Wednesday, May 31, 2017

When Knott’s Berry Farm Was an Actual Farm

Orange County was more farmland than suburb – a landscape of orange groves and cow pastures rather than tract houses and fairy-tale castles – when Walter Knott opened his first roadside produce stand in 1923. The dusty highway passing through Knott’s berry farm was fast becoming the principal route between Los Angeles and the beach cities of the Orange Coast, and shore-bound motorists discovered the farmer’s humble wooden shack – located near the midpoint of their drive – as a place to momentarily escape the automobile and sample Knott’s farm-fresh berries and preserves.

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WKYC

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Adventures await as Ghost Town Alive! returns to Knott’s Berry Farm

Starting May 27 through September 4, 2017 Ghost Town Alive! returns to Knott’s Berry Farm for another action-packed summer complete with bandits, cowboys, robberies, judges, a good ol’ western hoedown, and much more! Guests can visit the beloved town of Calico and experience an authentic western adventure by becoming a star in this summer’s story of the Wild West, where the power to unlock adventures is in the hands of every guest.

This summer, the story continues a year after the notorious Mayfield Gang escaped the custody of Sheriff Wheeler. Word around town is the Mayfield’s have been spotted back in Calico and the townsfolk are in need of some help in capturing the bandits and keeping the town safe. Ghost Town Alive! will offer guests a firsthand experience to play an important part in this unfolding story of the wild west, with specific tasks and activities and an essential role as an honorary citizen of Calico.

“Ghost Town Alive! has taken Knott’s summer entertainment and the idea of ‘playing in a theme park’ to a whole new level. Guests of all ages will have the opportunity to not just interact with the citizens of Calico, but will have the ability to influence how the story takes shape,” said Jon Storbeck, General Manager of Knott’s Berry Farm. “Our Entertainment team has been working all year in developing new storylines, adding new characters and activities that make up the lively town of Calico”.

Along with the return of Ghost Town Alive! The park will also debut Snoopy’s Magnificent Magical Revue, a jaw-dropping magic show starring the World’s Most Famous Beagle, Snoopy and showcasing the mystifying and amazing magic of Magician Extraordinaire Greg Wilson! The whole PEANUTS GANG will amaze and confound with their magical exploits and lavish musical production numbers in this family friendly show! And who knows, guests might find themselves part of the act! Snoopy’s Magnificent Magical Revue will mesmerize on select dates, staring June 10 – August 20 in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre. (Dark Wednesdays)

The circus returns to town! The renowned “Traveling Circus” returns for another season of exhilarating performances. Set on the Calico Mine stage in Ghost Town, come witness a spectacle; see awe-inspiring stunts, and death defying acrobatics in “Circus of Wonders.” The astonishing 30 minute spectacular will be action packed with all-time favorite circus attractions such as the Trapeze, Tightrope, Aerial Acrobatics, Trampoline, and of course, clowns, incorporating lighting and pyrotechnics, making this nighttime show a totally unique event! Select dates, June 10 – August 20.

The live entertainment continues with the explosive Wild West Stunt Show and the high kickin’ Calico Saloon Show, all in Ghost Town. At the Wagon Camp Stage, get krazy when Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies mount their toe tappin’, knee-slappin’, gut-bustin’ country comedy show that will have audiences clamoring for more! In the evening a group of krazy talented performers will have guests kicking up their heels with vine dancing, a down home jug band and dueling fiddlers and banjos!

Knott’s also invites guests to celebrate Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July weekend and Labor Day weekend at the park for a special nighttime firework display. The Buena Park skyline will glow with a brilliant fireworks show on May 28, July 1-2 & 4, and September 3, exclusively at Knott’s Berry Farm.

Guests can experience Ghost Town Alive! and much more with a 2017 season pass. A Knott’s Regular Season Pass includes unlimited 2017 admission to Knott’s Berry Farm and a Gold Season Pass includes unlimited 2017 admission to both Knott’s Berry Farm and the newly expanded Soak City Waterpark with six thrilling new slides and an all new family raft ride.

For more information about Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Season Passes, please visit knotts.com. Join the conversation about the return on the popular Ghost Town Alive! and Knott’s summer entertainment using #GhostTownAlive and #KnottBerryFarm.

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Riders zip down a new water slide as Knott’s Soak City water park opens for summer 2017

Screams of joy and shouts of “I’m all wet” were heard as Knott’s Soak City Water Park opened for the summer 2017 season Saturday.

Before the park opened to the public, park officials held a short ribbon cutting ceremony to open up its nearly two-acre expansion.

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OCRegister

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

VIDEO: Take a guided tour of Knott’s Soak City summer 2017 expansion and refurbishment at Knott’s Berry Farm

For the past eighteen years, Knott’s Soak City has delighted Southern California families with summertime fun just across the street from Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park. This year Soak City has undergone its first major expansion, adding a full two acres to the park’s footprint and installing seven cutting-edge slides on two new ride towers.

Shore Break will launch individual riders out of one of four Aqua Launch chambers, or down two dueling tube slides around twisting turns over daring drops. The Wedge is an open-raft family ride that can accommodate up to six riders at a time.


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Knott’s Berry Farm’s Soak City opening this weekend for summer with new waterslides

Seven waterslides debut when Knott’s Berry Farm’s Soak City water park opens for the summer 2017 season Saturday, May 20.

The new slides sit on a nearly two-acre expansion taken from a chunk of the nearby parking lot.

“The park has been growing in attendance over the last several years,” said Roland Reyes, manager of the water park for Knott’s.

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OCRegister

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

DHX Media Acquires ‘Peanuts’ in $345 Million Purchase of Iconix

DHX Media has acquired classic children’s brands “Peanuts” and “Strawberry Shortcake” as part of a $345-million acquisition of the entertainment division of Iconix Brand Group.

The acquisition gives the Canadian media production, distribution and broadcasting company an 80% stake in Charles M. Schulz’s iconic “Peanuts” gang, including Snoopy and Charlie Brown, and full control of the “Strawberry Shortcake” IP. The remaining 20% interest in “Peanuts” remains with the Schulz family.

“DHX Media feels like a perfect fit for ‘Peanuts,’” Jean Schulz, widow of the “Peanuts” creator, said in a statement released Wednesday. “We respect their innovative and rich history with developing children’s shows and brands, and we look forward to working with Dana and his team to steward ‘Peanuts’ in the future.”

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Variety

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Knott’s Berry Farm readies Soak City water park, theme park for summer

The water slides are nearly ready to take on water at Soak City, as Knott’s Berry Farm gets ready for summer.

The heavy rains in January and February meant construction crews had to work six and sometimes even seven days a week to have the new water slides ready for the park’s opening Memorial Day weekend.

Knott’s officials said it will be ready to open on time.

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OCRegister

Friday, May 5, 2017

Boomerang removed from the skyline of an old Calico Mine Ride publicity shot

Knott's News: For those spreading rumors of Sky Cabin's demise, look closely. You'll notice they didn't remove Sky Cabin from the skyline, which I think is telling.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Cedar Fair's (FUN) CEO Matt Ouimet on Q1 2017 Results - Earnings Call Transcript

Preliminary net revenues through the end of April achieved a new record high of $124 million up 2% when compared with the first four months of last year. During this time, guest spending is up 2%, well attendance was comparable with last year's record number of visits.

As I expect you anticipated, Knott's Berry Farm's first quarter performance was below expectations due to the drought-correcting rains in California. However the continued growth and the popularity of Knott's Boysenberry Festival and return to more normal Southern California weather resulted in record attendance revenues and per caps in April for Knott's.[...]


I'm proud of decisions we've made to drive our business in 2017 and we're confident this will be another record year for Cedar Fair. Well we are laser focused on 2017, construction has already begun on multiple high impact tractions that will come online in 2018. As we look to build on Cedar Fair's history we'll adding to our collection of world class coasters including a completely new type of coaster, a dramatic transformation of two of our historical wooden coasters and a renewed relationship with a manufacturer who we have worked with recent history that will add another coaster and deepen our pool of ride manufacturers. It is this type of innovation that will allow us to continue to grow beyond our near term goals.

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SeekingAlpha


Knott's News: Knott's was definitely negatively impacted by the rains. They were closed many of those days. That said, Matt mentions they bounced back with a record setting April with both attendance and guest spending up.

The second part I included may or may not contain clues as to what next year's new attraction may be. Are we getting the "completely new type of coaster" or maybe the coaster that is part of the "renewed relationship". Maybe its not a coaster at all.

Whatever it is, I think we'll have a good idea of whats coming by July when the foundations are being worked on, if not earlier.

Monday, May 1, 2017

Knott's Berry Farm - Sol Spin Review and Boomerang De-Construction

Today we've got an all new update from Knott's Berry Farm.

In the last couple of weeks they've closed Boomerang and removed quite a bit of track as well as opening up their all new flat ride Sol Spin.

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ParkJourney

Review: Knott’s new Sol Spin thrill ride has a lot of promise, but does it deliver?

The new Sol Spin thrill ride at Knott’s Berry Farm looks much scarier and more exciting from the ground than it really is when you get up in the air.

I took a spin over the weekend on the new 65-foot-tall ride at the Buena Park theme park and found the experience to be fun but surprisingly tame and far too short.

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LATimes