Knott's Berry Farm

Knott's Berry Farm

Slogan	America's 1st Theme Park, California's Best Theme Park
Location	Buena Park, California, United States
Coordinates	33°50′39″N 118°00′01″W
Owner	Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
General Manager	Raffi Kaprelyan
Opened	1940
Operating season	Year-round
Visitors per annum	3,654,000 in 2011
Area	160 acres (65 ha)
Rides
Total	40
Roller coasters	9
Water rides	2
Website	http://www.knotts.com

Prospector, with pack mule.
Knott's first theme park logo.

Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. It is also a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, produced by The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California. Knott's is the most visited park in the Cedar Fair chain with 3.654 million visitors in 2011.

The theme park sits on the site of a former berry farm established by Walter Knott and his family. Beginning around 1920, the Knott family sold berries, berry preserves, and pies from a roadside stand along State Route 39. In 1934, the Knotts began selling fried chicken dinners in a tea room on the property, later called "Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant". The dinners soon became a major tourist draw, and the Knotts built several shops and other attractions to entertain visitors while waiting for a seat in the restaurant. In 1940, Walter Knott began constructing a replica Ghost Town on the property, the beginning of the present-day theme park. Knott added several other attractions over the years, and began charging admission to the attractions in 1968. In 1983, Knott's Berry Farm added Camp Snoopy, which began the park's present-day association with the Peanuts characters.

In the 1990s, following the deaths of Walter Knott and his wife, Cordelia, their children sold the family business; the theme park was sold to Cedar Fair, while the food business was sold to ConAgra Foods, which subsequently sold to J. M. Smucker. Cedar Fair has continued to expand the theme park, adding Knott's Soak City in 1999 and adding other rides to the original park.

History

Main article: History of Knott's Berry Farm

Origin

The idea of an amusement park really picked up in the 1950s when Walter Knott opened a "summer-long county fair". In 1968, for the first time, an admission of 25 cents was required to get into the park. The Calico log ride was added in 1969. On April 12, 1974, Cordelia Knott died. Walter turned his attention toward political causes,

Roaring Twenties 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 Cloud 9 Dance Hall, Sky Cabin/Parachute Sky Jump and Motorcycle Chase steeple chase roller coaster above the electric guided rail Gasoline Alley car ride. The expansion was inspired 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. Corkscrew is still operating to this day, but was sold and relocated in 1989 to Silverwood in Athol, Idaho. Montezooma's Revenge was later opened in 1978 and remains in operation at Knott's Berry Farm.

Presidential candidate former Vice President Richard Nixon and his wife Pat and family visit Knott's Berry Farm, August 16, 1968

Motorcycle Chase – A modernized steeplechase rollercoaster built in 1976 featured single motorbike themed vehicles racing side-by-side, each on one of four parallel tracks, launched together. 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. 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 theming a new land and building two massive attractions:

• Kingdom of the Dinosaurs (1987) (primeval re-theme of Knott's Bear-y Tales)
• Bigfoot Rapids (1988), a whitewater river rafting ride as the centerpiece of the new themed area Wild Water Wilderness.

The Boomerang roller coaster replaced the Corkscrew 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.

The Jaguar! was opened June 17, 1995, to add another roller coaster to the mix of Fiesta Village alongside Montezooma's Revenge.

New owners

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 Entertainment Company. 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 Knott's refused to sell the park to Disney out of fear 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.

Cedar Fair era

Knott's Berry Farm Grand entrance with Silver Bullet, Montezooma's Revenge, Sky Tower, and Supreme Scream overhead.

View of Silver Bullet from the Sky Cabin

In recent years, the vicinity of the park has been heavily suburbanized. The park serves as an anchor for other tourist-oriented businesses such as Medieval Times and Pirate's Dinner Adventure. Buena Park Downtown, a series of shopping centers containing Walmart, Sears and Kohl's and a few eateries such as Portillo's, Chili's and Buffalo Wild Wings are 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.

Current areas and attractions

The park now consists of five themed areas:

• Ghost Town
• Fiesta Village
• The Boardwalk
• Camp Snoopy
• Indian Trails

Ghost Town

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, and freestyle bikes to popular music. Calico Saloon recreates the revelry of music, singing and dancing, with Cameo Kate hosting a variety of acts. Jersey Lily, Judge Roy Bean's combination courthouse/saloon, offers certified comical "genuine illegal hitchin'" alongside pickles, candy, and sports/soft drinks.

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.

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.

Ride	Year Opened	Manufacturer	Description	Rating
Calico Mine Ride	1960	Bud Hurlbut	Powered gravity coaster. Riders board ore cars and journey deep into a faux mining excavation site.	3
Calico Railroad			A train ride around the park.	1
GhostRider	1998	Custom Coasters International	A wooden roller coaster featuring multiple banked turns.	5
Screamin' Swing	2004	S&S Worldwide	A Screamin' Swing upcharge attraction. It was the first of its kind in the world.	4
Silver Bullet	2004	Bolliger & Mabillard	An inverted roller coaster. It is also the longest inverted roller coaster on the West Coast.	5
Timber Mountain Log Ride	1969	Bud Hurlbut & Arrow Dynamics	A classic log flume attraction.	5

Wild Water Wilderness

Wild Water Wilderness is a section of Ghost Town 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.

Ride	Year Opened	Manufacturer	Description	Rating
Bigfoot Rapids	1988	Intamin	An Intamin river rafting ride in which riders board circular watercraft and journey down a faux white water river. It is located in the Wild Water Wilderness section of Ghost Town	5
Pony Express	2008	Zamperla	A steel roller coaster in which riders dip, turn and dive while harnessed in vehicles intended to simulate equestrianism. It is located in the Wild Water Wilderness section of Ghost Town	4

Fiesta Village

Fiesta Village was built in 1969 with a pop-culture Mexican theme. It was the second area constructed after the completion of Ghost Town. Stores like La Tiendita and Casa California, restaurants like Pancho's Tacos, La Papa Loca, and La Cantina, games like Shoot If Yucan, and the themed rides like La Revolución, Jaguar!, and Montezooma's Revenge, along with the former attraction Tampico Tumbler, all contribute to the Mexican and Aztec theme of the area.

Ride	Year opened	Manufacturer	Description	Rating
Dragon Swing	1980	Chance-Morgan	A swinging pirate ship type gondola ride.	3
Hat Dance	1969		A Teacups type ride. Riders spin sombrero themed cuencos as they rotate on counterrevolutionary turntables. Originally named Happy Sombrero	3
Jaguar!	1995	Zierer	A Steel roller coaster designed specifically for families with young children.	4
La Revolucion	2003	Chance-Morgan	Riders rotate 360-degrees while simultaneously swinging back and forth in a pendulum motion.	4
Merry Go Round	1955	Dentzel Carousel	One of the world's oldest working Dentzel Carousel, this 100-year-old treasure still revolves to the strains of its antique Band Organ. Climb aboard one of this menagerie carousel's 48 hand-carved animals including lions, tigers, ostriches, camels, zebras, giraffes, pigs, cats and, of course, horses.	2
Montezooma's Revenge	1978	Anton Schwarzkopf	Riders accelerate from 0 to 55 mph (89 km/h) in seven seconds.	4
Waveswinger	1987	Zierer	A class swing ride. Riders board individual swing sets before orbiting a central tower. Originally named Slingshot. Riders cannot ride if the person's weight is above 230 lbs.	3
WindSeeker	2011	Mondial	A 301 ft tower swing ride. Riders orbit a central tower at heights exceeding 25 stories. Originally slated to replace Sky Tower.	5

The Boardwalk

Originally themed as Gypsy Camp, and later re-themed to the "Roaring '20s", "Knott's Airfield", then "The Boardwalk", this area is home to the most of Knott's major thrill rides.

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. In 2013, The Boardwalk will feature an expansion with two flat rides and a new family roller coaster taking the spot of Perilous Plunge. The Boomerang is also getting repainted with a new lemon yellow and green color scheme.

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.

Ride	Year opened	Manufacturer	Description	Rating
Boomerang	1990	Vekoma	A reverse shuttle roller coaster. It inverts riders six times. Boomerang replaced the 1975 "Roaring '20s" Corkscrew roller coaster (currently located at Silverwood Theme Park.	5
Coast Rider	2013	Mack Rides	A steel wild mouse roller coaster. It will operate on the former site of Perilous Plunge.
Pacific Scrambler	1989	Eli Bridge Company	Originally "Whirlpool" is opened in 1989 to 1996 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 change renamed "Headspin" and moved in 1999 location at the outdoor under the Windjammer Surf Racers with the re-themeing formerly the Roaring 20's to The Boardwalk area and Whirlpool building demolished to make room for the Perilous Plunge open in 2000. In July 2001 Headspin is changed renamed Wilderness Scrambler and moved again to the location at the Wild Water Wilderness area after Windjammer Surf Racers is demolished and to make room for the Xcelerator in 2002. It was removed in 2007 to make room for Pony Express roller coaster in 2008 but the Scrambler been storage in the maintenance building. The Wilderness Scrambler is renamed Pacific Scrambler and return to near its original "Whirlpool" location was formerly Perilous Plunge on site after demolished in 2012. Pacific Scrambler opening in 2013 coming with a new Coast Rider and Surfside Glider add at the boardwalk themeing area.
Rip Tide	2004	HUSS	A Top Spin ride with 38 theater gondola seats. Riders somersault forwards and backwards suspended on rotating lift arms	5
Sky Cabin	1976	Intamin	A circular Gyro tower 18 stories into the sky, offering riders a panoramic view of the immediate surrounding area.	2
Supreme Scream	1998	S&S Worldwide	A vertical ascending and descending drop ride. It features 3 Turbo Drop towers.	5
Surfside Glider	2013	Larson International	A ride with a height of 28 feet.
Wheeler Dealer Bumper Cars			A classic bumper cars attraction.	4
WipeOut	1999	Chance-Morgan	A Chance trabant ride. Riders boarded a circular ride platform which undulated and rotated simultaneously.	4
Xcelerator	2002	Intamin	A launched roller coaster in which riders accelerate from 0 – 82 mph (132 km/h) in 2.3 seconds and climb 20 stories into the air.	5

Camp Snoopy

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 managed by Cedar Fair and owned by the city of Gilroy. The 14 rides include a mini roller coaster called the Timberline Twister, a mini-scrambler called the Log Peeler, a Zamperla Rockin' Tug called Lucy's Tugboat, and a steel spinning roller coaster called Sierra Sidewinder.

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.

Ride	Year Opened	Rating
Camp Bus		2
Balloon Race	1983	2
Charlie Brown's Speedway		2
High Sierra Ferris Wheel		3
Huff and Puff		1
Joe Cool's Gr8 Sk8	2003	3
Log Peeler		2
Lucy's Tugboat	2004	2
Red Baron		2
Rocky Road Trucking Company		1
Sierra Sidewinder	2007	4
Snoopy Bounce		1
Woodstock's Airmail	1998	2

Indian Trails

Located next to the Bottle House in Ghost Town, Indian Trails is a small area sandwiched between Camp Snoopy, Ghost Town, and Fiesta Village, showcasing Native American art, crafts, and dance.

Public area

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 an employee 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.

East property

The east side of the property, divided by Beach Blvd., features the main parking lot, Knott's Soak City a seasonal water park that 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 held non-denominational Sunday services until 2010, but is still used for wedding ceremonies. A tunnel and pedestrian underpass beneath Beach Blvd. connects the main parking lot to the shops, restaurants and theme park.

Former attractions

Attraction	Year Opened	Year Closed	Manufacturer	Description
Cable Cars	1955	1979	various	Authentic California Street Cable Railroad San Francisco Cable Cars, converted to battery-electric power, were operated as transportation tram servicing the East parking lots – North and South. Sold back to San Francisco Muni 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.
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	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 Rip Tide.
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.
Knott's Lagoon	?	1983	various	Several attractions – Carousel, duck pond, Cordelia K. side-wheel riverboat, rowboat rental, and miniature train ride. 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.	Miniature Model T automobiles followed an electric center-rail track through storage tunnel, up hills, around surprising features and over bridges. The shotcrete landscape created by Bud Hurlbut was demolished in 1976 to accommodate the expansion of Fiesta Village.
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. The store moved and then closed. The Mott's Miniature mail-order business is thriving.
Perilous Plunge	2000	2012	Intamin	A shoot the chutes water ride featuring a steep 15-story drop.
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.
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.
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[citation needed], failed to complete the circuit in even light winds, and was closed more frequently than open. Even when it was open, it was reported that many guests received headaches and injuries on the ride because it was extremely bumpy. 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

Soak City

Main article: Knott's Soak City#Orange County

Soak City is Knott's Berry Farm's water park. It opened in 1999 as Soak City U.S.A., it requires separate admission from Knott's Berry Farm.

Fast Lane

See also: List of Fast Lane attractions#Knott's Berry Farm

Fast Lane is Knott's Berry Farm's virtual queue system. For $50, visitors get a wrist band that enables them to get to the front of the line on 10 of the most popular attractions without queuing.

Annual park events

View of Sky Cabin and Boomerang

The park's annual Knott's Scary Farm 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., although she returned for one night in 2012 for the 40th anniversary of the event. During the month of October, Knott's Scary Farm generates half the revenue for Knott's Berry Farm's fiscal year.^{[citation needed]}

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.

Attraction/capital timeline

• 1920: Ten acres of berry farm land leased by Walter and Cordelia Knott
• 1927: Ten leased acres of berry farm purchased, named Knott's Berry Place
• 1929: Ten more acres purchased
• 1932: Rudolf Boysen gives Walter his last six crossbreed berry plants, as yet unnamed
• 1934: Tea room opens and Cordelia serves the first chicken dinner
• 1940: Living Ghost Town tribute started with free entertainment.
• 1941: 100 more acres totals 120.
• 1946: Steakhouse
• 1947: Name change from Knott's Berry Place to Knott's Berry Farm.
• 1948: Bottle House and Music Hall
• 1949: Stagecoach
• 1951: Calico Saloon
• 1952: Ghost Town & Calico Railway.
• 1954: Haunted Shack, Bird Cage Theater
• 1955: Dentzel Carousel, Merry-Go-Round Auto Ride(later the Tijuana Taxi), Hunter's Paradise Shootin' Gallery, Model 'T' Children's Ride, Cable Cars
• 1958: Mott's Miniatures
• 1960: Calico Mine Ride.
• 1966: Independence Hall
• 1968: Fence surrounds the park, and admission charged.
• 1969: Timber Mountain Log Ride; Fiesta Village themed area; Tijuana Taxi (re-themed from Auto Ride); Mexican Whip; Fiesta Wheel; Happy Sombrero.
• 1971: John Wayne Theater (later the Good Time Theater, then the Charles M. Shultz Theater)
• 1973: First annual Knott's Scary Farm Halloween event
• 1974: Wild West Stunt Show replaces Wagon Camp shows.
• 1975: Corkscrew; Bear-y Tales.
• 1976: Motorcycle Chase; Sky Jump; Sky Cabin; Propeller Spin; Loop Trainer Flying Machine; Whirlpool; Gasoline Alley; Whirlwind.
• 1978: Montezooma's Revenge Old MacDonald's Farm removed, Cable Cars removed
• 1980: Dragon Swing
• 1983: Barn Dance featured Bobbi & Clyde Country Western Dancing; Camp Snoopy themed area built, forcing removal of Knott's Lagoon and its attractions around a lake which had been built north of Independence Hall, so that a parking area could be relocated.
• 1984: Studio K debuts. The most successful teen dance facility in the nation. Opened with a Dick Clark Special "Rock Rolls On".
• 1986: Bear-y Tales removed; Tijuana Taxi removed; Fiesta Wheel removed; Mexican Whip removed.
• 1987: Kingdom of the Dinosaurs; Tampico Tumbler; Gran Slammer; Slingshot; Happy Sombrero renamed Mexican Hat Dance.
• 1988: Bigfoot Rapids; Bear-y Tales Funhouse.
• 1989: XK-1; Greased Lighting moved into inclosed building and renamed Whirlwind. Corkscrew removed/ refurbished and moved to Idaho; Propeller Spin removed; Loop Trainer Flying Machine removed.
• 1990: Boomerang built on former site of Corkscrew;
• 1991: Studio K closed.
• 1992: Indian Trails themed area.
• 1994: Mystery Lodge.
• 1995: Jaguar!
• 1996: The Boardwalk themed area (retheme of Roaring 20's); HammerHead; Greased Lightning renamed HeadAche; Whirlpool renamed Headspin; Wacky Soap Box Racers with Gasoline Alley removed.
• 1997: Windjammer Surf Racers; Cedar Fair Acquires Knott's; Bear-y Tales Funhouse removed.
• 1998: GhostRider; XK-1 removed; Supreme Scream; Woodstock's Airmail; Slingshot renamed Wave Swinger; Mexican Hat Dance renamed Hat Dance.
• 1999: Wipeout; Coasters restaurant; Charlie Brown Speedway; Sky Jump removed; HeadAche removed and renamed The Blue Thunder at Miracle Strip Amusement Park; Pacific Pavilion removed; Radisson Resort Knott's Berry Farm.
• 2000: Windjammer Surf Racers closes; Perilous Plunge; Knott's Soak City U.S.A. water park; Haunted Shack removed.
• 2001: VertiGo; Windjammer Surf Racers removed; Wipeout relocated; Headspin relocated and renamed Wilderness Scrambler.
• 2002: Xcelerator added; VertiGo removed
• 2003: Tampico Tumbler removed; Gran Slammer removed; La Revolución; Joe Cool's Gr8 Sk8; HammerHead removed.
• 2004: Silver Bullet; Lucy's Tugboat; Rip Tide and Screamin' Swing opened. Kingdom of the Dinosaurs closed; Church of Reflections relocated to outside of park; Radisson Resort Knott's Berry Farm renamed Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel. Grand Sierra Railroad shortened to accommodate Silver Bullet.
• 2005: T.G.I. Fridays restaurant (California Marketplace).
• 2006: Pacific Spin (Soak City U.S.A.); Johnny Rockets restaurant; New Perilous Plunge boats put into operation; Walter K Steamboat removed; Woodstock's Airmail relocated.
• 2007: Sierra Sidewinder;Wilderness Scrambler removed. .
• 2008: The Pony Express, Peanut's Playhouse removed.
• 2009: Pink's, Remodel and rebrand of Viva La Coasters in the California Marketplace.
• 2010: Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular added/Snoopy's Christmas Spectacular.
• 2011: WindSeeker
• 2012: Park improvements — replacing area theme music, removing boardwalks and pouring concrete replacements, rebuilding rotted wood structures, keeping open until park closing attractions, restaurants & shops which had previously closed early. More aggressive youth marketing & advertising.; Perilous Plunge closes
• 2013: Coast Rider; Surfside Glider; Pacific Scrambler (all replacing Perilous Plunge)

Food products

Knotts Berry Farm is served by Los Angeles Metro Express Line 460 which runs between Downtown Los Angeles, Norwalk & Disneyland.

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". The company however still also sells its original Smucker's line of jams, jellies and preserves, but separately.

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).

Public Transportation

There are a couple of public transportation buses which serve Knotts Berry Farm. OCTA bus lines: 29 &38 both stop at the front entrance of Knotts Berry Farm at Beach Blvd & La Palma Ave. Los Angeles Metro Express line: 460 operates between express service between Downtown LA, Knott's Berry Farm, and Disneyland. Service on Metro Express line 460 operates daily. It stops in front of Knotts Berry Farm at La Palma Ave. & Beach Blvd.

In popular culture

• In the 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."
• In Disneyland Dream Knott's Berry Farm is featured in the 1957 home movie.
• In Jailhouse Rock (1957) starring 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.
• In 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.
• The TV movie Anatomy of a Seduction (1979) 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.
• In the 1982 movie Poltergeist, Steve Freeling asks "So. What side of the rainbow are we working tonight, Dr. Lesh? Is this your Knott's Berry Farm solution?"
• In 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.
• The opening sequence of Knocked Up (2007) featured several of the park's attractions.
• BrainRush (first aired June 20, 2009), a Cartoon Network TV quiz show was filmed as contestants compete while riding aboard Knott's Berry Farm roller-coasters.

See also

• Disneyland
• Disney World
• Six Flags

External links

• Official website
• Knott's Berry Farm at the Roller Coaster DataBase
• Fans of Knott's Scary Farm's Halloween Haunt flickr.com event group.
• I Love Knott's flickr.com contemporary and historic image group.
• Image Archeology Knott's Berry Farm and Ghost Town, Buena Park, California
• Knott's Berry Farm flickr.com photo group.
• Knott's Berry Farm Photos pages of Coastercapture.com
• Knott's Preserved flickr.com event group.