Knott’s Berry Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm Theme Park
Knott’s Berry Farm is said to be the birthplace of the “boysenberry” which is a cross between a loganberry, red raspberry and blackberry. It was named after Rudolph Boysen. The Knott’s family farm, originally intended to market jams, jellies, pies, berries and berry plants, began with a roadside stand and became one of the nation‘s top amusement parks.
The roadside stand soon grew into a restaurant, but when it became so popular people had to wait to be fed, the Knotts created a ghost town and a Fiesta Village to keep his customers occupied. After dinner, a large array of bottled jams and jellies tempted visitors to take the luscious flavors home with them and the Knotts began to make a nice living.
To build the ghost town, Knotts found a real old-west town and relocated it. To that they added a train ride, a pan-for-gold creek and the Calico Mine Ride. And of course, what is a berry farm without a berry pie eating contest?
Built before Disneyland, more shops, interactive displays and various other kinds of entertainment have been added including a special room for rare music boxes. Still more attractions include water wheels, wishing wells and rocks that glow under ultraviolet light.
Of course the whole point was to offer the best chicken dinner with the best pies for desert, but the people got so distracted Knotts added an intercom system to announce when a certain party’s table was ready. Meanwhile, they could visit the 12 ft volcano that hissed and spit steam at the push of a button.
From there, the “farm” grew and grew, adding a petting zoo, roller coasters and a host of other rides. These days, the theme park spreads over several miles with stores and plush as well as cost saving visitors accommodations.
It is well worth the time if for no other reason than to see what a fruit stand can become.
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by Marti Talbott
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Check out this book!
Knott’s Berry Farm:: The Early Years (Images of America)
