Calico Mine Ride at Knott's Berry Farm | NAPHA Shorts

Calico Mine Ride at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA.
As part of the growing popularity of the park and growing competition, Knott’s Berry Farm added their first major dark ride in 1960, The Calico Mine Ride. Wendal “Bud” Hurlbut of the newly established Hurlbut Equipment Co. was hired to design and manufacture the powered miniature train dark ride. Hurlbert was a concessionaire of the park’s carousel, antique car ride, and miniature train, and the Calico Mine Ride was the first ride he ever designed. The ride was inspired by wild west mining sites dating to the 1880s when owner Walter Knott once worked at the Silver King Mine in Calico, CA and to further capitalize on the popular panning for gold concession in Ghost Town. Guests embark in tight corridors and outdoor vistas, coming across various scenes with gold, water features, stalagmites, and many animatronic figures, including a central show scene of a dig site that is 3-stories tall. NAPHA recognizes Knott’s Berry Farm for operating and refurbishing this unique and historic attraction while keeping the original theme and spirit alive.
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Footage provided by David Hahner.
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[@davefroman4700]

Wow. That place has not changed much in the past 50 years. I was a young lad in 74 when I went on that ride.