Knott's :(

[winningfreak]

Alright, I work at Knott's and well... I have to get something off my chest. Alot of Things have been going on there in the last 3-4 years alot of old Attractions that people loved (Haunted house at Haunt time) are being taken out of the park and today I couldn't believe that I saw. As ushal I went into work early and went to the Employee cafe to meet up with some friends. On the way there I spotted one of my friends looking into a dark room and an empty door where I heared a loud crack and what sounded like a chain saw. Well... It was chainsaws and hammers removing the old Shooting gallery (Across from the Timeber mountain log ride) and it was almost gone. I stood there in shock and saw a peace of wood laying there in the dirt and read "Mr. Knott - 1972" and after about 3 minutes was asked to leave. I did and all day iv been thinking non stop about this

 

What is going on to Knott's? It use to be the small park where it was all about themes and fun. Now its going to the way of Six Flags Magic Mountain!

 

P.s. The winning bidder for the space... Panda Express!

[Sunfire]

Sadly, this is happening to so many parks. For example: Great America in California. When it opened in 1976, it was a THEME park, not a thrill park. It was, in a nutshell, a tribute to the United States. Every themed area showed different places in the country, such as the South, the seaside, the Yukon, and so on. Each area had its own feeling. This was when Marriott owned the park.

 

Then when Paramount took over after Marriott could no longer manage it (not exactly sure what happened), they decided to make it a park with a bunch of crazy roller coasters instead of a nice theme park. There aren't even any themed areas anymore! That's very sad. Can't there be a park that has nice themes, where families can just go and have a good time (other than Disneyland, love it to death, but I'd like to see more theme parks)?

[RIP Psyclone]

If you were thinking he's buried there, he wasn't. He didn't die in 1972, either. You can find his grave at Loma Vista Memorial Park, in Fullerton. Here's a pic:

 

 

Anyway, I do agree with you, Knott's has sadly been going downhill. However, it's not becoming "Six Flagsified," it's becoming "Cedar Fairified." Unique attractions like the Haunted Shack (as you mentioned), Kingdom Of The Dinosaurs, and even rides like XK-1 are gone, with either a mass produced ride to replace it, or no replacement at all. The rides that remain, like GhostRider, have been deteriorating.

 

Oh, and maybe run a spell check next time.

 

-Chris "I miss the pre-Cedar Fair Knott's" Smirnoff

[Jhcbiinoc]

While I'm not too thrilled about a Panda Express replacing the shooting gallery (they should have gone with something that fit the theme of the area better), I personally prefer KBF since Cedar Fair took over as I think they have made some decent additions ride wise that the park needed. Up until GhostRider, the park did not even have a full circuit coaster that could run more than one train other than the ultra-tame Jaguar. Now they have a decent selection of coasters and still have a lot of the classic attractions such as the Log Ride, Calico Mine, etc. I will agree, they could pay more attention to the theming and I'd like to see them do a little better upkeep on GhostRider than they do.

 

In re theme parks verses thrill parks-I think the best parks are the ones that offer a balance between family rides and thrill rides. For a good example of parks that execute this concept well, look at the Busch parks, Hersheypark and to a certain extent, the Silver Dollar City/Herschend parks. Six Flags in the past was going for pure thrills (until the new management came in and are not taking it to the other extreme, but with where they were when the new management took over, that strategy could actually result in them achieving a balance), and Disney goes for all family rides, no big thrills. Not every park has to be an extreme of one demographic or the other. One of the things I respect about Cedar Fair is that they seem to get the idea of adding attractions for both groups and have done so consistently without overdoing it like the prior Six Flags management did.

 

If some of the rumors I keep hearing about what is on the way for Knott's in the next year or two turn out to be true, one group of people will be really happy and the other will be upset, although with the conflicting hearsay it's tough to say which group that will be. (There's two different rumors I've heard around, one of another big thrill coaster and one for another family coaster). Whatever the park gets, or even if they don't get anything, I like the place the way it is and would keep going.

[kraxleRIDAH]

Not sure if any of you know this, but the shooting gallery that's being removed to be replaced by the Panda Express restaurant was actually the world's first shooting gallery attraction. Another "first" that was introduced by Knott's Berry Farm.

 

Sadly, this is happening to so many parks. For example: Great America in California. When it opened in 1976, it was a THEME park, not a thrill park. It was, in a nutshell, a tribute to the United States. Every themed area showed different places in the country, such as the South, the seaside, the Yukon, and so on. Each area had its own feeling. This was when Marriott owned the park.

 

Ugh. How can you even mention Great America in the same sentence as Knott's when it comes to nostalgic landmarks and attractions being removed?

 

A near 1/3 of what's inside Knott's is more than three decades older than the first things that were erected at Great America. We're talking about some buildings as old as from 1954 (Haunted Shack) being demolished (for whatever reason it doesn't matter).

[winningfreak]

someone said the logride was original well news for you... its closed till after haunt atleast I heared they are gutting it and redoing it all and the website has it under renovation

 

Another sad thing

 

I dont work till saturday and if Ican still acsess it ill take a pricture of whats of the shooting gallery (the only thing there today was alot of rebble and wood dought anything iwll be left tomarrow)

 

 

And its sad that Mr. Knott but so much work into the park and I never though he was barried in the park even though it would make sciense

[Mr.Six]

Yeah, its sad. But honestly, Knotts lost its charm long ago so really anything now is just like...stabbing something that's already dead. < One way to put it. I'll miss Knotts' Berry Farm, I remember all the friendly older staff, the lasso dude, Soap Box Derby Racers , The Indian Dancer show before it had a B&M support in the middle of the stage. I remember the quality of Knotts Berry Farm being on par with Disneyland. Whenever family would come and visit it was a huge choice cause both were nice family oriented parks. Well, its already been discussed on TPR. The transformation of The Berry Farm to "Knotts : A Cedar Fair Park:" . Trashcans galore can no way make up for what I remember Knotts once being.

_six

[Top Thrill Dragster]

^^ The Log Ride is closed because of a roof collapse.

 

From my understanding the Knotts family was in major financial debt and the park was not pulling in enough people in the 90's. If it wasn't for Cedar Fair Knotts would most likely be a housing or shopping outlets.

[winningfreak]

^ ^ Problem is it isnt in the ghost town area of the park, its more into the boredwalk area of the park...

[kewlcoasterdude]

^^ The Log Ride is closed because of a roof collapse.

 

From my understanding the Knotts family was in major financial debt and the park was not pulling in enough people in the 90's. If it wasn't for Cedar Fair Knotts would most likely be a housing or shopping outlets.

 

The Panda Express would fit perfectly in to the Ghost Town area of the park, if they themed it to the Chinese that built the American railroads

 

This is an excellent point that everyone needs to see.

Another truth is that even though it is nice to see those beautiful parks with old rides that have been around for years, people still come back to parks to ride thrilling coasters and other rides. In order for amusement companies to make money you need these rides and these modern improvements. Some of the old rides are being removed because not many people ride them any more, duh. Just because you like them and dont want to see them go, the park managaement has to decide what is best for the park. Those that say KBF lost its charm are ignorant because like the last post says it could have been a parking lott or mall. Then what charm would it have?

[Noobitizer]

Keep in mind that the only reason (that may be out there) for Cedar Fairs option to keep such rides as the log ride and calico mine ride is because of a contract. When the Knott Family sold the park they asked that several attractions be "un-removable" I believe the attractions under this contract are Independence Hall, Calico Mine Ride, Log Ride, Sky Cabin and (Though im not 100% positive) the Wheeler Dealer Bumper Cars. So in the parks life time you are more then likely never going to see these rides disappear.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

^Sorry, I find that hard to believe that Cedar Fair would sign something like that. Its like saying you can buy a house, yet you can not change the interior. The reason those rides have not been removed is because they are still EXTREMELY popular and a guest favorite.

[Noobitizer]

As a seasoned rides employee at the park I can garuntee that all those rides (with the exception of Wheeler) is on a contract. You will probably never see any of these rides leave in your life time. And ridership is actually quite low compared to capacity in all attractions minus the Log Ride which proves itself to be a puller to this day.

[kraxleRIDAH]

The Panda Express would fit perfectly in to the Ghost Town area of the park, if they themed it to the Chinese that built the American railroads

 

Uh. That is the most ignorant thing I have read here in a long time. Why would a park try and tie in a theme like that? The Chinese forced to build the American railroads for very little or no pay and the casualties inflicted on that group is a stain in American history -- not something you'd want to pay tribute to.

 

That's like suggesting a park could theme a Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles or KFC and tie it into a Southeast themed area because Africans were enslaved in America and picked cotton for the white people.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

EDIT Sorry I offended so many people, wasn't trying to. Sorry.

[Noobitizer]

The Panda Express would fit perfectly in to the Ghost Town area of the park, if they themed it to the Chinese that built the American railroads

 

 

Yeah I'd be careful of what you say from now on, that just doesn't fly man. Not cool, not cool at all.

[winningfreak]

Anyhow its going into the Calico section of the park and if I am not mistakin Windjammer was going to be part of that contract when they started writing it and because of all the problems they took it out?

[Noobitizer]

I actually have no idea. But it would make sense since it was the last big investment made by the Knott famliy. I would assume that if it was a part of the contract that the two parties came to an agreement after all of Windjammers problems.