Knott's Berry Farm
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| Location | Buena Park, California |
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| Address | 8039 Beach Boulevard |
| Website | www.knotts.com |
| Owner | Cedar Fair Entertainment Company |
| Opened | 1968 |
| Previous names | Knott's Theme Park |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Area | 160 acres (0.65 km²) |
| Rides | 39 total
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| Slogan | America's 1st Theme Park |
Knott's Berry Farm is a 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. In addition, Knott's developed three Soak City USA water parks in Southern California. The theme parks are now owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., and the food products are now part of ConAgra Foods.
Snoopy of Peanuts fame became the theme park's mascot in 1983. Since the sale of Knott's Berry Farm to Cedar Fair in 1997, the Peanuts characters have diffused to other Cedar Fair parks.
Contents
History
In the 1920s, Walter Knott (December 11, 1889–December 3, 1981) and his family sold berries from a roadside stand beside California State Highway 39, near the small town of Buena Park. In the 1930s, Walter Knott cultivated the world's first successful boysenberries, a combination of the red raspberry, blackberry, and loganberry. In 1934, Knott's wife Cordelia (b. 1890 - d. 1974) began serving fried chicken dinners, featuring boysenberry pie for dessert. As Southern California developed, Highway 39 became the major north-south connection with Los Angeles County, and the restaurant's location was a popular stopping point for drivers making what at the time was a two-hour trip between Los Angeles and the beaches of Orange County. Until the development of the 605 and 57 freeways 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 Counties.
Within a few years, lines outside the restaurant were often several hours long. To entertain the waiting crowds, Walter built a ghost town in 1940, using buildings relocated from real old west towns such as Calico, California and Prescott, Arizona. They added attractions such as a narrow-gauge train ride, a pan-for-gold area, and the Calico Mine Ride. 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. The two Walters had a cordial relationship, and worked together on a number of community causes.
In 1968, the Knott family fenced the farm, charged admission for the first time, and Knott's Berry Farm officially became an amusement park. Because of its long history, Knott's Berry Farm currently claims to be "America's First Theme Park."
In 1995, the Knott family sold the food specialty business to ConAgra. In 1997, the Knott family sold the amusement park operations to Cedar Fair Entertainment Co.. 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.
In contrast to the early rustic days of Knott, the vicinity of the park is now heavily suburbanized and thus some visitors to the park may perceive the phrase "berry farm" as something of a misnomer. The landscape of the park is now dominated by the roller coasters, and much of the original theming and atmosphere of the park have been disrupted. 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 was located nearby until it closed in 2005. Buena Park Downtown, a series of shopping centers containing Wal-Mart and Kohl's stores, is located near Knott's Berry Farm.
In 2004, the park renamed the Radisson Resort Hotel the Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel. The hotel was formerly the Buena Park Hotel that Cedar Fair acquired in the late 1990's.
Theme park attractions
Knott's Berry Farm is divided into six distinct themed areas: Camp Snoopy, Ghost Town, Indian Trails, Fiesta Village, The Boardwalk, and Wild Water Wilderness. In addition, a small shopping village called California Marketplace sits outside the admission gate, and includes the famous Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant and a number of gift shops.
Independence Hall
Also on the property (but on the east side of Beach Blvd.) is a replica of Independence Hall and Knott's Soak City, USA. Independence Hall was so well recreated, the original Hall in Philadelphia asked for the Knott's blueprints during their recent renovation. Displays have included a replica of the Liberty Bell and a replica of the original "Star Spangled Banner," the flag which flew over Fort McHenry through a British attack during the War of 1812. An audio presentation, with speakers located at appropriate tables, recalls the debate which led to the Declaration of Independence.
Prior to the development of Camp Snoopy, an artificial lake, covering more than an acre, was located north of Independence Hall. The lake featured row- and paddle-boats, and a popular activity for local residents was feeding the ducks who lived there year-round; as well as Jungle Island, where children found adventure and played hide and seek games all day. Camp Snoopy was built in an area which had formerly been a parking lot, so the lake was removed to put in a replacement parking area. The ducks moved to other parks and lakes.
Ghost Town
Ghost Town is the oldest part of the Knott's amusement park, and includes most of the buildings Walter brought to the property in the 1940s and 1950s. This themed area includes attractions such as the narrow gauge Ghost Town & Calico Railway (using much historic equipment from Colorado narrow-gauge lines), the Butterfield Stagecoach, a Pan-for-Gold attraction, the Calico Mine Train dark ride, Timber Mountain Log Ride, and The Wild West Stunt Show. More recently, the much-acclaimed GhostRider wooden roller coaster has been added. In late 2004 Knott's opened the longest inverted roller coaster on the West Coast, Silver Bullet along with Screamin' Swing: the worlds first air powered swing.
Ghost Town itself has a place in history aside from the buildings brought here. The Bird Cage Theatre melodrama theater (currently only used during the Christmas season) has launched many acting careers, including Steve Martin's.
The Ghost Town section is based upon the real ghost town of Calico, California near Barstow, and other ghost towns in the Western United States. Walter Knott purchased the Calico ghost town in 1951 and restored it. In 1966 he donated the town to San Bernardino County, which made it a regional park.
Fiesta Village
Fiesta Village is a Latin-themed area which features a number of carnival-style attractions, including the Montezooma's Revenge roller coaster and the Jaguar! family roller coaster.
The Boardwalk
Originally themed as a gypsy camp, and later re-themed to the "Roaring 20's" and "Knott's Airfield", this area is home to most of the park's major thrill rides, such as the recently constructed Xcelerator (which replaced the failed Windjammer Surf Racers, known to be a mechanical nightmare by employees) ,Supreme Scream, Riptide,and Perilous Plunge. Other rides include the roller coaster Boomerang. It is also home to the Sky Cabin Tower, which once also housed the Parachute Sky Jump attraction and was, at one time, the tallest structure in Orange County. Supreme Scream is now the tallest structure in Orange County, at 312 feet in height.
Camp Snoopy
Camp Snoopy is targeted towards younger visitors, with many of the rides and attractions being built specifically for children. It is themed around the Charles M. Schulz "Peanuts" comic strip characters.
Wild Water Wilderness
Wild Water Wilderness is a small area that features one major ride: the Big Foot Rapids river raft ride. It is also home to Mystery Lodge, a multimedia show based on an Expo 86 pavilion featuring a Native American storyteller.
Indian Trails
The most recent addition to the park, Indian Trails is a small area sandwiched in between Camp Snoopy, Ghost Town, and Fiesta Village. It features no actual "rides", but instead is a showcase of Native American art, crafts, and dance.
Annual park events
The park's annual Halloween Haunt has drawn crowds since 1973. The event was created by Bill Hollingshead and Gary Salisbury as documented in the DVD Season of Screams. During this special ticketed event, the entire park (or major portions of it) rethemes 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 10 or more mazes of various themes from aliens to spiders to clowns from outer-space. 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. [1] Interesting facts: 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.
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.
Roller Coasters
| Ride | Year Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montezooma's Revenge | 1978 | Anton Schwarzkopf | A steel roller coaster with an open-circuit that catapults riders through a 7-story loop. |
| Timberline Twister | 1983 | Bradley & Kaye | Small steel coaster designed specifically for young children. |
| Boomerang | 1990 | Vekoma | Steel roller coaster with an open-circuit takes riders upside-down a total of six times. |
| Jaguar! | 1995 | Zierer GmBH | Family-oriented roller coaster. |
| GhostRider | 1998 | Custom Coasters International | The longest wooden roller coaster west of the Mississippi River. |
| Xcelerator | 2002 | Intamin AG | World's first hydraulic catapult coaster. |
| Silver Bullet | 2004 | B&M | Floorless coaches suspended beneath an overhead track whip around steeply banked turns and six inversions. |
| Sierra Sidewinder | 2007 | Mack GmBH | America's first free-spinning multiple-car train roller coaster. |
Attraction/capital timeline
- 2007: Sierra Sidewinder
- 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.
- 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; Soak City U.S.A. water park; Haunted Shack removed
- 1999: Wipeout; Coasters restaurant; Charlie Brown Speedway; Sky Jump removed; HeadAche removed; Pacific Pavilion removed; Radisson Resort Knott's Berry Farm.
- 1998: GhostRider; XK-1 removed; Supreme Scream; Woodstock's Airmail; Slingshot renamed Wave Swinger.
- 1997: Windjammer Surf Racers.
- 1996: The Boardwalk themed area (retheme of Roaring 20's); HammerHead; Wacky Soap Box Racers removed.
- 1995: Jaguar!.
- 1994: Mystery Lodge.
- 1992: Indian Trails themed area.
- 1991: Studio K closed.
- 1990: Boomerang; XK-1.
- 1989: Corkscrew removed; Loop Trainer Flying Machine removed.
- 1988: Bigfoot Rapids.
- 1987: Kingdom of the Dinosaurs; Tampico Tumbler; Gran Slammer.
- 1986: Bear-y Tales removed; Tijuana Taxi removed; Fiesta Wheel removed; Mexican Whip removed.
- 1984: Studio K.
- 1983: Camp Snoopy themed area created, forcing removal of a lake which had been built north of Independence Hall, so that a parking area could be relocated.
- 1978: Montezooma's Revenge.
- 1976: Motorcycle Chase; Sky Jump; Sky Cabin; Loop Trainer Flying Machine.
- 1975: Corkscrew; Bear-y Tales.
- 1974: Wild West Stunt Show Opens.
- 1973: First annual Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt
- 1971: John Wayne Theatre.
- 1969: Timber Mountain Log Ride; Fiesta Village themed area; Tijuana Taxi; Mexican Whip; Fiesta Wheel; Happy Sombrero.
- 1960: Calico Mine Ride.
- 1954: Haunted Shack
- 1952: Ghost Town & Calico Railroad.
Safety incidents
In 2001, an incident involving the Intamin lapbar system occurred on the Perilous Plunge. During that accident, a woman fell from the peak of the ride to her death. The manufacturer of the ride claimed that the woman was overweight and should not have been permitted to ride. [2]
References
- ↑ Cassandra Peterson's MySpace page
- ↑ Woman's weight cause of fatality
External links
- Knott's Berry Farm theme park
- Knott's Berry Farm brand at ConAgra Foods
- Knott's Berry Farm theme park news
- Knott's Berry Farm Guide More information about the park found on Ultimate Rollercoaster.com.
- Extensive history of Calico and origin of Knotts Berry Farm
- Flickr: Photos tagged with Knott's Berry Farm, photos likely of Knott's Berry Farm
| Roller coasters at Knott's Berry Farm |
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Boomerang - GhostRider - Jaguar! - Montezooma's Revenge - Silver Bullet - Timberline Twister – Xcelerator |
