Knotts Berry Farm

Listing itself as the nations first amusement park, Knotts Berry Farm located in Buena Park California has something to offer every member of the family, and is a must see attraction when visiting the Southern California area.
The park was started by the Knotts family as a way to entertain patrons of their famous chicken restaurant who would often wait hours in line to be seated.
Compared to other parks in the area, Knotts is very affordable as admission to the park was $51.95 for non California residents which are about $8.00 less than most parks in the area. There are annual passes available as well which allows for greater savings as they pay for themselves in a few visits.
The fabled Ghost Town which was the parks first attraction is still in place and is a nostalgic look back at the early days of California. The main attraction of this area is the Ghost Rider roller coaster which is one of the largest and fastest wooden coasters in the world. The Ghost Rider features steep drops and turns and while a bit rough, is a true classic.
The newest ride is the Pony Express which is a coaster the entire family can enjoy. Riders sit on a car designed like a horse and assume a horse rides posture for a truly unique coaster experience. Blasting from 0-32 MPH in under 3 seconds, riders are shot through a twisting and turning track that is an absolute delight. My only regret was that the ride is very short. Since the tracks are not highly elevated nor steep this is ideal for riders who prefer a milder coaster as well as those who want something different.
The Knotts Railroad features a steam locomotive from the turn of the century which when purchased was the last of its kind in operation in the country. I highly suggest this nostalgic trip if nothing else for the chance to witness a train robbery first hand.
Two of my favorite rides at the park are the Timber Mountain Log Ride and the Bigfoot Rapids ride which allows guests to take a fun and scenic jaunt along the waterways of the park and experience one of the sharpest drops of any log ride in existence. I highly suggest bringing a towel, as riders are likely to get soaked.
Timber Mountain has some classic scenery for riders to view as they journey through and impressive recreation of a frontier mining camp all of which ends in a steep drop that completes this highly enjoyable attraction.
For guests with younger children, Camp Snoopy offers a wide range of rides and attractions for children.
If thrills are more in line with what you expect from a theme park, then make sure to venture to the boardwalk and Fiesta Village where thrill rides ranging from Montezoomas Revenge and the Perilous Plunge ride lurk. The Silver Bullet which sends guests on a looping course on the parks first suspended coaster is a very popular ride and should not be missed. For those needing a more subdued coaster, the classic Jaguar is ideal as it offers an classic coaster experience without the fear inducing moments that are so common with the newer and larger coasters.
Guests with a flair for nostalgia will want to make sure they visit the Charles Schultz Theater to learn more about the man who created the classic Snoopy characters as well as the vast array of classic rides ranging from bumper cars to the Calico Mine Ride.
Make sure to visit Mrs. Knotts for their famous chicken dinners to complete your visit as their reputation is still going strong several decades after they opened their doors. I was able to get a dinner that features soup, salad, rolls, 3 pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, and an amazing piece of apple Boysenberry pie for $14.99 which was highly enjoyable and a very good value. Guests can also get chicken to go from a nearby store should the lines be long as they usually are.
I had a very enjoyable stay at Knotts and wished I had more time, as I really enjoyed taking my time to explore some of the non-ride features such as the old west area as well as look at the sets that are being constructed for the Halloween Haunt which we hope to have updated coverage for you in a few weeks time.
For more information please visit their site at https://www.knotts.com/