Thursday, April 30, 2015
Who stole the Knott's Berry Farm Season Passes?
Knott's News: Observant viewers will notice our first look at the Kraken Queen at the very end. Avoid this video if you don't want spoilers.
Take a sneak peek at Knott's Voyage to the Iron Reef dark ride
The first thing that strikes me about the new Voyage to the Iron Reef dark ride at Knott’s Berry Farm is the long flight of stairs I have to ascend to embark on my underwater journey.
But once inside, it doesn't take me long to forget my lofty second-story surroundings and be swept away on a submarine battle brimming with aqua-mechanical creatures determined to destroy the Buena Park theme park.
During a recent sneak peek, I was joined by Knott’s creative director Lara Hanneman for a behind-the-scenes preview of the new shoot-em-up dark ride located in an old attraction space above a video game arcade.
Set to debut May 15, the steampunk-inspired Voyage to the Iron Reef occupies a location once home to two beloved dark rides: Knott's Bear-y Tales and Kingdom of the Dinosaurs.
Spoiler alert: What follows is a detailed description of the ride vehicles, entry queue and first two scenes of Voyage to the Iron Reef. Consider yourself forewarned.
Knott's News: I really hope everyone kept their expectations in check so that they aren't too disappointed when they see what this actually is. As for the queue, Googie-themed?
But once inside, it doesn't take me long to forget my lofty second-story surroundings and be swept away on a submarine battle brimming with aqua-mechanical creatures determined to destroy the Buena Park theme park.
During a recent sneak peek, I was joined by Knott’s creative director Lara Hanneman for a behind-the-scenes preview of the new shoot-em-up dark ride located in an old attraction space above a video game arcade.
Set to debut May 15, the steampunk-inspired Voyage to the Iron Reef occupies a location once home to two beloved dark rides: Knott's Bear-y Tales and Kingdom of the Dinosaurs.
Spoiler alert: What follows is a detailed description of the ride vehicles, entry queue and first two scenes of Voyage to the Iron Reef. Consider yourself forewarned.
Read the rest at the LATimes
Knott's News: I really hope everyone kept their expectations in check so that they aren't too disappointed when they see what this actually is. As for the queue, Googie-themed?
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
New awning coming together
Check out that Steam Punk Ness #knottsironreef
Posted by Knott's Network on Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Knott's News: Hmmm...I'm trying to figure out where they're going with this design. Doesn't look 20s, 50s or steam punk and the colors they're painting the buildings kind of wash away all the details they used to have (in addition to them literally tearing out all the faux windows and doors). I think there might just be too many blues and greens now in the area when you include the Shultz theater and the fountain. We'll just have to wait and see how this all comes together.
Cedar Fair Reports Record First-Quarter Revenues; Announces New Long-Term Growth Goals
For the first quarter ended March 29, 2015, Cedar Fair's net revenues were $47 million, an increase of $6 million, or 16%, when compared with the first quarter ended March 30, 2014. Strong revenue trends were driven by the continued solid performance of Knott's Berry Farm, the Company's only year-round park, and strong opening weekends at Carowinds, Kings Dominion and Great America. In the quarter, the Company generated record attendance, along with increases in all revenue categories, including admissions, food and beverage, merchandise and games, and accommodations.
Operating costs and expenses for the first quarter of 2015 were $110 million, an increase of $3 million from the first quarter of 2014. The modest increase was primarily related to the strong unit price performance in the quarter and its impact on the reporting of non-cash equity-based compensation. The Company also saw a nominal increase in cost of goods sold due to the increase in attendance. Partially offsetting these increases, was a decrease in operating costs during the quarter, primarily related to the timing of maintenance projects and planned operating expenditures on 2015 initiatives.
The net loss for the quarter totaled $84 million, or $1.50 per diluted LP unit, comparable with the first quarter a year ago.
Read the rest at PRNewswire
Operating costs and expenses for the first quarter of 2015 were $110 million, an increase of $3 million from the first quarter of 2014. The modest increase was primarily related to the strong unit price performance in the quarter and its impact on the reporting of non-cash equity-based compensation. The Company also saw a nominal increase in cost of goods sold due to the increase in attendance. Partially offsetting these increases, was a decrease in operating costs during the quarter, primarily related to the timing of maintenance projects and planned operating expenditures on 2015 initiatives.
The net loss for the quarter totaled $84 million, or $1.50 per diluted LP unit, comparable with the first quarter a year ago.
Read the rest at PRNewswire
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Meet Knott's Most Legendary Creature: Catawampus
In Ghost Town, at the end of Main Street near the base of the old windmill, lives one of Knott’s most legendary creatures. It’s a very strange creature made of an old tree branch, a bristle brush and a set of ram horns. What is this creature? It is called a CATAWAMPUS.
Read the rest at KnottsBerryBlog
Read the rest at KnottsBerryBlog
Here's your exclusive first look at new images from the interactive 4D ride, Voyage to the Iron Reef
Here's your exclusive first look at new images from the interactive 4D ride, Voyage to the Iron Reef. #KnottsIronReef pic.twitter.com/KLl5D54prP
— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) April 29, 2015
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Knott's Bear-y Tales return: Not IF but WHEN
That's right, when! I truly believe that we will see the return of Knott's Bear-y Tales in dark ride form and that it will be in collaboration with Garner Holt in the very near future.
Four things I'd like to start with: Knott's has stated in the Iron Reef press release that they considered reviving the former dark rides during brainstorming sessions for the new attraction before ultimately settling on Voyage to the Iron Reef, to add to that Garner Holt has said in an interview that they pitched ideas to Knott's for the former Bear-y Tales spot, lets not forget that just a few days ago Matt Ouimet stated that he expects to work on future Amusement Dark projects with Garner Holt and lastly if you haven't heard by now, Knott's just recently re-introduced the Bear-y Tales IP to the park for the first time in many years during the Boysenberry Festival. These four things combined, along with a gut feeling, are what fuels this speculation filled article.
Four things I'd like to start with: Knott's has stated in the Iron Reef press release that they considered reviving the former dark rides during brainstorming sessions for the new attraction before ultimately settling on Voyage to the Iron Reef, to add to that Garner Holt has said in an interview that they pitched ideas to Knott's for the former Bear-y Tales spot, lets not forget that just a few days ago Matt Ouimet stated that he expects to work on future Amusement Dark projects with Garner Holt and lastly if you haven't heard by now, Knott's just recently re-introduced the Bear-y Tales IP to the park for the first time in many years during the Boysenberry Festival. These four things combined, along with a gut feeling, are what fuels this speculation filled article.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Iron Reef queue development
Posted by Knott's Network on Monday, April 20, 2015
Knott's News: So what I think is going on here is that the stairway on the left of the picture under the structure will be the Fast Lane entrance. This will take you directly to the queue station. The stairway on the right will be the regular entrance. This will take you into the indoor queue above Johnny Rockets and then out into the structure, only to merge with the Fast Lane. If anyone has any other ideas or information on this, let me know.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Take a trip back to 1934 at Mrs. Knott's Fried Chicken Dinner Restaurant
Located just outside the park, on Grand Avenue, is the best place to get fried chicken in Southern California. Follow your nose, your senses, and get in line at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner.
The idea for the restaurant began humbly back in 1934 as one of Mrs. Knott’s brainstorms to help pay debts and make ends meet until the boysenberry plant could garner them some success. It was only an idea, and it started off in their tea room with eight fried chicken dinners served on her best wedding china. The original meal consisted of a salad with rhubarb sauce, hot biscuits, vegetables, mashed potatoes, gravy, and berry pie with ice cream for dessert. Mrs. Knott home-cooked the whole meal and the chickens were cleaned and prepared by Walter Knott. The meal back then cost 65 cents, however, today you can get the same meal for $18.99.
Read the rest at KnottsBerryBlog
The idea for the restaurant began humbly back in 1934 as one of Mrs. Knott’s brainstorms to help pay debts and make ends meet until the boysenberry plant could garner them some success. It was only an idea, and it started off in their tea room with eight fried chicken dinners served on her best wedding china. The original meal consisted of a salad with rhubarb sauce, hot biscuits, vegetables, mashed potatoes, gravy, and berry pie with ice cream for dessert. Mrs. Knott home-cooked the whole meal and the chickens were cleaned and prepared by Walter Knott. The meal back then cost 65 cents, however, today you can get the same meal for $18.99.
Read the rest at KnottsBerryBlog
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Building being painted
Building being painted :) #Knotts #knottsironreef #KnottsBerryFarm #ThemePark #amusementpark #BuenaPark #boardwalk #cedarfair
Posted by Knott's Network on Saturday, April 18, 2015
Ticket to ride: Prices went up this week at Knott's Berry Farm
Laura Hawkins didn’t know ticket prices at Knott’s Berry Farm had gone up $2 a pop until she got to the gate. But her family was in from Wyoming, and the uptick wasn’t that much, so they went in.
“It’s worth it,” said Hawkins, 30, whose family brought bottled water to save money. “We came prepared.”
Southern California theme parks are prepping for summer in what has become routine fashion – by raising prices.
After this week’s $2 increase, an adult ticket at Knott’s now costs $67, while a kid’s ticket is $37. (Adult tickets for Knott’s cost $43 if purchased online; kid ticket prices are the same at the gate and online.) At nearby Disneyland, visitors have been paying $99 for adults and $93 for kids since February, when each ticket went up $3. Tickets for Universal Studios Hollywood recently went up $3 apiece, to $95.
Leidy Arevalo, a Knott’s spokeswoman, said the park didn’t raise its price in reaction to others: “We always have our own specific market research, and that’s how we make our decision.”
But even with some admission costs approaching triple digits, people keep coming to local theme parks.
Read the rest at OCRegister
Knott's News: Ignore the graph they have comparing older ticket prices (adjusted for inflation) with todays prices. It's not applicable, since they ignore the fact that the parks are all inclusive today, whereas you had to buy tickets for each individual attraction back then (this is where terms like E-Ticket originated from, as a way to distinguish the difference in ticket price each attraction carried).
“It’s worth it,” said Hawkins, 30, whose family brought bottled water to save money. “We came prepared.”
Southern California theme parks are prepping for summer in what has become routine fashion – by raising prices.
After this week’s $2 increase, an adult ticket at Knott’s now costs $67, while a kid’s ticket is $37. (Adult tickets for Knott’s cost $43 if purchased online; kid ticket prices are the same at the gate and online.) At nearby Disneyland, visitors have been paying $99 for adults and $93 for kids since February, when each ticket went up $3. Tickets for Universal Studios Hollywood recently went up $3 apiece, to $95.
Leidy Arevalo, a Knott’s spokeswoman, said the park didn’t raise its price in reaction to others: “We always have our own specific market research, and that’s how we make our decision.”
But even with some admission costs approaching triple digits, people keep coming to local theme parks.
Read the rest at OCRegister
Knott's News: Ignore the graph they have comparing older ticket prices (adjusted for inflation) with todays prices. It's not applicable, since they ignore the fact that the parks are all inclusive today, whereas you had to buy tickets for each individual attraction back then (this is where terms like E-Ticket originated from, as a way to distinguish the difference in ticket price each attraction carried).
Friday, April 17, 2015
The History of Knott's Old Schoolhouse
One of the many historical structures in Knott’s Berry Farm is the Old Schoolhouse. You will find this piece of Knott’s history on School Road in Ghost Town, nestled right next to the Birdcage Theater on your way to Big Foot Rapids.
Walter Knott brought this authentic one-room schoolhouse to Knott’s Berry Farm in 1952. He discovered it in Mitchell County, Kansas, and when he saw it, he decided that he wanted to bring it to the Farm. This old schoolhouse originated in 1879 and served many generations of children until it closed in the 1940’s. When Walter found it, he said it looked liked they had held school in it one day, and the next day they boarded it up with all the books, desks and stove still inside.
Walter purchased the schoolhouse at auction and shipped it to the Farm. When it arrived, he kept the authentic detail, only adding a bell and bell tower because he thought that the schoolhouse needed it.
Read the rest at KnottsBerryBlog
Walter Knott brought this authentic one-room schoolhouse to Knott’s Berry Farm in 1952. He discovered it in Mitchell County, Kansas, and when he saw it, he decided that he wanted to bring it to the Farm. This old schoolhouse originated in 1879 and served many generations of children until it closed in the 1940’s. When Walter found it, he said it looked liked they had held school in it one day, and the next day they boarded it up with all the books, desks and stove still inside.
Walter purchased the schoolhouse at auction and shipped it to the Farm. When it arrived, he kept the authentic detail, only adding a bell and bell tower because he thought that the schoolhouse needed it.
Read the rest at KnottsBerryBlog
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
A new exit stairway?
A new exit stairway it looks like. The old exit into the arcade might be gone. It makes sense as this leads right into the Ride Warriors store....
Posted by Albert Rodriguez on Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Stairs making way up to indoor queue entrance with roll up doors
Stairs making way up to roll up door! indoor Queue A/C 5/15/15 #Knotts #knottsironreef #KnottsBerryFarm #boardwalk #ThemePark #amusementpark #BuenaPark #cedarfair Photo: @althegamefreak
Posted by Knott's Network on Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Cedar Fair plans dark rides for all its amusement parks
In typical executive bullet-point fashion, Ouimet distilled his Amusement Dark vision into three S’s: strategy, storytelling and social interaction.
The strategy portion envisions a fleet of dark rides with a highly interactive interface and a digital infrastructure allowing for constant upgrades. Think Toy Story Midway Mania video game screens with Buzz Lightyear Astro-Blasters ray guns.
The storytelling aspect focuses on traditional topics such as pirates, dinosaurs, dragons and cowboys and Indians that don’t require expensive IPs from major media companies.
And the social component seeks to include gaming elements that encourage competition between family and friends while driving repeat visits.[...]
Avoiding the one-size-fits-all approach also allows Cedar Fair to capitalize on constantly improving technology. Iron Reef at Knott's will feature backlighted imagery and 10-times brighter cameras that were not available when Guardian was built at Canada's Wonderland.[...]
While animatronics have not played prominent roles in Guardian or Iron Reef, Ouimet expects to work on future Amusement Dark projects with San Bernardino-based Garner Holt Productions, which created life-like figures for recent refurbishments of the 1969 Timber Mountain Log Ride and the 1960 Calico Mine Ride at Knott’s.
With no Amusement Dark projects currently in the pipeline, it’s unlikely we'll see any new dark rides added at any Cedar Fair parks in 2016 — but that hasn’t stopped Ouimet from planning for 2017 and beyond.
"We have blank spaces and empty boxes at every park," Ouimet said.
Read the rest at LATimes
Knott's News: Fingers crossed that they're working on a Bear-y Tales comeback with Garner Holt.
The strategy portion envisions a fleet of dark rides with a highly interactive interface and a digital infrastructure allowing for constant upgrades. Think Toy Story Midway Mania video game screens with Buzz Lightyear Astro-Blasters ray guns.
The storytelling aspect focuses on traditional topics such as pirates, dinosaurs, dragons and cowboys and Indians that don’t require expensive IPs from major media companies.
And the social component seeks to include gaming elements that encourage competition between family and friends while driving repeat visits.[...]
Avoiding the one-size-fits-all approach also allows Cedar Fair to capitalize on constantly improving technology. Iron Reef at Knott's will feature backlighted imagery and 10-times brighter cameras that were not available when Guardian was built at Canada's Wonderland.[...]
While animatronics have not played prominent roles in Guardian or Iron Reef, Ouimet expects to work on future Amusement Dark projects with San Bernardino-based Garner Holt Productions, which created life-like figures for recent refurbishments of the 1969 Timber Mountain Log Ride and the 1960 Calico Mine Ride at Knott’s.
With no Amusement Dark projects currently in the pipeline, it’s unlikely we'll see any new dark rides added at any Cedar Fair parks in 2016 — but that hasn’t stopped Ouimet from planning for 2017 and beyond.
"We have blank spaces and empty boxes at every park," Ouimet said.
Read the rest at LATimes
Knott's News: Fingers crossed that they're working on a Bear-y Tales comeback with Garner Holt.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Monday, April 6, 2015
Craftycoyote photo opt near Ghost Town Toy Barn
Craftycoyote photo opt near Ghost Town Toy Barn! #knotts #knottsspring #knottsberryfarm #themepark #amusementpark #buenapark #cedarfair #ghosttown
Posted by Knott's Network on Sunday, April 5, 2015
Friday, April 3, 2015
Knotts is Berry-ing Along
Knotts Berry Farm is in the thick of Spring Break and in the middle of the amazing Boysenberry Festival. The park is busy, which is actually a wonderful thing see. The better they do, the more new things we’ll see at the park in the future. The streets of Ghost Town bustle with activity as guests dart around, enjoying the food, the entertainment, and the attractions. Today we share a bit more on the Boysenberry Festival. We’ll also dive into the latest news from Voyage to the Iron Reef. Finally, we cover the latest progress from Knotts Boardwalk and the activity going on there. Let’s go to the Farm . . .
Read the rest at MiceChat
Read the rest at MiceChat
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Iron Reef Night Update: Walls have been pushed out, you can see in the empty Arcade, Roofing coming in on new steel!
Iron Reef Night Update: Walls have been pushed out, you can see in the empty Arcade, Roofing coming in on new steel! 5/15/15 #knottsironreef
Posted by Knott's Network on Thursday, April 2, 2015
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Knott's Boysenberry Festival Fun
Over the weekend we were invited out to Knott's Berry Farm to partake in this years Boysenberry Festival. This year the event has gotten even bigger and if the first day of the event is any indication, much more popular, which is great to see. We also took some time to check out the Boysenberry Pie eating competition which was great fun.
Read the rest at ParkJourney
Read the rest at ParkJourney
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