Knott's Berry Farm

Knott's Berry Farm

Location	Buena Park, California
Coordinates	33°50′39″N 118°00′01″W
Opened	1940
Owner	Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
Slogan	"America's 1st Theme Park", "The Fun and Only"
Operating season	Year-round
Area	160 acres (65 ha)
Attractions
Total	40
Roller coasters	9
Water rides	4
Website	www.knotts.com

Knott's Berry Farm entrance with Silver Bullet cobra roll overhead.

Knott's Berry Farm is the brand name of two separate entities: a theme park in Buena Park, California, and a manufacturer of food specialty products (primarily jams and preserves) based in Placentia, California. The theme park is owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and the food specialty business is part of The J. M. Smucker Company.

History

Origin

Berry Stand origin. The structure was preserved near the crossing of stage coach road over El Camino Real until it was dismantled for Silver Bullet

In 1920, Walter Knott (1889–1981) and his family sold berries, berry preserves and pies from a roadside stand beside State Route 39, near the small town of Buena Park.

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. When people asked what kind they were, he called them "Boysenberrys".

Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant

Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant, showing a long line of people waiting to be seated.

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.

Expansion

As time went on, more shops and interactive displays were opened to entertain patrons waiting for a seat at the Chicken Dinner Restaurant. The Berry Market expanded South from Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant along Grand Ave. with the addition of wishing wells, rock gardens with miniature waterfalls, water wheels and a grindstone "Down by the Old Mill Stream", near a replica of George Washington's Mount Vernon fireplace 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, a thirteen foot diameter cross section of coastal redwood cut at age 750 years, a visible bee-hive and an oxcart, with several wagons provided additional photo opportunities. The entire operation would soon be renamed Knott's Berry Place.

Active Volcano

Walt built a 20-foot-tall volcano 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:

"Danger, keep out" and

"Only active volcano in Southern California moved in from the mojave desert complete—and has been erupting faithfully ever since."

"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. At some point in the late '50s or early '60s, a fanciful mechanical contraption displayed within a 2'x2' 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, 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.

Gold Mine

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Ghost Town Gold Mine entrance

From the West side of the volcano, guests could enter a mine shaft following a vein of gold down into a large open pit and the Pan-for-Gold activity where customers could buy a ticket to pan for real gold to take home in a vial. Nearby the gold mine shaft entrance, the prospectors mule would haul a stone around an Arastra, 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

Prospector, Knott's first theme park logo.

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.

Old Trails Hotel

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 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 Jose 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 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.

Pitchur Gallery

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."

Blacksmith

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 Whisky Bill and the dancing girls Marilyn with Cecelia, a very popular hand pump among the kids which recirculated water through a horse drinking trough, and Old Betsy 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.

Livery Stable

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.

Bottle House and Music Hall

The Bottle House (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.

Covered Wagon Camp

The Wagonmasters entertain the Covered Wagon Camp.

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, 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, 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.

Butterfield Stagecoach

Bandits rob the stage near Hang Man's Tree.

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.

Calico Square

In 1951 Walter Knott purchased the entire town of Calico, California near Barstow and restored the Calico Hotel. Many structures were disassembled, removed, and reassembled near the new Calico Square. 1951 When folks wanted entertainment during the day, Walter provided several more intimate shows, more frequently.

Calico Saloon

The Calico Saloon at the west end of Main 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 Professor Mal-De-Mers performed his Medicine Show and peddled "Boysenberry Elixir" from his wagon near the popcorn cart, the same wagon stage featured a young Steve Martin on banjo between performances at the Bird Cage Theater.

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Express and Post Offices.

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.

Ghost Town & Calico Raiload

RGS #41 C-19 steam locomotive

Ghost Town & Calico Railroad

In 1951 work began to grade and lay track for a grand circle rail route for recently acquired authentic 36 narrow gauge C-19 engines No. 340 Red Cliff (renamed Gold Nugget #40) from the Denver & Rio Grande and No. 41 Green River from the Rio Grande Southern, historic Consolidation class (2-8-0) locomotives from Colorado. They would haul a yellow combination baggage/coach No. 105 "Calico" with arrows embedded near the baggage door (now renamed to original "Chama", arrows and numbers removed and painted in then-current 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.

Calico Mine Train

A 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". Operated as a concession (an apartment was hidden inside, where its builder and owner Bud Hurlbut lived near the train storage tracks and repair shop), 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.

The Calico Mine Train continues to be a popular attraction. Wendell "Bud" Hurlbut (1918–2011) of Hurlbut Amusement Company constructed the attraction 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. Bud was the operator of the Knott's Lagoon attractions - the merry-go-round, the row-boat and peddle-boat rental, the Cordillia K. Steamboat side-wheel steamer, 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.

Judge Roy Bean's Saloon

Judge Roy Bean’s Saloon in Langtry, Texas

Jersey Lilly Saloon reproduction.

A faithful re-creation of 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 to fit from a pailfull. 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.

East Side

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

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 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.

Knott's Lagoon

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.

More expansion

Frequent activities at what Knott called a "summer-long county fair" included - naturally - boysenberry pie eating contests. 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.

Haunted Shack

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Haunted Shack

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.

Art Glow

Walter's son Russell's personal collection of fluorescent rocks that glowed under ultraviolet light;

El Camino Real - The Kings Highway

El Camino Real adobe arch entrance portal and rental stroller.

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.

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, and one could view the Covered Wagon Show 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 - glorified coin operated kiddie-rides set into pavement near miniaturized city street facades, and Merry-Go-Round Auto Ride - a car ride built by Bud Hurlbut electrically-powered and guided by a center rail, which was later renamed Tijuana Taxi.

Bird Cage Theatre

Calico Square expanded South as well. In 1958, Mott's Miniatures 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 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.

Ghost Town Photo Gallery, until 1970.

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California Street Cable R.R. Cable Cars

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 to the South end of the parking lot to drive a Model-T at Henry's Livery on the Northwest corner of Beach Blvd. and Crescent Ave.

Boot Hill

Bank and evident explosion.

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 to arrive.

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Our Little Chapel by the Lake

Turning the crank on the brightly painted music box, his trained monkey "Shorty" 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, 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 entrance and ticket booth.

Old MacDonald's Farm, 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. 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 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. 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. 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.

Independence Hall

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. 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.

Enclosure

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:

• Calico Ghost Town as originally built. Handstamp viewing lamps were added behind the new entrance gate starting north of the volcano. Exit turnstiles and the re-entry gates were added across Gold Mine Road, allowing ready access to the Steakhouse, dining and shops.
• Fiesta Village portraying Spanish California, a re-theme of the North property starting at the Church of Reflection.
• Gypsy Camp A new expansion in the former West parking lot, with Thieves Den a large amusement machine arcade (which is still present, but diminished by the world's largest Johnny Rocket's) an outdoor stage with the world's largest water curtain, 'caves' with a magic shop, air bazooka game, and featuring the immense John Wayne Theater, later the water curtain would be moved into the theater, and the entrance thru the John Wayne Museum would be incorporated into the Cordy's Corner shop when the Roaring 20's conversion built an elevated railway themed ramp spiraling up around Wheeler Dealer Bumper Cars up to a wide outdoor balcony along the back wall of the theater.

After the fence went up, construction and development began energetically at a rapid pace.

Timber Mountain Log Ride

Walter Knott and Bud Hurlbut ride the Timber Mountain Log Ride in 1969

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. The first official public riders were John Wayne and Ethan, his son. Arguably the best log ride in the world, it features pine scented interior woodland scenes, a dark interior drop, and a twin flume split passenger loading station. The pond between the final plunge and the station featured a lumberjacks log rolling competition show for several years.

Ghost Town Photo Gallery 1970's and beyond.

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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 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. The expansion was keystoned by the innovative new roller coaster Corkscrew.

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. 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.

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. Also during the 1980s, Knott's met the competition in Southern California theme parks by building two massive attractions: Kingdom of the Dinosaurs (primeval re-theme of Knott's Bear-y Tales) and Bigfoot Rapids, a whitewater river rafting ride as the centerpiece of the new themed area Wild Water Wilderness.

Boomerang roller coaster replaced the Corkscrew in 1990 with a lift shuttle train passing to and fro through a dragon curve and a vertical loop, for six inversions each trip.

New Owners

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.

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.

Present Day Knott's Berry Farm - Amusement Park

File:Aaghostrider.jpg

GhostRider in Ghost Town

The Silver Bullet

View of Silver Bullet from the Sky Cabin.

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 parking lot 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:

• Ghost Town
• Fiesta Village
• The Boardwalk
• Camp Snoopy
• Wild Water Wilderness
• Indian Trails

Ghost Town

The Ghost Town area is based on the actual ghost town of Calico, California and other real ghost towns in Western United States (such as Prescott, Arizona). Walter Knott bought the actual Calico ghost town in 1951 and restored it. In 1966 he "donated" the town to the corporate-municipal County of San Bernardino. However, the County made the entire town into an actual park which is literally called "Calico, California".

More recently, the GhostRider wooden roller coaster was added to the area. In late 2004 Knott's opened the longest inverted roller coaster on the West Coast, called the Silver Bullet. The first Screamin' Swing (a newer version of the Banshee) was also opened there.

In the summer of 2007, the Knott's Nature Center building and exhibit was relocated from the Wild Water section of the park to Ghost Town. The historical building was once the Rivera, California one-room school house. "Knott's Nature Center" is what the park calls their insect mini-zoo.

The Ghost Town area has a few other notable historical structures. The Bird Cage Theater (which is only open during Halloween Haunt and the "winter holiday" time) was the starting place for many small-time actors, as well as that of Steve Martin. The Calico Stage - a large open-air stage in Calico Square - has hosted a variety of shows and acts, big and small, from those of elementary school students, a locally-known band called Gallagher, and summer-spectacular "All Wheels Extreme" stunt show featuring youthful performers demonstrating aerial tricks on ramps riding skates, skateboards and bikes to popular music.

Fiesta Village

Fiesta Village was built in 1969. It only has carnival-like rides, such as Montezooma's Revenge roller coaster and Jaguar!. Other rides include the Dragon Swing, A Merry-Go-Round, La Revolucion, Mexican Hat Dance,a Wave Swinger, and the soon to be opened WindSeeker thrill ride attraction. Fiesta Village has a pop-culture Mexican theme.

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 most of the park's major thrill rides. It is also home to the Sky Tower. The 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 Supreme Scream.)

Current Boardwalk attractions include:

• Xcelerator (which replaced the defunct Windjammer Surf Racers)
• Riptide
• Perilous Plunge
• Wheeler Dealer Bumper Cars
• Wipeout
• Sky Cabin (sky cabin will stay where it is as the windseeker has been moved to fiesta village)
• Screamin' Swing
• Supreme Scream collection of three drop towers, at 312 feet (95 m) in height, Supreme Scream is the tallest structure in Orange County.
• Boomerang (roller coaster) a launch shuttle of one vertical loop and two halves of dragon curve which, with forward and return trips, invert riders six times. Boomerang replaced the 1975 "Roaring '20s" Corkscrew roller coaster which was notable for being the first modern-day roller coaster to perform a 360-degree inverting element, with two barrel rolls. The Corkscrew is currently located at Silverwood Theme Park in Athol, Idaho.

Boardwalk Games include physical challenges such as a rock wall 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

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 Valleyfair (until 2011) and 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, save for some relics, today the park is no longer affiliated with Knott's or Cedar Fair, and is now called Nickelodeon Universe.

Wild Water Wilderness

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.

Indian Trails

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.

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 eatate fireplace hearth, and what remains of the visible beehive. 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 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 continuing to offer Non-Denominational Sunday services. A tunnel and pedestrian underpass beneath Beach Boulevard. connects the main parking lot to the shops, restaurants and theme park.

Annual park events

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. 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. 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.

Also the Halloween Haunt now has Youtube Updaters on the event. They promote the event by telling their viewers what is to come, their opinion, and reviews. The top 3 updaters are KnottsScaryFarmRuler, HauntHorror, and Oregonducksrock1

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.

Current Roller Coasters

#	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	GhostRider	1998	Custom Coasters International	Ghost Town	Wooden roller coaster featuring multiple banked turns.
3	Jaguar!	1995	Zierer GmbH	Fiesta Village	Steel roller coaster designed specifically for families with young children.
4	Montezooma's Revenge	1978	Anton Schwarzkopf	Fiesta Village	Riders accelerate from 0 to 55 mph (89 km/h) within seven seconds.
5	Pony Express	2008	Zamperla	Ghost Town	Riders dip, turn and dive while harnessed in vehicles intended to simulate equestrianism.
6	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.
7	Silver Bullet	2004	Bolliger & Mabillard	Ghost Town	Floorless coaches suspended beneath an overhead track whip around steeply banked turns and six inversions.
8	Timberline Twister	1983	Bradley and Kaye	Camp Snoopy	Junior roller coaster.
9	Xcelerator	2002	Intamin AG	The Boardwalk	Riders accelerate from 0 - 82 mph (132 km/h) in 2.3 seconds and climb 20 stories into the air.

Other Current Attractions

Attraction	Year Opened	Manufacturer	Location in Park	Description
Balloon Race	1983		Camp Snoopy	8 suspended "baskets" seating 4 riders each circle
Bigfoot Rapids	1988	Intamin AG	Ghost Town	Whitewater Rafts. Riders board circular watercraft and journey down a faux white water river.
Calico Mine Train	1960	Bud Hurlbut	Ghost Town	Powered gravity coaster. Riders board ore cars and journey deep into a faux mining excavation site.
Charlie Brown's Speedway			Camp Snoopy	Crack the Whip ride designed specifically for children.
Dragon Swing		Chance-Morgan	Fiesta Village	Pirate ship type swinging gondola.
Hat Dance			Fiesta Village	Teacups Riders rotate and spin simultaneously.
High Sierra Ferris Wheel			Camp Snoopy	Ferris Wheel, 8 cars.
Joe Cool's Gr8 Sk8	2003	Interactive Rides	Camp Snoopy	Sky Skater ride modified for children.
La Revolución	2003	Chance-Morgan	Fiesta Village	Revolution 32 Riders rotate 360-degrees while simultaneously swinging back and forth in a pendulum motion.
Lucy's Tugboat	2004	Zamperla	Camp Snoopy	Rockin' Tug ride.
Perilous Plunge	2000	Intamin AG	The Boardwalk	Flume ride featuring a steep 15-story chute.
RipTide	2004	Huss Park Attractions	The Boardwalk	Top Spin 56 Theater Gondola riders somersault forwards and backwards suspended on rotating lift arms.
Screamin' Swing	2004	S&S Power	Ghost Town	Extra charge attraction. Riders are catapulted high into the air repeatedly.
Sky Cabin	1976	Intamin AG	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 Power	The Boardwalk	Pneumatically powered descending thrill ride.
Timber Mountain Log Ride	1969	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	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.

Former Rides & 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 trasportation 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 take passengers upside down. 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. It was removed in 1986 to make room for the Grand Slammer.
Gasoline Alley	1969	1996	Arrow Dynamics	Powered automobile ride. This electic 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.
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 they are both demanded by fans to revive one of them. As of now nothing is planned in the former building of 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. The store moved and then closed. The Mott's Miniature mail-order business is thriving.
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 AG	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 Power	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	1976	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 club 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 AG	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 1999, it was removed to make room for Supreme Scream

Attraction/capital timeline

• 2011: Mondial Wind Seeker
• 2010: Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular added/Snoopy's Christmas Spectacular.
• 2009: Pink's, Remodel and rebrand of Viva La Coasters in the California Marketplace.
• 2008: The Pony Express, Peanut's Playhouse removed.
• 2007: Sierra Sidewinder; Wilderness Scrambler removed.
• 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.
• 2005: T.G.I. Fridays restaurant (California Marketplace).
• 2004: Silver Bullet; Church of Reflections relocated to outside of park; Lucy's Tugboat; Rip Tide; Screamin' Swing; Kingdom of the Dinosaurs closed; Radisson Resort Knott's Berry Farm renamed Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel. Grand Sierra Railroad shorted.
• 2003: Tampico Tumbler removed; Gran Slammer removed; La Revolución; Joe Cool's Gr8 Sk8; HammerHead removed.
• 2002: Xcelerator; VertiGo removed.
• 2001: VertiGo; Windjammer Surf Racers removed; Wipeout relocated; Headspin relocated and renamed Wilderness Scrambler.
• 2000: Windjammer Surf Racers closes; Perilous Plunge; Knott's Soak City U.S.A. water park; Haunted Shack removed.
• 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.
• 1998: GhostRider; XK-1 removed; Supreme Scream; Woodstock's Airmail; Slingshot renamed Wave Swinger; Mexican Hat Dance renamed Hat Dance.
• 1997: Windjammer Surf Racers; Bear-y Tales Funhouse removed.
• 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.
• 1995: Jaguar!.
• 1994: Mystery Lodge.
• 1992: Indian Trails themed area.
• 1991: Studio K closed.
• 1990: Boomerang; XK-1; Whirlwind renamed Greased Lightning.
• 1989: Corkscrew removed; Propeller Spin removed; Loop Trainer Flying Machine removed.
• 1988: Bigfoot Rapids; Bear-y Tales Funhouse.
• 1987: Kingdom of the Dinosaurs; Tampico Tumbler; Gran Slammer; Dragon Swing; Slingshot; Happy Sombrero renamed Mexican Hat Dance.
• 1986: Bear-y Tales removed; Tijuana Taxi removed; Fiesta Wheel removed; Mexican Whip removed.
• 1984: Studio K debuts. The most successful teen dance facility in the nation. Opened with a Dick Clark Special "Rock Rolls On".
• 1983: Barn Dance featured Bobbi & Clyde Country Western Dancing
• 1983: Camp Snoopy themed area created, 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.
• 1978: Montezooma's Revenge Old MacDonald's Farm removed, Cable Cars removed
• 1976: Motorcycle Chase; Sky Jump; Sky Cabin; Propeller Spin; Loop Trainer Flying Machine; Whirlpool; Gasoline Alley; Whirlwind.
• 1975: Corkscrew; Bear-y Tales.
• 1974: Wild West Stunt Show replaces Wagon Camp shows.
• 1973: First annual Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt
• 1971: John Wayne Theater (later the Good Time Theater, then the Charles M. Shultz Theater)
• 1969: Timber Mountain Log Ride; Fiesta Village themed area; Tijuana Taxi(re-themed from Auto Ride); Mexican Whip; Fiesta Wheel; Happy Sombrero.
• 1968: Fence surrounds the park, and admission charged.
• 1966: Independence Hall
• 1960: Calico Mine Ride.
• 1958: Mott's Miniatures
• 1955: Dentzel Carousel, Merry-Go-Round Auto Ride(later the Tijuana Taxi), Hunter's Paradise Shootin' Gallery, Model 'T' Children's Ride, Cable Cars
• 1954: Haunted Shack, Bird Cage Theater
• 1952: Ghost Town & Calico Railway.
• 1951: Calico Saloon
• 1949: Stagecoach
• 1948: Bottle House and Music Hall
• 1947: Name change from Knott's Berry Place to Knott's Berry Farm.
• 1946: Steakhouse
• 1941: 100 more acres totals 120.
• 1940: Living Ghost Town tribute started with free entertainment.
• 1934: Tea room opens and Cordelia serves the first chicken dinner
• 1932: Rudolf Boysen gives Walter his last six crossbreed berry plants, as yet unnamed
• 1929: Ten more acres purchased
• 1927: Ten leased acres of berry farm purchased, named Knott's Berry Place
• 1920: Ten acres of berry farm land leased by Walter and Cordelia Knott

In media

I Love Lucy episode Don Juan and Starlets (first aired 2/14/1955), 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."

Knott's Berry Farm is featured in the 1957 home movie Disneyland Dream.

The November 3, 1962, episode of ABC's western variety program, The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show, was taped at Knott's Berry Farm.

The 1979 TV movie "Anatomy of a Seduction" 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 job.

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 9/25/2005), a cutaway gag features the characters from The O.C. enjoying Knott's Berry Farm, then getting robbed at gunpoint by Snoopy forcing them to make an ATM withdrawal.

Jaguar! is featured in one of Channel 4's idents. It shows the ride from the back 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.

The opening sequence of the 2007 film Knocked Up featured several of the park's attractions.

BrainRush, a TV quiz show filmed aboard Knott's Berry Farm roller-coasters on the first aired June 20, 2009 on Cartoon Network.

See also

• Calico Ghost Town Calico, California, former silver and copper mine town in the Mojave Desert.
• Praise (festival)

External links

• Knott's Berry Farm theme park
• "Image Archeology" Knott's Berry Farm and Ghost Town, Buena Park, California
• Knott's Berry Farm Photos