Walter and Cordelia Knott - Founders of Knott's Berry Farm
The year was 1920 when Walter and Cordelia Knott moved to the then-sleepy community of Buena Park, Calif. to farm 20 acres of rented land. Today, that land is part of 160-acre Knott's Berry Farm, America's first theme park and the 12th most-visited amusement park in the country. And, while the Knott Family no longer owns the venerable attraction, the Knott spirit of hard work and down-home hospitality lives on in new owner Cedar Fair, L.P., who acquired Knott's Berry Farm in December 1997.
The success of the chicken dinners was immediate and by 1940 the restaurant was serving as many as 4,000 dinners on Sunday evenings. To give waiting customers something to do and to pay homage to the pioneering spirit of his grandparents and his love of the Old West, Walter developed Ghost Town, eventually the first of Knott's Berry Farm's six themed areas.
The first structure was the Gold Trails Hotel, which had originally been constructed in Prescott, Ariz. in 1868. Adhering to authenticity, Walter brought in other buildings from deserted ghost towns and Knott's Ghost Town as it exists today emerged. Additions were made as the years passed.
In the 1960s, the Calico Mine Ride and Timber Mountain Log Ride were added and Knott's built its second themed area: Fiesta Village, a tribute to California's early Spanish heritage. The third themed area opened in 1975 - Roaring 20s (rethemed in 1996 into The Boardwalk) - featuring the Corkscrew, the world's first looping coaster.In 1983, Knott's debuted a first in the amusement park industry with its six-acre Camp Snoopy, the world's first theme park "land" designed specifically for kids. Wild Water Wilderness, a four-acre outdoor river wilderness area featuring the whitewater rafting ride Bigfoot Rapids, was added in 1988, followed by Indian Trails in 1993.
It was also the Knotts' decision to build the country's only brick-by-brick replica of Independence Hall, complete with an exact replica of the Liberty Bell, as a free-admission educational resources for Farm guests and Orange County residents.In keeping with Walter and Cordelia's original goals, Knott's Berry Farm continues to combine quality, wholesome family entertainment with nostalgia and history. Cedar Fair is currently expanding Knott's Berry Farm with the most new rides, shows and attractions in the park's history, while maintaining those simpler features that continue to make it "The Theme Park Californians Call Home!!!!"
Knott's Berry Farm every Halloween turns to Knott's Scary Farm or Knott's Halloween Haunt. Knott's Scary Farm each year has a series of twelve horifing mazes such as:
The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California is a major recreational resort (owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company), and is home to two theme parks, three hotels, and a shopping and entertainment area.
During a 43-year Hollywood career that spanned the development of the motion picture medium as a modern American art, Walter Elias Disney, a modern Aesop, established himself and his product as a genuine part of Americana. David Low, the late British political cartoonist, called Disney "the most significant figure in graphic arts since Leonardo."
A pioneer and innovator and the possessor of one of the most fertile imaginations the world has ever known, Walt Disney, along with members of his staff, received more than 950 honors and citations from every nation in the world, including 48 Academy Awards® and seven Emmys® in his lifetime. Walt Disney's personal awards included honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale, the University of Southern California, and UCLA; the Presidential Medal of Freedom; France's Legion of Honor and Officer d'Academie decorations; Thailand's Order of the Crown; Brazil's Order of the Southern Cross; Mexico's Order of the Aztec Eagle; and the Showman of the World Award from the National Association of Theatre Owners.
The creator of Mickey Mouse and founder of the Disneyland® and Walt Disney World® Theme Parks was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 5, 1901. His father, Elias Disney, was Irish-Canadian. His mother, Flora Call Disney, was of German-American descent. Walt was one of five children, four boys and a girl.
Take a short walk or monorail ride to this lively promenade that offers unique shopping and dining as well as nighttime excitement and activity. From AMC Theatres, to House of Blues, to ESPN Zone, the Downtown Disney District. Located just outside the Theme Parks and near the hotels of the Disneyland Resort. Offers something for every member of your family from morning until after midnight.
Strike the goldmine of Disney treasures and keep your memories fresh.
Overwhelming in its magnitude
Whimsical in its design
Filled with an incredible assortment of Disney toys, apparel, souvenirs and collectibles
Colorful and lively - with stars, confetti and playful cartoon touches of Mickey and his friends
Enter a tropical rainforest for a dazzling dining experience the entire family will treasure.
Generous portions of fabulous food from around the world
A lively jungle of entertainment
Waterfalls, rain showers, live parrots, animated apes - and all the sounds of a real jungle!
Fabulous fiber-optic starscape
Unusual shopping
As part of a total dining, shopping and entertainment experience, House of Blues® lets you take your place in front of the stage where legends are made and you won't be able to stop dancing!
World-famous performers, live and in person
The best up-and-coming talent from around the region
From the rowdiest rock 'n' roll to the most reverent Sunday Gospel Brunch
R&B, Latin, reggae, hip-hop and, of course, the blues
Angus Wynne, founder of Six Flags, would be proud of the company's rise to preeminent standing in the family entertainment industry. A pioneer in the truest sense of the word, Mr. Wynne broke new ground when he opened the first Six Flags park, Six Flags Over Texas, in 1961.
Mr. Wynne studied other pioneers around him and applied his own vision and imagination to create a new form of family entertainment. He imagined regional parks large in scope but closer to where people lived, making them convenient and affordable.
A broad entertainment product, featuring innovative rides complemented by brilliant theme presentations, became his formula for success, and his ingenious use of themes turned the centuries-old amusement park idea into the broader theme park concept. Angus' vision, theming designed to enrich an entertainment experience, was right on target - and the regional theme park industry was born.
Today, as Six Flags celebrates its 45th Anniversary, it has dedicated itself to setting the standard for theme park entertainment. Its 30 theme, water and zoological parks across North America are better than ever, offering today's families a complete one-stop diversified entertainment destination, from industry-leading thrill rides to water attractions, themed areas, children's areas, parades, concerts and shows, restaurants, games and merchandise outlets.
As it moves into the future, Six Flags looks forward to continuing to provide families and guests of all ages with the best and most diverse entertainment experience they can find close to home.
Six Flags, Inc. is largest regional theme park company in the world - a national brand with regional focus. Its 30 entertainment destinations in North America comprise theme, water and zoological parks. Last year, nearly 34 million guests spent a combined 250 million hours at Six Flags parks. Founded in 1961, Six Flags is celebrating its 45th Anniversary in 2006.
Revenge Of The Mummy The Ride is a thrilling horrifing expereince that will send you inches away from warrior mummies, send you scream'n through horrifying curves, drops, and sweeping turns.
Jurrasic Park the ride was developed more than three years before the movie ever came out. when you enter this exquite jungle island you come face to face with the three dimensional world of Jurrasic Park. Is a thrilling water adventure ride that will send you straight down a eighty-four foot drop in complete darkness splashing in to a lagoon at speeds of over fifty miles an hour. Also the dinosaures in this attraction are full-sized and scientifically correct.
Put yourself to the test at one of the most extreme audience participation shows ever! Fear Factor live is where you come face to face with other guest doing gravity-defying stunts, creepy unbeivable things, and the things from your nightmares crawling across your skin in front of thousands of people. This attraction is unscripted, unprdictable, and unlike anything you have ever seen before. Warning never try these stunts at home.
