Knott's Berry Farm's 100th Anniversary Family Renunion
Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA
At long last, after over a year closed, plus a few weeks of Season Passholder previews, Knott’s Berry Farm has finally reopened to the public as a theme park for the first time since the world as we knew it changed last March, when everything shut down because of the Coronavirus pandemic. This pause not only cost the livelihood of many theme park employees and cancelled Haunt and Merry Farm, it also but a huge damper in what was supposed to be a yearlong celebration of Knott’s 100th anniversary.
It was back in the early 1920s that Walter and Cordelia Knott first set up a roadside berry stand along Beach Boulevard. That stand slowly grew to include a world-famous chicken dinner restaurant, then a larger marketplace, then an added ghost town for guests waiting for dinner, and eventually to the theme park that we know and love today. 2020 was supposed to be a grand celebration of all that history, but with the park closure and limited opportunities during the successful “Taste Of…” events, Knott’s decided to push the centennial event to 2021. And with Southern California theme parks not allowed to reopen until just last month, the resulting party has been pared down to a summer-long 100th Anniversary “Family Reunion” that brings a toned down offering of the original ambitious plans and the long-awaited debut of the new Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair attraction that was supposed to highlight last year’s anniversary.
This past Friday saw the public reopening of Knott’s Berry Farm under the limited capacity of California’s Coronavirus tier system, with 25% capacity for the park (moving to 35% as Orange County shifts to the least restrictive Yellow Tier), the ability to operate rides, put on scheduled shows, and a general ability to operate like a normal theme park again. The evening before featured a media and friends preview event that offered a glimpse into everything Knott’s is offering this summer, and we were on hand to get a sampling of the fun and revelry that awaits. Lets cruise on over the Farm once again to see what’s in store for guests this year!
Entering the gates of Knott’s Berry Farm!
Ambiance
Although the park looked fantastic when we last visited for the Taste of Boysenberry Festival, Knott’s has been spiffying up even more over the past few weeks, dressing up for its belated 100 year anniversary. And despite how great the park has looked in recent years, as improvements and investments have continued to restore the park to its former glory, Knott’s Berry Farm looks even better than ever. Shades of purple dominate the park decorations—clearly emblematic of the wonderful boysenberry that gave the park so much of its fame—in the form of bunting, banners, signage, and decorative furnishings.
An elegant display harkening back to the park’s berry stand roots greets guests as they enter the turnstiles, and Ghost Town is similarly decorated in springtime decor and boysenberry motifs. Guests will spot familiar characters from Calico as they pass by the Gold Trails Hotel and through town, and though this year will not feature a full iteration of Ghost Town Alive!, the spirit of the event will manifest itself in a more restrained and less interactive form of theater.
The decor extends beyond just Ghost Town and into the Boardwalk and rest of the park as well. Simply put, Knott’s looks radiant and wonderful for its delayed celebration. It’s a testament to the hard work the Knott’s maintenance, paint, and carpentry crew have poured into keeping the park in tip-top shape throughout the past year’s closure and even improving the atmosphere!
Photo Ops
One of the prominent ways the park is celebrating its 100th anniversary is by offerings several elaborately constructed photo backdrops that celebrate iconic and beloved attractions in the park’s history. Guests have a chance to partake in some creative and beautiful photo ops that feature classic parts of Knott’s bygone eras, and Knott’s fans in general will love how these turned out.
The most elaborate and likely most popular photo op is the Haunted Shack—that tipsy tour of an attraction that seemed to defy gravity and thrilled guests for years with its corny spiels and astounding illusions. The attraction itself used to reside in the area now taken up by the Calico Mine Stage, so the photo op is located somewhat nearby, in Ghost Town, in front of the Boot Hill Cemetery. Guests can go inside the shack and get a photo that seems to distort heights and exaggerate a pair’s size relationships with each other—just like one of the features of the original attraction!
Over by Charleston Circle, another elaborate backdrop for the old Kingdom of the Dinosaurs attraction that used to occupy the building that now hosts Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair (and previously, Voyage to the Iron Reef) can be found in front of the Pacific Scrambler. A model of the professor’s time machine is on display, and a fearsome T-Rex seems to be emerging through a portal behind! Beautiful lighting and some nifty smoke effects make this photo op quite an elaborate one, and it will certainly instill plenty of nostalgia for Millennials who grew up with the famous ride.
On the other side of The Boardwalk, by HangTime, a third photo op featuring the old Sky Tower and Parachute Jump attraction can be found. This one is not quite as quirky or complex as the first two, but it looks great scenically, and it’s another blast from the past that I’m sure many people miss.
Appropriately nearby, in front of Xcelerator, are the last two special 100th anniversary photo ops, featuring the classic Sky Tower ‘K’ and a facade celebrating the famous Soap Box Derby Racers. The former connects to the refurbished Sky Tower and restoration of the iconic ‘K’ symbol, while the other speaks to arguably the most missed roller coaster at Knott’s and one that occupied the footprint of Xcelerator many, many years ago. Both sets look absolutely fantastic.
Moments in Time
Remember the QR code-based Easter Egg hung during the Taste of Boysenberry Festival? Well, Knott’s has parlayed that idea into a series of interactive exhibits that utilze guest smart phones to enable tidbits of Knott’s history to be explored all around the park. Just look for the a Moments in Time symbol, scan it with your smart phone, and relive a bit of Knott’s Berry Farm past! Some of them are even pretty silly, like the Catawampus’ feature, which one might say is rather moooving.
Meet-and-Greets
Although guests can’t quite go up and hug costumed characters or be in close interaction with them quite yet, Knott’s still has several opportunities for guests to pose in front of some of their favorite characters for a photo op. Over near the Charles Schulz Theater, Knott’s has brought back Whittles the miner. This friendly prospector is a real blast from the past. Meanwhile, over at the Charleston Circle fountain, a mixture of past and future come together with a Bear-y Tales inspired photo op, with Boysen Bear-y and some of Crafty Coyote’s pups. There are also the typical assortment of Calico bandits in Ghost Town, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Peanuts characters made appearances over at Camp Snoopy (though the area was closed during the Thursday evening private event).
Entertainment
Knott’s has slowly incorporated more unscheduled shows during its various “Taste Of…” events, but the return of normal park operations will bring even more entertainment for guests to enjoy. The Calico Mine Stage featured a performance by Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies last Thursday (they’ll perform at the Wagon Camp normally), starting off the special event presentation and 100th Anniversary Family Reunion kickoff with their typical bluegrass twang and slapstick charm.
During the day, live performances of Happiness Is… occur at the Calico Mine Stage, andt nighttime performances by pop cover bands return here as part of Knott’s Summer Nights as well. A DJ spins music above Charleston Circle on the roof of the HangTime gift shop.
There is musical entertainment at Calico Park as well. Blues and jazz strummers Rumble King played on Thursday night, but check the Knott’s entertainment schedule for the rotating list of performers.
Elsewhere, Knott’s also announced that the Fiesta Village stage will be the summer home of Bob Baker Marionette Theater. They’ll be presenting “Alegre!”– a colorful celebration of music and puppetry that right at home in the colorful, energetic Fiesta Village. And as alluded to earlier, the spirit of Ghost Town Alive! will unfold on the balconies of Ghost Town as some familiar faces—from Deputy Mayor Howell to the Mayfield Gang and more send salutations to guests passing by or find themselves in familiar trouble and shennanigans and scheming connivings!
K Tower Lighting Ceremony
Every evening, Knott’s will also celebrate its refurbished Sky Cabin by having a lighting ceremony with pyro and music to turn on that classic ‘K’ atop the park’s original tower. Spotlights from all around the park will illuminate the longstanding structure, and different lighting packages throughout the evening will lend a dynamic and 21st century brilliance. The short spectacle will be visible around dusk from all around the park, so take a moment to enjoy it!
Knott’s? Doing pyro?
Take that, Disneyland!!
But really, the Sky Tower lighting ceremony is pretty neat and a little emotional moment celebrating the park’s past and future. And it looks stunning!
Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair
Of course, the most exciting and anticipated part of Knott’s 100th Anniversary Family Reunion is the opening of Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair. Located in the same building that housed the original, unforgettable Bear-y Tales attraction, this ride revisits the Bear-y family and their coyote nemeses in a story set 34 years later. Little Boysen Bear-y, who was but a cub in the original ride, is now grown up and operating the family pie-making business.
There’s a nice view over the park from the second floor queue of the new Bear-y Tales attraction.
The queue has been lovingly renovated to serve as the Bear-y pie factory, with plenty of delicious pastries under production. But keep an eye at the windows and an ear for possible trouble, because it seems like Crafty Coyote and his family are sneaking around to cause trouble! Guests load in cars accommodating up to 4 riders per row (they have to be within the same group) with “Berry Blasters” that will be useful in accumulating points and unlocking effects and bonuses later on the ride. The blasters are the same type as what’s used in Toy Story Midway Mania—complete with ball-tugging firing action. Yes, that’s how I worded it, because that’s how it works.
The Bear-y factory is open for tours, but unwelcome guests may lurk too.
Ready to start the tour!
After a quick practice round scene, guests swing right into the Bear-y factory, where Boysen Bear-y and Girlsen Bear-y are supervising their hardworking crew making pies, including their entries to the local county fair’s pie contest this year! The lovely aroma of boynseberry pies wafts through the air, but guests can’t enjoy it too long, for the lights go dark, and activities grind to a halt, and all of a sudden, it appears the factory has been invaded by Crafty Coyote and his thieving pups, who are intent on making away with the pies!
The mix of practical sets and screens is a vast improvement over this ride’s predecessor of… no practical sets and all screens.
The ride moves onto the first of several reimagined settings from the original ride, Frog Forest, as guests follow in pursuit to try to recover the stolen pies. Here, the attraction really shows of its charm and corrects what its predecessor did wrong by enveloping its video screens with plenty of wonderfully themed and well detailed physical sets and facades that lend depth to each scene, adding charm and reducing the video game effect of the ride.
Into Frog Forest, a land of mysterious enchantment.
As the carriages move onto the Fortune Teller Camp, more physical sets and theming appear, and different manner of projections reveal more unique and interactive engagements that guests can unlock with their Berry Blasters. The vibrant colors under the blacklight illumination work fantastically here, really popping the scenic sets and elevating the dark ride experience.
I loved how this gypsy wagon turned out.
A nice trick… this doesn’t look like a screen, but guests can still score points by hitting silhouettes!
Things get a little spooky entering Thunder Cave, where lighting crashes through the eerie cavern. The Weird Woods that await the other side continue the moment of drama, before guests make it through and arrive at the county fair!
Uh oh, this looks ominous.
Spooky tree is spooky.
The mischief doesn’t stop, though, as the Coyote pups continue their trouble-making by tampering in a fair beauty contest and making off with more pies! Everything comes to a head when the bandits try to ride off into escape in a hot air balloon that quickly loses control, ultimately landing Crafty Coyote in a jam himself and allowing the stolen pies to be recovered. The Bear-y family thanks guests for their help as the ride reaches its conclusion. A quick check of the score, and it’s back to the loading station.
I love that there’s “nothing to see here.”
We’re almost at the fair!
Gregg go pew pew at the pies.
Well, Crafty Coyote, you tried, but you failed.
Dan says hi.
Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair is an absolutely enchanting, fun, and adorable ride that pays excellent tribute to its original predecessor and gives a whole new generation of Knott’s guests a new beloved attraction to ride again and again. The theming throughout the ride is excellently done—unexpectedly helped by the pandemic by providing extra time to build out additional physical sets to better complement the screens and enhance the ride environment. The storyline makes much more sense than the Voyage to the Iron Reef (sorry, will never understand why we had to go upstairs to go into the ocean, or why sea creatures were trying to eat metal), and there’s a sense of fun that contrasts the overly serious tone of the former attraction. Add in the nostalgic tie-in’s, and you have an absolute hit for Knott’s Berry Farm!
And the Bear-y family says thank you!
Naturally, the exit of the attraction dumps guests right into the gift shop (though the very plain and somewhat dark switchback stair back down to ground level could use some theming and a little more charm). And what a gift shop! Tons of classic Knott’s attraction gear and memorabilia abound at the Factory Store, from T-shirts to pins to mugs to artwork to plushes and more. From Soap Box Derby Racers to Bear-y Tales to the Haunted Shack, there’s a multitude of merchandise that can very quickly deplete a Knott’s fan’s funds!
So much merch at the Factory Store.
Knott’s has done a great job crafting souvenirs for its fans.
And of course, there’s a lot of Bear-y Tales merchandise too.
Harvest of Memories
Finally, across the street from Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair, inside Cordy’s Corner, the Harvest of Memories art show offers the latest iteration of Knott’s very successful art exhibits. Celebrating the park’s centennial and emphasizing attractions and memories of Knott’s past, this gallery features a great display of fantastic artwork by many familiar names and faces.
Another special even, another art gallery.
There is a lot of great artwork to see!
This incredible diorama was my favorite. It’s beautifully detailed!
Also astounding, this wood cut composition.
Our friend, Gabe, from Theme Park Duo submitted a neat lenticular creation of the undertaker in Ghost Town!
Eric Lynxwiler created these unexpectedly detailed Caiico Mine Ride scenes that literally sparkle!
The originals are on display along the walls and available for purchase, though many had already been sold during the first couple of weeks of season passholder previews. However, reproductions of many of the pieces are available at lower prices. In addition, a wide variety of 100th Anniversary souvenirs is available for sale as well, which is a great way to empty wallets. It seems Knott’s has comfortably hit into the Disney strategy of creating irresistible goods and memorabilia to appeal to the passholder crowd and enthusiast set!
A variety of smaller print reproductions are available for guests who don’t need the originals.
And there’s a lot of 100th Anniversary and boysenberry memorabilia too!
it seems unfair that Knott’s should have so little time—only the summer—to share such a large array of content and offerings for its monumental milestone. Besides everything touched on above, the park will also have special food offerings and gourmet items at restaurants and stands all around the park—incorporating a “Taste Of…” food festival inclusion with the park’s everyday operation. But on the flip side, this points to pretty good optimism that Knott’s Scary Farm and Knott’s Merry Farm will be able to return this year in some manner of normalcy. In the meantime, for California residents, Knott’s is open for general enjoyment and a return of theme park fun.
I’ll admit, even though I’ve been to the park several times over the past year for the Taste Of… events, I didn’t realize how much I would miss theme parks and the rides and energy that come with them until I attended last Thursday’s event. The adrenaline from zooming through HangTime’s twists and turns, the anticipation of Xcelerator’s intense hydraulic launch, and the childlike joy and revelry of the Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair attraction brought back that pure happiness that only a theme park can bring—a feeling I hadn’t felt in a long time.
As a reminder, guests can only purchase tickets online and must make advanced reservations. In addition, face covering rules still apply, so even though the CDC has relaxed mask recommendations, local mandates still govern. The same goes with temperature screenings for guests before they enter the park, plenty of hand sanitizing stations around the park, and reminders to socially distance as much as possible. Be cool and just follow the rules. After all, Knott’s is about having fun and enjoying the togetherness.
Congrats to the entire crew at Knott’s Berry Farm for a successful opening and 100th anniversary! We’re glad to see one of our favorite places back, and we’re ready to celebrate along!
Knott’s has never looked better!
Architect. Photographer. Disney nerd. Haunt enthusiast. Travel bugged. Concert fiend. Asian.
