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Knotts Berry Farm Stand
Walter and Cordelia Knott in front of a ca. 1920s version of their berry stand that was on display at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California

The Knott's Berry Farm amusement park in Orange County, California, started as a berry farm. It was owned by Walter Knott (1889–1981). In the 1920s, Walter and his wife, Cordelia, sold berries, jams, and pies. They sold them from a small stand by the road near Buena Park.

In 1932, Walter Knott visited Rudolph Boysen's farm. There, he found a new type of berry. It was a mix of a blackberry, a red raspberry, and a loganberry. Boysen gave Walter his last six plants. Walter planted them, and his family sold the berries. People asked what they were, so he called them "boysenberries".

In 1934, Cordelia Knott (1890–1974) started serving fried chicken dinners. She used their own wedding dishes. For dessert, they served Walter's special Boysenberry Pie. Their restaurant was on Highway 39, a busy road. Many drivers stopped there on their long trips. The great location and good food made the restaurant very popular.

Fun Attractions Begin

As the restaurant grew, more shops and fun displays were added. These entertained guests waiting for a table. The Berry Market expanded. They added wishing wells, rock gardens, and water wheels. There was even a replica of George Washington's fireplace. Soon, the Knotts added gift shops and other attractions. These included a 15-million-year-old petrified log and a huge redwood slice. There was also a bee-hive and an oxcart for photos. The whole place was soon called Knott's Berry Place.

Volcano That Spits Steam

Volcano, Knotts Berry Farm, Buena Park
The rock volcano at Knott's with the apparatus shed. It was operated by turning the crank in the foreground, built by Henry Legano

Walter built a 12-foot-tall volcano. He used lava rock from the Mojave Desert. It had a boiler inside that rumbled and hissed. It even spit steam when a button was pushed. Signs warned people to keep out. One sign said it was the "Only active volcano in Southern California."

Walter Knott said the volcano helped with long lines. When the restaurant was full, guests would go play with the volcano. They got so interested that he added a speaker system to call them for their meals. The volcano cost $600. Walter said it paid for itself in the first month.

Digging for Gold

Near the volcano, guests could enter a mine shaft. They followed a gold vein into a large pit. Here, they could "Pan-for-Gold." Visitors bought a ticket to pan for real gold and take it home. A prospector's mule would grind gold-bearing quartz nearby. This helped release the gold.

Artist's Studio Fun

Claude Bell, sculptor of this bust of Walter Knott, 1967
Claude Bell, sculpted this bust of Walter Knott, which is now in Independence Hall at Knott's, in 1967. Photo courtesy of the Orange County Archives.
Minuteman Statue and Replica of Indepedence Hall at Knott's Berry Farm
Claude Bell sculpted the minuteman statue which is at Independence Hall at Knott's. He also executed portraits of Walter and Cordelia Knott, which are in the Chicken Dinner Restaurant, and created the concrete characters that are on benches in Ghost Town and the Roaring 20's areas.

Artists have worked at Knott's for a long time. Claude Bell was a sculptor and artist there from 1947 to 1986. He made the famous concrete figures sitting on benches. These figures were modeled after real people. Bell ran the Artist Studio from 1951 to 1986. Today, artists still draw portraits of guests in about 20 minutes.

Ghost Town Adventures

Knott's Ghost Town
Ghost Town at Knott's Berry Farm in the 1940s.

Ghost Town is the oldest part of Knott's Berry Farm. Walter Knott built it to honor pioneers. His own grandparents came west in a wagon train. Ghost Town has most of the buildings he moved or built in the 1940s and 1950s. Many buildings on Main Street were finished in 1940 or 1941.

Paul von Klieben, the Artist

In 1939, Walter Knott hired an artist for a mural. But the artist quit. Knott then hired Paul von Klieben, a famous portrait artist. Von Klieben quickly finished the mural.

Knott then asked him to work on Ghost Town. Von Klieben planned most of Ghost Town. He drew concept art and floor plans. He also made new wood look old. Von Klieben painted many pictures. Some still hang in Knott's Berry Farm. He even painted concrete to look like rock. When Walter Knott bought the old town of Calico, California in 1951, von Klieben restored it.

Virginia's Gift Shop, Knott's Berry Farm
A portrait of Rachel Elizabeth "Toni" Knott executed by Paul von Klieben hangs in Virginia's Gift Shop at Knott's.

Gold Trails Hotel

Walter started building a ghost town in 1940. He used buildings from real old west towns. The Gold Trails Hotel was the first. It honored the hard lives of early settlers.

Inside, a "Covered Wagon Show" was a 20 by 50-foot mural. It showed a wagon train crossing the desert. There were also 3D displays. A three-minute audio told the story of the 1849 pioneers. Special lights changed the scene from day to night.

Along Main Street, Walter filled "shops" with old items. "Deadwood Dick's" grave marker was there. The Assayer's Office had a funny scene. Hop Wing Lee, the Chinese Laundry owner, ironed and sang. The Barber shaved "One Eye Ike." A piano player played outside the Silver Dollar Saloon. The Sheriff's Office had a crooked poker game. Gold Dust Goldie's Hotel surprised guests with personal comments.

Pitchur Gallery

The "Pitchur Gallery" was spelled funny on purpose. In 1940, Gus Thornrose set up shop. He had standees and a Western saloon bar scene. There was even a stuffed bucking bronco. People could dress up in costumes. They could put their faces through holes in funny standees. Then, they took pictures with old cameras.

Blacksmith Shop

On Main Street, there were benches with concrete figures. These were of prospectors and dancing girls. A popular hand pump recirculated water for a horse trough. Old Betsy, a small steam train, was a photo spot. A real blacksmith worked in the shop. He heated iron and shaped souvenir horseshoes. This is still a working blacksmith shop. They make ironwork for the park. Guests can even order custom items.

General Store

The General Merchandise Store opened in 1944. Paul von Klieben designed it. It looked like stores from the Gold Rush days. It was filled with old-time goods.

Bottle House and Music Hall

The Bottle House (1944 or 1945) was made from empty liquor bottles. Building materials were hard to find back then. The Music Hall (1945) had a painting of a Native American family. It also had old musical instruments and music boxes. The mechanical birds in Swiss birdcages inspired Walt Disney to create Audio-Animatronics.

School House

The School House is a real one-room school house from 1879. Walter Knott bought it at an auction in Kansas. He wanted to preserve it as a museum. He had it taken apart, moved to California, and rebuilt.

Covered Wagon Camp

Knott's Wagon Camp
The Sheriff John Show entertains visitors to the Covered Wagon Camp in 1963.

Another Western attraction was built. It was a pit with concrete rockwork. Country and Western bands played live music. Guests sat around a campfire. They were surrounded by Conestoga wagons. These wagons had funny slogans like "California, or bust." A food stand called Sutters sold burgers and hot dogs. Guests could eat their meals anywhere in the camp. Knott's Berry Farm became a popular place to visit.

Butterfield Stagecoach Ride

The Butterfield Stagecoach Line started in 1949. Four-horse teams pulled real historic coaches. Guests rode the stagecoach north to Whiskey Flat. They went through "badlands" with "bad men."

Western Trails Museum

A sample of the guns on display at the Western Trails Museum, Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA - Sep. 1, 2021
A sample of the guns on display at the Western Trails Museum.
Western Trails Museum, Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, California, 2021
Center Room, Western Trails Museum, Knott's Berry Farm, 2021. A large portrait of Kit Carson by Paul von Klieben (who planned most of Ghost Town at Knott's) is on the ceiling.
Orange County Archives, Western Trails Museum, Knott's Berry Farm, ca 1983
The original Western Trails Museum building at Knott's was either made of rammed-earth construction or concrete made to look like rammed-earth. This construction technique is fireproof and was used in the old mining town of Calico, California. This ca 1983 photo is courtesy of the Orange County Archives.
Irene Drake, docent, Western Trails Museum, original building at Knott's Berry Farm, 1983. Courtesy of the Orange County Archives.

In 1956, Knott's added the Western Trails Museum. Marion Speer had collected many items. These included rocks, Native American artifacts, and Old West relics. In 1956, Speer donated his 30,000 items to Knott's Berry Farm. He stayed on as the museum's curator. The museum is now south of the saloon in Ghost Town.

Calico Square Fun

In 1951, Walter Knott bought the old silver mining town of Calico. He restored the Calico Hotel there. Many buildings were rebuilt or moved to create Calico Square.

Calico Saloon Shows

The Calico Saloon was a main building in Calico Square. It had a stage for variety shows. A piano player, vaudeville acts, and dancing girls performed. The dancing girls did the Can-Can finale. Outside, shows included "Doctor I. Will Skinem" selling "Boysenberry Elixir." Cowboys faced the Sheriff in shootouts. Steve Martin even played banjo there when he was young. Today, stunt shows are at the Covered Wagon Camp.

Ghost Town & Calico Railroad Ride

RGS 41 in Knott's Berry Farm
RGS No. 41 C-19 steam locomotive
Knott's Calico Railway
Grand Opening of the Calico Railroad in 1952.
"Edna" - Rio Grande Southern Business Car B-20
The GT&C business car Edna was originally the traveling office and living quarters of the president of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad. It was named for the daughter of Edward Turner Jeffery, who was president of the Rio Grande Southern RR (as well as the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad and Western Pacific Railroad concurrently). The Edna is one of only a small handful of narrow-gauge business cars in the United States still in existence.

In 1951, work began on a rail route. They bought real narrow gauge steam engines from Colorado. These engines pulled vintage wooden passenger coaches. The ride opened on January 12, 1952. A highlight for many guests was meeting "train robbers" on the ride.

Calico Mine Train Adventure

Bud Hurlbut created the Calico Mine Train. It opened in 1960. Guests rode in ore cars on a narrated tour of the "Calico Mine." The ride had an underground lake and a steam geyser. A glowing cavern had stalactites and stalagmites. The train then became a "runaway" through a blasting zone. This made for a thrilling end.

Bud Hurlbut also ran other attractions at Knott's. He built the merry-go-round and boat rentals. He also built the Cordelia K. Steamboat. He continued to create world-class rides. These included the Antique Auto Ride and Timber Mountain Log Ride. The Calico Mine Train is still very popular.

Judge Roy Bean's Saloon

A copy of "The Jersey Lilly" Judge Roy Bean's Saloon opened in 1947. It had barrels on the bar with Boysenberry Drink fountains. Old gambling machines were changed to amusement games. They gave out souvenir tokens. Couples could even "Get Hitched" in a funny mock wedding.

East Side Fun

Knott's Lagoon
The riverboat Cordelia K crosses the man-made lagoon at Knott's Berry Farm.

A tunnel was built under Beach Boulevard. This allowed development on the east side. This area included Jungle Island, Knott's Lagoon, and later, Independence Hall.

Knott's Lagoon

North of Jungle Island, Knott's Lagoon was an artificial lake. A miniature railroad circled it. The lake had rental rowboats and paddle-boats. The Cordelia K. was a side-wheel riverboat named for Walter's wife. People could buy corn to feed the ducks. Knott's Lagoon was later paved over for the main parking lot.

More Park Expansion

Knott's Berry Farm grew in the 1950s. They added new displays and attractions. Disneyland was built nearby, but the parks were different. Walt Disney and Walter Knott had a friendly relationship.

Haunted Shack Mystery

Knott's Haunted Shack
1973 Halloween Haunt poster advertising Knott's Haunted Shack and other attractions.

The Haunted Shack opened in 1954. It showed strange things that seemed to defy gravity. A tour guide would show how people appeared to change size. Water seemed to flow uphill. A broom stood unsupported at a slant. The shack was removed in 2000.

El Camino Real – The Kings Highway

Archway, Knotts Berry Farm, 1963
El Camino Real adobe arch entrance portal and rental stroller.

In 1956, a miniature El Camino Real was finished. It ran north through the park. Along the way were 21 small adobe buildings. Each showed a miniature model of a California mission.

Bird Cage Theatre Shows

Knott's Bird Cage Theatre had live melodramas. These were old-time plays with funny names. The audience cheered for the hero and booed the villain. Many actors started their careers here, including Steve Martin. Between shows, actors would pose for photos.

Boot Hill Cemetery

Knott's Boot Hill
Boot Hill cemetery at Knott's Berry farm in the 1950s.

In Boot Hill Cemetery, headstones had funny sayings. They told macabre jokes about how people died. Hiram McTavish's grave even invited people to feel his "heartbeat."

Old MacDonald's Farm

Knott's Petting Zoo
Old MacDonald's Farm and ticket booth, with the Seal Pool outside the entrance.

Old MacDonald's Farm was a petting zoo. It had goats, bunnies, and chickens. There were even two hundred-year-old Galapagos tortoises. For a short time, there was a baby elephant. Guests could buy food to feed the animals. Henrietta, a piano-playing chicken, would peck out a song for a nickel. The petting zoo also had a unique carousel swing. A mule walked in a circle to power the swings.

Independence Hall Replica

Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant
Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant at Knott's Berry Farm in Orange County, California, ca. 1955.

In 1966, a replica of Independence Hall was built. It was copied brick-for-brick. Visitors can enter for free. It has an audio presentation about the United States Declaration of Independence. It also has a replica of the Liberty Bell. This replica was so accurate that it was used in the movie National Treasure. Its blueprints were even used to help restore the original Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Park Becomes Enclosed

In 1968, Knott's Berry Farm started charging admission for the first time. The family put a tall fence around the park. This enclosed three themed areas:

  • Calico Ghost Town, as it was originally built.
  • Fiesta Village, showing Spanish California.
  • Gypsy Camp, a new area with games and a large theater.

After the fence, the park grew quickly.

Timber Mountain Log Ride

WalterKnottBudHurlbutLogRideKBF1969
Walter Knott and Bud Hurlbut ride the Timber Mountain Log Ride in 1969

Bud Hurlbut opened the Log Flume in 1969. It was first called the Calico Log Ride. The first public riders were John Wayne and his son. Many call it one of the best log rides in the world. It has old logging equipment and forest scenes. There is a dark drop inside.

1970s and Beyond

On April 12, 1974, Cordelia Knott passed away. Walter then focused on political causes.

The Gypsy Camp area was re-themed to the Roaring Twenties. It added bumper cars and Knott's Bear-y Tales. A 1920s-era airfield area was added. It had a dance hall, Sky Cabin, and the Motorcycle Chase roller coaster. The new roller coaster Corkscrew was a key addition.

Sky Cabin1
Sky Tower & Sky Jump/Sky Cabin

The Sky Tower was built to hold two attractions. The Parachute Sky Jump (now closed) and the Sky Cabin. The Sky Cabin slowly rises and spins. It offers great views of the park. It closes during strong winds or rain.

Corkscrew opened in 1975. It was the first modern roller coaster to go upside down twice. It was designed by Arrow Dynamics.

On December 3, 1981, Walter Knott died. His children continued to run Knott's as a family business for 14 more years.

Wild Water Wilderness

In the 1980s, Knott's added new themed areas and big rides:

  • Kingdom of the Dinosaurs (1987)
  • Bigfoot Rapids (1988), a whitewater river rapids ride. This was the main ride in the new Wild Water Wilderness area.

The Boomerang roller coaster replaced the Corkscrew in 1990. It goes through a cobra roll and a vertical loop. This gives riders six inversions each trip.

Mystery Lodge (1994) was a live show. It used special effects to tell a story. It was inspired by a popular exhibit at Expo 86. The show recreates a summer night in a village. Guests listen to a storyteller. They learn about the importance of family.

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