KNOTTS BERRY FARM PHOTOS

Walter Knott and his family sold berries and pies from a roadside stand beside State Route 39 in the 1920’s. A decade later, Knott was introduced to a new berry cultivated by Rudolph Boysen. The plant was a cross of the red raspberry, blackberry, and loganberry. Walter started to sell them at his roadside stand and dubbed them “boysenberries.” In 1934, Knott’s wife Cordelia began selling fried chicken dinners served to guests on their wedding china. For dessert, Knott’s boysenberry pie became a staple, served in the small tea room. Within a few years, lines outside the restaurant were often several hours long. To entertain the waiting crowds, Walter built a ghost town in 1940, using buildings relocated from real old west towns such as Calico, California and Prescott, Arizona. A narrow-gauge train ride, pan-for-gold area, and the Calico Mine Ride were attractions that were added later on. When Disneyland was built nearby, the two parks were not seen as direct competitors, due to their differences. Walt Disney visited Knott's Berry Farm on a number of occasions, and hosted the Knotts at his own park. They had a cordial relationship and worked together on many community causes.

The Knott family fenced the farm in 1968, charged admission for the first time, and Knott’s Berry Farm officially became an amusement park. Because of its long history, Knott's Berry Farm claims to be “ "America's First Theme Park.” In the 1970’s, the park had three theme areas: Old West Ghost Town, Fiesta Village, and the Roaring Twenties, a nostalgic traditional amusement area. In 1995, the Knott family sold the food specialty business to ConAgra and two years later, they sold the amusement park operations to Cedar Fair Entertainment Co.

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