On my trip to Knotts...

[n7]

It felt like a great day to go and spend some time at Knott's Berry Farm. I hadn't been there in close to 3 years (besides haunt), and they were holding the canned drive deal where you bring a can and get in for $18 per adult. So me and my girlfriend decided to make a day of it, grab a can and play all day. We arrived at the gate, and the first thing i noticed was how large and looming SB's cobra roll was at the entry. I remember as a kid how this area was so well themed and seperate from the thrill of the park - a precursor to the fun day ahead. And while SB's cobra is so sick, it took a lot away from the entry plaza.

 

The first ride we went on was, co-incidentally, Silver Bullet. So we rushed over to the coaster to find that there was absolutely no line. It was a thing of beauty! So after waiting 0 minutes through the queue, we were on and ready to fly over Knotts. Silver Bullet was a good chunk of fun, twirling and diving all around the front section of the park and the helix at the end - woo, pretty powerful! Next we went to Jaguar (which oddly enough packed a bit of a punch, moreso than i remember), Montezuma's Revenge and then Supreme Scream, Xcelerator (no line, walked right on), Boomerang...and the rest of the coaster circuit. Then, came my favorite coaster on the west coast - we saved it for last!

 

I was so excited to get onto Ghostrider with no line (except waiting for the rear car of the train), but i didn't question why there was such a small line. When it first came out, Ghostrider was the pride of Knott's Berry Farm - an amazing airtime-filled screamfest with such speed and butter-smooth quality, racing through the intricate superstructure of itself. It was by far the best coaster i had ever ridden, so i was completely content as we waited to dispatch out of the station. I mean, no line, great ride, fun day...and then i realized something horrible. Ghostrider had not aged well. We sat in the back, thinking it was going to be the best seat in the house...ohh lordy we were soo wrong. When we launched over the crest of the lift hill, i felt sharp jerks all around...i knew this was going to be the most painful 2 and a half minutes of my life. Up the hill, down the hill, around the bend, down, up down, up - each foot of track seemed worse than the last. The mid course break allowed for temporary relief, but only lured the train to the edge...and down, up, down, up around we went for the rougher second half of the ride. And then came the helix... Now this section was plenty rough when it opened...and now it was probably the section that did me in. When the ride ended, i was pretty heartbroken. I mean, this ride was a pheonix of wood and steel..and now its no better than Psyclone. Its hard to lose a coaster like that...I wonder if they'll ever refurb it to its former glory. But as i sit here typing, my shoulders and my back are pretty f'd up - i don't know if i'll ever be able to go on that ride again. (sad realization #1)

 

So after that, we left the park (did all the major rides in less than 3 hours), grabbed a bite to eat, and rested over at her house so we would be ready for the night.

 

When we came back, the park was even more empty - which made for a very enjoyable evening. We did Big Foot Rapids, with absolutely no line. The bumper cars, Xcellerator again (only this time on the front car) and Supreme Scream. And as the sun went down, and my thirst for adrenaline quenched, i started to just enjoy the scenery. But to my surprise...there really wasn't any. Which brings me to sad realization #2...

 

Along with the entry plaza, most of the park has lost its soul. I started recalling throughout the day what i had seen, the questions i had asked, and reverting back to when i was a child, and gaining a nostalgic perspective. When we entered Fiesta Village, i noticed that the area had lost a lot of its feel when they dismantled the Big Dipper (i think thats what it was called?) and the Spinning bucket things. Not only were the rides gone, but most of the flora was too. The fact that i could see straight out to the street shrunk Fiesta Village to the size of a Denny's parking lot. Everything just seemed incredibly small with no trees acting as visual depth. And when we arrived at Jaguar, the pyramid seemed so tiny. Maybe its because i've grown up, but i think its more to do with how much of the trees and plants have dissapeared all around. The loss of the lagoon, and the addition of Silver Bullet had really shrunk the area too. But along with Fiesta Village, the Boardwalk had lost a lot of its theme as well. Walking up to Xcellerator greets you with a large expanse of nothing. You have Coasters Diner pushed far back, midway games on either side, and then Xcellerator in the sky. Even historic buildings like the Boardwalk theater and the club nearby have lost their charm as they're upstaged by a lime green and neon purple Boomerang. When Windjammer was operating, even though it was a horrible coaster, it added a very live presense to the boarwalk. Xcellerator adds a strong draw factor outside the park, but not much inside. It's an expanse of steel, overgrown grass, cheap themeing, and concrete. Don't get me wrong, its an awesome ride. But it could never take the place of the Soap Box Racers. I also noticed Kingdom of the Dinosaurs is gone - another piece of Knott's history missing. It was a stupid ride, but it was classic and everyone loved it.

 

And i think this all started making sense as soon as i went on the Calico Mine Ride - It all came at once - "This park has lost its soul" With each passing cavern - "This park is losing its identity". What it stood for, what it was, the attention to theme and detail, the beauty of the early west, the energy and the excitement of California - this park was the first California Adventure, long before Disney was even a company. And as we left the caves of the Calico Mine Ride, and the train opened up into the outside of the park, All i could see was Silver Bullet in the distance. And it made the park seem so small. All you can see whenever you look is Silver Bullet - In Fiesta Village, Silver Bullet. In the enterance plaza, Silver Bullet. Even in the ghost town shop area - Silver Bullet - the Indian trails - Silver Bullet. Columns of gray, red and orange steel expanding all over, enveloping everything into a mass of tangled twisted track overhead. This B&M invert had shrunk the park down to next to nothing. What used to be a beautiful church and lake, dotted with various willow trees, was now a massive coaster that looks like it doesn't fit anywhere. It might have been less stark if they filled the lagoon back in, but as of yet they haven't. But I'm digressing a bit - it was a sad realization to see the park in the state it was today, but it was strange how it didn't quite hit until the very end of the day. Maybe thats why it is the way it is - nobody cares about the theme Knott's was built on anymore - just as long as there are enough new rides to justify spending $33 for the day.

 

However, I had a lot of fun today - It was good to get out and get my coaster fix for $18! I hope you enjoyed my read - sorry if you didn't! haha. I just needed to get these thoughts out somewhere, and i decided the best place would be here. This is a pretty fantastic community and always a reliable source of information, and media.

 

Thanks for listening!

mike.

[Calvin]

I'm fairly sure you're preaching to the choir.

[n7]

i can imagine - But sometimes you just have to release your thoughts for the fun of it!