular genre of motion picture at the time was 'The Western,' and western themeing was quick and easy to make: slap some concrete over chicken wire and carve it into rockwork before it sets, known today as shotcrete. This construction technique became the basis for fabricating much of what was to become Knott's – from stairways to mountains and tunnels, even the tree stump shaped drinking fountains. Using techniques like those on the Watts Towers one could set decoration in it, like the sheet of quartz containing a dark sandy vein indicating gold – as was the entrance to the gold mine/pan for gold.
From the West side of the volcano, guests could enter a mine shaft following a vein of gold down[19] into a large open pit[18] and the Pan-for-Gold activity where customers could buy a ticket to pan for real gold to take home in a vial.[20] Nearby the gold mine shaft entrance, the prospectors mule would haul a stone around an Arrastra,[19] a circular ore grinding pit, filled with gold bearing quartz to release its gold. (In 1998 the mine entrance was converted to the entrance for the Ghost Rider rollercoaster which descended from the station into the former Gold Mine pit. Pan-for-Gold was moved West to School House Road between Boot Hill and the Miner's Bank.)
Ghost Town is the oldest part of today's enclosed Knott's Berry Farm amusement park, and includes most of the buildings Walter brought to the property in the 1940s and 1950s.
Little by little, Walt began building a ghost town in 1940, using buildings relocated from real old west towns such as Prescott, Arizona. Painted signs of Old Trails Hotel had a humorous scrawl of the letter 'G', as if to hastily change the name to Gold Trails Hotel. It was the first of many and re-built to house a salute to the hardship endured by early settlers.
The Wagon Train Panorama – a free, three minute show. Originally the entrance was through the open end of a Conestoga Wagon[21] The canvas covering of the wagon entrance did not last long and was converted to a wooden extension of the hotel which effectively 'built-in' the wagon. The enclosed Conestoga Wagon showcased several artifacts relating to the pioneers who endured the hardship of traveling to California in covered wagons. Pioneers were welcomed to sign a '49er's guest book, while waiting for the free three minute presentation in tribute to those hardy 1849 pioneers. The Covered Wagon Show featured a static diorama of a covered wagon train crossing Death Valley and ended with the voice of a little girl saying "Mommy, I want a drink of water!"
Along the south side of Main Street where the line of waiting dinners wrapped around the building, he filled themed "shops" with relics set into a scene of whimsy. Starting at the corner of Gold Mine Road and Main Street, "Deadwood Dick's" grave marker showed that he died with his boots on, near Soldado José wood carving of a Mexican Soldier. The playback in the Assayer's Office pits the owner attempting to discover, and jump, the claim location against the prospector yet to stake his claim. Hop Wing Lee the proprietor of the Chinese Laundry[22] irons endlessly, singing western tunes in Mandarin. The Barber shaves One Eye Ike and contemplates his wanted poster hanging nearby. A piano player was hired to play outside the Silver Dollar Saloon where real cups of boysenberry drink could be purchased with snacks. The Sheriff's Office hosted a crooked poker game. To interest folks and entice them to the back of the line, Gold Dust Goldie's Hotel featured a live gentleman interested in a few details about your group about to visit Sad Eye Joe back in the Town Jail – to surprise them with personal comments. Goldie's leg in fishnet stocking and high-button shoe, covered with petticoats hung out of an upstairs window of Goldie's Place would kick then return to thump the clapboarding, as if to advertise the brothel.[23]
Reflecting humor in illiteracy, the establishment's name was intentionally misspelled "Pitchur Gallery". In 1940 Gus Thornrose set up shop behind the 'G'old trails hotel, with standees, a Western saloon bar-room scene, and even a stuffed bucking bronco posed in mid throw. Near the cuspidor (spittoon) was a sign which was captured in many souvenir photographs "Spit on ceiling, anyone can spit on the floor." Folks could select from a wide variety of costuming and stand for a pose, or choose to put their faces through holes of humorous standees such as lifting weights, prospector dancing with a Can-can girl or sit behind painted oxen hauling a covered wagon to be captured with vintage wooden large format bellows cameras onto glass photographic plates. Digital capture has since replaced the labor intensive development process. "You'll never know how good you look, until ya gits yer pitchur took."
Along the north side of Main Street were benches on the boardwalk featuring photo opportunities with fiberglass figures of the grizzled prospectors Handsome Brady with Whiskey Jim (although the sign behind the bench called him Whisky Bill, a misprint[24]) and the dancing girls Marilyn and Cecelia Hargrave, a very popular hand pump among the kids which recirculated water through a horse drinking trough, and Old Betsy the popular photo-opportunity of a small saddle-tank steam locomotive and borax train beside the Blacksmith's shop. A real live Blacksmith in a large leather apron would stoke the hearth with bellows. Then with a hammer, forge the red hot iron on an anvil to shape souvenir horseshoes. It still is a real working blacksmith, and much of the ironwork seen in the park was commissioned to be fabricated there. Guests can have implements made such as custom fireplace pokers and even branding irons.
Walter re-built a Windmill water pump originally from England and used here on a ranch beside the Livery Stable housing a collection of wagons, coaches, and horse drawn hearses. Walter didn't think his collection of old buildings would get much bigger, so the stable was placed across "the end" of Main St. and the Dry Gulch Pack Train and stage coach ride planned for Stage Coach Road.
The Bottle House[25] (1948) housed a 4'x4' hundred year old oil painting of a Chief and his squaw and a collection of ancient ornate musical instruments, coin operated amusements, gambling devices, along with elaborate and rare music boxes from France, Switzerland, and Germany. The Swiss birdcages featuring whistling mechanical automaton birds were among the inspirations of Walt Disney to create Audio-Animatronics.[26]
With the success of the free entertainment, another Western themed attraction was dug into a pit and terraced with concrete rockwork. Live performances of popular Western and Country bands and singers were featured, as guests gathered around a raging campfire, surrounded by a circle of Conestoga wagons,[27] humorously painted with slogans such as "California, or bust" on the Prairie Schooner canvas. Part of that installation included Sutters a fast food burger, hot dog, pizza, chilli, fries and drinks stand, served in a folding cardboard box as a box lunch for enjoyment in the Covered Wagon Camp,[28] setting a precedent and long standing tradition of enjoying a meal purchased at Knott's to be enjoyed anywhere.
Knott's Berry Farm transitioned from a way-point into a destination as word spread.
A wild west style horse show was in an open air bleacher stadium, where Calico Mine Ride is now. It was similar to the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.
The Butterfield Stagecoach left every few minutes from the Stage Depot in 1949. Well trained teams of horses hauled historic equipment – 3 original Butterfield coaches, 1 Halloday coach, 1 Overland Southern coach and the Knott's Berry Farm coach that was built for the farm in 1954. Guests enjoyed a Stagecoach journey looping North around the badlands filled with bad men.
In 1951 Walter Knott inherited his uncle's silver mill in Calico, CA near Barstow where he worked as a child, then proceeded to purchase the entire town of Calico, San Bernardino County, California and then restored the Calico Hotel there.[2] Many structures were re-created on the ruins of their foundation. Other structures were disassembled, removed, and reassembled near the railroad depot to create the new Calico Square.
When folks wanted entertainment during the day, Walter provided several more intimate shows, more frequently.
The Calico Saloon at the west end of Market Street was the featured building fronting Calico Square. A tiny stage was located above the West end of the balcony, later it was replaced by a wide formal stage, south behind the bar. It hosted a variety show inside with a piano player, a few vaudeville routines, and dancing girls performing the Can-Can. A wide stairway led up to the interior and outside balconies. The inside balcony provided additional seating and tables, along with the best view of the show. A pair of baskets operated like a dumbwaiter to lift meal orders up to the waitress there.
Outside in Calico Square Harvey Walker played Doctor I. Will Skinem performed his Medicine Show and peddled "Boysenberry Elixir" from his wagon/stage near the popcorn cart,[24] the same wagon stage featured a young Steve Martin on banjo between performances at the Bird Cage Theater. Cowboys confronted the Sheriff and his posse. They performed shootouts with flips and stunts, even a high fall. To wrap it up, fifteen minutes of comedy involved the Boot Hill Undertaker trying to remove the body from the Calico Square Wild West Show. The stunt show performances are scheduled at the Covered Wagon Camp nowadays, with impromptu shootouts in front of the Blacksmith, outhouse and Calico Saloon.
Between the saloon and the general mercantile was the Post Office which was for a time a real working U.S. post office and Wells Fargo Express walk-in attraction displays. The post office featured cutting-edge 1870's postal technology and the Express office depicted activities of a gunsmith. Contemporary postage stamps can be purchased there daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and mail deposited is dutifully forwarded to the U.S. Postal Service.
In 1951 work began to grade and lay track for a grand circle rail route for recently acquired authentic 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge C-19 engines No. 340 Green River (renamed Gold Nugget #40) from the Denver & Rio Grande and No. 41 Red Cliff from the Rio Grande Southern, historic Consolidation class (2-8-0) locomotives from Colorado. They would haul a yellow combination baggage/coach No. 103 Calico with arrows embedded near the baggage door (now renamed to original Chama, arrows and numbers removed and painted in heritage period Pullman-green livery of D&RGW) and several more vintage wooden passenger coaches filled with delighted guests on round trip excursions when the route opened on January 12, 1952. The Durango parlor car, the Silverton observation sleeper and the B-20 Edna Business cars were held with the caboose on sidings during normal operation. Whether in the heavyweight steam train or the light duty Galloping Goose No. 3, the highlight most guests remember are the train robbers of the Knott's Scenic Route of the Ghost Town & Calico Railroad.
Bud Hurlbut created this rumbling tour aboard six ore cars fitted along the sides with benches behind a fanciful representation of a small steam locomotive on a narrated journey touring the "Calico Mine". Admission could be purchased from the shack at the base of the trail up to the station. An underground lake, steam geyser, shaft elevator, "Square-set timbering" construction techniques on the lift hill and several glimpses of the "Glory Hole" could be seen aboard this power assisted gravity coaster. A day-glow painted cavern featured several formations of stalactites hanging from the ceiling, and stalagmites building slowly from the floor, to dramatic organ music. Dead Man's Trestle was then crossed slowly before the train became a "runaway" through a blasting zone and cave-in for a thrilling climax of this enclosed, power assisted gravity roller-coaster.
Along the front was an overhang built to cover the Mule Train boarding area. The Mule Trail was relocated east across Beach Blvd, and then removed entirely when those shallow canyons were converted to the picnic grounds.
Bud Hurlbut (Wendell "Bud" Hurlbut 1918-Jan. 5, 2011) [29] [30] [31] of Hurlbut Amusement Company constructed Calico Mine Train which opened in 1960 on Walter Knott's property at a cost of $1.5 Million as a concession, and paid Walt a portion of ticket sales. When Walt visited Bud during construction he asked "Do you know what you are doing?" and even though the had invested every cent and more Bud replied "Yes." He told the story later and added "…and I never lied to him again.".[30] Bud lived in an apartment with a cot and refrigerator, hidden inside near the train storage tracks and repair shop, a short commute to an endless task. It incorporated many innovative designs and was the first use of a switchback queue. When Walt Disney came to ride he was astonished enough to exclaim "You old S.O.B!" because of the way the trail was hidden and appeared to be a shorter wait than actual, which is now the industry standard. Bud was also the operator of the Knott's Lagoon attractions – the merry-go-round, the row-boat and peddle-boat rental, the Cordelia K. Steamboat side-wheel steam boat,[29] and continued to construct superior amusement park steam locomotives and trains, like the Miniature Train circling Knott's Lagoon. He would continue to create world class attractions, such as the Antique Auto Ride and Timber Mountain Log Ride at Knott's and other theme parks. The Calico Mine Train remains a popular attraction.
A faithful re-creation of "The Jersey Lilly" Judge Roy Bean's Saloon in Langtry, Texas opened with casks on each end of the bar disguising Boysenberry Drink fountains. Coin operated vintage gambling machines were converted to amusements where every pull was a winner and rewarded one souvenir token.
Couples could "Get Hitched" in a comedic mock matrimonial ceremony, conducted by the barkeep and justice of the peace. The wedding ring was a bent horseshoe nail, selected from a pailfull to fit. A painting of Lillie Langtry was purported to adorn the wall, which upon further examination turned out to be the unsinkable Molly Brown. This building was later moved west from what is now the Indian Trails stage area to Calico Square.
Beach Boulevard intersected the property, but that did not halt development. A tunnel was built under the road for two way traffic, later converted to Eastbound motor traffic and pedestrian underpass. Developments on the East replaced the last orchards with Jungle Island, Knott's Lagoon, the temporary home of the Mule Train, and, eventually, Independence Hall, the Picnic Grounds, the main parking lot which replaced Knotts Lagoon, Soak City and the final relocation of the Church of Reflections.
Jungle Island, home of the Woodniks, could be reached by presenting a "C" ticket from the Super Bonanza Book or purchasing a ticket from the booth at one end of a covered bridge for admission across a shallow moat to a forested hill where children found adventure and played hide-and-seek games all day. Woodniks were "creatures" made from strange shapes of wood with glowing googly eyes and nearby speakers to give them voice. Kids could ride a pair of Woodniks at the water's edge like a teeter-totter, which activated splashing effects. Another woodnik nearby was ridden like a rocking horse to spray a stream of water out over the moat. There were paths up the terraced hill which led to more woodniks and activities. The "Catawampus" woodnik[32] survives beside the windmill in Ghost Town, but Jungle Island and the adjoining Burro Trail were incorporated into the private picnic grounds in the 1990s.
North of Jungle Island, Knott's lagoon covered more than an acre with an artificial lake, encircled by a miniature railroad with a carousel at its edge, by the ticket and boat house. Bud Hurlbut operated the amusements, and built most of them. The lake featured rental rowboats and peddle-boats and the Cordelia K. – a side-wheel riverboat excursion named for Walt's wife. Corn kernels could be purchased by the handful from gum-ball machines mounted on poles near the water's edge, and a popular activity for local residents was feeding the ducks who lived there year-round. Knott's Lagoon was bulldozed and paved over to become the main parking lot when Camp Snoopy was built on the former North parking lot. Some ducks moved to other parks and lakes, but many ducks still live and gather in the Adventure Island Moat north of Independence Hall, and many local residents still stop by regularly to feed the ducks and coots.
Frequent activities at what Knott called a "summer-long county fair" included – naturally – boysenberry pie eating contests.[2] When Disneyland was built in nearby Anaheim, the two attractions were not seen as direct competitors, due to the different nature of each. Walt Disney visited Knott's Berry Farm on a number of occasions, and hosted the Knotts at his own park (including inviting the Knotts to Disneyland's opening day). The two Walters had a cordial relationship, and worked together on a number of community causes.
As Knott's Berry Farm continued to grow in the 1950s, new displays were added.
A featured attraction of 1954 which existed at both Knott's Berry Farm and the recently acquired Calico, California was a walk through amusement purporting to demonstrate aberrations of gravity. Tickets were sold at a window at the head of the queue which ended in a group waiting area. A tour guide would then collect the tickets as guests were seated on benches facing a fence built in forced perspective behind a level concrete slab in the shape of a cuneiform cross. A tall and short guest were selected as volunteers to demonstrate a mysterious property of the property – when they swapped places, they were perceived to change size. Guests were then led down a canyon to witness water flowing uphill. Then into the first room of a highly slanted shack containing a pool table where every shot sinks to the highest corner pocket, a shelf where a soft drink bottle was seen to roll uphill, and a broom was seen to stand unsupported at a slant. In the next room, guests were selected to stand "off the wall" and women were challenged to rise "Lady Like" from a seat. Then moving outside, water was hand-pumped to a hanging pail but always flowed to one side and missed. To explain the water, a sliding panel was moved revealing a water faucet hanging in mid air from a wire, with a steady stream of water pouring out. Then the group moved into the bedroom to witness a scene with 'grandma' in a rocker and 'grandpa' in bed. The lights dimmed revealing spooks of luminous paint. From an outhouse at the exit words were heard complaining about the sudden queue for the potty from inside, stating they may have to wait awhile – then the door would fling open revealing the surprise of a seated human skeleton with newspaper as if reading.
Walter's son Russell's personal collection of fluorescent rocks that glowed under ultraviolet light;
In 1956, a miniature El Camino Real was completed, running North from the end of Stage Road at the railroad depot, underneath a pedestrian underpass of the Stagecoach trail then alongside it, up to the far edge of the park at La Palma Avenue. Along the way were twenty-one adobe enclosures each displaying a miniature model accurately portraying life and activities of the next Spanish mission in California to the north, with descriptive text beside the viewing window.[33]
The Candy Parlor anchored the South end of Gold Mine Road, rose garden featuring an antique four-face pedestal clock, past the Steak House with its Bakery, Garden Room and Rock and Book Shop across from Gold mine. Across Main Street, the Hangman's Tree stood ominously beside the adobe Fire Station providing little shade to the ore grindstone pulling burro circling the arrastra,[34] and one could view the Covered Wagon Show Wagon Train Panorama in the 'G'Old Trails Hotel.
Across Market Street and to the East guests were entertained while circled around the bonfire in the Covered Wagon Camp. The path split as "The Trail to the Chapel" and "Trail to Indian Post and Art Glow" which went North across the Cable Car tracks, between the Seal Pool and Old MacDonald's Farm, under the Stagecoach path to the Merry-Go-Round, Children's Model T Ride[35] – glorified coin operated kiddie-rides set into pavement near miniaturized city street facades, and Antique Auto Ride[36] – a car ride built by Bud Hurlbut electrically powered and guided by a center rail, which was later renamed Tijuana Taxi.
Calico Square expanded South as well. In 1958, Mott's Miniatures[37] opened at the West end of Museum Lane in Jeffries Barn with the Boxing Museum. Next door to the East, the Western Trails Museum, then the School House and at the junction of School road – The Bird Cage Theater, which was the starting place for many small-time actors, as well as that of Steve Martin, is a reproduction of the famous Tombstone, Arizona landmark. Across Museum Lane to the North, Antique Pianos, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Supply House Miniature Train store and the Gun Shop.[38]
In the early to mid-1960s, the park was visited more by "locals" than tourists. Children fortunate enough to have grown up in the area may still recall taking a battery-electric powered San Francisco Cable Car[39] to the South end of the parking lot to drive a Model-T[40] at Henry's Auto Livery on the Northwest corner of Beach Blvd. and Crescent Ave.
Between the blown-up Miner's Bank and the Grist Mill with its water-wheel grindstone bagging corn meal or wheat flour was a collection of mining equipment, shafts, and shacks playing fanciful recordings of their activity. A few steps beyond, in Boot Hill Cemetery, headstones and grave markers gave macabre humor to the fate of the deceased – Hiram McTavish even invited bystanders to good luck by feeling the heartbeat by standing on his mound.
Organ Grinder – Stepping out onto Market Street kids of all ages would surround the circle of yellow paint on the ground under the pepper trees near the adobe arches and wait for the organ grinder[41] to arrive. Turning the crank on the brightly painted music box, his trained monkey "Shorty"[42] would hop around the edge of the circle, snatching your pennies and tipping his hat by way of thanks.
North past the Church of Reflections and Our Little Chapel by the Lake, was the Indian Trading Post on an island in the lake, Inspiration House, Art Glow and Flamingo Pond,[43] towards the area which would soon become home to Fiesta Village, one would cross the Cable Car tracks and walk past Old MacDonald's Farm to get to the Seal Pool.
Old MacDonald's Farm,[44] an elaborate petting zoo was an animal attraction that lasted longer than the Burro Train and Seal Pool, replaced in 1978 with Montezooma's Revenge and a restaurant. In Old MacDonald's Party Garden there were a handful of themed areas where parents could host their children’s birthday party for a nominal rental fee. The coveted spot was the birdcage, an actual metal framework built up on stilts. North, across the Cable Car tracks, was Old MacDonald's Farm – a petting zoo with: goats, bunnies, and chickens, even a pair of hundred year old Galapagos tortoise, and for a short while, a baby elephant.[45] A goat could climb the wall to a cage high atop the corner and becon folks into the enclave, for 25 cents. Parents cautioned their children to keep a tight hold on their shirt tails and bags of candy, for nothing was safe from the curious nibblings of the wandering goats. A nickel cranked in nearby converted gumball machines would buy a handful of alfalfa pellets to feed them. Henrietta – the piano-playing chicken[46] could be found within a wooden coop surrounded by glass. Pushing a nickel in the coin slide would illuminate a red lamp atop her toy piano and signal her to peck out a song; when she’d hit enough keys, a sprinkling of corn would be released into her food tray. The petting zoo was also home to a unique riding attraction – a one horse powered carousel swing.[47] The Knott’s had ingeniously converted a hot walker into a kiddie ride. Pairs or trios of children would sit on wooden seats suspended from the end of eight poles radiating from a central axis where a mule patiently waited under the canvas shade. The handler, wearing overalls with a bandanna around the neck, would sit on the rig behind the mule and start the swings circling by walking the mule.
Seal Pool.[48] Park goers were delighted by the sights and sounds (and smells) of the Seal Pool. Perhaps nothing was more exciting than holding the rapt attention of the seals as guests dangled one of a half dozen sardines, sold nearby in small paper bags – 15¢ or two for a quarter.[49]
All visitors to Buena Park are encouraged to enjoy complementary admission to this patriotic attraction – re-created brick-for-brick on the east property in 1966.[50] Independence Hall continues to feature an audio presentation, with speakers located at appropriate tables, which recalls the debate which led to the United States Declaration of Independence, and is frequented by "Adventures in Education" student groups. Displays have included a replica of the Liberty Bell and a replica of the original Star Spangled Banner Flag which flew over Fort McHenry through a British attack during the War of 1812, which influenced Francis Scott Key to pen the poem that became the National Anthem of the United States. This replica of Philadelphia's Independence Hall was so accurately re-created that it was used in the 2004 film National Treasure, and the blueprints of the replica were requested to reference during the restoration of the original Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA.
By 1967 the property, with access from all directions, became very attractive to locals and visitors from near and far – as well as to squatters and vandals.
In 1968, 25 cents admission was charged for the first time, after the Knott family rerouted the Cable Car and circled the property in a tall fence. The fence enclosed three themed areas:
After the fence went up, construction and development began energetically at a rapid pace.
After a year of design and fabrication, Bud Hurlbut opened the sawmill themed Log Flume in 1969 – under the original name of Calico Log Ride.[30] The first official public riders were John Wayne and Ethan, his son.[29] Arguably the best log ride in the world, it features vintage logging equipment including a small steam train on display within interior pine scented woodland forest scenes detailed with taxidermy forest animals, a dark interior drop, and a twin flume split passenger loading station. A lumberjacks logrolling competition show was featured for several years on the pond between the final plunge and the station.
On April 12, 1974 Cordelia Knott died. Walter turned his attention toward political causes,[51][52]
Roaring Twenties[2] re-themed Gypsy Camp in the 1970s with the addition of a nostalgic traditional amusement area, Wheeler Dealer Bumper Cars, Knott's Bear-y Tales. Then with the northward expansion of a 1920s-era Knott's Airfield themed area featuring the Studio-K Dance Hall, Sky Cabin/Parachute Sky Jump and Motorcycle Chase steeple chase roller coaster above the electric guided rail Gasoline Alley car ride.[53] The expansion was keystoned by the innovative new roller coaster Corkscrew.
Sky Tower was built to support two attractions, the Parachute Sky Jump (now closed) and the Sky Cabin. Parachute Sky Jump boarded one or two standing riders anticipating the thrill of the drop into baskets beneath a faux parachute canopy. From the top, eight arms supported the vertical cable tracks of wire rope which lifted the baskets. The Sky Cabin ringed the support pole with a single floor of seats that are enclosed behind windows. The Sky Cabin ring revolves slowly as it rises to the top and back offering a pleasantly changing vista. Sky Cabin is very sensitive to weather and passenger motion, such as walking, which is prohibited during the trip. During winds 25 mph+ or rain it is closed. When built, Sky Tower was the tallest structure in Orange County (a distinction now held by nearby WindSeeker.) The illuminated "K" in logo script atop the Sky Tower was designated a landmark which prevented Knott's plan of converting the foundation to support WindSeeker.
Corkscrew debuted in 1975 as the first modern-day roller coaster to perform a 360-degree inverting element, twice! It was designed by Arrow Dynamics of Utah.
Motorcycle Chase – A modernized steepelchase rollercoaster built in 1976 featured single motorbike themed vehicles racing side-by-side, each on one of four parallel tracks, launched together.[53] One or two riders straddled each "Indian motorcycle" attraction vehicle. The tubular steel monorail track closely followed dips and bumps in "the road" and tilted to lean riders about the curves. Gasoline Alley, an electric steel-guiderail car ride below, was built together and intimately intertwined, which enhanced ride-to-ride interaction thrill value.[54] Rider safety concerns of the high center of gravity coupled with the method of rider restraints caused it to be re-themed Wacky Soap Box Racers with vehicles now attached in four car trains, each car seated two riders, strapped in low (nearly straddling the track), surrounded by the close fitting car sides, and the dips and bumps of the track were straightened flat in 1980. Motorcycle Chase/Wacky Soap Box Racers was removed 1996 for a dueling loop coaster Windjammer Surf Racers and now a vertical, launch coaster takes its place Xcelerator.
December 3, 1981 Walter Knott died, survived by his children who would continue to operate Knott's as a family business for another fourteen years.
In the 1980s, Knott's built the Barn Dance featured Bobbi & Clyde as the house band. It was during the height of the "Urban Cowboy" era. The "Barn Dance" was featured in Knott's TV Commercials.
During the 1980s, Knott's met the competition in Southern California theme parks by themeing a new land, and building two massive attractions:
Boomerang roller coaster replaced the Corkscrew[2] in 1990 with a lift shuttle train passing to and fro through a cobra roll and a vertical loop, for six inversions each trip.
Mystery Lodge (1994) Inspired by General Motors "Spirit Lodge" pavilion, a live show augmented with Peppers Ghost and other special effects, which was among the most popular exhibits at Expo 86 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada which was produced by Bob Rogers and created with the assistance of the Kwagulth Native reserve in Alert Bay, British Columbia. Mystery Lodge recreates a quiet summer night in the village of Alert Bay, British Columbia then guests "move inside" the longhouse and listen to the storyteller weave a tale of the importance of family from the smoke of the bonfire.
In the 1990s, after Walter and Cordelia died, their children decided to sell off their businesses:
In 1995, the Knott family sold the food specialty business to ConAgra, which later re-sold the brand to The J. M. Smucker Co. in 2008. Smucker's continues to sell jellies, jams, preserves and syrups under the Knott's Berry Farms brand name.
In 1997, the Knott family sold the amusement park operations to Cedar Fair. Initially, the Knotts were given an opportunity to sell the park to The Walt Disney Company. The park would have been amalgamated into the Disneyland Resort and converted into Disney's America, which had previously failed to be built near Washington, D.C. The Knotts refused to sell the park to Disney out of fear that most of what Walter Knott had built would be eliminated. Ironically, Cedar Fair tore down more of what Walter Knott had originally built than what Disney was planning to.
In modern times, the vicinity of the park has been heavily suburbanized. The landscape and skyline of the park is now dominated by the roller coasters, overwhelming much of the original theming and atmosphere of the park. The park serves as an anchor for other tourist-oriented businesses such as Medieval Times and Pirate's Dinner Adventure, and the Movieland Wax Museum which was located nearby until it closed in 2005. Buena Park Downtown, a series of shopping centers containing Walmart, Sears and Kohl's stores, plus a few eateries, such as Portillo's, is located near Knott's Berry Farm.
Since being acquired by Cedar Fair, the park has seen an aggressive shift towards thrill rides, with the construction of a number of large roller coasters and the addition of a high-performance Shoot-the-Chutes ride Perilous Plunge.
In the late 1990s Cedar Fair acquired the Buena Park Hotel at the corner of Grand Ave. and Crescent. It was then brought up to Radisson Standards and branded Radisson Resort Hotel as a franchise. In 2004, the park renamed the Radisson Resort Hotel the Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel.
Two of Knott's Berry Farm's most recent areas of concern are that its largest parking lot, located across Beach Blvd., is landlocked and cannot be expanded, and the closest train station was several miles away in Fullerton. Both have made travel to the park something of an inconvenience. That problem is expected to be solved in part by Buena Park's new Metrolink station which was completed in 2007.
The park gates now enclose six themed areas:
GhostRider (1998), a wooden roller coaster, was added to Ghost Town. Silver Bullet (2004) still is the longest inverted roller coaster on the West Coast. The first Screamin' Swing (a newer version of the Banshee) replaced another upcharge attraction VertiGo on the former spot of Haunted Shack.
Craftsmen in Ghost Town demonstrate the arts of the blacksmith, woodcarver, glass-blower, sign cutter and spinner. Demonstrations of narrow gauge railroading and farm equipment hobbyists accompany additional merchant stalls of cottage-craft fairs seasonally at discounted admission which is restricted to Ghost Town only.
Western Trails Museum, relocated between the candy store and the General Store to accommodate Bigfoot Rapids, still features historical western artifacts large and small, from a hand powered horse drawn fire engine to miniature replica of a borax hauling "Twenty Mule Team" and utensils necessary to survive the prairie and wilderness.
The Ghost Town area has a few other notable historical structures. Knott's Nature Center exhibiting their insect mini-zoo, once the one-room school house of Rivera, California, was relocated from the Wild Water Wilderness to Ghost Town in the summer of 2007. The Bird Cage Theatre only hosts two seasonal entertainments – during "Knott's Merry Farm," two small productions of "The Gift of the Magi" and "A Christmas Carol," and a Halloween Haunt thrill show. The Calico Stage, a large open-air stage in Calico Square, hosts a variety of shows and acts, big and small, from those of elementary school students, Gallagher a local band, and the summer-spectacular All Wheels Extreme stunt show featuring youthful performers demonstrating aerial tricks with acrobatics, trampolines and riding ramps with skates, scooters, skateboards & freestyle bikes to popular music. Calico Saloon recreates the revelry of music, singing and dancing, with Calico Kate hosting a variety of acts. Jersey Lily, Judge Roy Bean's combination courthouse/saloon, offers certified comical "genuine illegal hitchin'" alongside pickles, candy, sports/soft drinks. Calico Saloon and Jersey Lily both sell beer with food purchase to adults (valid ID – 21 and over) which must remain within the building.
Many parts of Ghost Town are forever lost to progress. The conversion of the Silver Dollar Saloon to a shooting gallery, Hunters Paradise shooting gallery to Panda Express and the original Berry Stand, moved several times with its last location now occupied by the Silver Bullet station, demolished much of what the family sought to preserve by not selling to Disney.
What is left of Ghost Town today was based on Calico ghost town and other real ghost towns in the Western United States such as Prescott, Arizona. Walter Knott inherited his uncle's silver mill and land, then bought more of the actual Calico ghost town in 1951 and developed it. In 1966 he "donated" that property to the corporate-municipal County of San Bernardino which then made the town of Calico, California into a public historic park, for which it charged an entrance/parking fee. See 'History – Ghost Town – Calico' section above.
Fiesta Village was built in 1969 with a pop-culture Mexican theme. It features two roller coasters – the intense Schwarzkopf designed, launched shuttle coaster Montezooma's Revenge and the mild family coaster Jaguar!.
WindSeeker made by Mondial is a 301-foot (92 m) tall rotating swing with 64 seats on 32 swing-arms which rotate at 26 miles per hour (42 km/h) for a three minute trip and two full rotations at the top. Riders must be a minimum height of 52 inches (1,300 mm) tall. WindSeeker opened Thur. August 18, 2011[55] replaced Fiesta BBQ near the Merry-Go-Round where it was installed over the course the summer of 2011. It is the tallest among three Knott's features (Sky Tower & Supreme Scream,) which are also the three tallest structures in all of Orange County.
Fiesta Village is also the home of La Revolución and the funfair flat rides Dragon Swing, Merry-Go-Round, Mexican Hat Dance and Wave Swinger.
Originally themed as Gypsy Camp, and later re-themed to the "Roaring '20s", "Knott's Airfield", then "The Boardwalk", (see History, above) this area is home to the most of Knott's major thrill rides.
Current Boardwalk attractions include:
Boardwalk Games include physical challenges such as a rock wall, soccer, basketball and a rope ladder crawl. A variety of traditional pitch three balls and win a prize type games, such as squirt gun into clowns mouth, knock off milk bottles, pitch a quarter onto a plate are pitched by hawkers along the Boardwalk Games midway.
The world's largest Johnny Rockets restaurant franchise is located at Knott's Boardwalk, featuring over 5,900 square feet (550 m2) of indoor dining space for more than 260 guests.
Camp Snoopy is targeted towards younger visitors, with many of the rides and attractions being built specifically for children. Its theme is Charles M. Schulz' "Peanuts" comic strip characters. Snoopy has been the mascot of Knott's Berry Farm since 1983, and the characters can now be seen at all of Cedar Fair's parks, except Gilroy Gardens, which is only managed by Cedar Fair. The 14 rides include a mini roller coaster called the Timberline Twister, a mini-scrambler called the Log Peeler, and a Zamperla Rockin' Tug called Lucy's Tugboat.
Knott's Berry Farm also built the Mall of America's indoor theme park, which itself was originally called Camp Snoopy. (In fact, Charles M. Schulz hailed from St. Paul.) However, today the park is no longer affiliated with Knott's or Cedar Fair, and is now called Nickelodeon Universe.
Wild Water Wilderness is a small area that features two major rides: the Bigfoot Rapids river rafting adventure, and Pony Express, a horse themed family roller coaster installed in 2008. Nearby Bigfoot Rapids is Rapids Trader, a small merchandise stand. It is also home to Mystery Lodge, a multimedia show based on an Expo 86 pavilion featuring a Native American storyteller.
Located near Reflection Lake, Indian Trails is a small area sandwiched between Camp Snoopy, Ghost Town, and Fiesta Village which showcases Native American art, crafts, and dance.
Many of the popular original attractions are outside the gates of the current-day theme park along Grand Ave. at the California Marketplace, mostly things which would no longer be considered interesting to today's audience, or things which were merely there for decoration. Near the restrooms behind Berry Place are the waterfall overshooting the water wheel and historic gristmill grindstone, a replica of George Washington's Mount Vernon estate fireplace hearth, and what remains of the visible beehive. Some attractions still exist, but have been incorporated into backstage areas, such as the Rock Garden, now a castmember smoking area. Other attractions have been removed, such as the historic volcano, and the cross-section of giant sequoia with age rings denoting historic events such as Christopher Columbus visiting America.
The East side of the property, divided by Beach Blvd., features the main parking lot, Knott's Soak City a seasonal water park which requires separate admission, the picnic grounds rental areas, complementary admission to Independence Hall and gift shop, and the Church of Reflections which was moved outside the theme park in 2004 and continues to hold non-denominational Sunday services. A tunnel and pedestrian underpass beneath Beach Blvd. connects the main parking lot to the shops, restaurants and theme park.
The park's annual Knott's Halloween Haunt has drawn crowds since 1973. The idea for this event was presented at one of the regularly scheduled round table meetings for managers by Patricia Pawson. The actual event was created by Bill Hollingshead, Gary Salisbury, Martha Boyd and Gene Witham, along with other members of the Knott's Berry Farm Entertainment Department as documented in the DVD Season of Screams. During this special ticketed event, the entire park (or major portions of it) re-themes itself into a "haunted house" style attraction in the form of "mazes" and "scare zones" in the evening. Over a thousand specially employed monsters are also scattered – often hidden out of view – throughout the park at this time. Some of the characters have become well-known, such as the green witch, which has been portrayed by Charlene Parker since 1983, the longest of any performer. Several attractions are decorated for the event including the Timber Mountain Log Ride and Calico Mine Train and there are 13 mazes of various themes. Elvira (actress Cassandra Peterson) was introduced into the Halloween Event in 1982 and was prominently featured in many Halloween Haunt events until 2001. According to postings on her My Space page, Cassandra was released from her contract by the park's new owners due to their wanting a more family friendly appeal.[56] Interesting fact: During the month of October, Knott's Scary Farm generates half the revenue for Knott's Berry Farm's fiscal year.
Season of Screams is a DVD produced by an independent company which traces the beginnings of Halloween Haunt and the story behind how it all got started back in 1973. Season of Screams also highlights recent Halloween Haunts.
Winter Coaster Solace is an event that takes place in the first or second weekend of March every year when roller coaster enthusiasts can come before the park opens and stay after the park closes to ride the rides and eat at the Chicken Dinner Restaurant. It is intended to provide "solace" to visitors from other parts of the country where theme parks and roller coasters are seasonal, not year-round operations like the Southern California parks. Knott's Berry Farm also used to give attendees behind the scenes tours of the rides.
Every year since 1991, Knott's has offered free admission to veterans and their families during the month of November. Originally started as a tribute to returning Gulf War veterans, they subsequently expanded it to include all Veterans and have run it every year since.
A Christmas event known as "Knott's Merry Farm" also happens annually. Previous "Merry Farm" events have included manufactured snow, handcrafts exhibits, and a "visit with Santa Claus." This event was originally created by Gary Salisbury in the Fall of 1985.
Praise (festival) has been a Christian themed celebration presented many years as a mix-in special event of music and comedy on New Year's Eve.
| # | Coaster | Year Opened | Manufacturer | Location in Park | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boomerang | 1990 | Vekoma | The Boardwalk | Riders turn head-over-heels six times in less than a minute. |
| 2 | Calico Mine Train | 1960 | Bud Hurlbut | Ghost Town | Powered gravity coaster. Riders board ore cars and journey deep into a faux mining excavation site. |
| 3 | GhostRider | 1998 | Custom Coasters International | Ghost Town | Wooden roller coaster featuring multiple banked turns. |
| 4 | Jaguar! | 1995 | Zierer GmbH | Fiesta Village | Steel roller coaster designed specifically for families with young children. |
| 5 | Montezooma's Revenge | 1978 | Anton Schwarzkopf | Fiesta Village | Riders accelerate from 0 to 55 mph (89 km/h) within seven seconds. |
| 6 | Pony Express | 2008 | Zamperla | Ghost Town | Riders dip, turn and dive while harnessed in vehicles intended to simulate equestrianism. |
| 7 | Sierra Sidewinder | 2007 | MACK Rides | Camp Snoopy | Riders navigate banking turns and dips while strapped within vehicles that spin freely on a turn-table chassis. |
| 8 | Silver Bullet | 2004 | Bolliger & Mabillard | Ghost Town | Floorless coaches suspended beneath an overhead track whip around steeply banked turns and six inversions. |
| 9 | Timberline Twister | 1983 | Bradley and Kaye | Camp Snoopy | Junior roller coaster. |
| 10 | Xcelerator | 2002 | Intamin | The Boardwalk | Riders accelerate from 0 – 82 mph (132 km/h) in 2.3 seconds and climb 20 stories into the air. |
| Attraction | Year Opened | Manufacturer | Location in Park | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balloon Race | 1983 | Chance-Morgan | Camp Snoopy | Balloon Race of 8 suspended "baskets" each seating 4 riders circle as they lift then tilt. |
| Bigfoot Rapids | 1988 | Intamin | Wild Water Wilderness of Ghost Town | River rafting ride Riders board circular watercraft and journey down a faux white water river. |
| Charlie Brown's Speedway | Camp Snoopy | Kiddie-ride version of The Whip (ride). | ||
| Dragon Swing | Chance-Morgan | Fiesta Village | Pirate ship type swinging gondola. | |
| Hat Dance | Fiesta Village | Teacups Riders spin sombrero themed cuencos as they rotate on counterrevolutionary turntables. | ||
| High Sierra Ferris Wheel | Camp Snoopy | Ferris wheel, 12 cars. | ||
| Joe Cool's Gr8 Sk8 | 2003 | Interactive Rides | Camp Snoopy | Sky Skater ride modified for children. Also see X-Scream. |
| La Revolución | 2003 | Chance-Morgan | Fiesta Village | Revolution 32 Riders rotate 360-degrees while simultaneously swinging back and forth in a pendulum motion. |
| Laser Zone | Boardwalk | Laser tag upcharge attraction | ||
| Lucy's Tugboat | 2004 | Zamperla | Camp Snoopy | Rockin' Tug ride. |
| Mystery Lodge | 1994 | Wild Water Wilderness of Ghost Town | Mystical, multi-sensory Native North American entertainment. | |
| Perilous Plunge | 2000 | Intamin | The Boardwalk | Shoot-the-Chutes featuring a steep 15-story chute. |
| RipTide | 2004 | Huss | The Boardwalk | Top Spin 56 Theater Gondola riders somersault forwards and backwards suspended on rotating lift arms. |
| Screamin' Swing | 2004 | S&S Worldwide | Ghost Town | Screamin' Swing upcharge attraction Riders are catapulted high into the air repeatedly. |
| Sky Cabin | 1976 | Intamin | The Boardwalk | Circular observation cabin slowly rises 18 stories into the sky, offering riders a panoramic view of the immediate surrounding area. |
| Supreme Scream | 1998 | S&S Worldwide | The Boardwalk | Turbo Drop Pneumatically powered descending drop tower thrill ride. |
| Timber Mountain Log Ride | 1969 | Bud Hurlbut & Arrow Dynamics | Ghost Town | Log flume (attraction). |
| WaveSwinger | Zierer | Fiesta Village | Riders board individual swing sets before orbiting a central tower. | |
| Wheeler Dealer Bumper Cars | Boardwalk | Electric Bumper Cars | ||
| WindSeeker | 2011 | Mondial | Fiesta Village | Riders orbit a central tower at heights exceeding 25 stories. Originally slated to replace Sky Tower. |
| WipeOut | 1999 | Chance-Morgan | The Boardwalk | Chance Trabant Riders boarded a circular ride platform which undulated and rotated simultaneously. |
| Woodstock's Airmail | 1998 | Zamperla | Camp Snoopy | Frog Hopper ride designed specifically for children. |
| Attraction | Year Opened | Year Closed | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cable Cars | 1955 | 1979[57] | various[58] | Authentic California Street Cable Railroad San Francisco Cable Cars, converted to battery-electric power, were operated as trasportation tram servicing the East parking lots – North and South. Sold back to San Francisco Muni[57] in 1979 for the proposed California St. & Hyde St. expansion of the National Monument and clearing the lot for Camp Snoopy. |
| Corkscrew | 1975 | 1989 | Arrow Dynamics | Steel roller coaster featuring two barrel-roll inversions. This was the first modern roller coaster to combine vertical and horizontal inversions. It was sold to Silverwood in 1989 to make room for the Boomerang.[59] |
| Fiesta Wheel | 1969 | 1986 | Chance Industries | A Chance Trabant ride. Riders boarded a circular ride platform which undulated and rotated simultaneously which spun and tilted riders at the same time as the ride changed direction rapidly. To make room for the Grand Slammer in 1986 it was moved near Sky Tower and renamed Wipeout. |
| Gasoline Alley | 1969 | 1996 | Arrow Dynamics | Powered automobile ride. This electric car-track was under the motorcycle chase/wacky soapbox racer. Both rides were removed in 1996 to make room for Windjammer Surf Racers, and later, Xcelerator. |
| Gran Slammer | 1987 | 2003 | Chance Industries | A Chance Falling Star pendulum. Riders boarded a large stadium-like platform, which then orbited a central axis for the duration of the ride cycle. This ride removed in 2004 to make room for La Revolucion's queue line. |
| Hammerhead | 1996 | 2003 | Zamperla | Riders boarded a large stadium-like platform, which orbited a central axis while inverting simultaneously. This Zamperla Rotoshake riders on a platform three rows flipped upside down while the main arm lifted them high into the sky and around again. At the end the platform inverted and the fountains below squirted up to nearly douse riders. It was removed in 2003 due to costly mechanical problems, and replaced with RipTide. |
| Haunted Shack | 1954 | 2000 | Walter Knott | A walk-through attraction demonstrating curious aberrations of gravity. The Haunted Shack at Calico, CA still operates. Replaced by VertiGo, then Screamin' Swing upcharge attractions. |
| Henry's Auto Livery | ? | 1980s | Walter Beckman | This ride was located out of the main park near the corner of Beach Blvd. and Crescent. The gasoline powered Model-Ts had no center guiderail, instead the roadway was edged with bumper-rail fencing. Removed sometime in the 80s. |
| Knott's Bear-y Tales/Kingdom of the Dinosaurs | 1975 | 2004 | Fantasy Fair | This dark ride first took riders past a fairy-tale like plot set in the Roaring 20's with a Bear Family named, Raz, Boysen, Girlsen, Elder, and Flapper Bear-y on a journey to the fair while being in contact with a pie thief named Crafty Coyote and Other Animals from the Fantasy Scenes. It later was revamped with a dinosaur theme in 1987 (While Bear-y Tales moved to the Peanuts Playhouse after Kingdom of the Dinosaurs opened to be renamed Bear-y Tales Funhouse until 1997)that took riders back in time to the Pre-Historic Times which would be removed on December 23, 2004 due to aging parts and lack of popularity. Many guests today complain about the loss of both of the rides and hope that one of them is revived. As of now, nothing is planned for the second floor of the building that housed the 2 attractions. The thematic design for Bear-y Tales was by the former Disney Imagineer Rolly Crump (who worked on the ride after being on freelance when he left Disney in 1972). Recently a few of the Knott's Bear-y Tales characters along with its theme song were re-located to the re-themed Craft Barn Store in Ghost Town. |
| Knott's Lagoon. | ? | 1983 | various | Several attractions – Carousel, duck pond, Cordelia K. side-wheel riverboat, rowboat rental, and miniature train ride. Located across Beach Blvd. to the East, and North of Independence Hall, this quiet grassy area had gumball machines that dispensed corn kernels for feeding the ducks. The connecting underpass now leads to the main parking. When Camp Snoopy expansion replaced the North parking lot, Knott's Lagoon was bulldozed and paved over for the new main parking lot. |
| Loop Trainer Flying Machine | 1976 | 1989 | Anton Schwarzkopf | Riders spun in a 360-degree orbit. A standard Enterprise (ride) that was a bit smaller than most park models operating today. In 1989, this ride was removed to make room for the XK-1 in 1990. |
| Merry-Go-Round Auto Ride/Tijuana Taxi | 1969 | 1976 | Arrow Dynamics equipment, Bud Hurlbut design. | Electric car ride. This standard automobile track ride was torn down to make room for Fiesta Village's expansion in 1976.
1976. |
| Mexican Whip | 1969 | 1986 | Sellner Manufacturing | A classic Tilt-A-Whirl, riders experienced intermittent bursts of sudden directional changes. Removed in 1986 along with Fiesta Wheel to make room for the Tampico Tumbler. |
| Motorcycle Chase/Wacky Soap Box Racers | 1976 | 1996 | Arrow Dynamics | Quadruplet steel roller coaster that featured gentle dips. This steeplechase roller coaster had four tracks parallel to each other. A favorite of many park goers, it was taken out in 1996 to make room for the Windjammer Surf Racers and later, the Xcelerator. |
| Mott's Miniatures | 1956 | 1992 | Allegra & DeWitt Mott | Museum – collection of Miniature Homes and furnishings, featuring the world's smallest working Television Set. Moved to La Palma Avenue at the exit of Knott's parking as museum and doll house furnishing store. The Museum portion closed in 1997 and was auctioned off.[37] The store moved and then closed. The Mott's Miniature mail-order business is thriving.[60] |
| Propeller Spin | 1976 | 1989 | Frank Hrubetz and Co. | Riders spun in a 360-degree orbit. This Hrubetz Super Round Up ride operated from 1976 to 1989, until this space was vacated. Today, it is part of Perilous Plunge's track layout. |
| Sky Jump | 1976 | 1999 | Intamin | Riders simulated a parachute free-fall to terra-firma from over 15 stories in the air. This parachute jump freefall ride was the highest ride in the park until its more modern successor, Supreme Scream, was built 25 years later. It was a reimagining of a similar ride at Coney Island in New York. The ride's companion, Sky Cabin, still stands. |
| Tampico Tumbler | 1987 | 2003 | Zierer | Riders orbited and spun in two different directions simultaneously. A Zierer Hexentanz or Fireball ride. Two cars are mounted on each arm (eight arms total.) The entire ride lifts so that each arm can rotate both cars over each other at a rapid pace. Removed to make room for La Revolucion in 2004. |
| VertiGo | 2001 | 2002 | S&S Worldwide | Riders were catapulted 330' up into the air. This S & S "Totally Insane" ride was removed because of an incident with an identical ride at Knott's sister park, Cedar Point, where removal of running wires during the off season resulted in one of its supports shearing off. An identical ride still operates as an upcharge attraction at Knott's competitor Six Flags Magic Mountain. |
| Walter K. Steamboat | 1969 | 2004 | Arrow Dynamics | A simulated steamboat (diesel-powered) which sailed around "Reflection Lake." The lake was made smaller due to the installment of Silver Bullet, then removed completely to make room for Sierra Sidewinder. |
| Whirlpool/Headspin/Wilderness Scrambler | 1989 | 2007 | Eli Bridge Company | Riders orbited and rotated in two different directions simultaneously. The "Whirlpool" was a classic scrambler carnival ride originally housed inside a building which included 'undersea' murals on the walls, a music soundtrack, and concert style lighting effects. It was latter renamed "Headspin" in 1996 with the re-themeing of the 'Roaring 20's' to 'The Boardwalk'. It was later repainted and moved to a new outdoor location under the Windjammer to make room for the Perilous Plunge. In 2001 it was relocated again to the Wild Water Wilderness area and renamed "Wilderness Scrambler" to make room for the Xcelerator. Finally it was removed permanently in 2007 to make room for the 2008 Pony Express roller coaster. |
| Whirlwind/Greased Lightning/HeadAche | 1976 | 1999 | Reverchon | This standard Mack Matterhorn Himalaya ride. Riders orbited a central point while undulating repeatedly. It opened with the Roaring 20s area, renamed Greased Lighting for Knott's Airfield, renamed HeadAche for The Boardwalk, removed in 1999 – replaced with Perilous Plunge. This ride relocated to Miracle Strip Amusement Park where it opened as The Blue Thunder. |
| Windjammer Surf Racers | 1997 | 2000 | TOGO International | Twin racing steel roller coaster that featured vertical loops, spirals, tight banking turns and multiple dips. It was removed in 2000. It was known to be a mechanical nightmare, failed to complete the circuit in even light winds, and was closed more frequently than open. It was removed to make room for Xcelerator. |
| XK-1 | 1990 | 1997 | Intamin | Riders pivoted upside-down in enclosed pods while orbiting a central tower. This rare Intamin Flight Trainer ride had a short eight-year run. After 1997, it was removed to make room for Supreme Scream |
I Love Lucy episode Don Juan and Starlets (first aired February 14, 1955), Fred asks "Say, Ethel wants to know if we're still going to Knott's Berry Farm today." Lucy replies "The only knots you'll see today will be on Ricky's head." "I wanted to ask you about Knott's Berry Farm and tell you Ricky spent the night at our place."
Disneyland Dream Knott's Berry Farm is featured in the 1957 home movie.
Jailhouse Rock (1957) staring Elvis Presley involved three montage scenes of Knott's when his character Vince Everett contracts an escort to 'be seen with on the town' as an exhibition of his playboy nature and they instead behave like hick tourists.
The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show (first aired November 3, 1962) episode of ABC's western variety program was taped at Knott's Berry Farm.
Anatomy of a Seduction (1979) The TV movie included both stock footage of the Corkscrew with its original all white paint job and newly shot on-ride footage of the actors with its blue tracks/white supports paint livery.
Poltergeist (1982) movie in which Steve Freeling asks "So. What side of the rainbow are we working tonight, Dr. Lesh? Is this your Knott's Berry Farm solution?"
The Simpsons episode, "Milhouse of Sand and Fog" (first aired September 25, 2005), a cutaway gag features animated representations of characters from The O.C. enjoying Knott's Berry Farm, then getting robbed by Snoopy forcing them to make an ATM withdrawal at gunpoint.
Channel 4's identity bumper Jaguar! is featured (in one among several ID bumpers). It shows the ride from the last car, but more signs for the other rides at the park can be seen throughout the ride, to form the '4' logo from a particular angle during the ride.
Knocked Up (2007) The opening sequence featured several of the park's attractions.
BrainRush (first aired June 20, 2009), a Cartoon Network TV quiz show filmed as contestants compete while riding aboard Knott's Berry Farm roller-coasters.[61]
The J. M. Smucker Co. continues to sell jellies, jams, preserves under the Knott's Berry Farms brand name, continuing "the tradition started by the Knott family, using the tried-and-true recipes and farm-fresh fruit that made the name 'Knott's Berry Farm' famous".[62] The company however still also sells its original Smucker's line of jams, jellies and preserves, but separately.[63]
Knott's Berry Farms food products are currently divided into four categories: Jam, Preserves (with chunks of fruit), Light Preserves, and the Signature Collection (which is marketed as preserves that are made to create a homemade taste).[64]
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