Knott's Berry Farm facts for kids
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| Location | 8039 Beach Boulevard Buena Park, California 90620, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 33°50′39″N 118°00′01″W / 33.844178°N 118.000267°W |
| Opened | No official opening date, the family arrived in Buena Park on December 29, 1920 |
| Owner | Cedar Fair Entertainment Company |
| General manager | Jon Storbeck |
| Slogan | America's 1st Theme Park, California's Best Theme Park |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Attendance | 6,000,000+ |
| Area | 57 acres (23 ha) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 40 |
| Roller coasters | 10 |
| Water rides | 2 |
| Website | http://www.knotts.com |
Knott's Berry Farm is a 57-acre (23 ha) theme park in Buena Park, California. It is owned by Cedar Fair. In 2017, it was the tenth most-visited theme park in North America. Knott's Berry Farm is also the most popular park in the Cedar Fair family. Over 6 million people visit each year.
The park has 40 rides, including roller coasters, family rides, and water rides. About 10,000 people work there. Knott's Berry Farm is special because it's the only true "theme park" in the Cedar Fair group. Other Cedar Fair parks are more like traditional amusement parks.
The park started in the mid-1920s. That's when Walter Knott and his family began selling berries. They had a small stand by the road in California. By the 1940s, they had a restaurant and shops. They even built a copy of a ghost town to entertain visitors.
Over the next 20 years, it grew into a modern amusement park. In 1968, people started paying to get in. The park was sold to Cedar Fair in the late 1990s. The family's food business was later bought by The J.M. Smucker Company.
Contents
Park History: From Berries to Thrills
Knott's Berry Farm began as a simple berry farm. Walter Knott and his family started it in the mid-1920s. They sold fresh berries, jams, and pies from a roadside stand.
In 1934, Mrs. Knott started selling fried chicken dinners. These dinners became very famous! People would wait a long time for a table. To keep them busy, the Knotts built shops and other fun things. In 1940, Walter Knott built a replica of a ghost town. This was the very beginning of the theme park we know today. The idea of a bigger park grew in the 1950s. Walter Knott even opened a "summer-long county fair."
In 1968, Knott's Berry Farm started charging for admission. It cost 25 cents to get in! The Calico Log Ride opened in 1960. The park became a popular spot for college students in the 1960s.
Walter Knott passed away in 1981. His children kept running the park for 14 more years. In 1997, the Knott family sold the amusement park to Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. The Knott family had a chance to sell the park to The Walt Disney Company. But they didn't want Disney to change what Walter Knott had built. So, they chose Cedar Fair instead.
New Rides and Changes
Since Cedar Fair bought the park, many new thrill rides have been added. These include big roller coasters. One famous water ride, Perilous Plunge, was once the tallest and steepest in the world. It closed in 2012.
Park Milestones: A Quick Look
- 1920: Walter and Cordelia Knott lease berry farm land.
- 1934: Mrs. Knott serves the first chicken dinner.
- 1940: The Ghost Town area begins with free entertainment.
- 1949: The Stagecoach ride opens.
- 1952: The Ghost Town & Calico Railroad starts.
- 1960: The Calico Mine Ride opens.
- 1968: A fence is built, and admission is charged.
- 1969: The Timber Mountain Log Ride opens; Fiesta Village is added.
- 1973: The first Knott's Scary Farm Halloween event takes place.
- 1975: The Corkscrew roller coaster opens.
- 1978: Montezooma's Revenge roller coaster opens.
- 1983: Camp Snoopy themed area is built.
- 1990: Boomerang roller coaster opens.
- 1995: Jaguar! roller coaster is added.
- 1996: The Boardwalk themed area opens.
- 1997: Cedar Fair buys Knott's Berry Farm.
- 1998: GhostRider and Supreme Scream open.
- 2000: Knott's Soak City U.S.A. water park opens.
- 2002: Xcelerator roller coaster is added.
- 2004: Silver Bullet roller coaster opens.
- 2007: Sierra Sidewinder roller coaster opens.
- 2008: Pony Express roller coaster opens.
- 2013: The Boardwalk area gets bigger with new rides.
- 2015: Voyage to the Iron Reef opens.
- 2018: HangTime roller coaster opens.
- 2019: Calico River Rapids opens.
Fun Events All Year Long
Knott's Berry Farm hosts several special events each year.
Knott's Scary Farm
The park's annual Knott's Scary Farm has been a huge hit since 1973. It started when Bud Hurlbut, who created some rides, dressed up as a gorilla and scared guests on the Mine Ride. It was an instant success!
During this special event, the park turns into a "haunted house" at night. There are mazes and "scare zones." Over a thousand "monsters" are hidden throughout the park. Some characters, like the green witch, are very well-known. Many rides are decorated for the event, and there are 13 different mazes.
Other Yearly Events
- Winter Coaster Solace: This event happens in early March. Roller coaster fans can ride the rides before the park opens and after it closes. It's for visitors from places where theme parks close for winter.
- Veterans' Free Admission: Since 1991, Knott's has offered free entry to veterans and their families in November. This started as a tribute to Gulf War veterans.
- Knott's Merry Farm: This Christmas event happens every year. It has featured fake snow, craft exhibits, and visits with Santa Claus. It started in 1985.
- Praise (festival): This is a Christian celebration with music and comedy on New Year's Eve.
Explore the Park's Themed Areas
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Knott's Berry Farm has four main themed areas:
- Ghost Town
- Fiesta Village
- The Boardwalk
- Camp Snoopy
Ghost Town: Step Back in Time
In Ghost Town, you can watch skilled craftsmen at work. They show how blacksmiths, woodcarvers, and glass-blowers create things. You can also see old farm equipment. The Western Trails Museum shows historical items from the Old West.
The Bird Cage Theatre hosts small shows during Christmas and Halloween. The Calico Stage is a big outdoor stage. It features different shows, from school plays to stunt shows with acrobats and freestyle bikers.
Many parts of the original Ghost Town have changed over time. For example, the Silver Dollar Saloon is now a shooting gallery. The original Berry Stand is gone, replaced by the Silver Bullet roller coaster station.
Ghost Town was inspired by real ghost towns in the Western United States. Walter Knott even bought part of the actual Calico ghost town in 1951.
| Thrill level (out of 5) |
|---|
| 1 (low) 2 (mild) 3 (moderate) 4 (high) 5 (aggressive) |
| Ride | Picture | Opened | Manufacturer | Description | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfield Stagecoach |
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1949 | Knott's Berry Farm |
A family stagecoach ride through Fiesta Village, Camp Snoopy, and Indian Trails. | 1 |
| Calico Mine Ride |  |
1960 | Bud Hurlbut | A mine train dark ride. Riders go deep into a fake mining site. | 3 |
| Ghost Town & Calico Railroad |   |
1952 | An old-fashioned train ride around the park. It takes about ten minutes. | 1 | |
| GhostRider |  |
1998 | Custom Coasters International | A wooden roller coaster with many banked turns. | 5 |
| Silver Bullet |  |
2004 | Bolliger & Mabillard | An inverted roller coaster where your feet dangle. | 5 |
| Timber Mountain Log Ride |  |
1969 | Bud Hurlbut & Arrow Development | A classic log flume ride. It has two big drops, with the final one being 42 feet high. | 4 |
Wild Water Wilderness
This area is now part of Ghost Town. It has two main rides: the Pony Express and Calico River Rapids. Nearby is Mystery Lodge, a show with a Native American storyteller.
| Ride | Picture | Year Opened | Manufacturer | Description | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pony Express |  |
2008 | Zamperla | A steel roller coaster where riders sit on horse-like vehicles. | 4 |
Fiesta Village: A Mexican Celebration
Fiesta Village was built in 1969. It has a fun Mexican theme. You'll find shops, restaurants like Pancho's Tacos, and games. Rides like La Revolución, Jaguar!, and Montezooma's Revenge fit the Mexican and Aztec theme. In 2013, colorful lights were added for summer.
| Ride | Picture | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Swing |  |
1980 | Chance-Morgan | A swinging pirate ship ride. | 3 |
| Hat Dance |  |
1969 | Rauerhorst Corporation & Mack Rides | A Teacups-style ride. Riders spin sombrero-themed cups. | 3 |
| Jaguar! |  |
1995 | Zierer | A steel roller coaster for families with younger children. | 4 |
| La Revolucion |  |
2003 | Chance-Morgan | Riders spin 360 degrees and swing back and forth. | 5 |
| Merry-Go-Round |  |
1955 | Dentzel Carousel | One of the oldest working carousels in the world. It has 48 hand-carved animals. | 2 |
| Montezooma's Revenge | .jpg) |
1978 | Anton Schwarzkopf | Riders go from 0 to 55 mph in 4.5 seconds! | 5 |
| Sol Spin |  |
2017 | Mondial | A thrilling ride that spins riders in all directions, over 6 stories high. | 5 |
| Waveswinger |  |
1986 | Zierer | A classic family swing ride. Riders swing around a central tower. | 3 |
The Boardwalk: Games and Thrills
The Boardwalk has many games. You can try physical challenges like a rock wall or traditional carnival games. In September 2012, the big water ride, Perilous Plunge, closed. This was to make room for a bigger Boardwalk area.
The Boardwalk reopened a year later with new rides. The Boomerang roller coaster also got a fresh green and yellow paint job. The world's largest Johnny Rockets restaurant is located here. It has over 5,900 square feet of dining space!
| Ride | Picture | Year opened | Manufacturer | Description | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coast Rider |  |
2013 | Mack Rides | A steel wild mouse roller coaster. It's built where Perilous Plunge used to be. | 4 |
| HangTime |  |
2018 | Gerstlauer | A steel Dive Coaster. It replaced the Boomerang and Riptide rides. | 5 |
| Pacific Scrambler |  |
2013 | Eli Bridge Company | A classic scrambler ride. It was once called "Whirlpool" and was inside a building. | 3 |
| Sky Cabin |  |
1974 | Intamin | This ride goes up over 180 feet. It gives you a 360-degree view of the area. | 2 |
| Supreme Scream |
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1998 | S&S Worldwide | This ride has the highest drop in the park. It's a vertical drop tower. | 5 |
| Surfside Gliders |
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2013 | Larson International | A Flying Scooters ride. Riders can control their gliders as they fly. | 3 |
| Voyage to the Iron Reef |
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2015 | Triotech | A 4-D interactive ride. Riders aim and shoot at animated targets to score points. | 2 |
| Wheeler Dealer Bumper Cars |  |
A classic family bumper cars attraction. | 4 | ||
| Xcelerator |  |
2002 | Intamin | A launched roller coaster. Riders go from 0 to 82 mph in 2.3 seconds! It's the tallest roller coaster at Knott's. | 5 |
| Wipeout |  |
1999 | Chance Rides | A circular Trabant ride. | 4 |
Camp Snoopy: Fun for All Ages
Camp Snoopy is where you'll find rides for families and children. Many rides are made for younger guests. The theme is based on Charles M. Schulz' "Peanuts" comic strip characters. Snoopy has been the park's mascot since 1983.
There are 14 rides here. These include a mini roller coaster called the Timberline Twister. There's also a spinning roller coaster called Sierra Sidewinder. Most rides in Camp Snoopy are gentle and fun for all ages, including babies and seniors.
In 2013, Knott's Berry Farm announced big changes for Camp Snoopy. It got a makeover for its 30th anniversary. New rides opened in summer 2014.
The Grand Sierra Railroad takes guests on a four-minute train ride. The ride was made shorter when the Silver Bullet roller coaster was built. For the 30th Anniversary, the train ride got new "Peanuts" scenes and narration by the character Linus.
| Ride | Picture | Opened | Manufacturer | Thrill level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balloon Race |  |
1983 | 2 | |
| Camp Bus |  |
1992 | Zamperla | 2 |
| Linus Launcher |  |
2014 | Zamperla | 3 |
| Charlie Brown Kite Flyers | 2014 | Zamperla | 2 | |
| Flying Ace |  |
1986 | Chance-Morgan | 2 |
| Grand Sierra Railroad |  |
Crown Metal | 1 | |
| High Sierra Ferris Wheel |  |
1983 | Eli Bridge | 3 |
| Huff and Puff | 1983 | Larson International | 1 | |
| Pig Pen's Mud Buggies | 2014 | Zamperla | 2 | |
| Rapid River Run | 2004 | Zamperla | 2 | |
| Rocky Mountain Trucking Company |  |
Zamperla | 1 | |
| Sierra Sidewinder |  |
2007 | Mack Rides | 4 |
| Timberline Twister |  |
1983 | Bradley and Kaye | 4 |
Indian Trails: Native American Culture
Indian Trails is a small area next to the Bottle House in Ghost Town. It shows off Native American art, crafts, and dance.
Beyond the Park Gates
Some of the park's original attractions are outside the main gates. You can find them along Grand Ave. at the California Marketplace. These include a waterfall and a historic gristmill grindstone. There's also a copy of George Washington's fireplace hearth.
Knott's Soak City: A Water Park Adventure
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Knott's Soak City is a water park that opened in 1999. It's across the street from the main theme park. You need a separate ticket to enter Soak City. It's a great place to cool off on a hot day!
Knott's Berry Farm Food Products
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The J.M. Smucker Company still sells the famous jams and preserves made by the Knott family. However, some other products, like syrups, are no longer sold.
In 2013, Knott's Berry Farm started selling their own "Berry Market" brand of preserves at the park. These are all-natural. They can't use the "Knott's" name on these labels because Smucker's owns the rights to it.
Getting to Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is easy to reach by public transportation. Buses from Los Angeles Metro, Orange County Transportation Authority, and Anaheim Resort Transit all serve the park.
Knott's in Pop Culture
Knott's Berry Farm has appeared in movies and TV shows!
- In the 1987 film Summer School, the teacher takes his students on a field trip to Knott's Berry Farm.
- In an episode of The Big Bang Theory (2008), the characters learn that their physics bowl rivals are performing at Knott's Berry Farm.
- The Cartoon Network TV quiz show BrainRush (2009) was filmed with contestants riding Knott's Berry Farm roller coasters.
- Many famous entertainers worked at the Birdcage Theater, including author Stormie Omartian, comedian Steve Martin, and singer Kathy Westmoreland (who sang backup for Elvis Presley).
Images for kids
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The original Western Trails Museum building.
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Hangtime, the park's newest major roller coaster, opened in 2018.
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Knott's Beary Tales: Return To The Fair opened in 2021.
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Charlene Parker, a spinner and weaver in Ghost Town.
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Claude Bell in his Artist's Studio in 1954. This building is now the Rock & Geode Shop.
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The replica of Independence Hall in 2013.
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The Knott's Berry Farm Denver & Rio Grand steam locomotive, part of the Ghost Town & Calico Railroad since 1952.
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Big Foot Rapids, located in the Wild Wilderness section of the park (now Calico River Rapids).
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A view of Silver Bullet from the Sky Cabin.
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A view of The Boardwalk after its expansion in 2013.
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The Boardwalk area, showing Hangtime under construction.
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Ghost Town at Knott's Berry Farm in the 1940s.
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Roy Rogers performing at Knott's Berry Farm.
See also
In Spanish: Knott's Berry Farm para niños
