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Knott's Berry Farm

Amusement park in California, USA
Knott's Berry Farm
Buena Park, California, USA
Status
Opened
1940
Area
160 acres
Operating season
Year-round
History

Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, USA. It is currently owned by Six Flags.

History

In December 1920, the Knott family moved to Buena Park, California, and began farming berries on leased land. Walter Knott and his cousin Jim Preston operated a roadside berry stand in 1923. In 1927, the family purchased the land, building a permanent Berry Market and Tea Room, where Cordelia Knott sold homemade goods. During the Great Depression, Walter collaborated with George M. Darrow and Rudolph Boysen to cultivate the boysenberry, a hybrid of red raspberry, blackberry, and loganberry introduced commercially in 1934.[1][2] That same year, Cordelia served her first fried chicken dinners for 65 cents each,[3] which became so popular that the dining area expanded several times.[4]

Walter created attractions such as a rock garden, antique music boxes, and replicas of historic landmarks to entertain waiting guests. 1940 he built Ghost Town, a collection of old-west-style buildings and artifacts. By 1947, the area was officially named Knott’s Berry Farm, and additional activities like panning for gold and the Wagon Camp were added.[4]

The 1950s saw expansions with the Calico Saloon, Ghost Town & Calico Railroad, and Boot Hill Cemetery. Walter also introduced the Western Trails Museum and built a replica of Independence Hall, which opened in 1966. 1968, the park was enclosed, and a $1.00 entrance fee was introduced.[3]

Knott’s Berry Farm expanded further with Fiesta Village in 1969 and Gypsy Camp in 1971. That same year, the Calico Log Ride, Log Flume by Arrow Dynamics opened to the public. Knott's Scary Farm began in 1973, and in 1975, the Roaring 20s area opened with Corkscrew, the world’s first modern inverting roller coaster.

In the 1980s, the park introduced Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang, leading to the creation of Camp Snoopy in 1983. The Knott family sold the park to Cedar Fair in 1997[5][6]

Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain and other major amusement parks were temporarily closed.[7]

Roller coasters

Present

Name Manufacturer Type Opened Status
Coast Rider Mack Rides Wild Mouse May 25, 2013 Operating
GhostRider Custom Coasters International Wooden December 8, 1998 Operating
HangTime Gerstlauer Diving May 18, 2018 Operating
Jaguar! Zierer Sit-Down June 17, 1995 Operating
MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress Schwarzkopf Launched May 21, 1978 Under renovation
Pony Express Zamperla Motorbike May 22, 2008 Operating
Sierra Sidewinder Mack Rides Spinning May 26, 2007 Operating
Silver Bullet Bolliger & Mabillard Inverted December 7, 2004 Operating
Snoopy's Tenderpaw Twister Coaster Zamperla Launched Kiddie July 27, 2024 Operating
Xcelerator Intamin Launched June 22, 2002 Operating

Past

Name Manufacturer Type Opened Closed Fate
Boomerang Vekoma Shuttle 1990 2017 Relocated to Trans Studio Action Zone
Corkscrew Arrow Development Sit-Down 1975 1989 Relocated to Silverwood Theme Park
Timberline Twister Bradley & Kaye Kiddie 1983 2023 Scrapped
Wacky Soap Box Racers Arrow Development Quad 1976 1996 Scrapped
Windjammer Surf Racers TOGO Twin
Sit-Down
1997 2000 Scrapped

Attractions

Operating

Name Manufacturer Type Opened
Balloon Race Morgan Balloon Race 1992
Calico Mine Ride Bud Hurlbut Tracked Dark Ride 1960
Calico River Rapids Intamin River Rapids 1988
Camp Snoopy's Off-Road Rally Zamperla Track Ride Unknown
Carrusel de California Dentzel Carousel Company Carousel 1955
Charlie Brown's Kite Flyer Zamperla Junior Waveswinger 2014
Dragon Swing Chance Rides Pirate Ship 1980
Flying Ace Chance Rides Junior Jets 1986
Grand Sierra Railroad Crown Metal Products Miniature Railway 1983
Hat Dance Arrow Development Teacups 1969
Knott's Bear-y Tales: Return to The Fair Triotech Tracked Dark Ride 2020
La Revolucion Chance Rides Frisbee 2003
Linus Launcher Zamperla Kite Flyer 2014
Los Voladores Zierer Waveswinger 1986
Pacific Scrambler Eli Bridge Company Scrambler 2013
Pig Pen's Mud Buggies Zamperla Jump Around 2014
Rapid River Run Zamperla Rockin' Tug 2004
Sally's Swing Along Zamperla Happy Swing 2024
Sky Cabin Intamin Observation Tower 1976
Sol Spin Mondial Top Scan 2017
Supreme Scream S&S Worldwide Drop Tower 1998
Surfside Gliders Larson International Flying Scooters 2013
Timber Mountain Log Ride Arrow Development Log Flume 1969
Wheeler Dealer Bumper Cars Majestic Manufacturing Dodgems 1975
Wipeout Chance Rides Trabant/Satellite 1999
Woodstock's Airmail S&S Worldwide Junior Drop Tower 1998

Closed

Name Manufacturer Type Opened Closed Fate
Balloon Race Bradley & Kaye Balloon Race 1983 1991 Scrapped
Camp Bus Zamperla Junior Flying Carpet 1992 2023 Unknown
Charlie Brown's Speedway Zamperla Junior Whip Unknown 2013 Relocated to California's Great America
Fiesta Wheel Chance Rides Trabant/Satellite 1969 1986 Unknown
Gasoline Alley Arrow Development Track Ride 1969 1996 Scrapped
Gran Slammer Chance Rides Flying Carpet 1987 2003 Scrapped
Hammerhead Zamperla Rotoshake 1996 2003 Relocated to Wonderland
HeadAche Mack Rides Matterhorn 1976 1999 Relocated to Miracle Strip Amusement Park
High Sierra Ferris Wheel Eli Bridge Company Ferris Wheel 1983 2024 Scrapped
Huff and Puff Bradley & Kaye Unknown 1983 2024 Scrapped
Joe Cool's GR8 SK8 Interactive Rides Sky Skater 2003 2013 Relocated to California's Great America
Kingdom of the Dinosaurs Fantasy Fair Dark Ride 1975 2004 Scrapped
Log Peeler Eli Bridge Company Kiddie Scrambler 1984 2014 Scrapped
Loop Trainer Flying Machine Schwarzkopf Enterprise 1976 1989 Relocated to Attractiepark Slagharen
Mexican Whip Sellner Manufacturing Tilt-A-Whirl 1969 1986 Scrapped
Perilous Plunge Intamin Shoot The Chute 2000 2012 Scrapped
Propeller Spin Hrubetz Round-Up 1976 1989 Unknown
RipTide HUSS Top Spin 2004 2016 Scrapped
Screamin' Swing S&S Worldwide Screamin' Swing 2004 2015 Scrapped
Sky Jump Intamin Paratower 1976 1999 Scrapped
Tampico Tumbler Zierer Hexentanz 1987 2002 Scrapped
Tijuana Taxi Arrow Development Track Ride 1958 1986 Relocated to Castle Park
VertiGo S&S Worldwide Sky Sling 2001 2001 Scrapped
WindSeeker Mondial Star Flyer 2011 2012 Relocated to Worlds of Fun
Whirlpool Eli Bridge Company Scrambler 1989 2007 Stored - reopened 2013
XK-1 Intamin Flight Trainer 1989 1997 Scrapped

References

  1. "The History of the Boysenberry". www.knotts.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  2. "The Boysenberry Dream - The Story of Walter Knott". www.knotts.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Knott's Berry Farm Historic Timeline". www.knotts.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "The History of Knott's Berry Farm". www.knotts.com. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  5. Luptak, Gene (1983-07-24). "No need for roughing it at Knott's Camp Snoopy". Arizona Republic. p. 25. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  6. "Ohio Firm to Buy Knott's Berry Farm".
  7. "Buildings, amusement parks closed". The Lompoc Record. September 11, 2001. p. 18. Retrieved December 22, 2021.

External links

Amusement parks operated by Six Flags
Cancelled
Amusement parks operated by Cedar Fair