Rain puts damper - for now - on construction of new features at Knott's Berry Farm for 2017

Heavy rain diminished crowds at Knott’s Berry Farm before Christmas Day, but the rain also impacted construction on new additions for 2017.

The new additions are two new water slides at its water park, Soak City; a new restaurant to be called Boardwalk Barbecue in the Boardwalk area; the new thrill ride coming in 2017 called “Sol Spin.”

But the heavy downpours turned the three construction areas into wet, muddy land - pretty much stopping construction to let things dry out.

However, as the skies cleared, the crowds came out as America’s first theme park transformed into “Knott’s Merry Farm” for the holiday season.

Read the rest of the OCRegister

Sky Cabin Incident

Update 10:06pm - All 20 guests and one ride operator were safely on the ground by 9:54pm pic.twitter.com/tIzenlLvlq

— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) December 31, 2016

Update 6:15pm - The safety of our guests and employees is our number one priority. We'll provide updates as they become available. pic.twitter.com/0hTUhTKlYV

— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) December 31, 2016

Yesterland: California Missions - Real and Knott’s

Yesterland recently published “They’re Back! The Missions Return to Knott’s Berry Farm,” thanks to photos and observations from M.H. Habata.

Today, M.H. Habata is back with photos that show how eight models at Knott’s compare to their full-size counterparts.

Read the rest at Yesterland

Ring in the new year at Knott’s Berry Farm

The countdown to the New Year is on at Knott’s Merry Farm! With special fireworks, live entertainment, and extended hours, plus Knott’s signature rides and attractions, Knott’s New Year’s Eve celebration is the place to celebrate and ring in 2017.

Special one-night-only entertainment serves up family fun for a variety of ages and interests, including a family friendly comedian, swing dancing and more! Count down the New Year with festive music, party hats, noisemakers, friends and family. Knott’s Sky Cabin, towering over 200 ft. in the air, will dramatically rise to the top of the “K” tower as special lighting effects help countdown the final moments of 2016. When the cabin reaches the top at the stroke of midnight the skies above Knott’s will be ablaze with colorful fireworks!

Read the rest at the OCBreeze

Member Knott's Bear-y Tales?

Knotts Merry Farm Delivers Authentic Christmas Cheer

Southern Californians are lucky folks, especially at the holidays. We may not have snow, but we sure do have a lot of choices for where to find some amazing holiday cheer. Disneyland has the dazzle, Universal has the Hollywood pizzazz, and Knott’s has authentic Christmas charm.

Read the rest at MiceChat

Yesterland: They’re Back! The Missions Return to Knott’s Berry Farm

As the 20th Century came to a close, Knott’s Berry Farm was reinventing itself as a thrill ride park. Its original focus on California heritage took a backseat. Slowly, over many years, the dioramas of the California Missions—which had been an iconic feature of the Farm for two generations—disappeared.

It’s now the end of 2016, the year that Ghost Town celebrated its 75th anniversary. Over the past half dozen years, the management of Knott’s and its parent Cedar Fair have changed course. Knott’s turned its attention back to Ghost Town, the Calico Mine Train, the Timber Mountain Log Ride, Camp Snoopy, Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, and fun for all ages—while continuing to offer a top-notch collection of thrills.

In late November 2016, the California Mission dioramas quietly returned to public view. On December 2, Knott’s made it official with a press release.

Read the rest at Yesterland

California Missions make their long awaited return to Knott's Berry Farm

Knott’s Berry farm announced that the beloved scale models of California’s historic Missions have returned to the park on Wednesday, November 30. This project reflects Knott’s continued appreciation and preservation of California’s rich history.

Scaled models of the original California Missions boarder the same midway between Silver Bullet and the south entrance of Fiesta Village, as it did previously for many years. Twenty-year veteran of Knott’s Berry Farm’s woodshop and current Knott’s craftsman, Bob Weir, has been meticulously restoring the missions for over three years, for a new generation of guests to appreciate.

Read the rest at KnottsNetwork

Knott’s brings back historical models of California missions

Knott’s Berry farm announced today that the beloved scale models of California’s historic Missions returned to the park on Wednesday, Nov. 30. This project reflects Knott’s continued appreciation and preservation of California’s rich history.

Scaled models of the original California Missions boarder the same midway between Silver Bullet and the south entrance of Fiesta Village, as it did previously for many years. Twenty-year veteran of Knott’s Berry Farm’s woodshop and current Knott’s craftsman, Bob Weir, has been meticulously restoring the missions for over three years, for a new generation of guests to appreciate.

“Knott’s Berry Farm prides itself in celebrating California’s rich, living history, and the California Mission models hold as much educational value as they do sentimental value for many of our guests,” said Knott’s general manager, Jon Storbeck. “We know that grade school curriculums in California include lessons on the California Missions, so we’re pleased that Knott’s Adventures in Education programs will allow students a unique and authentic learning experience that can only be found at Knott’s.”

In addition to the return of the historic missions, Knott’s is hosting its Early California History Day on March 15, 2017, in which students will have the opportunity to visit and tour the displayed models within the park, as well as have the opportunity to display a mission of their own. One homemade mission model will be selected to represent an individual school and enter into the California Missions competition. The winning models will be awarded special Knott’s Berry Farm prizes.

Read the rest at the OCBreeze

After 18 years, California Mission models are back at Knott's Berry Farm

Just like the swallows in San Juan Capistrano, the models of California’s missions have returned to Knott’s Berry Farm after an 18-year absence.

On Wednesday, 13 of the restored models went on display, with the other 8 planned for placement over the next few months.

The original models first appeared in the park in 1956. They were commissioned by Walter Knott to be placed along a trail next to the Stagecoach line to keep people from wandering in front of the horse-drawn carriages.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

The California Missions have returned to Knotts!

The California Missions have returned to @knotts! #Knotts pic.twitter.com/Y5Po8Lxkxs

— Brad Jashinsky (@BradJashinsky) November 30, 2016

How skaters rehearse for the Christmas ice show at Knott's Berry Farm

The count starts, “5, 6, 7, 8…” from assistant director Tara La Ferriere as she leads the ice skaters during rehearsal for “Merry Christmas, Snoopy!” at Knott’s Berry Farm.

There were 10 skaters on the ice inside the Charles M. Schulz Theater practicing their routines under her watchful eye, skating in rhythmic circles to her count, doing jumps, spins and more while they honed their routine a few days before the show premiered last weekend.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Knott’s Merry Farm is Bigger and Better Than Ever

If there are any theme park enthusiasts who dislike holiday celebrations, life must be tough this time of year.

Knott’s Berry Farm, long the king of Halloween with it’s “Knott’s Scary Farm” Halloween Haunt, turns right around and transforms quickly into “Knott’s Merry Farm”. While natural snow almost never falls in Buena Park, it falls in Ghost Town, during “Snow and Glow in Ghost Town” on Ghost Town Main Street and Schoolhouse Road.

Read the rest at LaughingPlace

Make American-built roller coasters great again!

“When we go to a company, we really just say: 'longest, tallest fastest, or something that no one has ever done,'” says Rob Decker with Cedar Fair Entertainment, which owns and operates 11 amusement parks in North America.

Read the rest at PublicRadioInternational

Knott's News: "Yeah, don't prioritize making it fun or memorable, just makes sure it gives us a tagline that tricks people into thinking its a new experience."

Knott's Berry Farm Mannequin Challenge

The Calico Saloon Christmas Show will leave you... speechless #MerryFarm #MannequinChallenge 🎄💃🎵 pic.twitter.com/aPWUC29qMs

— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) November 22, 2016

Soak City Update! Lots of dirt

Walls are down at the new extend parking lot near Soak City

Boardwalk BBQ Update! Lots of dirt

Knott's construction update boardwalk 11/16/16

Sol Spin preparation

Boardwalk BBQ demolition

Knott’s Merry Farm Promises Joyful and Festive 2017 Holiday Season

Christmas is practically here! At least if you’re a theme park fan. Recently Knott’s announced their plans for the 2017 holiday season. If you’ve never been before it’s something every holiday lover must experience. Expect food, deserts, shows, carolers, snow, Santa and so, much more! It’s a wonderful event. This year with the recent additions made to Ghost Town we can expect a brand new stage show as well as a brand new Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Here’s a look at everything fans can expect for 2017.

Starting November 19, Knott’s Berry Farm celebrates the merriest of seasons as it wondrously transforms into Knott’s Merry Farm with thousands of twinkling lights and cheerful holiday décor throughout the park. Spend the most wonderful time of the year at Knott’s Merry Farm relishing the Christmas season with thrilling attractions, festive new live entertainment, a Christmas crafts fair, delectable holiday food, cheerful carolers performing seasonal classics and nightly snow falling on the lively streets of Calico.

Read the rest at BehindtheThrills

Knott's Merry Farm: November 19 - January 8

Knott’s Berry Farm Announces Full 2017 Additions

Knott’s is the park that doesn’t seem to stop growing. Every year, the whole resort seems to get a new major addition and this year is definintly no exception. Last year Knott’s revamped the iconic Ghost Rider roller coaster and celebrated Ghost Town’s 75th Anniversary. This year, the biggest additions will not be in the park itself but across the street at Soak City where the aging water park will receive it’s first major expansion in almost a decade. That’s not to say the theme park won’t see anything new, they have lots planned through the year! Let’s take a look at some of the upcoming new additions and festivities that the park has planned.

Read the rest at BehindtheThrills

Cedar Fair reports $175 million quarterly profit, record revenues

Cedar Fair said today it set a new revenue record on its way to a $175 million profit in the year’s third quarter. The company also announced a 4 percent increase in its quarterly dividend.

The company, which operates Cedar Point and a string of amusement and water parks across the country, said third quarter revenues were up about 1 percent to $650 million. The $175 million profit translates to $3.10 a share. In 2015, Cedar Fair earned $164 million or $2.92 a share.

Read the rest at TheBlade

Coming in 2017: New Thrill Ride, Knott's Soak City Expansion, Ghost Town Alive!, and Extended Boysenberry Festival

There’s farm fresh fun for everyone coming to Knott’s Berry Farm in 2017 with a brand new thrill ride, an extended Knott’s Boysenberry Festival, the exciting return of Ghost Town Alive! next summer, and the expansion of Knott’s Soak City Waterpark.

Read the rest at KnottsBerryFarm

Knott's Berry Farm puts an awful lot of thought into all those celebrities that it skewers at Halloween Haunt

So what happens tonight after the last Hanging is held at Knott's Scary Farm? Well, the entertainment team at America's First Theme Park gets a well-deserved night of rest. But after that, these talented folks plunge right into compiling a constantly changing list of celebrity scandals, political faux pas, memorable movie moments and quirky pop culture phenomena which next year's Hanging can then be built around.

"Since we have to have a treatment of this show ready by the first week of May -- so that the people who handle Haunt then know what to budget for the Hanging -- we have to start that list very early on," explained Ken Parks, the Vice President of Entertainment at Knott's Berry Farm. "We're always on the look-out for that hit TV series or that piece of headline news that everyone's watching or that everybody knows about which can then serve as our parody center-pole. That comic thread which runs through the entire show."

"And some years, that event or news item that we can then build an entertaining Hanging around emerges very early on. And other years, it doesn't happen 'til much further on," Ken continued. "But by the first week of June, we have to have something down on paper because we need to start casting that year's show by July. And then - come August - the script for that year's Hanging has to already be in pretty good shape because, since rehearsals begin the day after Labor Day, we need to be in the studio recording the tracks for that show ASAP."

Read the rest at JimHillMedia

Speculation: Is Six Flags or Cedar Fair Coming Down to Florida?

The already crowded theme park market in Central Florida could be gaining a new competitor. The Orlando Sentinel's Growth Spotter is reporting that a large U.S. theme park developer -- one that doesn't have a presence in the area -- is negotiating on parcels of land in Orlando that could top 200 acres. Sources claim that the theme park operator would team up with international partners to develop the site with a theme park, a water park, and hotels.

We know that we're not talking about Disney, Universal Orlando parent Comcast, and SeaWorld Entertainment, since they already have a heavy presence in the area. Disney World, Comcast's Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld's Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld Orlando combine for eight theme parks and another six water parks in Central Florida.

That opens the door for Six Flags and Cedar Fair as major regional amusement park operators that may finally make a big push into the booming Florida market. They're not the only possible players in this scenario. Palace Entertainment -- the U.S.-based arm of Spain's Parques Reunidos -- operates several leisure parks in this country, including Kennywood and Lake Compounce. Sources telling Growth Spotter that it's a U.S. operator with international partners makes California-based Palace a strong contender. There's also Dollywood and Silver Dollar City parent Herschend Family Entertainment, where Joel Manby ran the show before being tapped as SeaWorld Entertainment's CEO last year.

Read the rest at the MotleyFool

How they keep the fog rolling at Knott's Scary Farm

The fog can be so dense in Ghost Town that monsters creep right up to unsuspecting guests and scare them into loud screams -- and when that happens, Mike Jacobsen is just doing his job at Knott’s Scary Farm.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” he said.

Jacobsen is known as “Fog-1” during the Halloween season at the farm, something he’s been doing for 10 years.

He, along with his assistant Michael Boyce, “Fog-2,” have to walk around the park around 6 p.m. to turn on approximately 75 fog machines in Ghost Town, Camp Snoopy and many of the mazes.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Knott's Scary Farm: Only A Few Nights Left

6 Kid Friendly Things to Do at Knott's Spooky Farm

If you haven't had a chance to get over to knott's Berry Farm you are running out of time for their fun kids event. Knott's Spooky Farm is going on now and is all about the littles during the daytime. Check out the top 6 kid friendly things to do during your visit to the park! The best part, all the not so spooky fun is included with your annual pass or general admission and is happening weekends in October from 10:00 a.m to 4:00 P.M (small fee for some activities)

Read the rest at CleverlyCatheryn

When Social Justice Warriors Get Through With Halloween, It Won’t Exist

Just in time for Halloween, a social scare-tale is playing out across the country. Well, actually, an isolated incident has taken place with a lone crank targeting a holiday event, but still, the horror!

The impetus for change is Ron Thomas, a mental health activist whose schizophrenic son died at the hands of police years ago. What does Thomas’ tragic experience have to do with a Halloween theme park? I am not sure I could tell you. While there is a zeal to his complaints, there was little curiosity or analysis in his accusations.

Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Timesdetails how Thomas caused Knotts Berry Farm to close its Halloween-themed amusement park, called FearVR: 5150. Curiously, Thomas expected to be offended by the theme park, yet went anyway. Now, if I find myself offended by an activity, I take action by not engaging in that activity. That is not possible for today’s social justice warriors. Avoiding offense is never an option. Banishing that activity, and preventing others from any possible enjoyment they derive from it, is the only acceptable result.

While Thomas did head over to the attraction, he never got in—the lines were too long. “Instead, he talked to people as they exited and asked them to describe FearVR. They told him they were strapped into seats as if being admitted to a hospital, and then were transported into a frightening scene of mayhem,” Lopez writes. Therefore any outrage and action taken as a result is the result of hearsay.

Read the rest at TheFederalist

Elvira clones camp it up for look-alike contest at Knott's

The over the top hair, make-up and barely covered fronts were on stage as 16 people took part in the “Elvira Look-Alike” contest at Knott’s Scary Farm Saturday night.

The contest, held in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre during Halloween Haunt, was an added attraction to one of Elvira’s shows. It was billed as a chance to camp it up for the people taking part as the “Mistress of the Dark.”

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Cedar Fair tears down the nation's 7th oldest coaster

After 91 years, The Big Dipper at Geauga Lake is being demolished. While Cedar Fair wastes money polishing the turd that is Mean Streak at Cedar Point, they're simultaneously removing a true classic.  Just another reason to be happy Dick(head) Kinzel is gone, for he's directly responsible for all of this and probably would've led to other classics amongst Cedar Fair's parks sharing a similar fate.

See the aftermath at Fox8

5 Tips for Your Visit to Knott’s Scary Farm

If you are going to Knott’s for the first time, there’s almost too much to wrap your brain around. With so many mazes, shows, scare zones, experiences, foods, opportunities, etc. you can easily miss out on something amazing. There are ton’s of great mazes (do as many of those as you can), but here are few tips on how to make the most of the rest of your experience….

Read the rest at MiceChat

Knott's Scary Farm Opening Weekend 2016

Petition: Bring FearVR Back to Knott's Berry Farm

This attraction should be re-opened, and if nothing else a blanket disclaimer should be made that states this is not meant to make light or or make fun of mental illness.

Sign the petition at Change.org

Virtual Reality Halloween by The Bay

I find myself filled with anticipation at this particular point of the space time continuum. This upcoming weekend both California’s Great America and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will be debuting new virtual reality experiences, and your humble narrator is ready to jump right to it. On a Friday I was at the California’s Great America media preview of Fear VR (also coming to Knotts Berry Farm), and the next day sees me at the Passholder preview for the Revenge of the Gargoyles version of Kong at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

Admittedly, my own VR experience is limited. I’ve yet to go to Six Flags Magic Mountain since VR was added to Revolution, and am a spoiler avoider. I remember a Berkeley arcade where I strapped on a helmet during the Reagan administration, but it was technologically limited, maybe slightly above Pong, a gimmick. About 10-12 years ago I got roped into some upcharge thing at Magic Mountain which was awful. And, well, that’s all. But that was a long time ago tech wise, and in that time we’ve gone from online videos [sic] that were really little more than a series of blurry stills to actual high definition clips of the last Disneyland set by Bill Hill & the Hillbillys.

Not sure exactly what to expect, but am excited about it. In the end, I hope to say there is no winner or loser. Neither of them has to be better than the other, different will suffice. In just the last week there have been ads for a VR system for Samsung appearing on our television, and care to guess who is manufacturing the park’s systems? Also, virtual reality has been reported as quite the rage from the just held Tokyo Game Show, so this may well be the year when this technology has hit the level needed for mass penetration.Read on to see what happened.

Read the rest at MiceChat

Spellbinding! Vanessa Hudgens is hauntingly stylish in crop top at Knott's Scary Farm with boyfriend Austin Butler

Vanessa Hudgens was ready to give fans the goosebumps as she arrived to Knott's Scary Farm in Buena Park on Friday in a truly spellbinding ensemble.

The 27-year-old channeled her inner vampire as she arrived to the festivities in a black crop top with slouchy pair of trousers to match.

Vanessa's hair was styled up into two quirky buns as she wore a long red velvet kimono, topping off the spooky look.

Read the rest at the DailyMail

Knott's closes Halloween attraction "Fear VR" after complaints from mental health advocates

Knott’s Berry Farm and its parent company, Cedar Fair, announced Tuesday that they are shutting down the Halloween attraction Fear VR after the feature caused concern among mental health advocates, including Saddleback pastor Rick Warren and his wife, Kay, who sent an email to the park Tuesday.

Mental health advocates nationwide emailed Knott’s and Cedar Fair administrators expressing their concern over the last week, that the portrayal of a possessed girl in a hospital as part of a virtual-reality horror show stigmatizes and denigrates individuals with mental illnesses.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Frightful Nights at Knott's Scary Farm

If the Haunted Mansion is spooky at best, if Cruella is macabre but too kooky, and if Goofy's skeleton costume just doesn't give you the chills, then maybe you need to head north to Knott's Berry Farm for their annual Knott's Scary Farm to get your thrills on.

For over 40 years, Knott's Berry Farm has brought its fright-fest to Southern California. This year Knott's Scary Farm has two shows; nine haunted mazes; four Skeleton Key rooms (for an extra cost); and more monsters, zombies, and creepy clowns walking about than you can shake a stick at. The big rollercoasters are also open during these evenings.

Read the rest at MousePlanet

New Terrors Unleashed At Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt

Knott’s Scary Farm, the theme park Halloween Haunt which started it all, has returned for the 2016 season of spooky scares. You’ll find 13 haunted attractions, 160 acres of scare zones, 4 standalone skeleton key rooms, 2 big shows, and a brand new virtual reality experience. And, for as little as $40, Knott’s proves once again that it is the best value Halloween event anywhere – with more to offer than you could possibly see in just one night.

Read the rest at MiceChat

[Review] Knott’s Scary Farm Returns With Best Year Yet

It may not be October, but the Halloween season is in full swing as Knott’s Berry Farm has kicked opened it’s barn doors and unleashed all the ghouls and goblins on their traditionally family friendly park. Charlie Brown himself invited us down to check out the park and I’ve returned with a trip report for, what could be, the best Scary Farm yet.

I’ve been attending Knott’s Scary Farm for the last three to four years, just a fraction of how long the event has actually been open, and each time I’ve felt the park has been great in one area while falling short in another. This year, though, things seemed to gel together better than they have ever before. Even with a few hiccups.

Here’s how the trip went in good ol’ “Best to Worst” fashion.

Read the rest at Horror-Movies

Knott’s Scary Farm Opening Weekend Review and Tips! 2016

Knott’s Scary Farm is finally here, we spent the first 3 nights taking it all in. We’re going to talk about tips, new mazes, experiences and more!

We have spent the whole weekend at the Knott’s Hotel, which was refurbished little over a year ago and it’s the best way to enjoy opening weekend or any night of Scary Farm! They have Scary Farm hotel packages that can gets you a T-Shirt, Fright Lane, Fast Lane, Pre-Scare Dinner at the Hotel, and tickets to the event! The Pre-Scare Dinner is a great way to start the night, you get to visit with the monsters that will end up scaring you later on in the night

Also, you get to take photos with them, and you get into Scary Farm 30 mins early! We recommend going to the backstage mazes first, or whichever maze you would like to go to first. Right now, Shadowlands and Infected are the most popular, Paranormal INC. still brings in a crowd.

Read the rest at Knottsnetwork

Event Review: Knott's Scary Farm 2016 at Knott's Berry Farm

Knott's Scary Farm is at war with itself. On one side, the cheesy, spooky aesthetic that has become synonymous with the original theme park Halloween event over the last decade — on the other, a movement towards scares over charm and darkness over illuminated cheese.

When the latter wins, Scary Farm is at its best. When it doesn't? Well, you get much of the same that you've gotten in recent years. This is an event that's understandably aiming for a younger crowd than you see at Halloween Horror Nights — but high schoolers want to be scared, too. I think.

Read the rest at ThemeParkInsider

At Knott's Scary Farm, Elvira is still horrifically campy after 30 plus years

Elvira still has the hair, the attitude and the, uh, shape. In fact, after 35 years, she’s still in good shape, skewering celebrities and having fun with Halloween.

The Mistress of the Dark is appearing in a new show called “Elvira’s Danse Macabre” at Knott’s Scary Farm for the season. A combination dance review and celebrity mock-fest, it allows Elvira to strut her “stuff” on stage in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre for all her fans to see -- something she’s done since the early 1980s.

“My first year we did one week, seven nights, that was Halloween,” she said.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Review: Knott’s still working out the kinks in Halloween Haunt 2016

After 44 years, Knott’s Berry Farm should have Halloween Haunt down to an exact science.

I visited the Buena Park theme park for Thursday’s opening night and found Haunt 2016 to be very much a work in progress.

The chief offenders this season were the upcharge Skeleton Key rooms. In years past, the Skeleton Key rooms were intense live-action scenes that set up the backstory in some of the mazes for those willing to pay extra for the experience.

Read the rest at the LATimes

Here are the must-do attractions at Knott's Scary Farm

The ghouls and ghosts have come out, and visitors’ screams and shrieks can be heard from Beach Boulevard.

The original theme park celebration of Halloween, Knott’s Scary Farm, kicked off Thursday with four new scary attractions, redesigned haunt mazes, and the usual monsters and costumed ghouls hiding in thick fog roaming around.

The Register visited opening night on Thursday and came up with these must-do attractions

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Knott's Scary Farm 2016: Opening Night Thoughts

Happy Friday, folks! As of yesterday, fall is officially here, and last night, Westcoaster was on hand for Knott's Scary Farm's media night festivities and opening night. It promises to be another great season, and we were pretty pleased with how most things went last night.

For this event, we were fortunate enough to receive a press invite that included Fright Lane with Skeleton Key, which definitely made the night a lot more easy going and relaxed from a "see everything" perspective (unlike our experience as regular guests at Universal last week). But even with that disclaimer said, the overall crowds were nowhere near as bad as at Universal, and though lines for the most popular mazes did reach an hour and a half (or possibly a little past that), there were plenty of mazes with more reasonable waits well under an hour or even at near walk-on status, depending on the time of night!

Read the rest at WestCoaster

Mental Health Advocates Express ‘Outrage’ Over New Knott’s Attraction

Since the attraction was announced a little over two weeks ago, the virtual-reality experience had been promoted as “FearVR: 5150,” as part of the theme park’s “Knott’s Scary Farm” season.

It takes place in a mental hospital where a possessed patient “unleashes chaos throughout the hospital,” according to an LA Times preview article. “5150” refers to a section of California law used to hold someone for 72 hours at a psychiatric facility if he or she is considered a danger to themselves or others.

Local mental health advocates emailed a strongly-worded letter to Knott’s parent company Wednesday objecting to using mental illness as scary entertainment.

The attraction “adds to the hurtful, dehumanizing, discriminatory, prejudicial, insensitive, offensive and stigmatizing of mental illness,” wrote John Leyerle, president of the Orange County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), in his letter to Cedar Fair Entertainment President and CEO Mathew Quimet.

Read the rest at VoiceofOC

Garner Holt on the Big and Little Screens

Howdy everyone—greetings after a much-too-long hiatus from this column! It’s been many months — I confess, over a year! — since I’ve written, during which time my company has been busier than ever before, with attraction openings from the Netherlands to Shanghai, Plymouth, Massachusetts to Seattle, Washington and plenty in between (even “sallying” through the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland). In the glow of being too busy to slow down for a second, I hope you’ll forgive a tardy article!

One question that I am asked on just about every tour of my shop and in nearly every talk I give to schools and fan groups is whether Garner Holt Productions, Inc. (GHP) ever does work for movies. It’s a good question, since animatronics have long played a significant role in movies of all types, from the troublesome Jaws’ “Bruce” figure to the incredible dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, and in hundreds of earlier and subsequent films. However, while GHP is at the top of the theme park animatronic marketplace, our work in films and TV is rather limited.

Read the rest at MiceChat

Scary Farm 2016 Clown 15 Seconds Commercial 1080p

Knott's Scary Farm: Whatever You're Imagining, It's Here ... September 2...

Knott's Scary Farm 2016: Select Nights September 22 - October 31

Knott's Soak City Update! Pacific Spin is being removed, Parking lot has been resurfaced, and work on the expanding parking lot still underway!

New Interactive Zombie Laser Tag Maze (Special Ops: Infected) At Knott's...

Elvira's Danse Macabre Show - Only At Knott's Scary Farm

Voodoo: Order of the Serpent - Knott's Scary Farm Maze

Dead of Winter: Wendigo's Revenge - Knot's Scary Farm

Shadow Lands - New Knott's Scary Farm Maze

Red Barn - New Knott's Scary Farm Maze

Expanded Knott's Spooky Farm Returns This Fall Offering More Daytime Family Friendly Halloween Fun Than Ever Before

The daytime park wide, family-friendly Halloween celebration, geared for kids ages 3 - 11, Knott's Spooky Farm, returns on weekends in October and Halloween Day, starting October 1. Knott's Berry Farm invites families to join in the Halloween fun by participating in hands on and fun activities and all new experiences in Ghost Town, Fiesta Village, Boardwalk Ballroom and Camp Snoopy. The special limited-time event serves up live entertainment, trick-or-treating, a costume contest and exclusive festivities honoring the 50th anniversary of the classic Peanuts animated TV special It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!

Read the rest at PRNewswire

That new tree didn't make it

Knott's News: Well, they tried. Hopefully this doesn't dissuade them from attempting to inject greenery back into the park in the future.

The boysenberry: Napa's gift to the world

The wine industry being the juggernaut that it is today, it’s hard to appreciate that the Napa Valley — the city of Napa, specifically — was once indirectly famous for another berry.

This wasn’t an import from the vineyards of Europe. It was created here in Coombsville. When it received its first splash of publicity, it was touted as the “sensation berry of the twentieth century.”
In 1959, California’s governor, Edmund “Pat” Brown, declared a week’s celebration in its honor. In the southland, Los Angeles chose a young woman to represent this berry at festivals.

We’re talking boysenberry!

Read the rest at the NapaValleyRegister

Knott's Berry Farm will be offering its history to collectors in auction

Want to own a part of Knott’s Berry Farm’s past? An auction is planned to give collectors and theme park fans that chance.

According to a post on its website, the farm is planning an auction of “more than 300 one-of-a-kind items from America’s first theme park” that will be held in January 2017 in the Charles M. Schulz theatre at the park.

Knott’s officials have not released a list of what will be offered at the auction, but said on the website that it will include historic artifacts from Ghost Town, Camp Snoopy, other areas of the park and from the Walter Knott Archives. It does say some of the items could be theme park ride vehicles, player pianos, vintage coin-operated machines and more.

“Many memories are created at Knott’s Berry Farm and this auction is one way for fans to preserve those special times through collecting unique memorabilia from the park’s rich history,” Knott’s officials said in a statement.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Cedar Fair Announces Record Attendance And Revenues Through Labor Day

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a leader in regional amusement parks, water parks and active entertainment, today announced that preliminary net revenues through Monday, September 5, 2016, increased 2% to a record $1.04 billion compared with $1.02 billion through Labor Day weekend a year ago. As such, the Company expects 2016 to be its seventh consecutive year of record results.

This year-over-year growth was driven by a 1%, or 227,000-visit, increase in attendance to 20.5 million visits; a 1%, or $0.50, increase in average in-park guest per capita spending to $46.71; and a 5%, or approximately $5 million, increase in out-of-park revenues, including resort accommodations, to $114 million.

Read the rest at prnewswire

Soak City Parking Lot Expansion update, old buildings demolished and some trees cut down

For the first time, Knott's Scary Farm using VR, Oculus to make the scares more real

This Halloween, Knott’s Scary Farm is stepping up the fear factor in a high-tech way.

A new virtual reality experience called “FearVR: 5150” will give visitors a first-person point of view to horror and carnage unlike anything Knott’s has ever offered.

Forget the 1,000 costumed monsters that jump out of the fog to scare guests. These new monsters will invade their psyche.

“We’re going to take guests on an immersive experience ... in a real-life horror movie,” said Christian Dieckmann, vice president of strategic growth at Cedar Fair, the parent company of Knott’s.

Dieckmann said Cedar Fair will roll out this VR experience to two of its other theme parks – California’s Great America in Santa Clara and Canada’s Wonderland. He also said that the company may add VR to other attractions and roller coasters at Knott’s at a later date.

Visitors who pay a bit extra will be led into an area in the Boardwalk, where they’ll be strapped into a dingy brown wheelchair. Guests will wear headphones and Samsung Gear virtual reality goggles with an Oculus program.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Review Halloween Haunt now admitting patients to a virtual reality mental hospital

A new virtual reality haunted experience coming to Knott’s Berry Farm and two other North American amusement parks this Halloween admits visitors to a mental hospital where a psychiatric patient with demonic powers is on the loose.

Part of a wave of virtual reality experiences sweeping theme parks this year, Fear VR: 5150 will be available during Halloween Haunt on select nights in September and October at Knott’s in Buena Park, California’s Great America in Santa Clara and Canada’s Wonderland outside Toronto. The 5150 attraction takes its name from the California police code for a mentally ill person who is a danger to himself or others.

I got a sneak peek at 5150 last week at Knott’s and found the five-minute VR experience immersive, captivating and scary. The attraction was still under construction during the preview tour, so I did not get to experience the five-minute pre-show populated by live talent.

Read the rest at the LATimes

Knott’s Wraps Up Ghost Town Live This Weekend With Plot Twist and Fireworks

All good things must come to an end. Ghost Town LIVE at Knott’s Berry Farm wraps up on Labor Day with plot twists, and a final Hoe Down on Monday night which will wrap up a summer worth of stories. Here’s a bit more info from the good folks at Knott’s, along with the scoop on special Sunday night fireworks this weekend.

"Come play a role in new stories and adventures unfolding daily in the old west town of Calico in the acclaimed interactive entertainment experience, Ghost Town Alive!, this Labor Day weekend before it ends September 5. Rumors have spread throughout town over the past week that the legendary patriarch of the Mayfield Gang, Ox Mayfield, is alive and ready to seek vengeance on the good people of Calico."

Read the rest at MiceChat

Knott's Scary Farm 2016 Announcement Event

Knott's Scary Farm 2016 creative team interviews at Knott's Berry Farm

Knott's Scary Farm 2016: September 22 - October 31

Knott’s Berry Farm returns to the fog for Halloween Haunt 2016

Knott’s Berry Farm will add two new haunted mazes for Halloween Haunt 2016 that feature demonic samurais and sadistic farmers plus a new scare zone stalked by the legendary headless horseman.

The 44th annual Knott’s Scary Farm will start Sept. 22 and run on select nights through Oct. 31.

The granddaddy of Halloween events will feature nine haunted mazes, four scare zones and two shows scattered throughout the Buena Park theme park. Elvira Mistress of the Dark returns as the face of the event.

Read the rest at the LATimes

New interactive frights are coming to this year's Knott's Scary Farm

Knott's Berry Farm last night revealed details for its annual Knott's Scary Farm Halloween event. The original theme park after-hours Halloween event, Knott's Scary Farm has been entertaining visitors for 43 years and this year will feature more than a dozen haunted attractions over 24 nights, starting Sept. 22 and running through October 31.

Rad the rest at ThemeParkInsider

Ready to be scared? Here's what Knott's has in store for Halloween

This Halloween, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, is coming back and four new scary attractions are joining the original Halloween Haunt, Knott’s Scary Farm.

Oh, and there will be more than 1,000 monsters lurking in the fog.

This is the 44th anniversary of that haunt, which takes place on 24 nights Sept. 22 until Halloween at the park. It will feature monsters like the Headless Horseman, zombies, demon samurais and the Green Witch, all trying to scare the bejesus out of visitors to the park.

“The great thing about Haunt is we are finding innovative ways to plus-out the event ... we're looking at virtual reality and augmented reality,” said Ken Parks, VP of Entertainment at Knott’s Berry Farm. “But the one thing that makes us great is the basic ... and we never lose sight of that.”

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Knotts Scary Farm Mazes Announced and Expansion for Soak City

The season of scares is upon us once again and Knott’s has announced their Halloween Haunt lineup for 2016. But there’s so much more news coming out of Knott’s Berry Farm today, including a big expansion for Soak City.

Read the rest at MiceChat

Join the Scary Farm Facebook page for a live stream of their announcement event, 8pm tonight

Join the #ScaryFarm Facebook page for a live stream of our announcement event, 8pm tonight! https://t.co/pR0TraxaoM pic.twitter.com/JQxyEZzWFc

— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) August 26, 2016

Knott's takes guests back to the Wild West with 'Ghost Town Alive'

Southern California has long been known for its amusement parks, but this year they're really stepping up their game.

Disneyland broke ground on its new Star Wars Land, Universal Studios debuted The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Knott's Berry Farm transformed its original Ghost Town attraction into Ghost Town Alive in celebration of its 75th anniversary.

Read the rest at KPCC

See Snoopy in his super star style in the ice show, Blockbuster Beagle!

See Snoopy in his super star style in the ice show, Blockbuster Beagle! Last show is this Sunday! #Knotts pic.twitter.com/X5jHKVOEYP

— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) August 20, 2016

MiceChat Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt 2016

Join us in the fog-shrouded streets of Ghost Town for the MiceChat Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt 2016. This is the 10th anniversary of our event and we are working with the great folks of Knott's Berry Farm to make this our best ever! Leave the real world behind and enter a dream-land of spooky fun with fellow MiceChat readers.

Read the rest at Eventzilla

Yesterland: Antique Auto Ride

Yester Knott’s Berry Farm gives you a choice of antique automobile rides.

There’s Henry’s Livery, in a far corner of a parking lot. That’s where you drive gasoline-powered cars on a track without a center rail. The ride lacks scenery, unless you count Beach Blvd. and parked cars to be scenic.

And then there’s the Antique Auto Ride, right next to the authentic Dentzel Merry-Go-Round. The electric cars run along a center rail, so there’s no need to steer. The track winds through a contoured, landscaped setting with scenic buildings and props.

Read the rest at Yesterland

2017: Knott's Soak City expansion

An exciting expansion, renovations and new additions are coming to Knott’s Soak City Water Park next summer.

Orange County’s largest water park will debut two water slide towers featuring exhilarating attractions geared for families and thrill seekers. Shore Break will tower over seven stories and offer six different thrilling water slide experiences. Four of the slides on the 60-foot tall tower will start with guests climbing inside an Aqua-Launch chamber where they will wait anxiously for the floor to drop out from underneath their feet, sending them into a high-speed, almost vertical free fall through a series of flat loops and S-curves in a translucent flume. Shore Break will also feature dueling tube slides that will zip riders through an enchanting series of drops and turns. The height requirements for Shore Break slides are 48 inches.

Read the rest at SoakCityOC

Knott's News: I'd be kind of surprised if this was all they added next year, considering this is a separate park from Knott's with it's own admission and a shorter season. They need something new to draw people to the main gate.

Mobile Strike Queue

Knott's News: You'd think they'd promote Snoopy Coaster over this but Mobile Strike must pay better.

A Knott's Berry Farm steam locomotive is reborn

A steam locomotive at Knott’s Berry Farm has been reborn, a birthing that took seven years.

Engine No. 340, the “Green River,” is one of two engines owned by the farm. It and sister engine No. 41 were purchased in the early 1950s by Walter Knott to power the trains of the Ghost Town & Calico Railroad at the theme park.

Baldwin Locomotive Works built the engines in 1881 for the D & RGW (Denver & Rio Grande Western) Railroad. They are narrow-gauge locomotives designed to operate on steeper rail lines, with sharper turns, as found in the Rocky Mountains the railroad served.

The steam engines were refurbished and converted from coal burning to oil burning, then put to work at Knott’s hauling passengers on a 5/8-mile loop.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Knott's Scary Farm tickets and passes are on sale now

#ScaryFarm tickets and passes are on sale now at: https://t.co/FCEbYOx2JS See you in the fog ... pic.twitter.com/Anjbso8Wqf

— Knott's Scary Farm (@knottsscaryfarm) August 10, 2016

Knott's Scary Farm Panel ScareLA 2016

Cedar Fair Reports Record Results For The First Half Of 2016

Commenting on the Company's strong second quarter and results through July 31, 2016, Matt Ouimet, Cedar Fair's president and chief executive officer, said, "Our record performance in the second quarter and through the first seven months of the year reinforces our confidence in our ability to deliver a seventh consecutive year of record results in 2016 and to continue this record-setting trend into future years. Our commitment to the quality of the guest experience and our investments in transformative capital projects are expanding our audience, enhancing repeatability and improving value perceptions, resulting in growth across all aspects of our business.

Read the rest at PRNewswire

Knott’s Scary Farm will feature standalone Skeleton Key Rooms that are separate experiences from the mazes!

On Sunday, July 31, the creative team of the 44th annual world-renowned event, Knott’s Scary Farm, hosted a special panel at the first annual weekend-long Midsummer Scream Halloween Festival in Long Beach, California. Over 1,000 passionate Scary Farm fans attended the panel where it was revealed that for the first time ever, Knott’s Scary Farm will feature standalone Skeleton Key Rooms that are separate experiences from the mazes when you purchase the Fright Lane with Skeleton Key. The four terrifying new Skeleton Key Rooms will each feature a unique story and theme delivering unparalleled scares, interactive secrets and other blood-curling surprises:

Read the rest at KnottsNetwork

Yesterland: Independence Hall at Knott's Berry Farm

Hardly anyone noticed a significant milestone in theme park history earlier this month, on July 4, 2016—the Quinquagenary (50th anniversary) of Independence Hall at Knott’s Berry Farm.

This isn’t a “Yester” article about something that’s gone. You can still visit Independence Hall at Knott’s. And you really should.

Read the rest at Yesterland

So Cute! Fergie and Her Son Axl Snuggle Up to Snoopy at Knott’s Berry Farm

After setting the internet ablaze this month with her smokin’ hot “M.I.L.F.$” music video, Fergie spent her day off at the amusement park with her son Axl Jack.

The singer — who’s married to actor Josh Duhamel — was spotted riding the newly relaunched Ghostrider ride July 14 with her sister, Dana, and had a sweet moment with Axl, 2, later in the day while cuddling up to Snoopy.

“Axl loved playing with Snoopy,” says a source, who adds that the trio also stopped in to dine at Ghost Town Grill.

Read the rest at People

Knotts Scary Farm 2016: Returning Scare Zones

New towers, six slides will open at Soak City next season

Knott’s Berry Farm’s first Soak City expansion project in 10 years will feature a 165-foot water tower feeding four new slides and another 150-foot tower with two slides sure to keep guests cool during warm summers.

“This expansion is really to enhance what we have at the park,” said Jeff Gahagan, Knott’s vice president of maintenance and construction. “We’ve turned into the local park that everybody can call home.”

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Yesterland: Henry’s Auto Livery Ride

You might think that car rides at theme parks and amusement parks always have a guide rail down the center of the track.

Not this one!

You actually get to steer your car—in fact, you have to.

Welcome to Henry’s Livery. Here, you can drive a horseless carriage replica. You don’t need a driver’s license. The attraction is owned and operated by the Beckman family, one of the park’s many concessionaires.

Read the rest at Yesterland

Join Knott's at 9:45pm for a 4th of July fireworks show

Join is this weekend as we celebrate America with a 4th of July fireworks show at 9:45pm #Knotts 🎇🎢🎆 pic.twitter.com/w6Nn12esLd

— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) July 1, 2016

The Seasons Pass Podcast #329 - Knott's Ghost Town 75th! w/ Kaprelyan, Gahagan, Knibbs, Disney, & More

Coverage of the Knott’s Berry Farm Ghost Town 75th Anniversary media event, on June 9th, 2016: Hosted by Doug Barnes and ThemeParkReview.com’s Rick West. Reviews of Ghost Town Alive, the freshly renovated Ghostrider wooden coaster, and the restored, renewed, Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. This show also includes interviews with Raffi Kaprelyan (Former GM, Knott’s/Area Director, Cedar Fair), Russ Knibbs (VP of Food and Beverage, Knott’s), Jeff Gahagan (VP of Maintenance, Knott’s), Jim Disney (WestCoaster.net), and more! Enjoy.

Listen to it at SeasonPassPodcast

Ghost Town Lives Again at Knott's Berry Farm

While in college, I attended a performance of "Tamara" by John Krizanc. The play was staged inside Hollywood's American Legion Hall, a perfect setting for the interactive production. Rather than observe the performance from their seats, the audience followed a cast of 10 performers around the sprawling mansion as the play unfolded all around them. Members of the audience could follow an actor as he left a scene, stay in a room to see what happened next, or switch gears and follow a more intriguing character if they chose. The members of the audience each experienced a different version of the story depending on the choices they made. I was completely enchanted, and regret that I only got to see it once.

What does this have to do with theme parks? Absolutely nothing—but it probably explains why I find the new Ghost Town Alive experience at Knott's Berry Farm so compelling. Like "Tamara," Ghost Town Alive puts you into the middle of the story, as the citizens of Calico go about their day. There's mystery, mayhem, romance, politics, intrigue and crime, and a cast of characters ready to take you as deep into the action as you care to go.

Read the rest at MousePlanet

'Ghost Town Alive:' Visitors interact with characters in Old West drama at Knott's Berry Farm

Visitors can help the sheriff catch the bad guys, deliver telegrams, or even help out the bad guys, all in a day in Calico during “Ghost Town Alive” at Knott’s Berry Farm.

It is all part of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Ghost Town at the Farm.

For the anniversary, designers wanted to bring the town to “life” by infusing it with characters from the Old West, much like would be found in a town back then.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Knott's News: They have footage of the evening hoedown in it's new location at the recently opened Calico Park.

Knott's Berry Tales episode #10

Eddie Sotto shares concept for unbuilt Ghost Town attraction "Flash Flood Rapids"

Fun yesterday on Knott's berry panel. Shared unbuilt ghost town ride "flash flood Rapids" 1979. pic.twitter.com/58dddqX6EA

— Eddie Sotto (@boss_angeles) June 11, 2016

Knott's News: The ambition of pre-Cedar Fair Knott's has yet to be matched. People like Eddie Sotto and Robin Hall really went all out when designing attractions. While Knott's has been heading in the right direction since Matt's arrival, they're still afraid to let their imaginations run free. They say "These are legacy attractions, we can never do those again and can't compete with Disney, so why bother". 

Pre-Cedar Fair Knott's never stopped trying and produced wonderful things like the Roaring-20's and Camp Snoopy areas, Knott's Bear-y Tales, Kingdom of the Dinosaurs, Wacky Soapbox Racers, and Mystery Lodge. My worst fear is Cedar Fair slipping back into old habits and throwing in coasters and flats again. 

Prove me wrong Knott's, blow my mind!

Steve Martin Sends Happy 75th Anniversary Greetings to Knott's Ghost Town

Knott’s Eyes Land for Parking

Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park plans to buy 1.1 acres for $250,000 as part of a $5 million expansion of its Soak City water park by May 2017.

Read the rest at the OCBJ

Knott's Berry Farm Ghost Town 75th Anniversary (Ghost Town Alive!): Look Who's Traveling

Imagining what a Peanuts dark ride at Knott's Berry Farm could look like

A Peanuts dark ride.

You'd think adding one to Knott's would be a no-brainer, even more so than reviving the Knott's Bear-y gang. And yet, 30+ years later, nothing. Sure, The Peanuts gang was added to the Grand Sierra Railroad via Garner Holt as part of Camp Snoopy's 30th anniversary, but that was more of a half-measure. It only served to wet our appetites.

Then the movie came out and while it only garnered moderate success at the box office, I thought for sure Knott's would throw together some kind of attraction tie-in. Unfortunately disappointment set in again, as a red carpet for the movie was about all they did.

Knott's, it's time to take the plunge and deliver us that dark ride.

Vintage Photos of Ghost Town at Knott’s Berry Farm

It was 1940. Walter and Cordelia Knott had a farm growing berries and rhubarb along Highway 39, a few miles south of the little agricultural town of Buena Park, California. Their farm had something that others in the area didn’t have: an incredibly successful restaurant selling chicken dinners to families who drove down from Los Angeles.

That year, Walter Knott began adding Ghost Town near the restaurant. He artfully arranged authentic historical buildings along with matching new construction. By mid-1941, visitors could enjoy a wild mining town of the Old West, full of delightful details. Although there was no charge for admission or parking, Ghost Town would make the farm even more of a destination.

It was the beginning of Knott’s Berry Farm as arguably the first true theme park in the United States—and still one of the greatest.

Knott’s is celebrating the 75th anniversary of Ghost Town this summer with a spruced-up Ghost Town, a restored GhostRider roller coaster, new shows, and an interactive entertainment experience, Ghost Town Alive!

But this is Yesterland. So today you’ll find 14 never-before-published historical photos of Ghost Town from an earlier time—around 1958, give or take a few years.

Read the rest at Yesterland

Ghost Town Alive! An In-Depth Look at Knott’s Berry Farm’s Newest Interactive Offering

As someone who got really in-depth with Disneyland’s Legends of Frontierland a couple of summers ago, it’s hard not to compare the two experiences. It’s clear that while both Wild West experiences were setting out to create a more interactive land experience, I think that Knott’s Ghost Town Alive comes out the champion, and could be a model for other short-term interactive events in the themed environment space. This look offers no direct spoilers, but some images may spoil story aspects.

Read the rest at MiceChat

Hoedowns are now at the new Calico Park

Knott's Berry Farm Circus of wonders

Knott's berry tales episode #9 ghost town alive

Gwen Stefani Takes Kids to Knott's Berry Farm and Celebrates Parents' 50th Anniversary

Gwen Stefani had a family fun day Saturday with her three sons and parents, who marked a very special occasion.

The group celebrated Dennis and Patti Stefani's 50th wedding anniversary with a party, complete with a gorgeous three-tier wedding-style cake covered in white fondant, adorned with white roses, gold leaves and trimming and topped with a pair of wedding bells.

Read the rest at ENews

New Experiences for Knott’s Ghost Town at 75 Years Fun

Knott’s Berry Farm is celebrating a very special milestone, the 75th anniversary of Ghost Town. Yes, the very heart of Knott’s Berry Farm has been entertaining guests with its rich theme of western life and lore, capturing the hearts of theme park fans for generations. What began as a small berry stand evolved into a chicken dinner restaurant which later added an interactive western town and attractions. Arguably, Knott’s is America’s first Theme Park.

Read the rest at MiceChat

Stunts take center stage in Knott's new Wild West show

Fists were flying and guns were firing as a new stunt show premiered Thursday at Knott’s Berry Farm.

“Frontier Feats of Wonder!” is performed several time a day in Ghost Town’s Wagon Camp. It joins several new offerings this summer in honor of Ghost Town’s 75th anniversary.

“It took seven months to write and stage the show,” Jo Bilotti, the director’s assistant on the show, said.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Review: Knott’s opts for an old and familiar GhostRider over a new thrill ride

An extensive renovation of GhostRider has returned the aging wooden coaster to its original glory and left the Knott’s Berry Farm ride running smoother and faster than it has in a decade.

I rode GhostRider five times during media previews on Thursday and found the renovated coaster to be once again “wilder than a pot-bellied possum in a pine tree,” as advertised in the pre-ride spiel.

GhostRider has long been my favorite ride at the Buena Park theme park. I loved the unrelenting speed of the classic double-out-and-back wooden coaster. But like other ride enthusiasts, I found myself riding GhostRider less as it got rougher over the years.

The restored GhostRider is better than it has been since the ride debuted in 1998, but not everything a wooden coaster could be in 2016.

Read the rest at the LATimes

Knott's Ghost Town comes alive for its 75th anniversary

Knott's Berry Farm celebrated the 75th anniversary of Ghost Town today with a media event showing off its newly retracked Ghostrider roller coaster, the Ghost Town Alive interactive experience and the newly refurbished Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant.

Read the rest at ThemeParkInsider

New POV of GhostRider is here

GhostRider opens this Saturday, June 11th! New ride POV video here! #GhostTown75 https://t.co/KbeLL36YEV

— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) June 9, 2016

Soft showings of the new Wagon Camp Stunt Show were happing yesterday

Calico Park looking great

Calico Mine Stage getting ready

Cedar Fair CEO gets indefinite contract extension

In a statement, Mr. Ouimet said he was pleased to receive the extension.

”I appreciate the opportunity Cedar Fair has given me and look forward to working with the board of directors, our leadership team and all of our associates to create even more fun for those we serve,” he said.

Read the rest at the ToledoBlade

Review: Daylong ‘Ghost Town Alive’ show turns Knott’s into a Wild West improv stage

The new interactive “Ghost Town Alive” entertainment experience at Knott’s Berry Farm injects Wild West characters and improv storytelling into the original heart of the Buena Park theme park.

On a recent visit to the park, I spent a few hours wandering around Calico, the Wild West ghost town at Knott’s, as about two dozen characters in 1850s-period costumes interacted with visitors and assigned them duties to complete throughout the Wild West ghost town. The live-action role-playing adventure features an extensive backstory that develops throughout the day and changes daily.

I found the improv play to be thoroughly engaging. The daylong show drew in kids and adults, who ran around completing chores at the behest of the actors. The story was so enveloping I never left Ghost Town and at times forgot I was at a theme park with roller coasters and other rides.

Read the rest at the LATimes

GhostRider reopens at Knott's, and now it's all about speed

Riders’ screams from Knott’s Berry Farm’s wooden roller coaster will soon be heard again across Beach Boulevard.

GhostRider is back – and now the ride is all about speed.

After months of refurbishment, GhostRider opens to the public Saturday as Knott’s celebrates its 75th anniversary of Ghost Town. The theme park has quietly opened the coaster at times throughout the week, for trial runs, so some from the public have been able to experience the latest version.

The 17-year-old ride now features a new look for its cars and overall more speed.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Knott's Soak City: The park will expand in 2017, adding add two more water-slide towers

More water is on its way to Knott’s Berry Farm’s Soak City in 2017.

The water park, next to the theme park, will add two more water-slide towers, cabanas and expand the restaurant, said Raffi Kaprelyan, regional vice president of Cedar Fair, which owns Knott’s.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Sarah Hyland and Dominic Sherwood getting ready to ride the new Ghost Rider

Yeehaw!!! Its @Sarah_Hyland and @DomSherwood1 getting ready to ride the new GhostRider #GhostTown75 pic.twitter.com/7nF4OZNREN

— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) June 4, 2016

.@Sarah_Hyland and bf @DomSherwood1 have their hands up in celebration of Ghost Town's 75th anniversary at #Knotts!https://t.co/QzHJFZiyOR

— People Magazine (@people) June 9, 2016

Taking suggestions on a new submission process!

I currently use Google drive as opposed to direct access to my email, as I got ridiculous amounts of spam mail when I did it that way, but Google drive is not really meant to be used as a messaging service. I don't get notifications when I'm contracted, so it can be awhile before I check them, and worst of all it mixes all my messages together, so I don't know what person/email asked what or who to respond to.

That said, I'm open to any process that doesn't directly give out my email for spammers to find. I do get notifications for comments, so feel free to leave one!

Rumor: Lara Hanneman leaving Knott's?

I've gotten no verification on this, so I'm putting this here and hoping someone in the know can help shed some light on this rumor: Is Lara Hanneman leaving Knott's and if so, why? If this simply isn't true, please let me know so I can remove the post. Thanks!

New Calico Mine Stage looking great

Close look at Calico Park, looks like it will be ready by next weekend

The Wagon Camp Theater re-opening June 11th

Circus of Wonders comes to the NEW Calico Mine Stage later this summer

Prepare for awe-inspiring stunts and death-defying acrobatics in CIRCUS OF WONDERS, performing later this summer! pic.twitter.com/PxOMHpxf8O

— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) June 1, 2016

GhostRider test run 5-30-2016

2015 TEA attendance reports

KNOTT'S BERRY FARM, Buena Park, CA +5.0% 

3,867,000 (2015) 3,683,000 (2014)

Read the rest at TEAConnect

Knott's News: Cedar Fair says over five million in 2015 and the OC Register reports a 52% increase year over year. So how accurate are these TEA numbers exactly? Maybe it's Cedar Fair who needs to clarify as to what their numbers represent.

Knott's Berry Farm gets new boss, a former Disneyland executive

There’s a new sheriff in Ghost Town – a former Disneyland executive.

Jon Storbeck, 56, was announced Friday as the new vice president and general manager of Knott’s Berry Farm, effective Monday.

A longtime Tustin resident, Storbeck previously was vice president of hotels and Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. He was also a vice president of Disneyland for nine years. He left the company in January after 30-plus years.

“Growing up in Orange County, I’ve gone to Knott’s since I was a kid,” Storbeck said. “I love the theme of the Old West and look forward to continuing the momentum.”

As for Storbeck’s plans for Knott’s: “It’s a great opportunity to do things from a theming standpoint, and I hope to continue growing its audience, both locally and from those visiting the area.”

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Knott's News: Well this is interesting. Raffi has brought record success to Knott's in the form of a 30-50% boost in attendance, so its not surprising they'd want him to oversee the upcoming mega-expansion for Great America and his old stomping grounds - Canada's Wonderland. As for Jon Storbeck, I'm optimistic. Raffi has laid a lot of ground work and this guy is already saying the right things: “It’s a great opportunity to do things from a theming standpoint, and I hope to continue growing its audience, both locally and from those visiting the area.”

Knott's Berry Farm's old Ghost Town gets new look

The barber cuts hair, and teachers scurry children inside the school house.

The blacksmith welds horseshoes, and bandits reek havoc on prospectors.

Seventy-five years after Ghost Town started what would become the theme park known as Knott’s Berry Farm, the area came alive Friday with more play-acting characters than ever, launching a celebration of the park’s s fictional community once known in part for its wooden mannequin inhabitants.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

Exclusive: Behind the Scenes as Knott's readies new Wild West Stunt Show

Knives were thrown, so were punches, and bullets dodged as stunt performers rehearsed their routines for the all-new Wild West Stunt Show at Knott’s Berry Farm.

The show is part of the new offerings by the farm for 2016 in honor of the 75th anniversary of Ghost Town.

Read the rest at the OCRegister

10 facts as Knott’s Ghost Town celebrates its diamond jubilee

Many locals can remember when Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park was simply an old western town and the place to go for a chicken dinner. Today it's a sprawling theme park, but its past hasn't been left in the dust. Knott's will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of its Ghost Town May 27-Sept. 5.

The big bash will show off the renovations made to Ghost Town, including refurbishing the Calico Stage, Calico Saloon and the Wagon Camp. The GhostRider roller coaster has been restored and will reopen May 27.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the party is Ghost Town Alive!, an immersive, interactive experience for park guests. There will be many opportunities to participate in all the goings-on in town, such as joining in a card game at the Sheriff's office or chatting with the horse handlers in the real working stable in the Barn. 

To get you prepared for your adventure, we checked with Knott's to compile some of the spookiest facts about Ghost Town.

Read the rest at SGVTribune