montezooma

Hey Big Mike...just in case you aren't keeping track.... Big Milestone for the Attic!!!

^ Well I would love to take credit for that update because it is one of the best I have seen! But Scott is the one with all those great pictures. -Shane PS. I am completely intrigued by this Stengel Book. I am going to try and track down a copy right now, what is the name of it? In the mean time I WOULD LOVE IT if you posted the pictures and sketches Anton did of the Big Bad Wolf.

BLASPHEMY!!!!

Knott's Berry Farm Facts, News & Articles Well since yesterday was so visual, today is going to be mostly reading. Here are some Articles, Press Releases and Facts on the Park. I find the two articles from Amusement Park Journal very interesting they talk about the Hurlbut connection to Knotts. Yes at one time Knott's did not own the rides in the park. The other article talks about how the Knott family survived with competition from Disney down the street. Both are very informative and if you are a Knott's fan there is a lot of good stuff in them. -Shane Here are the rides designed and built by Bud. This is where it all pretty much started. Bud Hurlbut and Walter Knott formed a partnership to build the two mountain rides at Knott's. Calico Mine Ride and the Timber Mountain Log Ride. The design for Camp Snoopy MonteZOOMa's revenge Fact Sheet Knott's turns 60 Facts Knott's early attractions This was a great publication from years ago. I am so glad I kept them, they are full of GREAT articles.

Well you know we will pick up more than postcards and a have a GOOD TIME! It will be Miles & Me, and you know from Japan and Europe...We know how to have a GOOD TIME!

Scott- We will miss you on our Schwarzkopf trek to Mexico City next weekend. I am so excited to ride the Laser Loop at its new home as well as Dreier Looping. I don't think we will get to Thriller. Do you happen to know its operating schedule????

Oh yes, how could have I forgotten that re-build. That was much more successful than X2 IMO. The transformation from before to after is noticibly different on Space Mountain...X2 not so much.

Knott's Berry Farm VIDEOS, VIDEOS, VIDEOS Today is video day. Lots and lots of visuals of rides that are now gone, commercials and a special report from the park. I hope everyone is enjoying this look back at Knott's, I know I am. Knott's editorial: As I go back and read some of my comments I seem to have a pretty negative attitude towards the park as it is today. In fairness I must say I miss the old Knott's because thats just what it is..."old Knott's. If I think about how the park was back in the 70's, I remember having the same thoughts at that time as I do today. Example: back in the 70's I thought Knott's was small and had lame rides, that is because I compared it to Magic Mountain and Disneyland. Knott's was a humble park when compared to the other southern California parks The Corkscrew was a joke when compared to the Revolution. But everything takes on extra sentimental value when it becomes nostalgic and reality is replaced with memories. With that said todays Knott's probablly equals yesterdays Knott's and in another 20 years we will be saying how we miss the charm and rides of the Knott's of 2008. And now back to the program...enjoy the show! (you may want to click on the Youtube link and watch the videos in high quality) Home Movies: Home Video: TV Commercial: TV Commercial: TV Commercial: TV Commercial: Local TV Show: Home Video of Boomerand Model:

^ what two rides are you talking about? I can only think of X2

Scott- Just Plain Awesome! Way to start out the second season. This is such an interesting post. I had no knowledge of this ride and I am now completely fascinated with it. The track is very similar to the track used on Mindbender and Shockwave, two of the most beautiful Schwarzkopf coasters, yet this is not a Shwarzkopf ride. It also bares much resemblance to Intamin track. Those trains look pretty pathetic almost like something the Eyerly Aircraft Companywould make. I love these kind of posts where you are able to show rare pictures and enhance those pictures with the stories you get from those involved with the ride. Can't wait for more. PS- I see the name has been changed from "amusement" to "coaster"

^Thanks for that. It was the one map I was not sure of. I went back and updated the pictures on the previous page with the respective years. Now onto some older maps & images from the 70's. These are really "Old Time Adventures" These two maps are from 1976bmr (before Montezooma's Revenge) and from 1978. There are some close up shots of each of the theme areas so you can see how much has changed. Also included is a poster that Knott's used for special promotions such as Mormon night. I zoomed in on some of the artwork because it really captures what the atmosphere of Knott's was like back then. roaring 20's Promotional poster Knott's brings it home with the addition of Montezooma's Revenge. Not much changed from 1976 to this map which is from 1978, except one major thing.... Roaring 20's and airfield....theme area removed...strike three! Cycle Chase...another great attraction removed...strike two Cute little Fiesta Village, problem is it lacks a major attraction.... Beary Tales. The removal was a huge step in the wrong direction IMO close view of just the park Park Map from 1976

Knott's fans please help! I am trying to determine the dates of these maps. As I mentioned before since Knott's is year round they typically didn't have a seasonal map, it kind of just stayed the same until a new attraction was added or they changed the design. The first map is from 1979, at the bottom it shows the printing date. As for the second and third map, I don't know the dates. I am not sure what year the XK-1 went in. If you know, that would be a good guess for those maps. When I get home from work I will look over those maps and see if there is a print date. Also I have some big park maps (circa 1976) that I will take digitial pictures of and post around 7:00 tonight. Mod Edit: I think I figured it out 2nd map appears to be 1991 based on park hours in that brochure. 3rd map appears to be 1996 - the year the Boardwalk retheming occured - larrygator

They are the only Fred Church trains in operation???? I did not know that. They are by far the best and most comfortable trains I have been in. What about the ones on the Vancouver Playland Coaster? What type of trains used to run on Thunder Road at Carowinds? Were those Fred Church? I loved those with the cop car and the moonshine car fronts.

And here are more shots of those GREAT trains. I should mention they have three trains, but they were only running one train the night I was there. The wait was about 30 minutes and even with one train and seperate load/unload stations they were whipping those trains out faster than some three train operations. thanks for riding! the orange train a close up shot of the gas tank...just kidding, this is for greasing the track such a simple restraint system and so much room and freedom really adds to the ride! these trains run on unleaded not diesel... flange wheels make for a very smooth ride

I forgot to mention the fair had another coaster. I did not ride it but it looks like the same ride I rode over in Japan. the wild mouse

No fair! You have used boobs and gimmicks like being on the Tonight Show to get you on both lists. I haven't stooped to those tactics ...yet. I've got a long way to go to get on that other list...maybe I need to borrow your book.

That was a great update and it included my favorite picture of this whole thread...you standing in front of all the yellow shirts in your closet. It put to bed the question of hygene on this tour. Hey I didn't know we got a banquet?!?!?

I took some time off from scanning old memorabilia this fall to visit the Pyuallup fair, and I am sure glad I did. This has got to be one of the greatest fairs in our GREAT country. Every gadget you don't need is on display, every calorie you don't need is available for your watering mouth and one of the greatest coaster secrets is open for riding during this month long celebration. I went our on a Tuesday night to see what the fair had to offer. When I went up to the ticket booth I saw the biggest upset since the delayed opening of Maverick. "Closed for routine maintenance" was the sign I saw. How could a coaster that only operates a couple weeks out of the year be closed for maintenance. You would think that they would take care of all the repairs in the off season. Well I was pleasantly surprised once I walked over to the coaster to see that it was operating, even if only one train. This coaster is like stepping into a time machine and riding the great coasters of yesteryear! Here is some photos of one of the greatest wooden coaster rides I have had in a long time. It was nostalgic, yet smooth and nothing beats the smell of grease on an old wood coaster. If you are an avid wood coaster enthusiast this a coaster not to be missed, and the fair kicks a$$ too. this ride is worth re-rides!!!! the station... time to ride again the ride.... the lift... step back in time. and finally the ride! The ongoing repairs.... The unecessasary load gates... another nerd shot..but oh so sweet! The nostalgia...skid brakes! The ultimate wooden coaster experience...for a fair! the surprise!!!! The disapointment... The price?!?!?! It is just a drop ride, why the rediculous price? The Drop! The Midway! The atmosphere...The Food! One of the BEST fairs I have ever been to!

2011? 2011? it is only 2008, why are they announcing a ride three years in advance? Boy this is going to be a LONG thread if we have three years to speculate what it is going to be. All I can say is it better be something good...no, GREAT... if they are going to keep us in anticipation for three years! 2011? By the time it is open I will have to do an update on the announcement in Shane's Amusement Attic

They always scare the sh*t out of me. Also those monsters on the bungy cords are super scary!

Oh Big Mike...this is not a competition...it is all about sharing the love. Yes everyday this week I will be sharing a treasure trove of goodies from Knott's. This will be a big week for the Attic, you may want to hold off on your updates until next week when I will be running something from Intamin. Oh wait, that may be huge too! Anyways, Good Luck! -GAME ON!

Yes, I will repost that as well as another video that includes XK-1 and a POV of Wacky Soap Box Racers.

Knott's Berry Farm Brochures & Park Maps Here are some early brochures and park maps. Because Knott's is not a seasonal park and operates year round they did not print up new brochures each year. So it is hard to say what year of these brochures comes from. I'll leave all my comments to the captions. Please discuss them demise of Knott's -Shane on this map you can see another one of Knott's bad additions, the XK-1. Also notice that Mystery Lodge has not been added. This map comes from 1991 Even though I am not a fan of the addition of the Boomerang, I do like this color much better than the eyesore it is today. Knott's really goes off course with this ride and the re-theme of the airfield section. The Sky Jump looks like a big roll of Life-Savers. Hammerhead was a well themed flat ride that was soon replaced once Cedar Fair took over. Grand Slammer, Dolphin Show...R.I.P. Welcome dumb new theme areas: Wild Water Wilderness & Indian Trails This map is from the year that Mystery Lodge opened...anyone know what year that was? Tampico Tumbler, un-pierced Loop...R.I.P. Big Foot Rapids must have been new this year. I never really got the connection with Big Foot. I think they could have don something better and tied it into Ghost Town Corkscrew, Sky Jump, Kingdom of the Dinosaurs...R.I.P. I do love the shot of the Corkscrew and Sky Jump! This brochure cover is coaster porn for me! more History. Shame a park with so much history is now nothing more than a strip mall amusement park. Archery, Mexican Whip, Tijuanna Taxi, Propellar Spin...R.I.P. Hey where is Knott's Berry Tales? Yum, boysenberry pie. and they had the BEST mexican food in Fiesta Village. It really was a quaint little park, full of atmosphere & charm. Corkscrew, Cycle Chase, Sky Jump...R.I.P. Park Map from 1979 WOW imagine that. They take credit cars and the offer plenty of FREE parking. what a concept. the History. Knott's was full of history at one time. Seems like all that has been lost with the corporatization. Is that a word? Knott's great themed sections! Each shown here with their attractions. I have to say Montezooma's Revenge is my favorite. great park map. The parachute tower was quite an icon for the surrounding area. The neutered version sucks! 1979 brochure. I love the cover of this brochure. It really captures Knott's in its best years This is the back of one of the maps. I am still not sure what to make of this attraction????? I think Knott's went through a eco-friendly phase that left us with some really strange attractions and themed areas.

Knott's Berry Farm Old Time Adventures Alright, you ready for some GOOD stuff? This is one of my favorite posts of this season. It has to do with a little southern California theme park called Knott's Berry Farm. It used to have the tag line "Old Time Adventures". Every day this week I will take a look back at this great park as it was back in the late 70's and early 80's, back when the park was full of charm, history and great themed sections. This look back will contain, post cards, brochures, articles, park history facts, photos and video from my personal collection, souvenir books, maps and just random momentos. I know a lot of you our there have great passion for this park, as do I. This is the park I grew up going to and if contains one of my favorite coasters (and my TPR screen namesake) MonteZOOMa's Revenge. I sure great memories will be sparked as you see pictures of the Corkscrew, Sky Jump, Flying Machine, Propeller Spin, Motor Cycle Chase and of course Knott's Berry Tales. Lets start with some random bits and pieces from the park as it looked in the 70's. "Knott's Old Time Adventures" To me, this map shows Knott's at its greatest time! So many shows, so many things to do...so many great Knott's memories. Don't miss El Cinema Grande. What a celebrity line up: Pat & Debby Boone. Also the park prepares for a new event called "Halloween Haunt" an early park map and show guide from 1978. Early MonteZOOMa's Revenge. Knott's was such a beautiful park back then. Maybe these postcards should be posted over in Mark's Postcard Paradise, but they are not Scary... great attraction artwork on these group flyers. Mormon night at Knott's. I bet beer sales where really low during this event. They used this as a marketing. Today this would be marketing suicide! This is a find. OJ simpson visits Knott's. Go figure, he is holding a gun, who knew he would end up with more knife skills... The rendering of what the Soap Box Racers would look like. The Grapevine was an employee newsletter. This edition is such a find not only because it announces the transition of the Cycle Chase to Soap Box Racer, but take a look at the last page...How scary is that? The Old Time Adventure Logo. Three simple and well done theme areas. Ghost Town, Fiesta Village & Roaring 20's. Life was simple back then... Special event at Knotts. I love the Montezooma's artwork D ticket attractions. I guess Disney owned the market on "E tickets" C ticket attractions. I had completely forgotten about the Tijuana Taxi B ticket attractions A ticket attractions Knotts used to operate on a ticket system similar to Disneyland. all the great attractions in the Roarin 20's area and the Airfield section have been completely erased from the park. Adventurers' Club was a way to get discout admission. But who needs a discount off $5.00?

Again as I try to stretch the "SCAREadise" theme, I present this postcard from Boardwalk & Baseball. Look at those colors...Isn't that scary? Sorry I don't have the back of the postcard, it was sent from a friend and I didn't want to post the personal message. Those are the scariest colors for a coaster I have seen in a while. Pink and Grey...yuck!