Ghost Town Alive! Gets a Whole Lee Surprise

Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA

Happy Tuesday, folks! Today, we are venturing over to our favorite Berry Farm. No, we’re not hitting up Halloween Haunt coverage quite yet. Knott’s Scary Farm starts next Thursday night, September 20. Instead, we’re taking a look at the conclusion of this past season’s overlay event, Ghost Town Alive!

This past Labor Day, as it has the past two years, Ghost Town Alive! wrapped up its third season run with a cliffhanger/surprise revelation tying into a mystery that had been running all summer long: just who really was the owner of the original deed to the town of Calico? Throughout the summer, in daily displays of immersive theater, Phyllis “Ma” Mayfield, Ox Mayfield, Clay Mayfield, and “Peg Leg” Cinch had campaigned their own claims to ownership of the town. And through the dynamic and unique aspect of Ghost Town Alive!, the deed had gone to different citizens on different days depending on the popular vote.

But on this day, the real owner was promised to be revealed. And it would prove to be a shocker.

The Players

Before we get into the story, lets stroll through the little town of Calico (i.e. Knott’s Ghost Town) and meet some of the characters, or “Citizens.” The season finale day provided a practically full showing of the cast to celebrate the special event, which yielded the opportunity to capture more portraits throughout town!

Mayor Horton Parnell and his lovely wife, Pearl, pose in front of Town Hall.

On this day, Deputy Mayor Milton C. Howell is also on hand. He would prove to be instrumental in unraveling an important mystery.

Of course, Sheriff Bryce Wheeler is around as always. On this day, he’s waiting for a stagecoach to arrive carrying his date to the Founder’s Day Hoedown, Goldie West. Unfortunately, the stagecoach has been delayed by three days, much to many people’s consternation.

Both of his deputies are with him on this Founder’s Day, including Deputy Luke Stillwater.

With the Mayfield Gang as a whole causing less trouble this year than usual, Deputy Luke, Goldie’s Place manager, Violet Lee, and Ike Mayfield are able to pose together for a photo.

Clay Mayfield (right) poses with his son, Tiny.

And Tiny poses for a photo with his wife, “One Shot” Wilder, who I missed earlier in the summer.

There’s also Fluke Mayfield, the most sincere of the bunch.

Family patriarch, Ox Mayfield, is back, and trying to repair his relationship with his estranged wife, Phyllis, who everyone thought was deceased.

Phyllis “Ma” Mayfield poses with her two ranch hands, “No Name” Cunningham on the left and “Dead Eye” Jackson on the right.

Judge Roy Bean keeps order in the town. Or tries to.

Town Clerk Kenny Storm assists with town and legal matters, in between sips of Mother Murphy’s Boysenberry Elixir. Kenny is also nervously awaiting the delayed arrival of the stagecoach, which is carrying refills of his beloved potable (he’s down to his last bottle!).

Calico Gazette editor Bixby Knolls continues to distribute the town news. He’s waiting on the stagecoach too, since it has ink refills for his printing press. He’s only got enough ink for just today’s printing!

Looking Glass Thurmond gets the best photos for Bixby and the Gazette.

Meanwhile, Izzy Malloy interviews the townsfolk to get their thoughts on matters for print in the local newspaper.

In the post office, postmaster Quint Campbell helps distributes messages, though he also has a cryptic box that he can’t seem to figure out.

Post office assistant Emery Mund goes around generally being loud. At least to an unamused Judge Roy Bean.

Colonel Clem Potter, purveyor of the General Store, and Calico musician “Cannonball” pose in front of said General Store.

Zeke Connelly (left) and Prospector Flint Stahlek share a silly moment outside of the Assayer’s Office. But Zeke worries about the delayed stagecoach, which is carrying his beloved wife to back to town.

Town barber, Percy Boyer is back in town for this special day.

Dr. Linville Carter also assists at the Barber Shop when Boyer is not around, and sometimes even when he is!

Ophelia Cinch has made sure to be a part of this special Founder’s Day.

Her father, “Peg Leg” Cinch, has made it a point to be more involved in his daughter’s life ever since he came back to Calico after striking it rich with the largest gold nugget in these parts.

Bank manager, Cookie Lemon (or Cookie Fortune, depending on which arc you want to use) poses with her new bank guard, Antonio Salvadore.

Coop Walker, another clerk at the Calico Bank.

From left to right, Calico Gazette reporter, Izzy Malloy, schoolteacher, Marybelle Starling, and Miss Sierra pose for a photo.

Nellie Simmons brings a young guest to the Calico hoedown.

Bernard (left) discusses matters with a Calico Railroad trainsman.

Dixie, one of the Calico saloon girls at the hoedown. Or is it Trixie?

Calico Saloon owner, Goldie West, makes a special return to Calico just in time for the Founder’s Day Hoedown.

The Story

Just as it has gone all summer long, the big news of the day concerned the early morning theft of the giant gold nugget that Peg Leg found last year. However, that was surplanted when Phyllis “Ma” Mayfield turned up in Calico very much alive, unlike what everyone in town had believed for years. This stirred a fourway battle to claim the deed to the town of Calico, contested by Phyllis, Ox Mayfield, Clay Mayfield, and Peg Leg—each with his or her own motivations to own the town.

In the meantime, during a noontime stop, the Calico railroad had delivered a special package to the Mayor’s office containing a “time capsule” of artifacts, but the contents themselves seemed mis-arranged and difficult to decipher. Deputy Mayor Howell and a band of supportive [honorary] citizens took it upon themselves to unravel the mystery, since it promised to showcase a great revelation about the town’s history itself!

Meanwhile, mysterious packages had appeared throughout the day, bearing puzzles which, when unlocked, revealed a series of strategies that appeared to give away secrets to how to rob the Calico Bank! All of this came to a head at the Founder’s Day Hoedown, when all would be revealed…

Calico must have the worst bank ever. It always seems to be broken into every year.

After an afternoon shoot-out that resulted in the apprehension of Phyllis Mayfield and a surprise admission that Peg Leg’s gold nugget was actual a fake—fool’s gold—it is decided that the deed to Calico, which had been purchased by Peg Leg with his gold, is once again open to claim. An election will decide the owner.

Clay Mayfield is among those who lay claim to the town, citing that while his father’s name had been written on the deed at one point, his arrest last year meant that the deed should be passed down to the next of kin—conveniently ignoring a distracted older brother Ike.

Ox laments that he has done a lot of bad things in the name of love and campaigns to be voted the owner of the deed to have a chance to make amends.

Peg Leg appeals to being a good and honorable owner of the town if given the deed, and asks for it to also help him be a better father and have something to leave for his daughter, Ophelia, when he passes.

“Ma” Mayfield has perhaps the strongest claim. It was her name on the deed originally, before Ox crossed it out after thinking her dead.

A little while later, Ox Mayfield enlists the help of some honorary citizens to serenade his estranged wife, in hopes of winning her back.

Phyllis questions where Ox lost his wedding ring, as she has kept hers all this time.

Sensing trouble, Ox has his entourage sing louder and more passionately.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Howell has deciphered the code behind the governor’s package.

It contains a startling revelation, and the Deputy Mayor gathers his aides to help confirm additional information to verify that his discovery is actually valid—for it could change the face of Calico forever!

Meanwhile, the townsfolk line up for the election.

Turnout is especially high on this final Founder’s Day and election of the season.

At 5:30, it’s time for the Hoedown.

The festivities are interrupted, though, when Sheriff Wheeler announces the results of his investigation into the mysterious clues left in town have implicated a mastermind suspect.

It seems the new Calico Bank guard, Antonio, has been leaving the clues, hoping to persuade the townspeople to rob the bank for him (which is exactly what happened and how the citizens claimed excuse).

Antonio briefly protests his innocence before finally admitting that he is actually infamous bandit, Wisconsin Wes (and many other aliases) who had come to Calico to try to reform his life—but just couldn’t stay completely clean.

That mystery taken care of, it’s time for Scruff Mayfield to continue calling the line dances!

It’s a very crowded day in Calico Park—the busiest of the season!

Somehow, the citizens find a way to dance and celebrate the day anyway.

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Even “Antonio” is allowed to take part before he is carted off the jail.

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What a grand time it is!

The True Owner of Calico

At last, it was time to announce the results of the afternoon’s election to determine the rightful owner of Calico. With record high turnout, Judge Bean read the surprise winner: Ox Mayfield! What an upset! Even Ox himself seemed flabberghasted he had won, but not so overtaken that he refused the deed. But at that moment that he accepted ownership of Calico and promised the next day would be “Ox Mayfield Day,” Deputy Mayor Howell rushed to the stage to unveil what he had discovered: the identities of the seven original founders of the town of Calico!

They were, as he read them:

Walter Knott
Hattie Hooper
Ellis Lloyd
Benjamin John Roger Edmund
Edith Webster
Theodore “Doc” Booth

The seventh? Pop Wing Lee! Sound familiar? Well, his descendent, Hop Wing Lee, had long been the town launderer. But he had been out of town all summer and had not been seen. At that moment, however, the long delayed stagecoach finally arrived!

First out was Goldie West, owner of the local hotel and currently out touring with a traveling version of the Saloon show. Next came Zeke’s wife, back from her trip out of town. And last but not least… none other than the true and rightful owner of Calico and only remaining living descendant of the town’s original town founders, Hop Wing Lee!

It’s time to read off the results of the election (which are actually counted).

The winner is… Ox??

He can’t believe it, and he doesn’t think he deserves it, but he’ll take it!

But Deputy Mayor Howell interrupts with his big news.

It seems that he has uncovered the identities of the original seven founders of Calico.

And among them, one has a living descendant who is a current citizen of Calico!

At this moment, the long-delayed stagecoach finally arrives!

After Goldie West disembarks, Zeke embraces his wife, getting off the stagecoach.

But the big man of the hours is Hop Wing Lee, previously only known as being the guy who runs the town laundromat.

Sheriff Bryce Wheeler gleefully escorts his date, Goldie, to the stage at Calico Park.

Zeke Connelly’s wife also joins the Hoedown festivities.

Meanwhile, Ike Mayfield and Kenny Storm clear a path of Hop Wing Lee before he is mobbed.

Having just returned from a trip away, Lee really has no idea what is going on.

As Judge Bean and Mayor Parnell call for quiet, Deputy Mayor Howell asks Lee how he feels about being revealed as a descendant of a town founder and rightful owner of the deed and town of Calico.

Still confused, Lee literally answers (in Cantonese), “Um… I don’t know… I just got back, and uh…”

After recomposing himself, Lee expresses his gratitude and feels honored to be bestowed this title.

Naturally, people line up to shake Lee’s hand during the final dance.

And then, Deputy Mayor Howell whispers his grand plan…

“Just think, with our powers combined, we could rule the galaxy like… Deputy Mayor and Launderer.”

Just kidding. He did not say that. But he did explain the ramifications of this bit revelation.

Meanwhile, Zeke and his wife enjoy their time together once again at the Hoedown.

And Pearl Parnell just can’t believe this turn of events!

At the conclusion of the Hoedown, Mayor Parnell proclaims this the best Founder’s Day ever!

And hot off the press, Bixby Knolls distributes a bonus edition of the Calico Gazette proclaiming the big news.

He can hardly issue the papers fast enough!

The Deputy Mayor is ecstatic to receive his first-ever mention in the Gazette for his help in uncovering the town’s history.

Meanwhile, Antonio can only lament on what could have been if he’d gotten away with his scheme.

Ah well, even the villains in Calico recognize their comeuppance. Deputy Sheriff McCance will take him to jail.

Meanwhile, the town is Hop Wing Lee’s.

I, for one, welcome our new Chinese overlord(s)… to Calico.

The townsfolk could hardly wait to line up and greet the new celebrity (and new Ghost Town Alive! character), who, having just returned to town, was rather confused at all the hoopla. But he seemed to take things in stride, accepting the deed and shaking hands with his new fans. Who would have thought that Hop Wing Lee—owner of the only Ghost Town peek-in that was off limits, character who had remained uncast through the entire first three seasons of Ghost Town Alive!—would turn out to be the most powerful person in Calico?

And in this summer of Crazy Rich Asians fanfare, perhaps it was also fitting that an Asian received top billing at the end of GTA! Season 3. It was definitely a surprise few seemed to see coming. How will this play out into next year? We’ll have to find out next May…

The Interactions

I’ll be remiss to once again mention the strong connections that Ghost Town Alive! has built up all season with season passholders who visit again and again to interact with the cast and ingratiate themselves into the story, as well as one-time guest who are pulled into the production. But on this last day, it was the season-long bonds that were most evidently on display. After the final Hoedown dance played, Calico Park became an emotional scene of goodbyes, as both guests and cast members bid each other farewell until the next season.

Even though it is “just a theme park,” Ghost Town Alive! has provided a wonderful escapist fantasy for many guests. For children, it’s been an adventure story come true—one that many younger guests have come back to multiple times throughout the summer. And even for the adults who participate, it has been a way to enjoy the fun of make-believe within the context of an encouraging and positive environment. That’s the greatest value of this production—the very tangible and uplifting effects it has provided for the guests. And it’s why I hope this continues to be a seasonal promotion every year, for as long as possible.

The authentic, emotional connections made at Ghost Town Alive are heart-warming to witness.

They make a real difference, especially with the kids.

Some guests return regularly and become unofficial members of the production, joining in the story and helping Calico citizens.

What started in season one as simply siding with the Sheriff and his Deputies or with the Mayfield Gang has become even deeper.

Each of the characters has built up some sort of resonance with various fans.

The amenable participation between actor and guest forges a strong bond between the two. The participation creates an active relationship, the depths of which are not commonly found at theme parks.

And it is very evident that this means a lot both for the guests and the actors.

And the end of the final Hoedown of the season, it’s hugs and tears and goodbyes and thank you’s.

From guest and actor and actor to actor, in many ways, what’s been fostered has been like a family.

Some guests even bring their own self-made souvenirs for the actors to sign, as mementos.

Others have Knott’s Ghost Town Alive! merchandise signed for keepsakes.

For the actors, it’s the fulfillment of why they go into this craft.

Another Ghost Town Alive! has come to a close.

Yeah, I wish it didn’t end either.

A group photo of the entire cast (or just about) on the final day of Ghost Town Alive! 2018.

That does it from the Farm today! If there’s one thing that I will continue to repeat, it’s to go to Knott’s Berry Farm and check out Ghost Town Alive! Of course, it’s too late this year to do so, but mark your calendars for Memorial Day weekend next year when it presumably returns, and/or for next summer. It’s a truly amazing event put on by a talented and passionate cast of dozens who utilize impressive improvisational techniques within the construct of an overall storyline to produce a truly enveloping story, day after day. Once again, kudos to the entire Knott’s team—creative, costuming, tech, and of course the cast itself—for creating such a fantastic and award-winning production!

We’ll be back at the Disneyland Resort the rest of this week for Halloween Time. From one emotionally resonant thematic environment to another. It’s why people love going to and falling into the stories of theme parks.