Knott's Scary Farm

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Knott's Scary Farm
Genre Halloween
Frequency Annual
Location(s) Knotts Berry Farm
33°50′39″N 118°00′01″W / 33.844178°N 118.000267°W / 33.844178; -118.000267Coordinates: 33°50′39″N 118°00′01″W / 33.844178°N 118.000267°W / 33.844178; -118.000267
Inaugurated 1973
Website
Official website

Knott's Scary Farm or Knott's Halloween Haunt is a seasonal Halloween event at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. It is an event in which the theme park is transformed into "160 acres of horror", via a series of over 1,000 monsters, 10 mazes[1] and a series of 'scare zones'.[2] It is the largest Halloween event to be held at a theme park.[3]

History

Two street monsters posing by the Ghost Town Coffin.

Originally a three-night affair, beginning on October 26, 1973, the annual, month-long event celebrates its 42nd year in 2014.[4] It has become the largest event of any theme park.[5] Knott's Berry Farm was originally modeled after Calico, California, a ghost town that was a result of the California silver rush. Already having a dedicated Ghost Town section in the theme park,[6] this area would become the designed area for the original Halloween Haunt, eventually expanding to the entire park.[7]

The 1980s would continue to be a success for the theme park, and popular culture icons were employed to represent the event. In 1981, actor and parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic joined the cast, as did Elvira in the following year.[8] Elvira 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.[9] The 1990s would show a different approach to Halloween. Humor was added to many facets in the theme park and Knott's turned from the explicit horror to black comedy.[10] This continuing balance of horror and humor has been a key to the continuing success of Knott's Halloween Haunt.[11]

Park transformation

While Knott's Berry Farm is a year-round theme park, the entire acreage is modified to fit the Halloween motif. Rides and other attractions are converted into macabre themes. Over 1,000 seasonal workers are specifically employed to play the roles of "vampires, clowns, ghouls, werewolves, and monsters", roaming the 160-acre (0.65 km2) park in five terrifying scare zones, amidst haze produced by giant fog machines.[12] Charlene Parker has been playing the role of Sarah Rebecca Ann "The Green Witch" Morgan-Marshall since 1982, and is the longest serving of all the 1,000 "monsters" who scare the guests at this event.[13][14]

The park has constructed 10 mazes[1][15][16] and 5 scare zones[17] as well as performing live shows. The controversial "Hanging" live show is a staple of the Haunt that lampoons celebrities and persons in the news through a series of staged hangings. The Hanging has been an annual event since the 1979 Halloween Haunt.[18][19][20]

Current attractions

Attraction Type Opened Location
Black Magic Maze 2013 Carnevil
Delirium Maze 2011 Gypsy Camp
Dominion of the Damned Maze 2012 Gypsy Camp
Endgames Maze 2011 Gypsy Camp
Forevermore Maze 2013 Ghost Town
Mirror Mirror Maze 2013 Necropolis
Pinocchio Unstrung Maze 2012 Ghost Town
Uncle Willy's Slaughterhouse Maze 2008 Necropolis
The Gunslinger's Grave Maze 2013 Ghost Town
Trick or Treat Maze 2012 Gypsy Camp

Attraction history

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 MacDonald, Brady. "Knott's Berry Farm unveils Halloween Haunt 2008 mazes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-10-22. 
  2. Pak, Ellyn (2007-09-25). "Knott's prepares for Halloween Haunt". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2008-10-22. 
  3. "AdFleet touts Knott's Halloween Haunt". Amusement Business. Retrieved 2008-10-22. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt- "Walk In, Freak Out"". Retrieved 2008-10-22. 
  5. "Knott's Halloween Haunt FAQs". Knott's Berry Farm. Retrieved 2008-10-22. 
  6. "Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt". Hollywood. Retrieved 2008-10-23. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.27 7.28 7.29 7.30 7.31 7.32 7.33 7.34 7.35 7.36 7.37 7.38 Ultimate Haunt. "Ghost Town - Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  8. "COURSE 2: the 1980s". ultimatehaunt.com. Retrieved 2008-10-23. 
  9. Cassandra Peterson's MySpace page
  10. "COURSE 3: THE 1990'S". ultimatehaunt.com. Retrieved 2008-10-23. 
  11. Mills, Thomas (2006-10-12). "Getting into their costumes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-10-23. 
  12. Adelson, Andrea (1994-10-31). "Amid All the Boos, a Halloween Chorus of Yeas". The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-10-22. 
  13. West, Rick, "Knott's Preserved – The Event," Theme Park Adventure Web site http://www.themeparkadventure.com/Knotts.htm ), Retrieved 7-29-11.
  14. Pak, Ellyn, "A love for creeping people out," Orange County Register, News, p. 1, 10-22-07 (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/parker-102103-park-monsters.html), Retrieved 7-29-11.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Knott's Scary Farm. "Knott's Scary Farm - Facebook". Facebook page. Facebook. Retrieved 2 July 2010. 
  16. 16.0 16.1 MacDonald, Brady (8 July 2009). "Knott's Berry Farm unveils Halloween Haunt 2009 mazes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 July 2010. 
  17. "Scare Zones". Knott's Berry Farm. Archived from the original on 2008-01-09. Retrieved 2008-10-23. 
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 18.7 18.8 18.9 18.10 18.11 18.12 18.13 18.14 18.15 18.16 18.17 18.18 18.19 18.20 18.21 18.22 18.23 18.24 18.25 18.26 18.27 18.28 18.29 18.30 18.31 18.32 18.33 18.34 Ultimate Haunt. "Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt History". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  19. Ortega, Breona. "Freak out at Knott's Scary Farm". The Chaparral. Retrieved 2008-10-23. 
  20. "Dragging You Kicking And Screaming Into The Bowels Of Hell...". Retrieved 2008-10-23. 
  21. Ultimate Haunt. "HALLOWEEN HAUNT 1987 15TH ANNUAL". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  22. Ultimate Haunt. "HALLOWEEN HAUNT 1988 16TH ANNUAL". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  23. Ultimate Haunt. "HALLOWEEN HAUNT 1989 17TH ANNUAL". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  24. Ultimate Haunt. "HALLOWEEN HAUNT 1990 18TH ANNUAL". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  25. Ultimate Haunt. "HALLOWEEN HAUNT 1991 19TH ANNUAL". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  26. Ultimate Haunt. "HALLOWEEN HAUNT 1992 20TH ANNUAL". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  27. Ultimate Haunt. "HALLOWEEN HAUNT 1993 21TH (sic) ANNUAL". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  28. Ultimate Haunt. "HALLOWEEN HAUNT 1994 22ND ANNUAL". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  29. Ultimate Haunt. "HALLOWEEN HAUNT 1995 23RD ANNUAL". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  30. Ultimate Haunt. "HALLOWEEN HAUNT 1996 24TH ANNUAL". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  31. Ultimate Haunt. "HALLOWEEN HAUNT 1997 25TH ANNUAL". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  32. Ultimate Haunt. "HALLOWEEN HAUNT 1998 26TH ANNUAL". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  33. Ultimate Haunt. "HALLOWEEN HAUNT 1999 27TH ANNUAL". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  34. Ultimate Haunt. "2000 Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 35.6 35.7 35.8 35.9 Ultimate Haunt. "CarnEVIL - Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  36. 36.0 36.1 Ultimate Haunt. "2001 Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 Ultimate Haunt. "Knott's Scary Farm History". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  38. Ultimate Haunt. "THE RETURN OF ZULU". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  39. Ultimate Haunt. "Knott's Halloween Haunt 2002". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  40. Ultimate Haunt. "Knott's Halloween Haunt 2003". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  41. Ultimate Haunt. "Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt 2004". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  42. Ultimate Haunt. "2005 Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  43. Ultimate Haunt. "Knott's Halloween Haunt 2006". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  44. Ultimate Haunt. "Knott's Halloween Haunt 2007". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  45. Ultimate Haunt. "Knott's Halloween Haunt 2008". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  46. Hollywood Gothique. "Knott's Berry Farm's 2009 Halloween Haunt". Hollywood Gothique. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  47. Ultimate Haunt. "Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt 2009". Ultimate Haunt. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
  48. Knotts Berry Farm. "Knotts Scary Farm Survival Guide". Park Map. Creepy L.A. Retrieved 5 July 2010. 
  49. MacDonald, Brady (30 March 2010). "Knott's Berry Farm already preparing for Halloween Haunt 2010". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 July 2010. 
  50. MacDonald, Brady (12 August 2010). "Knott's Berry Farm unveils Halloween Haunt 2010 shows". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 August 2010. 
  51. MacDonald, Brady (16 July 2010). "Knott's Berry Farm unveils Halloween Haunt 2010 mazes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 August 2010. 
  52. "Knott's Berry Farm Haunt". Knott's Berry Farm. Retrieved 21 August 2010. 
  53. "Halloween Haunt". Knott's Berry Farm. May 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011. 

External links

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