Wow! Thanks Jay! This actually brought tears to my eyes, especially when I saw Jeffery's Barn, that's where my family, the Mott family, had our shop, Mott's Miniatures. I am one of the Mott children. Sadly when Cedar Fair bought Knott's, they also wanted to buy our shop, but we said no. So we were told to leave. What an awesome tribute to a wonderful time gone by. Thanks again!
Thank you for including the schoolhouse in your video. My great grandmother went to school in that very schoolhouse, so it makes me happy to see that it's still at Knotts. :)
Thank You. I have memories from 50 years ago when I was a child. I loved the "fish dogs" (Seals) that used to swim and "bark" in the center of the park in a deep pool constructed for them. Chickens used to have to be avoided while parking under eucalyptus trees. Those little scale models of Spanish Missions. Magical, as a child. It was a more relaxed time then, something that is gone forever in SoCal. I do miss it from time to time and wish it could have never ended.
What a video, a true tribute to the original Ghost Town. Walter would be proud. I'm really starting not to think much about Cedar Fair anymore. Since they bought Knott's berry farm, too much of the family history has been lost. The only good thing cedar fair has done was expand the Halloween Haunt nights.I swear if I had the money, I would have bought Knotts from Cedar Fair and preserve what Walter and Cordelia started so long ago. Who else would that?
Fantastic video... I am always a little sad to see what I think of as abominations in the form of coaster supports all over the place. And to see the coaster in back if Mrs. Knott's Chicken Restaurant, well, I guess nothing stays the same for long. Calico used to be one of my favorite places.
Thanks for the memories. I'll just hang onto the memories of the many times we were taken to Knott's and Disneyland during the 60s. I probably will be disappointed if I returned.
What happened to the little devil who would turn the little crank and make the mini volcano erupt?? Used to love that back in the mid 1970's as a little kid!
No one knows for sure. There's a little cutout in the sidewalk near Ghostrider where the volcano (which was built there to conceal an irrigation standpipe) used to be, but the whole thing was, for whatever reason, removed when Ghostrider was built. The devil is probably in somebody's attic.
This is an awesome Park.I use to go there alot.Not only that ,it gets Better on Halloween,Damm I wish I could visit soon.I see they got more attractions..I envy Californians.I wished we had a park like that here in texas.
My family first went to Knott’s Berry Farm in the mid 1950’s on vacation from Missouri. In 1992 I took my own family to Knott’s Berry Farm on vacation from Missouri. Though there were changes it was still very enjoyable and we stayed until it closed for the night.
You show the Artist Studio built in 1954 in your video. My Father Claude K. Bell built the Studio, it was called "Portrait's n' Pastel" and he worked for Mr. Knott for over 40 years. He also made most of the statues during that time of the Old Minor and Burro, Whiskey Bill and Handsome Jim Brady, The Saloon Girls and many others. Do you have any memorabilia on my Father? I have all his old maps and my sisters and I contributed to another author who recently wrote a wonderful book.
Knott's was our destination on Saturday afternoon's, Cost nothing to get in and you could walk around and see the sites. Bird Cage Theater cost 35 or was it 50 cents for a 2 hr, show. We would be there until closing time.
when i was a kid in the 50s and early 60s we would ride our bikes to knots at that time it was free to get in you paid for the rides like 50 cents I will always remember those days
Me too! You are right those were great memories. Although, I did it in the 70's And there was a gate entrance fee then. We lived across the street on western and Santa Elena Dr. We got 4 free tickets every month from knott's for the noise. We would ride through the parking lot and cut through the back entrance of the rock garden bldg. Then exit out the front and go through the underground tunnel under beach blvd and play on jungle island.
Great video! Been going there since I was a kid in the 60's. My parents met in the Wagon Camp. Does anyone remember the seal pool? It was in the Fiesta Village area. How about the Carousel that was on the other side of HWY 39 (Beach blvd). They even had those gas powered model T's cruising around the perimeter. Man, the memories.
Brings back great memories. Always went to Knotts on Easter Sunday. The 50's and 60's were a great time. Miss them. The donkey rides and mountain train ride were my favorites. What fun.
When I went I didn't see a lot of these things. Cedar Fair is ruining knotts. Soon it won't even be considered a theme park because all the themed stuff will be gone. They can build all the rides they want. Just don't touch ghost town.
Why did they change so much? What happened to all the pictures at the Birdcage Theater going back to the 1950s? My father made a lot of paintings for the Birdcage like the villain at the entrance. Did they just throw them out? Do they ever put on actual melodramas anymore or just weird musicals?
I heard Back when they first built ghost town they had an actual Operating Brothel!!!! Knott's! Come up and See us Sometime! is what the Lady would Say in the Radio Add!
I wonder what happened to the bronze saint Bernard dog out side the court yard of the gift shop ...we use to get the bosenyberry punch in a glass bottle wrapped in white paper then take lunch to the wagon train sit inside the Conestoga wagon to eat. Also remember the glass windows with the models and story of the family crossing the desert with the little girl asking for water and her mom giving her a stone to suck on!
Wow! Thanks Jay! This actually brought tears to my eyes, especially when I saw Jeffery's Barn, that's where my family, the Mott family, had our shop, Mott's Miniatures. I am one of the Mott children. Sadly when Cedar Fair bought Knott's, they also wanted to buy our shop, but we said no. So we were told to leave. What an awesome tribute to a wonderful time gone by. Thanks again!
Thank you for including the schoolhouse in your video. My great grandmother went to school in that very schoolhouse, so it makes me happy to see that it's still at Knotts. :)
Thank You. I have memories from 50 years ago when I was a child. I loved the "fish dogs" (Seals) that used to swim and "bark" in the center of the park in a deep pool constructed for them. Chickens used to have to be avoided while parking under eucalyptus trees. Those little scale models of Spanish Missions.
Magical, as a child. It was a more relaxed time then, something that is gone forever in SoCal. I do miss it from time to time and wish it could have never ended.
Great Tribute video jayjennings!!
As always, Jay - you are wonderful to archive the historical significance of Walter and Cordelia Knotts' legacy. Thanks again! love you for this!
What a video, a true tribute to the original Ghost Town. Walter would be proud. I'm really starting not to think much about Cedar Fair anymore. Since they bought Knott's berry farm, too much of the family history has been lost. The only good thing cedar fair has done was expand the Halloween Haunt nights.I swear if I had the money, I would have bought Knotts from Cedar Fair and preserve what Walter and Cordelia started so long ago. Who else would that?
BRING BACK WHAT KNOTTS USE TO BE!!!
Fantastic video... I am always a little sad to see what I think of as abominations in the form of coaster supports all over the place. And to see the coaster in back if Mrs. Knott's Chicken Restaurant, well, I guess nothing stays the same for long. Calico used to be one of my favorite places.
Thanks for the memories. I'll just hang onto the memories of the many times we were taken to Knott's and Disneyland during the 60s. I probably will be disappointed if I returned.
What happened to the little devil who would turn the little crank and make the mini volcano erupt?? Used to love that back in the mid 1970's as a little kid!
Last time I saw it was in the 90s and it wasn't running anymore.
No one knows for sure. There's a little cutout in the sidewalk near Ghostrider where the volcano (which was built there to conceal an irrigation standpipe) used to be, but the whole thing was, for whatever reason, removed when Ghostrider was built. The devil is probably in somebody's attic.
This is an awesome Park.I use to go there alot.Not only that ,it gets Better on Halloween,Damm I wish I could visit soon.I see they got more attractions..I envy Californians.I wished we had a park like that here in texas.
This is awesome, thank you. I always loved KBF as a kid and am so sad to see what Cedar Fair did to the place
Thank you.i lived in Buena Park for most of my life.and have great memories of Knotts berry farm.
Loved the video and the music 👍😘👍!!
Great going Jay....
Really brought me back....
Thanks for making this Jay...Love what you have done for keeping the Old Knotts still alive
thank you for this
My family first went to Knott’s Berry Farm in the mid 1950’s on vacation from Missouri. In 1992 I took my own family to Knott’s Berry Farm on vacation from Missouri. Though there were changes it was still very enjoyable and we stayed until it closed for the night.
great video!
You show the Artist Studio built in 1954 in your video. My Father Claude K. Bell built the Studio, it was called "Portrait's n' Pastel" and he worked for Mr. Knott for over 40 years. He also made most of the statues during that time of the Old Minor and Burro, Whiskey Bill and Handsome Jim Brady, The Saloon Girls and many others. Do you have any memorabilia on my Father? I have all his old maps and my sisters and I contributed to another author who recently wrote a wonderful book.
I always used to like to stand in the coffin near the Bird Cage Theatre.
Knott's was our destination on Saturday afternoon's, Cost nothing to get in and you could walk around and see the sites. Bird Cage Theater cost 35 or was it 50 cents for a 2 hr, show. We would be there until closing time.
when i was a kid in the 50s and early 60s we would ride our bikes to knots at that time it was free to get in you paid for the rides like 50 cents I will always remember those days
Me too! You are right those were great memories. Although, I did it in the 70's And there was a gate entrance fee then. We lived across the street on western and Santa Elena Dr. We got 4 free tickets every month from knott's for the noise. We would ride through the parking lot and cut through the back entrance of the rock garden bldg. Then exit out the front and go through the underground tunnel under beach blvd and play on jungle island.
Wasn't there an alligator farm at Knotts or was that further down the road near Movie land wax museum? ( RIP )
It was close to Knott's, but separate. There was also a Japanese Deer Park by there.
Great video! Been going there since I was a kid in the 60's. My parents met in the Wagon Camp. Does anyone remember the seal pool? It was in the Fiesta Village area. How about the Carousel that was on the other side of HWY 39 (Beach blvd). They even had those gas powered model T's cruising around the perimeter. Man, the memories.
Brings back great memories. Always went to Knotts on Easter Sunday. The 50's and 60's were a great time. Miss them. The donkey rides and mountain train ride were my favorites. What fun.
When I went I didn't see a lot of these things. Cedar Fair is ruining knotts. Soon it won't even be considered a theme park because all the themed stuff will be gone. They can build all the rides they want. Just don't touch ghost town.
Why did they change so much? What happened to all the pictures at the Birdcage Theater going back to the 1950s? My father made a lot of paintings for the Birdcage like the villain at the entrance. Did they just throw them out? Do they ever put on actual melodramas anymore or just weird musicals?
Ronald M They no longer hold regular performances of melodrmas. Just occaisional plays during special times like the holiday season.
I love Knott’s Berry Farm! Does anyone know the know the name of the song in 5:33??? I’ve the heard it before but I can’t remember the name.
Polly Wolly Doodle.
I heard Back when they first built ghost town they had an actual Operating Brothel!!!! Knott's! Come up and See us Sometime! is what the Lady would Say in the Radio Add!
I wonder what happened to the bronze saint Bernard dog out side the court yard of the gift shop ...we use to get the bosenyberry punch in a glass bottle wrapped in white paper then take lunch to the wagon train sit inside the Conestoga wagon to eat. Also remember the glass windows with the models and story of the family crossing the desert with the little girl asking for water and her mom giving her a stone to suck on!
Sorry honey but there's no water! I remember that! Awesome!