Remembering The Roaring 20's | Expedition Knott's Berry Farm
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 21 ноя 2024
- Get your passport ready for a spin down memory lane as we uncover the history of Knott’s Roaring 20’s expansion areas and one daughter’s pursuit of “Old Time Adventures.”
www.patreon.com/expeditionthemepark
expthemepark
expeditionthemepark
Special thanks to the Orange County Archives, vintagedisneylandtickets.blogspot.com, meettheworldinprogressland.blogspot.com, gorillasdontblog.blogspot.com and Shane’s Amusement Attic on Theme Park Review.
Video Credits (in order of appearance)
J2G Creative
• Knott's Berry Farm | 4k
HDdroneVideo
• Knotts Berry Farm
peahix
• 1960s 8mm Home Movie F...
Hagley Museum and Library
• An Introduction to Dig...
danilo beteto
• Stock Market in the ol...
Bruce Fenton
• Capitalism! 1948 Educ...
Steve Wiersum
• Disney, Knotts Farm, C...
Change Before Going Productions
• Video
Amanda Coucheron
• Fashion 1943
OC Historical1
• "A Class Action" Exhib...
ashdoginc
• Knotts Berry Farm Docu...
Patsy_John_Lorena_Pat_Dan
• Knottsberry Farm 1960
Finley Holiday Films Corporation / Special Wedding Films
• Knotts Berry Farm Vide...
David Brian Esch
• 1976 Knott's Berry Far...
Scorching Hot News
• Knott's Berry Farm Gyp...
Frank Pollifrone
• Disneyland Knotts Berr...
Phyllis Hamilton
• Knott's Berry Farm 1971
• Japanese Deer Park 1971
Jay Jennings
• Knott's Berry Farm Vin...
DiasMemoryLane
• Disneyland, Knott's Be...
Michael D. Jackson
• Broadway 1920s
Dusty Old Thing
• Canned Thrills at Cone...
electricalparade
• Knott's Berry Farm Roa...
BK Pictures
• 1981 Roller Coaster Do...
• Knott's Berry Farm • M...
• 1980's Knott's Berry F...
• Knott's Berry Farm • 1...
• Knott's Berry Farm • 1...
Liquid Snake
• Video
• Video
Mr63500
• KNOTTS BERRY FARM THEM...
AIRBOYD
• Vintage Barnstorming C...
Hannover Airport english
• Follow the lights - A ...
StuMoment
• Classic Airshows 1929 ...
AuthenticHistory
/ authentichistory
David Oneal
• Video
raygunentertainment
• Studio K/Cloud 9 Reuni...
Bob z
• Magic Mountain Colossu...
TheRetroTimeMachine
• Video
TheRedCarChannel
• Knott's Berry Farm Cam...
Parks and Cons
• Sky Cabin’s New Narrat...
• Sky Cabin Re-Opens Kno...
davidjellis
• Xcelerator (Front Seat...
MrNIGHTWOLF67
• Knott's berry farm's 8...
Gids & Hooch
• Video
National Philanthropy Day Orange County
• 2010 National Philanth...
TurdLok / Huell Howser Productions
• Video
National Philanthropy Day Orange County
• 2010 National Philanth...
timshamilton
• California Alligator F...
Kennything Goes!
• 1972 Lion Country Safa...
CBS Los Angeles
• Visitors Stranded On K...
Disney Lost Boys & Girls
• SURPRISE! Oswald Retur...
WDW News Today
• Buena Vista Street Ove...
DatelineDisneyland
• Grizzly Peak Airfield ...
SoCal Theme Parks 360
• Tour of Carthay Circle...
Knott’s Preserved is available for purchase from Angel City Press.
This episode was written and produced by Greg Tulloss
my greatest memory of the roaring 20's section was my grandfather was Airborne in WW2, and the one and only time i could ever remember him going to knotts was my 10th bday in 1990. he didnt like rides but no body in my family wanted to get on the sky jump so he took me, the smile he had ear to ear... when we came back down he told the kid "one more time" there was no line so we did it again. we walked around and he told me about how he trained to jump. and right before we left we did one more night jump.
That is a beautiful story- thank you for sharing!
I think what most people don't remember is that Knotts was such an innovator for thrill rides - Magic Mountain, until Six Flags put money into it, was always lagging behind with the crazy 'space saving' roller coasters that Knotts would bring out every few years. From the Corkscrew to Montezuma's, Knotts was compact fun without the long walks of Disneyland and without the leg breaking walks of Magic Mountain. And there was always a great chicken dinner and boysberry pie awaiting you at the end of the day.
Andrea Joki Hangtime and Ghostrider are both evidence that Knott’s continues to push the envelope with thrill rides. Perilous Plunge is evidence that sometimes those attempts don’t work out so well.
One of your best pieces. So much of my life was centered around KBF from 1979-1982 when I was an entertainment tech there.
My 1st summer working at Knott's, Marion would wander the park saying hello and visiting with employees. At the annual employee FUNTASTIC night, she would be "working the turnstiles" at the grand entrance, encouraging everyone to "come on in and have a wonderful time"!
RIP Marion Knott, so many great memories of Knott's Berry Farm as a kid. My first rollercoaster ride was at KBF in 1989, and I used to love all the kids' rides at Camp Snoopy.
In the early to mid 70s i lived across the street from KNOTTS when jungle inland was still there i loved donkey rides sitting on the wooden horse that rocked back and forth with water that shot out its mouth and the Carousel and train that would go around the water and everytime i go to knotts now i sit and just remember those days and will always make sure my son knows how special knotts was and is to me and my family.for me KNOTT'S BERRY FARM WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST AMUSEMENT PARK EVER it holds a very special place in my heart thank you knott family for creating such a special place for us
I was on the final train of Corkscrew. I rode sitting next to Steve Knott in the back seat. I miss working at Knott’s. Was a Ride Op in the 20’s from 88 to 92. Thanks for this awesome tribute. So many memories.
Wow! what a fantastic story! Which rides you work?
GTMGUNN loop trainer , auto race, soap box racers, sky jump / cabin, boomerang, Kingdom of the Dinosaurs, bumper cars , whirlpool, X-K1, greased Lightning. Was a fun 5 years.
I use to live right across the street from knott's behide were Jungle Island used to be knott's holds a special place in my heart my parents use to take me all the time. As far as i can remember i use to go on the wacky soap box racers the log ride and all the memories i have from knott's i love to this day i always tell my son he's 23 now about the GREATtimes i had when i was a kid at knott's and when we go to knotts scary farm i tell him where certain things used to be any amazing times that I had there I will never let him forget that so when he takes his children he can tell them the same stories
My memories of Knott's start as a child somewhere around late 50s or early 60s seeing the guy in the jail who knew your name and things about you. And the gold mining where you go home with a little vial of gold. Then, fast forward to spring '83 attending Christian concerts night. Took first date with girl I married a year later(only to end 23 years later).
I appreciated your video and the memories. Thanks! 🏍💨
The 90’s and early 00’s were painful for the park seeing all the charm of the regional park being stripped away. I’m so happy to see Cedar Fair putting effort now in rejuvenating the charm that I grew up with!
Aahhh...the glory days of Knotts! The Roaring 20's was my favorite area in the park! To this day, I still can't believe I (scared of heights) rode the Parachutes--once!
I will never understand why the Roaring 20s was ditched. It was the most meaningful area of the park and had far more ties to the history of the park than the Boardwalk ever does.
Marion Knott was an amazing lady! May she rest in peace. I absolutely loved the Roaring '20s section of the park. Thank you for this awesome video. I grew up in Anaheim, CA. and going to Knott's with my family/best friend was a huge part of my childhood. Wonderful memories. :)
Good times....back when theme parks really tried to immerse their guest into theming. My first inversion rollercoaster was the Corkscrew back in 1976. The Motor Cycle Chase was awesome!
Gosh I miss the Motorcycle Chase! I grew up at KBF in the 70s.
I still miss the Haunted Shack.
So good!! I grew up going here as a kid. Still go! This video brought back all sorts of childhood nostalgia. Well done!
PLEASE DO ONE OF KNOTT’S SCARY FARM HALLOWEEN HAUNT! The first and best theme park haunt of all time. So much history the people must know!
Amen, the Horror attraction that started it all.
NO! DON'T DO IT!
I worked that a couple years in the 70’s. Had a blast!
An absolutely wonderful journey into the history of this special place and the people who built and developed it. The thing about a lot of Knott’s is the CHARM, and as noted some of that in this area of the park is now gone. Thank goodness they saved the tower, the cabin and the K sign. A fantastic and respectful video journey. Truly well done Sam!
This is a lovely tribute to Marion Knott and I'd even propose that it be re-titled to reflect that. Really enjoyed this! Thanks!
Marion was the best!!
It’s impressive, I don’t even have much of a connection to Knott’s but I still got emotional through this story.
This was my favorite area in the park, just enjoying walking through it in the evening or browsing the magic shop with my cousins. We bought so many wax lips over the years.
"On a clear day..." all the pictures show the famous smog lol.
I have so many memories of this area as a kid and watching it change. My dad used to make me go on the parachutes with him even though they used to frighten me. I totally forgot about them until you made this video.
Ahhh, this brings back so many good memories of my childhood! I really loved this area of Knott's, and still miss it.I loved Knott's Beary Tales so much, and still remember buying the storybook.
I remember going to Knott's one time where we stayed very late at night and I got to ride the parachute drop 12 times in a row. It was amazing I wish that ride could come back.
Even if it did, it wouldn't be the same with how safety conscious everything is now. It's probably better left in memory than making a comeback as something less than the original.
You are right
i grew up going to both Knotts and Disneyland, and have great memories of both.
I rode Corkscrew, the motorcycle chase, Loop Trainer and the parachute jump. I think I was about 12 or 13. I'm from northern California but my dads family all lived in the LA area so we would visit once a year. On the second day there my dad would drop off my brother and I and a bunch of cousins in the morning and pick us up when he saw the firework show at closing time. We had so much fun. Way better than Disneyland. Recently a friend of mine took his kids to Disneyland and they all came back disappointed because of the huge crowd and they only got on 3 rides. He told the kids they would go back next year. When he told me about the trip i asked him of he ever heard of Knotts. He didn't so I told him how safe it was and how there is something for everyone to do. I told him You never get bored there so I gave him directions. When he returned from their vacation he came to my house and thanked me. All of them had a great time at Knotts and they will go there every year like I used to. His kids loved it and don't care about Disneyland anymore. Everyone should experience Disneyland at least once but Knotts is the place where the fun last forever. Still my favorite park filled with so many fun memories as a child. My dad had 6 brothers and 7 sisters in LA so you can imagine how many of us cousins went. At least 15-20 every time.
john castro great memories, thanks for sharing!
@@GTMGUNN -it took me a long time to realize that the building next to corkscrew was the back wall of the mine train ride!! lol
john castro so crafty, those farm hands ; )
@@GTMGUNN -going around that wall was like walking into another world. From gold mining into the roaring 20's!
@@GTMGUNN -and the Log Ride is still the best one I've ever rode.
What a great little docu. Knott’s was a childhood theme park for me. I recently revisited and was impressed by all the improvements. It was nice to go down memory lane with this docu, which reminded me of the times I spent there as a child. I still do miss those soap box racers, it was just a classic fun ride; It would be cool to see a modern recreation of that.
As a Southern California/Long Beach native who went to Knott's Berry Farm so many times throughout my life, for school field trips, family day trips, choir festivals, summer day camp (as a camper and Counselor) as well as Knott's being my older sister's first job at an amusement park.....
I really appreciate & love this video. You did a wonderful job. You have such great content! I always look forward to your videos.
Watching your videos has given me a new found excitement for theme/amusement parks! Knotts berry farm was a place for me braving a lot of my roller coaster fears and a place that will always hold amazing memories!
God, I remember the Roarin’ 20s - the Corkscrew (the first modern inversion, it was a bombshell at the time), the Wacky Soap Box Racers (actually fun for all ages), the red-and-white checkboard tower (always the visual hallmark of Knott’s to me), and my favorite Knott’s Beary Tales (which was sort of like Country Bear Jamboree meets It’s a Small World meets Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride).
Lol The Soap Box Derby was a notorious ride for my family as a kid. We were from Washington State, so our rare trips to Knott's, Dineyland, & Universal were a huge deal. My dad has had multiple prior rib injuries before the "incident". We were on the Soap Box Derby and he was trying to hold one of the bulky old video cameras to record the ride (as my parents documented every part of our trips with video and pictures) and as anyone whose ridden it before it was removed knows that that damn ride jerked you around. Well my dad trying to hold the big camcorder, on a bad jerk on one of the corners, his elbow went in to his ribs with such force it broke 2. We ended up taking him to some hospital in Anaheim ( I was 5yrs old and it was 1989 so I can't remember which one it was) and that's how we found out after his x-rays. Let's just say the next 6 days of our vacation was Hell for him, but being a part of the "strong generation" he sucked it up and didn't let his painful injury dampen our family vacation. Gosh damn, I have so much respect for my father, especially even thinking about this lol
@@treyartson6788 wow, your pop sounds like the kind of guy Walter Knott would have liked a lot.
StamfordBridge- weren't you the one who mentioned the red-and-white checkerboard paint scheme in the comments of the Calico Mine Ride video? ; )
GTMGUNN Yes. To me it was THE image of Knott’s, and then it was brought up again in this video.
The Soap Box Racers was the coolest ride there. It should never have beem removed.
I miss the Soap Box Racers ride!...That was a fun ass ride when I was a kid going there!...
I have very fond memories of Knott's Berry Farm throughout my childhood as I lived 30 minutes away from both Knott's and Disneyland. People complain the 90's ruined a lot of it but I don't remember any of it being terrible in the 90's. But that might be because I never really experienced a lot of the Roaring 20's part, so there was no love lost for me. Please do more videos on Knott's Berry Farm, especially their iconic Log Flume and Knott's Scary Farm!!
I MISS *THIS* KNOTTS BERRY FARM!!!!!
What a sweet and well put together video, thank you🙌
Knotts is a truly charming old fashioned park...I’m SO GLAD you’re doing this occasional series!
I'm so glad most of the park still stands
roaring 20's airfeild will always be the best theming this part of the park ever had. it's a shame they felt the need to change it because it just never seems finished since then
I love that video of Marion at the cemetery! I make a visit to that grave plot every time I go, it’s my favorite theme park tradition. I remember going to Knotts the day after SkyCabin was broken! It was eerily quiet and empty. I love seeing your videos on this park, it holds so many of my high school memories ❤️
I'm so lucky I got to ride the Wacky Soap Box Derby Racers as a kid. That ride really helped turn me into a coaster lover for life.
The soap box derby was my favorite ride!
I remember opening “Camp Snoopy” back when I first worked there in 1983. I also worked at “Cordy’s Corner” gift shop. That’s the same time the Farm brought out the Gift Shop Carts & BeetleMania was there as well. Worked at Knott’s Berry Farm Twice. First in 1983 & then in 1996. Who can say nowadays that you were there to Open Two New Amusement Parks. I was working in Guest Relations Opening team for Disneyland’s California Adventure Back in Feb. 2001. Where did those days go. Cloud ☁️ Nine. Those were great times as a teenager 🥰🥰🥰
What an incredible story, so cool! Do you have any memories to share about Bud Hurlbut's exit from the farm's operations in 1984?
Cloud 9 was open during the Boysenberry Festival this year and they were doing 80s dance parties.
Great to see you covering my home park! Awesome video!
Steve Martin credits working as a teen at Knotts and Disneyland as to what got him into performing. He got into magic while working in Disney’s magic shop, and that he’d regularly watch the musical revue show during his lunch break at the Golden Horseshoe theater at Disney. That show got him interested in the banjo, which he learned to play and started filling in when needed at that show, and later would play at Knotts’ Birdcage theater shows. Those talents helped him create an interesting and very successful standup comedy career. The rest, as they say, is history.
@Steamed Hams Yes, I didn’t know that either until I read a biographical book about him a couple of years ago.
Proud to say I work here and give guests the best experience they gave me growing up ❤️
This video is so good I watched it twice ... cried both times 🤗
Great video! I was enjoying watching it and then saw someone strangely familiar at 6:01. It turns out it was my dad, along with me as a baby! I was shocked where that came from until I saw reference to my mom's video (I had completely forgotten she posted it).
Knotts! So many fun rides there. I'd love to see you cover Knotts Beary Tales and Soapbox Racers. :)
This really is one of the best parks in the CF chain. People really sleep on KBF. It really is one of the best parks in the Cedar Fair chain, especially since the addition of Hangtime in 2018 and renovation of Ghost Rider in 2016. The atmosphere is beautiful and energetic at night.
Absolutely LOVED this!!! Hope to see a video someday on the history of The Haunted Shack with its roots from the real Calico Ghost Town and how it was incorporated into Knott’s Scary Farm for a few years!
I was standing on the trestle on the mine ride when the Whittier Earthquake of 1986 struck. I held on for dear life as I watched a worker on top of the Sky Jump was flung around like a whip. He was later rescued and died from a heart attack.
The lines for Parachute sky jump tended to be long while the Sky Tower had short lines but you had to wait in them a long time due to the travel time of the cabin up and down. The lines were often confused by visitors - and while waiting in Sky Tower you'd have to listen to a recording that was on a loop every two minutes when you got in line and waited for the Sky Tower. Worse than th earworm of Its a A Small World tune is hearing the Knotts toneless: "This is the entrance to the Sky Tower. The entrance to the Parachute Sky Jump is located on the opposite end of this attraction. Thank you." over and over and over.That was from the 1970s and it haunts me to this day in 2019. :)
Very interesting!
The place I have a pass too. Do more Knotts
So many memories. Yep, Knott's survived the test of time. Even the alligator farm across the street didn't make it to the 80's. In the 80's and 90's, Disneyland is where you went when you were in elementary school, Knotts is where you went in Jr High/Middle School and Magic Mountain is where you went in High School. The Corkscrew and Montezuma's Revenge were signature rides of the park. And it was the highlight of fall to get tickets to Knott's Scary Farm.
My mother loved the Christmas Craft fair during the Knotts Merry Farm season. You could stroll around a section of Ghost Town and hand dip candles and watch the blacksmith hammer out horseshoes and nails.
One of the hidden gems of the Roaring 20's is the Bandit's rest. Back in the day, the steam loco and the stagecoach got held up by Bandits. They would board the train at the NE corner of the Roaring 20's, stick up the passengers, disembark and catch the stagecoach going in the opposite direction, stick up those passengers and hop off and wait for the train to come around again in 20 minutes. They had a little robber's roost for the actors to rest, get a drink of water, etc. I spotted it once as a kid as they boarded the train.
Good call using Huell Howser. He must have researched and visited every attraction in California. If you haven't been to a place his Visiting California series is the next best thing.
They still have the bandits/robbers on the train ride today, but they don't disembark for the stagecoach anymore.
@@SalivatingSteve they would probably still hold up the stagecoach if not for the building of Camp Snoopy, which rerouted the stagecoach to an elevated "trail." At least Knott's still has a stagecoach, unlike Disneyland which abandoned theirs in 1960.
OMG I forgot about the alligator farm in the middle of LA!
One more thought... It's the perfect time to bring it back!
Very cool! I am old enough to say I've been on the Soapbox Racers, Corkscrew, Parachute Drop and the best of them all-day Knott's Berry Tales! I remember we were driving by Knott's and I saw the motorcycles racing just over the top of the bordering fence and tried to convince everyone we should go. Unfortunately, we didn't return until Soapbox opened, so I never got to ride the cycles.
Huell Howser!!! Oh my goodness is that a heartbeat! Louie don't just stand there with the camera, grab a shovel were going to be digging up a grave again! This time not just you and me on a dark moonless night! This is going to be amazing!
Just love Knott's and have been part of its evolution since the '70s. Many fond memories.
As a kid I rode the soap box racers so many times I loved that ride and Knott's Beary Tales...
So many fun memories of that part of Knott’s Berry Farm. From the New Year’s eve Christian nights that we went to, to the “Hello Dolly” fountain and the Cork screw. My first real date with my wife was at Knott’s Berry Farm during that time in the 80s.
Thank you so much for these videos. I rode the motorcycles, and can attest to leaning forward with the knowledge that my weight would propel me to the win each time! You got it all in this one! I took the skyjump every opportunity, though it scared me to DEATH, and was so sad to hear they're gone. Knott's Beary Farm was silly and weird and I rode it once. Then they tried Kingdom of the Dinosaurs, I think? But I only saw that one during Knott's Scary Farm, the original Halloween Haunt of Southern California. They turned off the lights and added actors in black bodysuits to annoy you with with blacklight tricks... They called it the dark. Hey! You even got Huell in there! He's the inspiration for my own channel. I think the last time I went to Knott's was before 2000... Oh, and my aunt paid her way through college working at the steakhouse next to the chicken dinner restaurant. I still remember the ENORMOUS buffalo head on the wall back in... had to be 80... 81? God I'm old, but I feel lucky to have seen these things! And many thanks to you for preserving them with such love and devotion.
of all the rides that are gone at knotts, i miss the soap box racers the most.
I only live like 5 minutes away from this park, and I never realized just how much history this park really has!
Fun Fact: 3:33 Part of the track of that railroad used to have an actual function way before it was used for the park. That used to be part of Stanton, CA (where I live in rn) before it was turned into the property of Buena Park, then Knott's Berry Farm theme park. I'm not sure about who owned which property at that time, just that the train was located in the city a long time ago. Our city doesn't have much history to dive deep into. but it's an interesting fact that I learned when talking with one of the chairmen of the commissions at the city hall.
The quality in these videos is amazing!!
Absolutely amazing video. I’ll never forget Racing with my family on soap box racers.
I loved the Roaring 20s area! Seeing the giant sign in your video brought back so many memories. When we were kids, we would go on the Soapbox Racers over and over. The last set of turns through the Fireworks Factory was so exhilarating as you tried to will your car to go faster and win the race.
Boy, did you nail it when you discussed the removal of the Roaring 20s theme. The re-theme to a generic beach/pier design was the start of the end of Knott's charm. Cedar Fair has just accelerated the process by stripping theming everywhere to cram in more generic thrill rides. They are trying to straddle the line between being a true theme park like Disney and a thrill park like Six Flags and not being successful at either.
One of the worst travesties was when they removed the church and the lake to put in Silver Bullet. What was a quiet, contemplative area (and one of the darkest and scariest during the Scary Farm) is now a loud, flat area awash with bright light. The second thing I was sad to see go was the Grand Canyon area they whacked to put in Pony Express. The cemetery used to be dark, quiet, and spooky. Now it's sitting right under a loud scream machine that ruins the eerie atmosphere of standing on the still beating heart. It's only a matter of time before they start cutting into the classic ghost town area to put in more generic, minimally themed thrill rides (e.g. Sierra Sidewinder and Pony Express.)
Don't even get me started on Pony Express.
@@GTMGUNN really? I walked by and thought it looked fun/ny. It looks similar to the motorcycle ride the was replaced by the race ride.
But on a slightly different topic, I'm curious as to how you know so much about the park? 🤔 It fascinates me. 😄
Catherine Miller Pony Express is an eyesore- they mounted it over Boot Hill! They could have woven it into the Ghostrider space, instead they tarnished the placemaking of the somber plot as well as the whitewater corner. An unforced error.
I’ve read a fair share of material about the farm. 🤓
Lived 3 city blocks from Knott's'. Can remember lots of things. The seal pond, free admittance all good things. Also a short lived coaster called Wind Jammer . Very good tribute.
What an awesome and informative video. Once again you knocked it out of the park. Thank you so much for sharing
i remember the roaring 20's era! loved the motorcycles! i remember when the corkscrew opened...it was a huge deal for us kids! the parachute jump scared the crap out of me, but i still went on it. i think it was the next year montezuma opened. that was such a great time to be a kid, every summer a better roller coaster would open at knott's or magic mountain! as kids, we always felt that magic mountain had the edge because of their rides, but knott's was still totally cool because of knott's scary farm!
I would love to see something on magic mountain before it was taken over by six flags. it was so wild back then. it had trolls as mascots, roaming around the park, and served beer, so parents were more willing to stay until closing time!
Wow we must be close in age, I rode all of those ride also. The parachute jump was truly terrifying!!! Peace and respect to you.
I think this was my favorite episode ever. Thank you for highlighting all Marion has done!
I loved the comment that the basket on the parachute drop was chest high, that was only true for folks under 6ft. I rode it once the basket reached about 6 - 8 inches above my waist.
It's all about the mooing Catawampus inside Ghost Town, the last of the Woodimals/Woodniks from Jungle Island.
When I worked at Knott's I'd always stop by the Catawampus every time I walked through Ghost Town at the end of my shift!
Everything about this video brings back memories of going to Knotts to ride the dinosaurs ride and then playing a Godzilla arcade machine upon exiting the ride. Not to mention that knotts holds a special significance to my family since my mom, my dad, my aunt, my grandma, my brother, and myself all had a point in our lives worked on the farm. Either as ride operators, Custodial, in the warehouse, outdoor vending, or as an arcade attendant at the roaring 20s arcade.
Your whole family? That is incredible!
thank you for such a great video. knotts was one of my favorite places when i lived in so cal. it went through some rough times in the 90 and early 2000's but its recently gone back to that charming original park with a modern twist.
Thanks for the nostalgia. I was a kid when the Roarin' 20's were removed. I fondly remember the Wacky Soap Box Racers, and wish that ride was spared in the update. I'm glad Cedar Fair is focused on the heritage of the park, it certainly took them long enough to realize it's appeal. I noticed you skipped over mentioning The Kingdom of the Dinosaurs, and only had s short shot of the exterior. I hope that means you'll visit it, when you get to Bear-y Tales. I look forward to that episode, I didn't get to experience that version of the ride.
I grew up in L.A. and remember making my first visit to Knott's Berry Farm in 1994. At that time The Roaring 20's area was still there and I remember when I rode the parachutes for the first time.
I especially loved when you showed a clip of Huell Hauser.
This might be your best video yet. You should have your own documentary show on TV. Well done sir... well done.
Lovely video. Loved going to Knott's as a kid.
I'm so glad you're doing a series on Knott's
When I was a kid I was obsessed with dinosaurs. My mom would ride Kingdom of the Dinosaurs with me over and over. Knotts will always reminded me of my mom. Thanks for the video, that was a nice tribute to Marion Knott
I almost cried. This was a beautiful episode! Nice job!
Loved this!!! I had forgotten all about it until I watched this, I remember all the Roaring 20's land. Brought back such happy memories with my family. It also made me remember anothers Knott's dark ride that I absolutely loved from my teenage years and was so sad to see go called KINGDOM OF THE DINOSAURS. Would love to see an episode on that if you ever get a chance.
Wow this was such an amazing episode! This is such a quality channel and I'm such a fan! Keep them coming! Best of luck!
I was 9 years old when my "cousin" invited me + my sister to Knott's while we were on summer vacation in the early 1970's. I saw commercials for the park all summer long. She woke me up and asked "Michael, do you want to go to Knott's Berry Farm?" I must have "leaped" out of bed and said..."Yeah! I wanna go to Knott's!!!" I remember the steam train & the Calico Mine train. I "arm chair" watched the park grow. Walter Knott has been inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame as an innovator in the industry. Marion was AMAZING! Never knew of the Gypsy Camp. AstroWorld had an Intamin tower in Houston. I actually worked that ride. I rode the Texas Chute out (Intamin parachute drop) I miss it. It also shaped the Arlington skyline. The Intamin Derrick is still there and is 50 years old this year. You should do one on it and the "Sky Hook" that was there prior to it & then moved to Six Flags over Georgia. It actually came from the 1958 Brussels Worlds Fair.
While it is extremely sad to see such an iconic land gone, I do love the boardwalk. It still maintains the sense of nostalgia but for a more modern generation and at night the boardwalk is gorgeous. Plus Xcellerator and Hangtime are really frekaing awesome rides, and I would consider them big draws to the park.
Xcelerator does have a lot of very loyal fans.
Another gem! You're a part of our family now. :-)
Very cool background about this park.
As a former Southern Calif. resident I visited this park all the time in the late 80' and early to mid 90's before moving away. It is and was a fantastic park. One of a kind, and uniquely special. You did miss 2 of the best rides the park had. One being "Bigfoot Rapids", which was very different at the time. The second being "Kingdom of the Dinosaurs." A truly fantastic replacement for the Gypsy area. A one of a kind ride to this day has never been duplicated or replaced anywhere to the same level you saw there.
But Kingdom of the Dinosaurs replaced Knott’s Berry Tales, which was what replaced part of the Gypsy Camp. Then it sat dormant for over a decade. Then they brought in Iron Reef only to return back to the Berry Tale theme which it currently is today. What’s old is new again. :)
My favorite video so far from you
Such a well researched and put together documentary! I'd love to see more Knott's documentaries from you!
I had requested this and I'm very happy this exists! Thank you! The child memoires here are wonderful to relive.
I was maybe 6 last time I road the soap box. I could have sworn it moved a lot faster than it did. Definitely miss the old quality themed area.
In the 70s, Knott's Bear-y Tales was quite popular with us teenagers. One reason was that in the middle of the ride was the "Thunder Cave", a 2-minute long ride through near-complete dankness, a "Tunnel of Love" of it's day.
Bret Boyle very cool detail, thanks for sharing!!
Was that tunnel the one with the spiders on top?
The crazy thing is that the Corkscrew is still active as the same exact ride at SilverWood Idaho. When Knott's wanted to replace it with The Boomerang, SilverWood stepped in and bought cold hard cash because of its history and innovation.
That's neat info!!
Thank you sir for including my lord and savior Huell Howser!
Props to you homie!
I didn't even know that Gypsy Camp was a thing at Knott's! They still have the Roaring 20's sign up today even though it's part of the boardwalk area now.
One of the gypsy wagons is still on display at Castle Park in Riverside.
Yes, I have fond memories of roaring 20's at Knott's Berry Farm. I think it was a much better themed land, than what it is now. I feel Knott's should go back to that theme in the same area it used to be with better quality attractions to fit it's theme. I use to love the autotopia type themed ride Knott's had. I also feel knott's need to make another dark ride. Knotts is over to for another dark ride.
Never been to Knott's but I'll watch any videos you make :) They are always so well done and researched!! I love your passion!!
Well done, man. (: I didn't know half of this, and I've always lived in OC. Fascinating and inspiring.
Great episode! Your level of research is phenomenal. Love the archive footage and the pacing is awesome!