Thursday, March 31, 2016
California’s Great America Announces Massive Capital Investment and Retail Project
How long have we heard that California’s Great America doesn’t have anywhere to expand? “The park is landlocked – there’s nowhere for them to go.” And what about, “Cedar Fair doesn’t care about this park – they want to sell it.”
Well, this aught to shut up the naysayers…
In an unprecedented announcement on Wednesday, the park announced that it has applied for a rezoning from the City of Santa Clara, which will allow it to add significantly more attractions with less red tape, intends on purchasing the land on which the park sits on and will build a massive retail and entertainment complex near the front gate of the park.
Read the rest at GreatAmericanThrills
Well, this aught to shut up the naysayers…
In an unprecedented announcement on Wednesday, the park announced that it has applied for a rezoning from the City of Santa Clara, which will allow it to add significantly more attractions with less red tape, intends on purchasing the land on which the park sits on and will build a massive retail and entertainment complex near the front gate of the park.
Read the rest at GreatAmericanThrills
Knott's News: Well this is unexpected. Matt is bringing the kind of ambition Knott's showed in the 90s under Terry Van Gorder. With a 25% attendance boost last year, I'd say its time to bring some of that ambition back. For those who don't remember:
(This makes me miss Robin Hall and how well themed / cohesive everything was back then. Rob Decker needs to keep his hands off of Knott's)
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Wagon Camp progress
Wagon Camp progress! #ghosttown75
Posted by Knott's Network on Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Friday, March 25, 2016
A limited edition reprint of the Knott’s Bear-y Tales book is available while supplies last.
A limited edition reprint of the Knott’s Bear-y Tales book is available while supplies last. #BoysenberryFestival pic.twitter.com/H16wyDElwN— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) March 24, 2016
Thursday, March 24, 2016
From The Small Screen to the Midway: Video Games and the Next Wave of Dark Rides
“If these attractions are successful, we do believe there could be opportunity to roll them out more broadly to other parks in the Cedar Fair system.” Dieckmann told us. Cedar Fair is making a push to add more interactive dark rides to their parks with the “Amusement Dark” initiative they announced last year. “We have similar theater structures to those being used for these projects at some of our other parks, or they could also be scaled up or down to leverage other preexisting buildings.”
EA has several other popular franchises that could easily find homes at amusement parks, like Dragon Age, a fantasy role playing game series also from BioWare, Titanfall, a sci-fi mech shooter game developed by Respawn Entertainment that currently has a sequel in development, or the beloved Sims franchise, developed by Maxis, for another light-hearted family friendly entry. The catalog is certainly deep enough for the partnership to continue and broaden.
“In terms of new digital attraction development, we would certainly consider other properties if we feel there is a good fit,” Dieckmann added. “As discussed earlier, it’s all about matching the right attraction with the right creative concept and franchise.”
Read the rest at Coaster101
Knott's News: I wonder what Dieckmann means when he says Halon Entertainment is building the media for Mass Effect? Halon Entertainment mostly does Previs work (think of it like advanced digital storyboards) and only recently did final cinematics via the in-game engine for XCOM2. Would seem strange to me if they were involved with the final rendered product. I wonder if they're doing it in-game using Frostbite?
Was really pulling for Blur Studios to be involved, as they've got experience with both Mass Effect and digital attractions at theme parks.
EA has several other popular franchises that could easily find homes at amusement parks, like Dragon Age, a fantasy role playing game series also from BioWare, Titanfall, a sci-fi mech shooter game developed by Respawn Entertainment that currently has a sequel in development, or the beloved Sims franchise, developed by Maxis, for another light-hearted family friendly entry. The catalog is certainly deep enough for the partnership to continue and broaden.
“In terms of new digital attraction development, we would certainly consider other properties if we feel there is a good fit,” Dieckmann added. “As discussed earlier, it’s all about matching the right attraction with the right creative concept and franchise.”
Read the rest at Coaster101
Knott's News: I wonder what Dieckmann means when he says Halon Entertainment is building the media for Mass Effect? Halon Entertainment mostly does Previs work (think of it like advanced digital storyboards) and only recently did final cinematics via the in-game engine for XCOM2. Would seem strange to me if they were involved with the final rendered product. I wonder if they're doing it in-game using Frostbite?
Was really pulling for Blur Studios to be involved, as they've got experience with both Mass Effect and digital attractions at theme parks.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Go Beyond the Berm to the Boysenberry Festival at Knott's Berry Farm
Last weekend I was invited by Knott's Berry Farm to enjoy the 2016 Boysenberry Festival with my family. The annual event returns March 19 through April 3 this year, adding a "down home food fest" to the spring break season.
I can't remember the last time I visited Knott's Berry Farm – except to run through it during the annual Coaster Run – and I frankly didn't know what to expect. I had a vague awareness that part of the park was closed for refurbishment, and that one of the big roller coasters was closed for an update, but I'm so far out of the Knott's loop that I'd need a map, and the company of some friends who had visited much more recently than I, to find my way around.
The Boysenberry Festival is centered in Ghost Town, with almost every corner of the area festooned with boysenberry banners, decorated with oversized boysenberry photo props, or stocked with boysenberry-inspired gifts. 10 food venues serve up a staggering array of boysenberry-spiked food items.
I can't remember the last time I visited Knott's Berry Farm – except to run through it during the annual Coaster Run – and I frankly didn't know what to expect. I had a vague awareness that part of the park was closed for refurbishment, and that one of the big roller coasters was closed for an update, but I'm so far out of the Knott's loop that I'd need a map, and the company of some friends who had visited much more recently than I, to find my way around.
The Boysenberry Festival is centered in Ghost Town, with almost every corner of the area festooned with boysenberry banners, decorated with oversized boysenberry photo props, or stocked with boysenberry-inspired gifts. 10 food venues serve up a staggering array of boysenberry-spiked food items.
Read the rest at MousePlanet
Monday, March 21, 2016
The plants and zombies are setting up shop for their epic showdown!
The plants and zombies are setting up shop for their epic showdown! #PvZArena pic.twitter.com/U7vNMqrdGa
— Carowinds (@Carowinds) March 21, 2016
Zomboss almost has the ZTech facilities prepped for Opening Day! #PvZArena #PvZ pic.twitter.com/sfDm1axADz
— Carowinds (@Carowinds) March 22, 2016
Sunday, March 20, 2016
PREVIEW: Knott’s Boysenberry Festival once again brings tons of tasty treats and fun experiences to Knott’s Berry Farm
Knott’s Boysenberry Festival has been held annually at Knott’s Berry Farm each spring since 2014, but the history of the boysenberry has been tied to the Knott family since the 1930s. This year, the sixteen-day festival will run from March 19th through April 3rd at the popular Buena Park tourist destination that has been operation in some form or another for 75 years.
This week a select group of media had the opportunity to preview the 2016 Boysenberry Festival, and get a look (and taste) of many of its delicious food offerings. Take a look!
Read the rest at InsidetheMagic
This week a select group of media had the opportunity to preview the 2016 Boysenberry Festival, and get a look (and taste) of many of its delicious food offerings. Take a look!
Read the rest at InsidetheMagic
Boysenberry Festival Blooms at Knotts Berry Farm
Berrylicious! It’s that special time of the year down on the farm. The Boysenberry Festival has returned to Knott’s Berry Farm and runs through April 3. Guests can celebrate the amazing berry that started it all with ridiculously good food, live entertainment and shows. the entire park dripping with decorations and a festive atmosphere that really pops this year. Let’s go through the list of things there are to see and do.
Read the rest at MiceChat
Read the rest at MiceChat
Joey Jaws Knott's pie eating competition
There’s a reason why his nickname is Joey Jaws.
Joey Chestnut, a 32-year-old from San Jose, devoured 14.5 pounds of boysenberry pies in eight minutes on Saturday – setting a world record at the World Boysenberry Pie Eating Championship at Knott’s Berry Farm.
"I feel really good, awesome," Chestnut said. "The key was building tolerance for the pie."
Joey Chestnut, a 32-year-old from San Jose, devoured 14.5 pounds of boysenberry pies in eight minutes on Saturday – setting a world record at the World Boysenberry Pie Eating Championship at Knott’s Berry Farm.
"I feel really good, awesome," Chestnut said. "The key was building tolerance for the pie."
Read the rest at the OCRegister
Friday, March 18, 2016
Gorge yourself until you turn purple at Knott's Boysenberry Festival
How many different ways can you eat and drink boysenberry? Seventy-five to be exact, if you can stomach it all.
Knott’s Berry Farm will be serving them all during the Boysenberry Festival starting Saturday in the Ghost Town section of the Buena Park theme park.
There will be boysenberry salsa, boysenberry ice cream, boysenberry mustard, boysenberry taffy, boysenberry cheese, boysenberry butter, boysenberry relish, boysenberry aioli and boysenberry barbecue sauce. And more than five dozen other boysenberry-infused foods and drinks - if you haven’t turned purple yet.
I taste-tested about a dozen of the festival’s food offerings during a media preview in the Wilderness Dance Hall and found everything to be a notch above your average theme park fare.
Knott’s Berry Farm will be serving them all during the Boysenberry Festival starting Saturday in the Ghost Town section of the Buena Park theme park.
There will be boysenberry salsa, boysenberry ice cream, boysenberry mustard, boysenberry taffy, boysenberry cheese, boysenberry butter, boysenberry relish, boysenberry aioli and boysenberry barbecue sauce. And more than five dozen other boysenberry-infused foods and drinks - if you haven’t turned purple yet.
I taste-tested about a dozen of the festival’s food offerings during a media preview in the Wilderness Dance Hall and found everything to be a notch above your average theme park fare.
Read the rest at the LATimes
Knott's Berry Farm's Boysenberry Festival starts Saturday, expected to add to spring crowds
As it did more than 80 years ago, the boysenberry continues to bear fruit for Knott’s Berry Farm.
Starting Saturday, Knott’s hosts its third annual Boysenberry Festival, a 16-day food and live entertainment romp celebrating the hybrid fruit that started the theme park.
“This is when we go back to our roots,” Knott’s Vice President and General Manager Raffi Kaprelyan said. “This festival has become one of our busiest times of the year.”
The influx of guests arriving for the spring festival helped Knott’s draw more than 5 million people last year, a record for the theme park.
“Knott’s is a unique property and it’s important to understand it’s rich history and how it evolved from a simple berry farm into America’s first theme park,” Matt Ouimet, CEO of Cedar Fair, Knott’s parent company, said during an investor’s conference call earlier this month.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
Starting Saturday, Knott’s hosts its third annual Boysenberry Festival, a 16-day food and live entertainment romp celebrating the hybrid fruit that started the theme park.
“This is when we go back to our roots,” Knott’s Vice President and General Manager Raffi Kaprelyan said. “This festival has become one of our busiest times of the year.”
The influx of guests arriving for the spring festival helped Knott’s draw more than 5 million people last year, a record for the theme park.
“Knott’s is a unique property and it’s important to understand it’s rich history and how it evolved from a simple berry farm into America’s first theme park,” Matt Ouimet, CEO of Cedar Fair, Knott’s parent company, said during an investor’s conference call earlier this month.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Come Join MiceChat a Knott’s THIS weekend (March 20th)
MiceChat meets every Sunday at Noon (usually at Disneyland). But this week, we are meeting at Knott’s Boysenberry Festival (March 20th). We’ll meet in the beer garden of Ghost Town’s Wilderness Dance Hall at noon. At 12:30, we’ll take a group photo and then purchase Boysenberry Bites Tasting Cards (if you aren’t that hungry, split a card with someone). The tasting card is $25 and includes small portions of six delectable treats: 1. Boysenberry BBQ Short Ribs at Spurs Chophouse! 2. Spicy Boysenberry BBQ Wings! 3. Fried Alligator Bites with Fries & Boysenberry Aioli at Sutter’s 4. Boysenberry BBQ Meatballs near Churro Factory! 5. Boysenberry Panna Cotta with Almond Crumble at Ghost Town Bakery! 6. Boysenberry Dessert Flautas at Ghost Town Grub Following a traveling lunch, we’ll ride the mine train and then adjourn to the Dance Hall for wine tasting. Let us know if you’ll be joining us – HERE!
Read the rest at MiceChat
Read the rest at MiceChat
Knott's GhostRider debut delayed a month
The much-anticipated debut of the updated GhostRider wooden roller coaster at Knott’s Berry Farm has been delayed.
“GhostRider construction is taking longer than anticipated, and the roller-coaster attraction is slated to re-open in June,” said Jason Soyster, a Knott’s spokesman.
He declined to elaborate.
The coaster had been scheduled to re-open, along with a revised Ghost Town, on May 27.
Once a herky-jerky ride, the roller coaster was closed for restoration in September and will feature 4,500 feet of resurfaced wooden tracks and new ride vehicles that look like mining cars.
Read the original story at the OCRegister
“GhostRider construction is taking longer than anticipated, and the roller-coaster attraction is slated to re-open in June,” said Jason Soyster, a Knott’s spokesman.
He declined to elaborate.
The coaster had been scheduled to re-open, along with a revised Ghost Town, on May 27.
Once a herky-jerky ride, the roller coaster was closed for restoration in September and will feature 4,500 feet of resurfaced wooden tracks and new ride vehicles that look like mining cars.
Read the original story at the OCRegister
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Select from over a dozen gourmet wine & craft brews at the Boysenberry Festival
Select from over a dozen gourmet wine & craft brews, including boysenberry beer & wine, at the #BoysenberryFestival. pic.twitter.com/MLYRFxHtzK— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) March 16, 2016
Line up, coffee fans: Starbucks opens at Knott's Berry Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm park-goers have a new place to turn for their caffeine fix: Starbucks.
A 935-square-foot store, which had its soft opening this week, will officially debut Friday.
The coffee shop anchors the California MarketPlace just outside the park’s entrance. It will not feature any drinks unique to Knott’s.
Starbucks took over the former Dreyer’s Ice Cream shop, which will move within Knott’s to a location not yet announced.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
A 935-square-foot store, which had its soft opening this week, will officially debut Friday.
The coffee shop anchors the California MarketPlace just outside the park’s entrance. It will not feature any drinks unique to Knott’s.
Starbucks took over the former Dreyer’s Ice Cream shop, which will move within Knott’s to a location not yet announced.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Terry Van Gorder, Knott's visionary CEO, dies at 82
Terry Van Gorder, Knott’s Berry Farm’s only CEO while it was family owned and operated and who led the effort to license “Peanuts” characters for Camp Snoopy and spearheaded the development of Bigfoot Rapids and the GhostRider wooden roller coaster, has died. He was 82.
Van Gorder, chief executive officer of Knott’s from 1981 to 1998, died in his sleep at his home in Cottage Grove, Ore., on March 2.
The Knott family hired Van Gorder, also the first chief executive at Magic Mountain, when there was little agreement among the children and grandchildren of Knott’s Berry Farm’s founders about the theme park’s direction. Knott‘s had grown over the years, since Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant opened in 1934, followed by Ghost Town seven years later.
Van Gorder’s role as CEO made him a power broker of sorts, requiring him to navigate family politics and build consensus. He helped the park add roller coasters while maintaining Knott’s historical feel.
“He had a vision for where we could fit into a changing market,” said Darrel Anderson, one of the Knotts’ grandsons who helped bring Van Gorder on board. “He had a much more sophisticated vision than we had.”
Read the rest at the OCRegister
Van Gorder, chief executive officer of Knott’s from 1981 to 1998, died in his sleep at his home in Cottage Grove, Ore., on March 2.
The Knott family hired Van Gorder, also the first chief executive at Magic Mountain, when there was little agreement among the children and grandchildren of Knott’s Berry Farm’s founders about the theme park’s direction. Knott‘s had grown over the years, since Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant opened in 1934, followed by Ghost Town seven years later.
Van Gorder’s role as CEO made him a power broker of sorts, requiring him to navigate family politics and build consensus. He helped the park add roller coasters while maintaining Knott’s historical feel.
“He had a vision for where we could fit into a changing market,” said Darrel Anderson, one of the Knotts’ grandsons who helped bring Van Gorder on board. “He had a much more sophisticated vision than we had.”
Read the rest at the OCRegister
Knott’s Berry Farm Update – March 12th 2016
With all the craziness going on elsewhere around the state, we can’t forget that Knott’s Berry Farm is undergoing major changes as well! With huge renovations, a new Starbucks, GhostRider and a whole revitalized Ghost Town, there sure is plenty going on at the Buena Park park. Today’s update takes a look at all that, ride refurbishments, Boysenberry Festival, and a whole lot more!
Read the rest at CaliforniaCoasterKings
Read the rest at CaliforniaCoasterKings
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Fabulous Fords Forever: California’s Biggest & Best Ford Show is Free for All to See
The venue for the 31st annual Fabulous Fords Forever show is Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California and there couldn’t be a more appropriate location than Knott’s for a golden state held all Ford mega-spectacle. Right in the middle of the Model T Ford’s multi-year production run, the Knott family bought their farm’s 20-acre plot in 1920. Early photos of Walter and wife Cordelia Knott depict the couple alongside of Walter’s trusty Model T. In 1957 Knott’s Americana farm themed amusement park paid homage to Henry Ford’s Model T, opening Henry’s Livery Ride, the better answer to Disneyland’s Autopia because kids steered the scaled-down 1912 Model T Fords as opposed to Disney’s track-guided Autopia cars.
Read the rest at Mustang360
Read the rest at Mustang360
John Muir High School Wins Big at Knott's Berry Farm's Annual High School Physics Day
John Muir High School students took first place in two categories at the annual High School Physics Day competition at Knott’s Berry Farm at Buena Park last Thursday, March 10.
An announcement on the school’s Facebook page showed four of the students in the John Muir team holding two trophies each, although no specifics were mentioned.
Read the rest at PasadenaNow
An announcement on the school’s Facebook page showed four of the students in the John Muir team holding two trophies each, although no specifics were mentioned.
Read the rest at PasadenaNow
Knott’s Berry Farm to Debut a Deep-Fried Boysenberry Cheesecake for Annual Festival
The annual Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival is almost upon us, which means dozens of both sweet and savory berry-themed treats for people to enjoy, but none perhaps as anticipated as some deep-fried cheesecake.
NBC Los Angeles reports that about 70 edibles will be featured at this year’s festival.
A new item for 2016 is “The Fun Stick,” which is described as a “culinary masterpiece that perfectly combines a creamy boysenberry cheesecake, funnel cake, and boysenberry cream.”
NBC Los Angeles reports that about 70 edibles will be featured at this year’s festival.
A new item for 2016 is “The Fun Stick,” which is described as a “culinary masterpiece that perfectly combines a creamy boysenberry cheesecake, funnel cake, and boysenberry cream.”
Read the rest at TheDailyMeal
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Making of Mass Effect: New Earth 1
Knott's News: I see rachni, the Normandy and a mass relay. Hopefully a more substantial behind the scenes video comes out, revealing what production house is handling the animation and such.Behind the scenes footage into the making of Mass Effect: New Earth, a 4D Holographic Journey. pic.twitter.com/ziReboVOhZ— CA Great America (@CAGreatAmerica) March 9, 2016
American Indian hoop dance
The beautiful American Indian hoop dance is a storytelling dance first performed centuries ago. pic.twitter.com/CawkqaDOWO
— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) March 9, 2016
Monday, March 7, 2016
Mass Effect: New Earth coming very soon!
A teaser on what's 2 come with Mass Effect: New Earth, a 4D Holographic Journey. https://t.co/sLlgGWAXbT pic.twitter.com/RLCGVBaV71— CA Great America (@CAGreatAmerica) March 7, 2016
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Family Sues Knott’s Berry Farm After They Allege Son Was Injured On Coast Rider
A family is suing Knott’s Berry Farm after they say their 10-year-old son was injured on one of the park’s roller coasters.
The Burrei family says the terrifying accident on the Coast Rider unfolded when Carson’s leg became trapped between the cart and the deck.
Carson was with his family from Utah when he says he stepped out on the platform of the entry level ride because he thought it was over.
“I thought it was done because the ride had stopped,” he said. “And then when I went to hop out, it moved forward again.”
The force of the motion, the family alleges, ripped the skin off his foot, fractured it and tore his tendons, causing significant nerve damage.
Read the rest at CBS2
Knott's News: "Please remain seated until the ride comes to a complete and FINAL stop." I worked at a Cedar Fair park and had to say this hundreds of times a day. Assuming Knott's has the same safety spiels and the kid didn't wait for the final stop as he admits, then Knott's is in no way at fault for what happened to him. This holds especially true if the safety bar hadn't raised yet and he forced his way out.
I'll admit I had a bad experience working for Cedar Fair but I can tell you with certainty that safety is their #1 priority and no one takes it as seriously as they do. It's unfortunate this incident happened and the family has such exuberant medical expenses but they need to take responsibility for their own actions.
The Burrei family says the terrifying accident on the Coast Rider unfolded when Carson’s leg became trapped between the cart and the deck.
Carson was with his family from Utah when he says he stepped out on the platform of the entry level ride because he thought it was over.
“I thought it was done because the ride had stopped,” he said. “And then when I went to hop out, it moved forward again.”
The force of the motion, the family alleges, ripped the skin off his foot, fractured it and tore his tendons, causing significant nerve damage.
Read the rest at CBS2
Knott's News: "Please remain seated until the ride comes to a complete and FINAL stop." I worked at a Cedar Fair park and had to say this hundreds of times a day. Assuming Knott's has the same safety spiels and the kid didn't wait for the final stop as he admits, then Knott's is in no way at fault for what happened to him. This holds especially true if the safety bar hadn't raised yet and he forced his way out.
I'll admit I had a bad experience working for Cedar Fair but I can tell you with certainty that safety is their #1 priority and no one takes it as seriously as they do. It's unfortunate this incident happened and the family has such exuberant medical expenses but they need to take responsibility for their own actions.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Theme Parks Explore the Limitless Possibilities of Interactive Attractions
How much do you really do in a theme park?
Sure, you probably go on a lot of rides, and see some shows. But that's mostly just sitting around while stuff happens in front of or around you. What do you actually do in the park, actively? You eat. You walk around. You shuffle through slow-moving queues. But most theme park attractions remain passive experiences, moments where you are literally just along for the ride.
They don't have to be that way. Many top theme parks are developing more active attractions for their visitors — experiences that allow visitors to become participants instead of mere spectators. These new interactive experiences allow visitors to engage their imaginations in ways that more passive rides and shows too rarely do. And they are redefining the entertainment potential for theme parks.
Read the rest at ThemeParkInsider
Sure, you probably go on a lot of rides, and see some shows. But that's mostly just sitting around while stuff happens in front of or around you. What do you actually do in the park, actively? You eat. You walk around. You shuffle through slow-moving queues. But most theme park attractions remain passive experiences, moments where you are literally just along for the ride.
They don't have to be that way. Many top theme parks are developing more active attractions for their visitors — experiences that allow visitors to become participants instead of mere spectators. These new interactive experiences allow visitors to engage their imaginations in ways that more passive rides and shows too rarely do. And they are redefining the entertainment potential for theme parks.
Read the rest at ThemeParkInsider
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