Knott's Berry Farm

Located in Buena Park, California, Knott's Berry Farm is a 160-acre (65ha) amusement park.  Walter Knott was born in San Bernardino, California, and grew up in Pomona, California.  A somewhat unsuccessful farmer, Knott changed his fortunes when he nursed several discarded berry plants back to health.  The large berries produced by the hybrid plants were a huge success.  Walter, his wife Cordelia and their children began selling berries, preserved berries and pies at a roadside stand along State Route 39.  In 1934, Knott's wife Cordelia started selling chicken dinners at a tearoom on the property.  "Mrs Knott's Chicken Dinner Restuarant" became so popular that customers would line up for several hours.  In 1940, to entertain the waiting crowds, Knott built a ghost town, using buildings and authentic furnishings he found in old deserted western towns.

By the early 1950s, the attractions had become so popular that Knott opened a "summer-long country fair".  At this time, the attractions included the ghost town and Calico Railway, a San Francisco cable car, a Mine Train and the Timber Mountain Log Ride.  Despite Disneyland opening in 1955 only 8 miles (13km) from it, Knott's Berry Farm remained a popular attraction.  In 1968, the Knotts fenced in the farm and started to charge an entrance fee of 25c, officially making Knott's Berry Farm an amusement park.  In 1969, the Calico Log Ride was added to the attractions.

On April 12th 1974, Cordelia Knotts died.  Walter became more interested in politics, and started to turn his attention to the political arena.  The Knott children, Russell, Marion, Virginia and Toni, took over the day-to-day running of Knott's Berry Farm.  During the 1970s, a nostalgic amusement area was added to the park's attractions, as were bumper cars and the Knott's Bear-Y Tales.  A 1920s-era Airfield was created in a Northern expansion of the park, featuring the Cloud Nine Dance Hall.  A Sky Parachute Jump and Sky Cabin were constructed with a Motorcycle Steeple Chase. 

In 1975 the Corkscrew Rollercoaster, the first modern rollercoaster to complete two 360-degree inverting elements, was added to the park.  Designed by Arrow Development, the Corkscrew still operates today despite having been sold and relocated to Silverwood in Athol, Idaho.  Former President, Richard Nixon, visited Knott's Berry Farm in 1975 with his wife and children.  The large Rollercoaster, Montezooma's Revenge, was opened in 1978 and still operates in Knott's Berry Farm. 

Walter Knott died on December 3rd 1981, leaving Knott's Berry Farm to his children.  The Knott family continued to run the amusement park for the next fourteen years.  In the 1980s, the Knotts built the Barn Dance, which featured an in-house band called Bobbi and Clyde. 

In response to Amusement Park competition, the Knott family added a Kingdom of the Dinosaurs in 1987 and the Big Foot Rapids, a white water rafting ride in the Wild Water Wilderness Area.  The Corkscrew Rollercoaster was replaced by the Boomerang in 1990.  Another attraction recreates a quiet summer night in the village of Alert Bay, British Columbia.  A storyteller then tells guests the importance of the role of the family.  Another rollercoaster called the Jaguar was added in 1995.  In the late 1990s, the Knott family decided to sell Knott's Berry Farm.  In 1995, the Knott family sold the food specialty business to ConAgra food, which later sold it on to the J.M. Smucker Company in 2008.  The Buena Park Hotel was sold to Cedar Fair, which sold it on to the Raddison group.  The hotel was later renamed the Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel. 

In 1997, Cedar Fair Entertainment bought the amusement park.  Originally, Disney had offered to buy the park and, despite Walter Knott and Walt Disney having had a cordial relationship in the past, the Knott children feared that Disney would change the park too much.  Cedar Fair added many new "thrill" rides, including the Perilous Plunge, the tallest and steepest water ride in the world, later removed from the park.  

Knott's Berry Farm is said to have several haunted places within its grounds.  Strange noises and eerie feelings have been reported by employees in the area that is known as the Peanut Playhouse.  Lights have also been seen turning off and on when no-one is present.  The old Dinosaur ride was supposedly haunted by a maintenance worker and a small boy.  The Teddy Bear Store, which was once known as the Print Shop, had several strange things happen within it, including things falling off the wall with no explanation as to why.  The upstairs of Virginia's Gift Store, which is on the exterior of the park, as well as Mrs Knott's Chicken Dinner Restuarant, are both supposedly haunted too. 

I love Knott's Berry Farm.  It's quaint and interesting, and has historical significance in the preserved buildings bought from all sorts of old towns in the U.S.