Welcome back to the Farm! Knott’s popular Boysenberry Festival starts this weekend – April 1st through 23rd. There’s a lot going on right now. New attractions are being built, an old one will soon be leaving. A tremendous amount of entertainment is being added for the upcoming festival. And we’ve got the full scoop for you. Let’s head in and take a look at some huge changes on the horizon.
Read the rest at MiceChat
Friday, March 31, 2017
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Knott’s Showdown in Ghost Town is VR Fun
Saturday is a big day for Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. April 1st is the start of not only their popular Boysenberry Festival (we’ll have an article all about that tomorrow) but also launches a brand new virtual reality game called “Showdown in Ghost Town,” which pits you against murderous robot cowboys bent on destroying Ghost Town.
I like a fun new adventure as much as the next guy, but I really wanted to bring some experts along with me to give this new Knott’s experience a whirl. I’m pleased to share not only my thoughts on the experience, but those of gamers and virtual reality experts Nick Tierce and Hastin Zylstra as well.
Read the rest at MiceChat
I like a fun new adventure as much as the next guy, but I really wanted to bring some experts along with me to give this new Knott’s experience a whirl. I’m pleased to share not only my thoughts on the experience, but those of gamers and virtual reality experts Nick Tierce and Hastin Zylstra as well.
Read the rest at MiceChat
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
The new virtual reality additional charge experience, VR Showdown In GhostTown, premieres this Sat. in the Knotts Berry Farm Boardwalk Arcade!
The new virtual reality additional charge experience, #VRShowdownInGhostTown, premieres this Sat. in the #KnottsBerryFarm Boardwalk Arcade! pic.twitter.com/9ofmWch17u
— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) March 29, 2017
Knott's Berry Farm virtual reality 'Showdown' lets you defend Ghost Town from robotic villains
It’s a chance to defend a western town, Ghost Town that is, at Knott’s Berry Farm in its newest attraction “VR Showdown in Ghost Town.”
The new experience, opening in April, places four “players” in a virtual-reality version of the farm’s Ghost Town to defend it.
It’s the players as the good guys versus the virtual robotic characters as the bad guys – and everyone has a six-gun with plenty of virtual bullets.
“Two players can physically walk around the space, and each other, in Ghost Town,” said Ivan Blaustein, a producer with VR Studios, the company that developed the experience with Knott’s and its parent company, Cedar Fair.
This is the first free-roaming multiplayer virtual reality game experience in a U.S. theme park.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
The new experience, opening in April, places four “players” in a virtual-reality version of the farm’s Ghost Town to defend it.
It’s the players as the good guys versus the virtual robotic characters as the bad guys – and everyone has a six-gun with plenty of virtual bullets.
“Two players can physically walk around the space, and each other, in Ghost Town,” said Ivan Blaustein, a producer with VR Studios, the company that developed the experience with Knott’s and its parent company, Cedar Fair.
This is the first free-roaming multiplayer virtual reality game experience in a U.S. theme park.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
Friday, March 24, 2017
VR Showdown in Ghost Town Comes to Knott’s Berry Farm April 1st
VR Showdown in Ghost Town has come to Knott’s Berry Farm, making its debut April 1, during the kick-off of this year’s Boysenberry Festival. Theme Park Adventure was fortunate enough to preview the brand-new family attraction at Knott’s this week, and we came away with some really positive observations to share.
I’ve long said that virtual reality as we know it is best suited for home console gaming. It’s taking off by leaps and bounds in the home market, resulting in some pretty amazing video game experiences. In theme parks, VR is a really hard sell for me, for several reasons. Typically, VR is an operational nightmare – the headsets are bulky and require constant cleaning and maintenance, guests need assistance putting the gear on properly and then removing it, and depending on your luck, it’s very easy to get a piece of hardware that isn’t calibrated properly or out of focus, which ruins the experience. To be completely transparent, the only VR-equipped attractions I have experienced are roller coasters, and I’m not a huge fan to be honest. When I ride a coaster, I want to experience the coaster – I want to see where I am, what the train is doing, and I want to have interaction with other riders, whether it be screaming and laughing, or putting our hands up as a group. When rumors started flying of virtual reality coming to Knott’s, I was less than excited. I guessed that Montezooma’s Revenge was going to get the VR treatment, as many other older coasters across the nation and around the world are getting these days. I’ve never been happier to be wrong!
Read the rest at ThemeParkAdventure
I’ve long said that virtual reality as we know it is best suited for home console gaming. It’s taking off by leaps and bounds in the home market, resulting in some pretty amazing video game experiences. In theme parks, VR is a really hard sell for me, for several reasons. Typically, VR is an operational nightmare – the headsets are bulky and require constant cleaning and maintenance, guests need assistance putting the gear on properly and then removing it, and depending on your luck, it’s very easy to get a piece of hardware that isn’t calibrated properly or out of focus, which ruins the experience. To be completely transparent, the only VR-equipped attractions I have experienced are roller coasters, and I’m not a huge fan to be honest. When I ride a coaster, I want to experience the coaster – I want to see where I am, what the train is doing, and I want to have interaction with other riders, whether it be screaming and laughing, or putting our hands up as a group. When rumors started flying of virtual reality coming to Knott’s, I was less than excited. I guessed that Montezooma’s Revenge was going to get the VR treatment, as many other older coasters across the nation and around the world are getting these days. I’ve never been happier to be wrong!
Read the rest at ThemeParkAdventure
Knott’s VR Showdown In Ghost Town – An Incredible Immersive Game
Knott’s Berry Farm has a great new attraction custom built and placed under Voyage to the Iron Reef in the Boardwalk area of the park. The extra cost game was a collaboration between VRstudios and Cedar Fair, and features iconic characters and settings from the history of Knott’s.
The game makes use of wireless Virtual Reality headsets (VR) that fit over guests’ heads. In addition, wireless headphones keep the immersive-ness with audio streamed to them. Physical guns appear in the game as well. Game guests can move freely around a small room, known as a pod. Though there is almost nothing else in the room, the game will simulate the classic Ghost Town setting with barrels and boxes to hide behind.
The pods can have two players in them, but all pods are connected to allow for teams. Up to 4 can play at once. The pods also provide different perspectives. depending on the sides you are on.
Read the rest at DAPsMagic
The game makes use of wireless Virtual Reality headsets (VR) that fit over guests’ heads. In addition, wireless headphones keep the immersive-ness with audio streamed to them. Physical guns appear in the game as well. Game guests can move freely around a small room, known as a pod. Though there is almost nothing else in the room, the game will simulate the classic Ghost Town setting with barrels and boxes to hide behind.
The pods can have two players in them, but all pods are connected to allow for teams. Up to 4 can play at once. The pods also provide different perspectives. depending on the sides you are on.
Read the rest at DAPsMagic
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Sneak Peek: VR Showdown in Ghost Town
Get ready to enter a time machine and go back in time to defend the town of Calico from an army of robots! This new attraction is not only action packed and so much fun, but it is also brining the innovation of Virtual Reality to a theme park setting. When Tim and I tried this attraction this past Tuesday evening, our minds were blown away!
Read the rest at Knottsnetwork
Read the rest at Knottsnetwork
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Here's what's new at Knott's Berry Farm's Boysenberry Festival
Knott’s Berry Farm is rolling out more sweet and savory goodies for the theme park’s fourth annual Boysenberry Festival: The hybrid fruit stars in 75 unconventional creations, from ravioli to pizza.
Yes, the Fun Bun is back — a softball-size, boysenberry frosted cinnamon roll that has become a crowd favorite. The Fun Stick, a triangular slice of boysenberry cheesecake dipped in funnel cake batter on a stick, also returns.
It’s all about celebrating the park’s roots as a fruit farm. Growers Walter Knott and his family first began selling boysenberries — a mix of blackberry, loganberry and raspberry – at a roadside stand in the late 1920s. The land was eventually turned into a theme park.
Due to the festival’s popularity, Knott’s expanded it by a week this year to April 1-23.
At a recent preview, the Register and other media outlets sampled many boysenberry-flavored treats.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
Yes, the Fun Bun is back — a softball-size, boysenberry frosted cinnamon roll that has become a crowd favorite. The Fun Stick, a triangular slice of boysenberry cheesecake dipped in funnel cake batter on a stick, also returns.
It’s all about celebrating the park’s roots as a fruit farm. Growers Walter Knott and his family first began selling boysenberries — a mix of blackberry, loganberry and raspberry – at a roadside stand in the late 1920s. The land was eventually turned into a theme park.
Due to the festival’s popularity, Knott’s expanded it by a week this year to April 1-23.
At a recent preview, the Register and other media outlets sampled many boysenberry-flavored treats.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
Knott’s Berry Farm Installs VR Ghost Town In America’s Oldest Theme Park
Knott’s Berry Farm in Orange County, California is said to be America’s oldest theme park. The Knott family started it as a literal farm but built it up into a restaurant and then opened up a ghost town in the 1940s for entertainment that served as the basis for a decades-long expansion into a 160-acre park in the heart of Southern California. If you’re unfamiliar with it, you’ve undoubtedly heard of its neighbor Disneyland just a short drive away.
On April 1, Knott’s is opening an expansion to its arcade paying homage to that original ghost town while updating it for the 21st century. VR Showdown In Ghost Town is a multiplayer VR experience that costs $6 in addition to the cost of your ticket. We gave it a try at a media preview this week.
Read the rest at UploadVR
On April 1, Knott’s is opening an expansion to its arcade paying homage to that original ghost town while updating it for the 21st century. VR Showdown In Ghost Town is a multiplayer VR experience that costs $6 in addition to the cost of your ticket. We gave it a try at a media preview this week.
Read the rest at UploadVR
PREVIEW: Virtual Reality invades Knott’s Berry Farm with “VR Showdown in Ghost Town”
Two weeks ago Southern California’s Knott’s Berry Farm announced that it would be bringing the first permanent, free-roaming VR experience in an American theme park to its Boardwalk Arcade.
“Permanent” is the key word here for Knott’s “first” designation. Universal Orlando previously showcased free-roaming VR as part of The Repository – but that was a temporary installation for their Halloween Horror Nights event.
Technicalities aside, last night I had the opportunity to truly be among the first to test out the new game at Knott’s Berry Farm, called “VR Showdown in Ghost Town”.
I was definitely excited to give the new attraction a try – but more importantly, I left even more excited for the future of these kind of interactive games at theme parks and elsewhere.
Read the rest at InsidetheMagic
“Permanent” is the key word here for Knott’s “first” designation. Universal Orlando previously showcased free-roaming VR as part of The Repository – but that was a temporary installation for their Halloween Horror Nights event.
Technicalities aside, last night I had the opportunity to truly be among the first to test out the new game at Knott’s Berry Farm, called “VR Showdown in Ghost Town”.
I was definitely excited to give the new attraction a try – but more importantly, I left even more excited for the future of these kind of interactive games at theme parks and elsewhere.
Read the rest at InsidetheMagic
Friday, March 17, 2017
Knott's Berry Farm History!
Boomerang to close forever on April 23rd at the end of the Boysenberry Festival
Knott's News: With Riptide "ripped" out and now Boomerang at the end April, this will leave a sizable chunk of land for a future attraction. Fingers crossed its not another rollercoaster and that it'll compliment the new Boardwalk Barbecue restaurant.Take your last ride on Boomerang during the Knott’s #BoysenberryFestival before the coaster closes forever on April 23. pic.twitter.com/vBFy8oESdl— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) March 17, 2017
Thursday, March 16, 2017
PREVIEW: Get a taste of Boysenberry Festival 2017 at Knott’s Berry Farm
After last year’s 75th anniversary of Knott’s Ghost Town and relaunch of its incredibly-popular GhostRider roller coaster, it’s going to be hard for Knott’s Berry Farm to have a more fun-filled spring/summer season in 2017, but darn tootin’ they’re gonna try.
The Boysenberry Festival is Knott’s first big event of the year, and it’s shaping up to be chock-full of flavorful festivities, including live performances, a wine and craft brew tasting garden, and of course over 75 unique boysenberry-inspired food choices.
Read the rest at InsideTheMagic
The Boysenberry Festival is Knott’s first big event of the year, and it’s shaping up to be chock-full of flavorful festivities, including live performances, a wine and craft brew tasting garden, and of course over 75 unique boysenberry-inspired food choices.
Read the rest at InsideTheMagic
First taste of Knott's Berry Farm's 2017 Boysenberry Festival
Knott's Berry Farm's annual Boysenberry Festival returns April 1 for a 23-day run, and last night, the park invited selected reporters to sample a few items that it will be serving at this year's event.
Read the rest at ThemeParkInsider
Read the rest at ThemeParkInsider
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Knott's Berry Farm and VRstudios Unveil Details of "VR Showdown In Ghost Town" - The First Permanent Free-Roaming, Virtual Reality Experience at a U.S. Theme Park
Knott's Berry Farm, its parent company Cedar Fair Entertainment and VRstudios announced today the details of the first permanent installation of a free-roaming, multi-player VR experience in a U.S. theme park, which will be located inside the Knott's Berry Farm Boardwalk Arcade. A new custom and industry first virtual reality (VR) experience, "VR Showdown in Ghost Town" will make its debut in April, and is exclusively available at Knott's Berry Farm.
The immersive and interactive VR attraction will invite guests to embark on a time travel adventure, which will transport them to a futuristic version of Knott's western town of Calico. Players will be met by robotic creations and embark on a daring mission with other groups of players to defend the town.
The one-of-a-kind immersive experience perfectly combines virtual reality and a competitive gaming realm that will captivate guests. Armed with state-of-the-art wireless virtual reality headsets and futuristic blasters, multiple players will compete against one another for the highest score and bragging rights, as part of this immersive adventure, while striving toward shared team goals. At the end of the VR competition, guests will be able to view and compare scores with their fellow opponents.
"We are always looking for new and exciting ways to entertain our guests," said Christian Dieckmann, Cedar Fair's Vice President of Strategic Growth. "By using a free-roaming system, we can take full advantage of the capabilities of VR and let our guests be the stars of the show. A majority of people have not yet experienced VR, and we anticipate there will be a lot of interest from guests to have their first taste at our park."
"VR Showdown in Ghost Town" is one of the many exciting new experiences coming to Knott's in 2017 and will be available to guests at an introductory price of $6.00, in addition to park admission.
For further updates and park information please visit knotts.com or download the Knott's Berry Farm app for your smartphone. Join the conversation about the new virtual reality experience using the hashtag #VRShowdownInGhostTown on the Knott's Facebook or Twitter page.
The immersive and interactive VR attraction will invite guests to embark on a time travel adventure, which will transport them to a futuristic version of Knott's western town of Calico. Players will be met by robotic creations and embark on a daring mission with other groups of players to defend the town.
The one-of-a-kind immersive experience perfectly combines virtual reality and a competitive gaming realm that will captivate guests. Armed with state-of-the-art wireless virtual reality headsets and futuristic blasters, multiple players will compete against one another for the highest score and bragging rights, as part of this immersive adventure, while striving toward shared team goals. At the end of the VR competition, guests will be able to view and compare scores with their fellow opponents.
"We are always looking for new and exciting ways to entertain our guests," said Christian Dieckmann, Cedar Fair's Vice President of Strategic Growth. "By using a free-roaming system, we can take full advantage of the capabilities of VR and let our guests be the stars of the show. A majority of people have not yet experienced VR, and we anticipate there will be a lot of interest from guests to have their first taste at our park."
"VR Showdown in Ghost Town" is one of the many exciting new experiences coming to Knott's in 2017 and will be available to guests at an introductory price of $6.00, in addition to park admission.
For further updates and park information please visit knotts.com or download the Knott's Berry Farm app for your smartphone. Join the conversation about the new virtual reality experience using the hashtag #VRShowdownInGhostTown on the Knott's Facebook or Twitter page.
Knott's Berry Farm sets date for memorabilia auction
The date is set for people interested in buying a part of Knott’s Berry Farm’s history.
The farm is auctioning off many items it no longer needs, including Walter Knott’s Model T. Other items include a hearse used to promote Knott’s Scary Farm, figures used in the long-gone “Knott’s Beary Tales” ride, and several famous western paintings.
Heritage Auctions is handling the sale for the farm with live bidding starting at 1 p.m. Friday, March 31, in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre at the farm.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
The farm is auctioning off many items it no longer needs, including Walter Knott’s Model T. Other items include a hearse used to promote Knott’s Scary Farm, figures used in the long-gone “Knott’s Beary Tales” ride, and several famous western paintings.
Heritage Auctions is handling the sale for the farm with live bidding starting at 1 p.m. Friday, March 31, in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre at the farm.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
Knott's Berry Farm plugs into virtual reality, the new park thrill on the cheap
Knott’s Berry Farm is getting in on the latest theme park craze: putting visitors in a virtual world created primarily by software engineers instead of carpenters and welders.
The new VR Showdown in Ghost Town, which opens next month at the Buena Park theme park, will put virtual reality headsets on up to 16 visitors at a time, letting them shoot futuristic blasters at robot creatures in a battle to save the historic ghost town.
Read the rest at the LATimes
The new VR Showdown in Ghost Town, which opens next month at the Buena Park theme park, will put virtual reality headsets on up to 16 visitors at a time, letting them shoot futuristic blasters at robot creatures in a battle to save the historic ghost town.
Read the rest at the LATimes
Are Disneyland and Knott's making food and wine festivals permanent additions to the theme parks?
As you probably could tell if you've visited a theme park recently, parks in Southern California and Central Florida no longer believe in anything called "the off season" anymore. Parks that stay open year round are looking to keep their parks as filled on a random day in March as they are in the heat of summer.
Unfortunately for what's traditionally been a family-driven business, pesky schools continue to insist that children attend classes for most of the year. Sure, some parents will take their kids out for a trip now and then, but parks need to go after a more grown-up audience to keep their queues - and bank accounts - filled during the weeks when schools keep their students in class.
And that's why theme parks love food festivals.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
Unfortunately for what's traditionally been a family-driven business, pesky schools continue to insist that children attend classes for most of the year. Sure, some parents will take their kids out for a trip now and then, but parks need to go after a more grown-up audience to keep their queues - and bank accounts - filled during the weeks when schools keep their students in class.
And that's why theme parks love food festivals.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Friday, March 3, 2017
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Knott’s Berry Farm Photo Update – Shop, Drop and Roll
Time for us to return to the SoCal park built by another famous Walt. Knott’s is preparing for their annual Boysenberry Festival which will run for most of April. Meanwhile, the Marketplace shops need some help, but the park is looking good, even as recent rains have caused some closures.
See it all at MiceChat
See it all at MiceChat
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