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MEMORIES:
Hawk remembers...My family went to Knott's Berry Farm once, we went their to eat dinner, but we also rode two rides. ... More »
Posted on 08/10/09
PHOTOS:
Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a farmer named Walter Knott. After cultivating the world's very first boysenberries (that's raspberry-cum-blackberry-cum-loganberry, for the berry unenlightened) he and his family sold them from a stand at the side of Beach Boulevard in Buena Park, California. Having seen success from the berry business, they decided to expand their culinary reaches: they opened a full restaurant, where Cordelia Knott served up comfort food for weary travelers. Her fried chicken and boysenberry pie quickly caught on, and soon the lines of people waiting for their succulent dinners were as long as... well, amusement park lines!
To help amuse the queued-up crowds, Walter decided to create a park of his own. Using artifacts and relocated buildings from actual towns that had faded into obscurity, Walter Knott built a realistic (not to mention thematic-- the first of its kind) Ghost Town amusement park. Soon, he added a train ride, an area that emulated panning for gold and, of course, the Calico Mine Ride. The farm became known as a “summer-long county fair” (and in SoCal, summer lasts practically all year.) Guests were even treated pie-eating contests. (We'll give you one guess which kind of pie it was.) Despite the developing competition from Disneyland, the nearby amusement behemoth it inspired, it took until the late 1960s for the Knott family to fence the farm and charge admission for their attractions.
Attractions have continually been added, such as Camp Snoopy featuring the famous Charles Schulz ‘Peanuts’ characters. Independence Hall is a spot-on replica of the original landmark in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fiesta Village is a Latin-themed carnival featuring the giant seven-story loop that is Montezooma’s Revenge. There’s also Wild Water Wilderness, where you could find the Mystery Lodge as well as Big Foot Rapids, the log flume where guests are guaranteed a little splashing refreshment (i.e. you’re gonna get wet!)
What good would an entry on Knott’s Berry Farm be if it didn’t mention Knott’s Scary Farm? Since 1973, the annual event -- as Knott's calls it, Halloween Haunt-- has tempted thousands and thousands of crowds through turnstiles. Complete with elaborate mazes, freaky character-filled "scare zones" and re-themed attractions, the park at large becomes "haunted," teeming with bugs, zombies, and every child's quiet nightmare, spooky clowns. The event is so popular that Halloween Haunt generates half the revenue for Knott’s Berry Farm’s fiscal year.
After a day spinning, zooming, and queueing up for the rides at this fruit stand-turned-theme park, Mrs. Knott’s restaurant is still one of the biggest attractions-- and it still hits the spot. Just don’t forget the boysenberry pie!
