We take a break from scary stuff today to look at The Hanging, one of two shows at Knott’s Scary Farm this year. A fixture of the Halloween Haunt since the early days, The Hanging is the annual satirical lampooning of pop culture, where The Lawman and the Hangman search out and hang the year’s most vile and offensive media figure.
Read there dest at Westcoaster
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Knott’s Scary Farm 2015 – Returning Mazes
Welcome back to day 2 of Knott’s Scary Farm coverage. If you missed yesterday’s post on Haunt’s new mazes for 2015, you can check it out here. Today, we check out the returning mazes, including several that received some makeovers and bring new elements to familiar themes! We’ll jump right in, because there are lots of mazes and lots of photos to post (but do note that some of this update will contain spoilers to new changes to old attractions).
Read the rest at Westcoaster
Read the rest at Westcoaster
Knott’s Scary Farm 2015 – New Mazes
Kids, it has finally come upon us. All year, we ask, “Is it Haunt yet?” And all year, the answer is, “no.” But now, with three nights of opening weekend under our belts, we can finally say, “Yes, it IS Haunt!” This week is devoted to the Granddaddy of them all, Knott’s Scary Farm, the first large scale haunted attraction in America and the event that kickstarted the entire haunted attraction movement. Today, we’ll focus on the three new “mazes” (quotes, since one of them is a ride overlay) for 2015. Lets get going, and of course haunted attraction disclaimer: photos in this update may be graphic in nature with simulated gore, so exercise appropriate discretion.
Read the rest at Westcoaster
Read the rest at Westcoaster
Mass Effect attraction coming to California's Great America in 2016
California’s Great America and Electronic Arts (EA) are teaming up to create a first-of-its-kind guestexperience at Great America. The dynamic new attraction will feature settings and characters from EA’scritically acclaimed Mass Effect™ videogame series developed by BioWare™ and will open next season in a newly renovated Action Theater.
This exciting guest experience involves cutting edge technology customized for Great America and delivers 4D effects combined with a live performer and incredible special effects.
Great America guests will be taken on a thrilling adventure across the galaxy where they will travel through awe-inspiring landscapes, face off against bigger than life adversaries and ultimately help save the day.
“Teaming with a world-wide gaming leader like EA will enable us to build an incredible user experiencefor Great America guests,” said California’s Great America Vice President and General Manager Raul Rehnborg. “This combination of technology and creative video game content is sure to usher in a new wave of entertainment innovation at amusement parks.”
“EA and BioWare are thrilled to partner with Great America and see one of our most iconic games turned into an exciting high-tech attraction,” said Patrick O’Brien, Vice President of Entertainment and Licensing, EA. “Having a partner who shares our commitment to thrilling our fans is extremely important to us and we look forward to building an attraction that will appeal to the Mass Effect fan-base and introduce it to many more.”
Read the original story at CAGreatAmerica
Knott's News: Anyone who knows me knows that Mass Effect is one of my favorite video game series of all time. To many, Mass Effect is the video game equivalent of Star Wars. To others, it's deep lore and rich characters go beyond what Lucas himself calls "kids films" and the Star Wars comparison offends them. I fall into the second category.
So when I read the headline that a Mass Effect attraction was coming, I was beyond excited. Then I found out that it was in Cedar Fair's hands, of all people, and I immediately felt suffocating disappointment.
Hear me out, I love what Cedar Fair has been doing with Knott's since Matt's arrival but what I want - and what many fans assume they're getting when they read the headline - is a Wizarding World / Star Wars Land-esque immersive experience. What they're gonna get instead is a mass (wink wink) produced 3D film that'll go in the ever rotating Action Theater to replace Happy Feet. When the Cedar Fair license is up, we'll most likely see this in every Six Flags, mall and Casino you can think of. What this means is that we won't see much theming outside the entrance sign.
Hell, I probably have more Mass Effect theming in my room with my 1/4th scale Garrus statue (for interested fans, you can pick one up HERE) and the accompanying blue LED lights I affixed him with to give it a deep space atmosphere.
So, what can we expect exactly? Well they say the theater is receiving a renovation which usually means additional 4D effects. They also say there will be a live performer in the room, which means it'll be like T2 3-D at Universal Studios, only with a single performer instead of a group (probably just someone in N7 armor, a...commander of sorts). Other then that, we can expect the Action Theater to look and behave the same.
Thus far, no other details have been released, leaving one to speculate. Is SimEx-Iwerks handling the distribution? Will the awesome people at Blur Studios be handling the content, since they have experience with both theme park attractions and Mass Effect?
For reference, here is an example of Blur Studio's promotional work on Mass Effect:
And here's a trailer for the latest installment in the series coming out holiday next year, Mass Effect Andromeda, running on EA's Frostbite graphics engine:
I know this isn't Knott's related but you're gonna get updates regardless.
This exciting guest experience involves cutting edge technology customized for Great America and delivers 4D effects combined with a live performer and incredible special effects.
Great America guests will be taken on a thrilling adventure across the galaxy where they will travel through awe-inspiring landscapes, face off against bigger than life adversaries and ultimately help save the day.
“Teaming with a world-wide gaming leader like EA will enable us to build an incredible user experiencefor Great America guests,” said California’s Great America Vice President and General Manager Raul Rehnborg. “This combination of technology and creative video game content is sure to usher in a new wave of entertainment innovation at amusement parks.”
“EA and BioWare are thrilled to partner with Great America and see one of our most iconic games turned into an exciting high-tech attraction,” said Patrick O’Brien, Vice President of Entertainment and Licensing, EA. “Having a partner who shares our commitment to thrilling our fans is extremely important to us and we look forward to building an attraction that will appeal to the Mass Effect fan-base and introduce it to many more.”
Read the original story at CAGreatAmerica
So when I read the headline that a Mass Effect attraction was coming, I was beyond excited. Then I found out that it was in Cedar Fair's hands, of all people, and I immediately felt suffocating disappointment.
Hear me out, I love what Cedar Fair has been doing with Knott's since Matt's arrival but what I want - and what many fans assume they're getting when they read the headline - is a Wizarding World / Star Wars Land-esque immersive experience. What they're gonna get instead is a mass (wink wink) produced 3D film that'll go in the ever rotating Action Theater to replace Happy Feet. When the Cedar Fair license is up, we'll most likely see this in every Six Flags, mall and Casino you can think of. What this means is that we won't see much theming outside the entrance sign.
Hell, I probably have more Mass Effect theming in my room with my 1/4th scale Garrus statue (for interested fans, you can pick one up HERE) and the accompanying blue LED lights I affixed him with to give it a deep space atmosphere.
So, what can we expect exactly? Well they say the theater is receiving a renovation which usually means additional 4D effects. They also say there will be a live performer in the room, which means it'll be like T2 3-D at Universal Studios, only with a single performer instead of a group (probably just someone in N7 armor, a...commander of sorts). Other then that, we can expect the Action Theater to look and behave the same.
Thus far, no other details have been released, leaving one to speculate. Is SimEx-Iwerks handling the distribution? Will the awesome people at Blur Studios be handling the content, since they have experience with both theme park attractions and Mass Effect?
For reference, here is an example of Blur Studio's promotional work on Mass Effect:
And here's a trailer for the latest installment in the series coming out holiday next year, Mass Effect Andromeda, running on EA's Frostbite graphics engine:
I know this isn't Knott's related but you're gonna get updates regardless.
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Knott’s Scary Farm 2015 opens with lots of creepy fun, including new Frozen-inspired ‘Dead of Winter’ haunted house
The Halloween season has officially begun in Southern California, as Knott’s Berry Farm in downtown Buena Park opened its gates as the rechristened Knott’s Scary Farm for the 43rd year running.
This year’s haunt features two brand-new mazes (The Dead of Winter and Paranormal, Inc.), seven returning mazes (Trick or Treat, Voodoo, The Tooth Fairy, Forevermore, Pinocchio Unstrung, Gunslinger’s Grave, and Black Magic), a newly re-themed Mine Ride (My Bloody Clementine), one returning interactive experience (Special Ops: Infected), and two shows (The Hanging and Elvira’s Asylum).
This year’s haunt features two brand-new mazes (The Dead of Winter and Paranormal, Inc.), seven returning mazes (Trick or Treat, Voodoo, The Tooth Fairy, Forevermore, Pinocchio Unstrung, Gunslinger’s Grave, and Black Magic), a newly re-themed Mine Ride (My Bloody Clementine), one returning interactive experience (Special Ops: Infected), and two shows (The Hanging and Elvira’s Asylum).
Read the rest at InsideTheMagic
What's the Deal with This Year's Knott's Scary Farm?
Knott’s, we need to talk.
No, no, come sit down. We’re all here because we love you and we want you to get better. I know this is going to be hard, but you need to sit and listen before we can help you get where you need to be. I’ll go first.
Knott’s Scary Farm is in its 43rd year of existence. I imagine it was quite scary and impressive for many of those years, but after taking two steps forward the past two years the event took a major step backwards this fall.
Of the 11 mazes at the 2015 event, three were what I would put in the category of “recommendable.” The other eight range between “take it or leave it” and “avoid.”
No, no, come sit down. We’re all here because we love you and we want you to get better. I know this is going to be hard, but you need to sit and listen before we can help you get where you need to be. I’ll go first.
Knott’s Scary Farm is in its 43rd year of existence. I imagine it was quite scary and impressive for many of those years, but after taking two steps forward the past two years the event took a major step backwards this fall.
Of the 11 mazes at the 2015 event, three were what I would put in the category of “recommendable.” The other eight range between “take it or leave it” and “avoid.”
Read the rest at ThemeParkInsider
Review: Reenergized Knott's Halloween Haunt lures us back into the fog
Halloween Haunt returns with a vengeance to Knott’s Berry Farm with the best maze lineup in a decade and a new commitment to quality set design and immersive storytelling.
From start to finish, I found the nine mazes at Haunt 2015 to be solid and well-executed, the shows at their raunchy best and the scare zone monsters in terrifying form.
It’s taken awhile to clear the Buena Park theme park of some past Haunt flotsam and jetsam, but by and large this year’s returning mazes have held up well while continuing to improve. And the newest offerings compare favorably to what’s being offered up the freeway at Universal Studios Hollywood.
While Haunt still has a way to go to catch up to and keep up with Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, the level of detail and commitment to storytelling in the newest attractions bodes well for the future of Knott’s Scary Farm.
Read the rest at LATimes
From start to finish, I found the nine mazes at Haunt 2015 to be solid and well-executed, the shows at their raunchy best and the scare zone monsters in terrifying form.
It’s taken awhile to clear the Buena Park theme park of some past Haunt flotsam and jetsam, but by and large this year’s returning mazes have held up well while continuing to improve. And the newest offerings compare favorably to what’s being offered up the freeway at Universal Studios Hollywood.
While Haunt still has a way to go to catch up to and keep up with Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, the level of detail and commitment to storytelling in the newest attractions bodes well for the future of Knott’s Scary Farm.
Read the rest at LATimes
Knott's took time to get this scary
The Knott’s Scary Farm we know today is far different than when it first opened in October 1973.
Knott’s Halloween Haunt started with nine costumed monsters roaming the park – “The Munsters” (remember them?) in the Livery Stables, the Phantom of the Opera in the Saloon and the Invisible Man in The Haunted Shack – and decorations of cobwebs and skeletons.
Over the 43 years, it has evolved into Knott’s Scary Farm with 1,000 monsters lurking this year in the fog that settles throughout parts of the park, lifelike gore as decorations and 11 mazes filled with special effects, projections and the latest technology.
Read the rest at OCRegister
Knott’s Halloween Haunt started with nine costumed monsters roaming the park – “The Munsters” (remember them?) in the Livery Stables, the Phantom of the Opera in the Saloon and the Invisible Man in The Haunted Shack – and decorations of cobwebs and skeletons.
Over the 43 years, it has evolved into Knott’s Scary Farm with 1,000 monsters lurking this year in the fog that settles throughout parts of the park, lifelike gore as decorations and 11 mazes filled with special effects, projections and the latest technology.
Read the rest at OCRegister
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Old Screamin Swing area!
Old Screamin Swing area! #knotts #ghosttown75 #ghosttown #knottsberryfarm #themepark #AmusementPark #buenapark #cedarfair
Posted by Knott's Network on Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Knott’s Berry Farm – 09/23/2015
In just a little over 24 hours, we’ll be back at Knott’s for the annual festivities to check out 2015’s edition of Knott’s Scary Farm… so this morning with a little free time on my hands, I decided to go take a walk around the park to see what’s up. Remember, 24 nights of Scary Farm start tomorrow and will run through October 31st, and if you haven’t taken advantage of the Haunt Pass, you’re missing out! Unlike other parks, this pass gives you access to all 24 nights of Scary Farm for just $80. $140 if you add parking. But, if you have a Season Pass with parking included, it’s already taken care of! Cool, huh? You ready? I know I am!
Read the rest at Westcoaster
Read the rest at Westcoaster
Friday, September 18, 2015
A lifetime after working for Walter Knott, nun to celebrate 95th birthday at Knott's Berry Farm
Her mother worked in the kitchen making gravy and boysenberry pies. Her father plowed the berry patch.
It was 1939, and America was just coming out of the Great Depression.
Sister Florence Hund, who was 19 at the time, answered the phones for Walter Knott. She remembers he was a nice guy, thin, round glasses. She worked weekends in the small office building next to the berry stand on Highway 39, before Buena Park became a city, before Knott’s Berry Place became Knott’s Berry Farm.
The phone rang constantly with people making reservations for dinner. That’s all she remembers doing – taking dinner reservations.
“They were famous for their chicken dinners,” Florence said. “People came from miles around for a chicken dinner.”
Thursday is Hund’s 95th birthday, and she’s got one request.
She’s going to Knott’s Berry Farm for lunch. She’s planning to order chicken.
Read the rest at OCRegister
It was 1939, and America was just coming out of the Great Depression.
Sister Florence Hund, who was 19 at the time, answered the phones for Walter Knott. She remembers he was a nice guy, thin, round glasses. She worked weekends in the small office building next to the berry stand on Highway 39, before Buena Park became a city, before Knott’s Berry Place became Knott’s Berry Farm.
The phone rang constantly with people making reservations for dinner. That’s all she remembers doing – taking dinner reservations.
“They were famous for their chicken dinners,” Florence said. “People came from miles around for a chicken dinner.”
Thursday is Hund’s 95th birthday, and she’s got one request.
She’s going to Knott’s Berry Farm for lunch. She’s planning to order chicken.
Read the rest at OCRegister
A new mission: Former service members to lead the charge in Knott's popular Scary Farm maze
Former Marine Sgt. Darren Rivenbark will lead quite unusual battles this Halloween.
The 41-year-old will try to help save humanity from a zombie apocalypse starting Sept. 24 at Knott’s Scary Farm.
“We’re going to get us some zombies!” belted Rivenbark, an Anaheim resident performing his best drill sergeant impression dressed in desert camouflage fatigues.
Rivenbark is a squad leader in the theme park’s popular Special Ops: Infected – an interactive maze that places guests armed with laser guns on a mission to save the world from zombies.
In his role as Sgt. Stress, he is one of 25 squad leaders, nearly half of whom are former service members.
Read the rest at OCRegister
The 41-year-old will try to help save humanity from a zombie apocalypse starting Sept. 24 at Knott’s Scary Farm.
“We’re going to get us some zombies!” belted Rivenbark, an Anaheim resident performing his best drill sergeant impression dressed in desert camouflage fatigues.
Rivenbark is a squad leader in the theme park’s popular Special Ops: Infected – an interactive maze that places guests armed with laser guns on a mission to save the world from zombies.
In his role as Sgt. Stress, he is one of 25 squad leaders, nearly half of whom are former service members.
Read the rest at OCRegister
Thursday, September 17, 2015
The Spark – Cheers to My Mentor Garner Holt
Fellow MiceChatters, this is The Spark. In this space, I’ll discuss what it’s like to pursue a career in themed entertainment, trends and developments in the industry, and Disney and otherwise related items on theme park and immersive entertainment history, culture, and more. I hope you’ll enjoy the ride.
Today is the 55th birthday of the man who has made the most significant impact on my life and career: my friend and mentor, Garner Holt, founder and president of Garner Holt Productions, Inc. In the inaugural bit of writing for The Spark, his birthday provides the perfect inspiration to talk about him, and the virtues of mentorship in the creative industry.
Read the rest at MiceChat
Today is the 55th birthday of the man who has made the most significant impact on my life and career: my friend and mentor, Garner Holt, founder and president of Garner Holt Productions, Inc. In the inaugural bit of writing for The Spark, his birthday provides the perfect inspiration to talk about him, and the virtues of mentorship in the creative industry.
Read the rest at MiceChat
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
It's bound to be bloody as Knott's steps up challenge to Universal's Horror Nights
The difference between Knott’s Halloween Haunt and Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights has always come down to quantity versus quality.
Knott’s Berry Farm has always been about more, more, more: More mazes, more monsters, more nights. After inventing the theme park haunted event, Knott’s dominated the competition for decades.
Universal Studios Hollywood is known for its movie studio-quality set designs, special effects monster makeup and heart-stopping theatrical scares. The ghastly crosstown upstart now sets the bar against which others — including Knott’s — are measured.
Knott’s has stepped up its game in recent years with the thrilling Trapped escape-room maze and the expansive Special Ops: Infected zombie-killing laser-tag experience. But capacity issues dogged both the upcharge Trapped maze and the highly interactive Infected experience, which were as good or better than anything offered by Universal’s Horror Nights.
Now, Knott’s is applying the lessons learned over the past few seasons to the more traditional Paranormal Inc. haunted maze — which at first glance appears to have the quality sets and top-notch talent of Trapped as well as the in-depth storytelling and in-your-face action of Special Ops: Infected.
Knott’s Berry Farm has always been about more, more, more: More mazes, more monsters, more nights. After inventing the theme park haunted event, Knott’s dominated the competition for decades.
Universal Studios Hollywood is known for its movie studio-quality set designs, special effects monster makeup and heart-stopping theatrical scares. The ghastly crosstown upstart now sets the bar against which others — including Knott’s — are measured.
Knott’s has stepped up its game in recent years with the thrilling Trapped escape-room maze and the expansive Special Ops: Infected zombie-killing laser-tag experience. But capacity issues dogged both the upcharge Trapped maze and the highly interactive Infected experience, which were as good or better than anything offered by Universal’s Horror Nights.
Now, Knott’s is applying the lessons learned over the past few seasons to the more traditional Paranormal Inc. haunted maze — which at first glance appears to have the quality sets and top-notch talent of Trapped as well as the in-depth storytelling and in-your-face action of Special Ops: Infected.
Read the rest at LATimes
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Knott's Scary Farm build update 9-9-15
School is back in session, crowds are much lighter now. We now are starting to see Scary Farm deco though out Ghost Town. This year there are a lot of pumpkins, Im assuming that will also tie into the new Knott’s Spooky Farm (Weekend Daytime Halloween Fun) in Oct.
Read the rest at KnottsNetwork
Read the rest at KnottsNetwork
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
The Removal of Screamin Swing has begun!
The Removal of Screamin Swing has begun! #ghosttown75
Posted by Knott's Network on Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Work has begun at Ghostrider! Reopening 2016!
Work has begun at Ghostrider! Reopening 2016! #ghosttown75
Posted by Knott's Network on Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Friday, September 4, 2015
Ryan Reynolds shows off his first girlfriend!
My first girlfriend, Karen. Obsessed with Knott's Berry Farm. She refused to leave. Refused to do lots of stuff. pic.twitter.com/47pWBidQqj
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) September 3, 2015Thursday, September 3, 2015
Fireworks will explode over Knott's Labor Day weekend
The rocket’s red glare, in the form of fireworks, will be bursting mid-air at Knott’s Berry Farm Sunday night.
The fireworks are part of the extra entertainment on the schedule at America’s oldest theme park for the Labor Day weekend, which includes extended operating hours through Monday.
The fireworks display is scheduled for 10 p.m. Sunday night, September 6.
Read the rest at OCRegister
The fireworks are part of the extra entertainment on the schedule at America’s oldest theme park for the Labor Day weekend, which includes extended operating hours through Monday.
The fireworks display is scheduled for 10 p.m. Sunday night, September 6.
Read the rest at OCRegister
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
History of the Charles M. Schultz Theatre
Known today as the Charles M. Schulz Theatre, Walter Knott opened the John Wayne Theatre at Knott’s Berry Farm on June 19, 1971. It is the very theater that still stands there today. A theater filled with rich Knott’s Berry Farm history.
Read the rest at KnottsBerryBlog
Read the rest at KnottsBerryBlog
History of the Bird Cage Theatre
If you have been to Knott’s and have visited Ghost Town, then you have probably seen Knott’s Bird Cage Theater. It’s located just around the corner from the Old Wind Mill in front of the Fireman’s BBQ.
Bird Cage Theater is full of history. I met up with longstanding Bird Cage Theater performer, Dean Carter, to learn a little bit about the unique history of this beloved little theater.
Read the rest at KnottsBerryBlog
Bird Cage Theater is full of history. I met up with longstanding Bird Cage Theater performer, Dean Carter, to learn a little bit about the unique history of this beloved little theater.
Read the rest at KnottsBerryBlog
Whipout slowly getting new signage!
Whipout slowly getting new signage!
Posted by Knott's Network on Wednesday, September 2, 2015
New wall near Boomerang Queue to hide the backstage areas!
New wall near Boomerang Queue to hide the backstage areas!
Posted by Knott's Network on Wednesday, September 2, 2015
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