I now work at Knotts at the front gate and have enjoyed over twelve years of this magical place. The Knott family have done more for Orange County than any other. Your vlog is absolutely amazing and I appreciate the research you did before making this fun viewing. I have been a Knotts Berry Farm enthusiast since I was a child so this is really taking me back. And...legend has it that the trellis you showed us is actually a Wisteria vine and was Mrs Knotts contribution to that area. Thank you again. You made this old lady smile ! Nancy
I was 4 years old when I when I went to Knotts the very first time. I’m 65 now. We would just go spend the evening there.I will never forget the sounds and smells. There was like only 3 or 4 rides back then and they were like 25 cents a piece. I miss the old Knotts.
Crazy to see the old photos and movie clips from the 60s... i went to Knotts many times back in the early 60s, and can still remember the smells and sounds of those days... i surely do miss those olden days at Knotts... it was a blast back then... i could tell you some stories of the original FREE Knotts through the late 70s... fun, fun times, so long ago! Thank you Justin for the memories of days long missed... ❤
My grandma worked at Mrs Knotts chicken diner for many years. She was Walter Knotts favorite waitress and knew him well. I use to talk to her for hours about Knott and Disney who would occasionally join Knott for dinner. My old neighbor was a pool guy in orange County and regularly serviced the Knotts family pool. Mrs. Knotts would give him and his kids park tickets often. They are a wealth of knowledge!
Does anyone else remember trout pools next to a parking lot where you could rent a bamboo pole with some dough bait? They'd charge by the pound for the trout and clean and wrap them for you. Even put them on ice so you could pick them up on your way home. This must have been late 50s or very early 60s. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane Justin.
My buddy passed away suddenly a couple of weeks ago. He loved to take his sister's kids to Knott's Berry Farm. I've never been but used to pass by it all the time when I drove to Disneyland from San Francisco (friend lived about 10 mins from Knott's Berry). Edit to add: I forgot he told me his sister loves watching this channel!
Hey there Justin. Born in 1953 and a native Californian I grew up in Stanton, just a stone throw from the park. I will dig through my photos for you. Knott's was my old stomping grounds as a kid. Thank you for that blast from the past.
Thank you for this video Justin. I love Knott's and I think it doesn't get as much love as other theme parks, so thank you for this look back through history.
Justin, I've been a fan of your channel for a long time and I must say I could spend hours watching your channel. I always find something fascinating and new even if I've been to the location before! If we were friends that would be super cool cuz I would love to see all these amazing places! Plus, your voices always give me a good chuckle.
My dad and my uncles grew up going to Knott's Berry Farm, then myself and my two siblings grew up going to Knott's. Knott's Berry Farm is such an integral part of both generations' childhood - I can't believe how much has changed just since I was a wee lass. In family photos alone we have the history of Knott's documented, and it's so wonderful to have this video where all those old attractions my dad and grandma have described to me, I can see for myself. I know it sounds super lame, but it makes me feel kind of closer to my family, because Knott's was an important part of their lives, then an important part of OUR lives, and in this way I can better understand what they experienced back then. Anyways, thanks for this video, I enjoyed it immensely!
Thank you for this great detailed video. I loved Knotts Berry farm. Many times went from the late 60's all the way up until 2014. I loved Knotts Berry Farm it was like a world of it's own. I loved the train, soap box derby (maybe still there), the little shops, old western set up, the smell of the place, the bottle room, the room that had many buttons, the chair on the wall (which gave an optical illusion), the old stage coach for carrying dead bodies, the stagecoaches, the farm and especially the chicken that played the piano, RIP Ms. Roo Roo, the tunnel from the parking lot into park. I can go on & on. Yes 2014 was the last time I went and will be the last time I will ever go again. All those things are now either a new ride or just pavement an empty space in areas that once was. Whoever took over really took away the history & wonderful atmosphere of the place. It was so special, but however I am happy today that I was able to see all the exciting things that were once there. Thanks again for your video, it's nice looking back at things before my time too.
I grew up in Lynwood in the 1960s. When I was young, in one of the Ghost Town buildings, there was a diorama/audio show portraying the Knotts family's journey to California in covered wagons. Is that still there? My Grandma wouldn't take me to Disneyland, it was too much walking for her, but she would happily go to Knott's and go on some of the rides, like the mine train and the old mule powered merry go round.
so that was Nick the devil. loved that little guy many moons ago. It had the neatest sound as he turned the crank.... low rumbling thunder. I so glad you filmed this.
That volcano was an area that people used to try to sneak in...and found that there was cactus planted to welcome them. They got the point in the end to the delight of security! Thanks for the video brings back memories of when I was a kid going to Knotts!
I started going to Knott's Berry Farm when I was about 2 or 3 years old in 1955 - 56. We used to go every year and I loved it so much! I so very much miss all the old stuff that they've taken out! I wanted to show all that old stuff to my children and my grandchildren but I can't now because it's all gone!😩
I recently picked up this incredible book called “Knott’s preserved” at one of the stores and it is a boat load of Knott’s nostalgia that’s definitely worth $40.00
Justin! This was fantastic! I’ve never even been to Knott’s but I LOVE it just because of your passion for it and this video was an incredible tribute to their past, present, and future! Can’t wait to see more like this!!!
We used to go to Knott's berry farm at least 4 times a year. Back in the early 60,s. The best chicken restaurant in the whole world was Mrs. Knott's. After you were served Mrs. Knott would come out on the floor and talk to all her customers. My Godparents were very good friends of hers so she always took a little extra with us. Very sweet and lovely lady. That is what made her so happy as to how her customers enjoyed her food. As a young girl I felt like I was talking to royalty. So many great memories of the past. I will be going down south next year and I will definitely stop by and grab one of her famous chicken dinners. Times were so good back then. If you have never been or stopped to look around you are really missing something wonderful. I will be going back down this next summer and you can bet I will be getting her famous chicken. Yum, yum
I'd been there in 1953, panning for gold on several occasions over the years. You'd never come away empty handed. I'd even managed to find a good sized nugget once. It had to have been nearly an ounce of gold that only cost me 25¢ to pan. The last time I went to Knott's Berry Farm was in about June of 1968. I loved all the effort you've put into this video. After watching your video and several other videos about the Farm, I just told my wife that I'd like to go there for our anniversary this year. I think some of the rides would scare us to death (we're both quite elderly) but the Ghost Town, activities, and food look wonderful, and and would be incredibly refreshing in reminiscing an imaginary, relaxing, and very fun piece of the Old West, in the midst of a modern world. Thank you so much.
I know it's silly, but I LOVE that pistol gag! Gets me laughing every time! Gee, seems just a bit lonely without Ally and London there with you. Got very used to seeing them accompanying you. Please keep up the excellent work, Justin. Having visited Knott's in 1962, the old photos jog a LOT of memories. Thanks!
I grew up living 1/2 way between Knott's and Disneyland. My grandparents, parents of of course since I was with them, we all knew Walter Knott and his wife. Ate many meals there, rode the train and remember riding the old San Francisco Cable cars. They had a general store, with a candy counter; which had smoking pipe shaped Licorice I ate many of those pipes. Rode the stage and they had an indian village across from the train. They added the chapel; and booked weddings there. The had an old carousel, live seals and had chickens and peacocks roaming wild around the grounds. Remember them adding the fence and begin charging admission. My view was that since Disneyland had opened and charged admission, a way for them to expand the park faster, was to charge admission. Also went to Aligator Farm and pottery shop. 1/2 mile North, was the Hollywood Wax Museum. To the East on LaPalma, was the Buena Park Center. My mother worked Christmas season a couple of times at the "Sear's & Roebuck's" store (later re-branded as Sear's. Right after they built the Independence Hall, then Vice-President Nixon, who was running for President came and did a campaign speech on a stage Knott's built just for the occasion.
Just wanted to say I'm really glad that you're getting a hold of all these old photos/film footage lately and doing these comparisons for theme parks and other such areas! It's great content and the kind of stuff I've always wished someone like you would do. Keep it up.
My brother and I keep hoping someone will post a video of the Devil Guy at work. It was a marvelous contraption. A light would turn on. The Devil Guy would turn the crank and cause some piano hammers to hit a window screen. The sound was amplified and came out through a speaker as volcano eruption sounds.
LOL Paul Caskey; That is how my Okie parents pronounced it even though they took us there several times because there was no admission charge. See my other post here.
Knott's history returns to the Wagon Camp. Krazy Kirt and the Hillbilly's are bring back live western type music to the Wagon Camp. These guy are great! The music is fun and its great to heir professional musicians live. The wagon camp music is a part of Knott's Berry farm history and I love to see its return and family's enjoying the shows. please keep it up!
Wow Justin, This is the very mostest and very bestest video. What made Knott's unique? Yes it was once all free. I have a lifetime membership Displayed. You could be outside and going to the steakhouse, and see the fun people were having inside.. Panning for gold, Henry's livery, and most of all Jungle Island. Cedar fair, replaced the peek ins statues. Knott's alive makes no sense without them. Justin, Thumbs up times 1 million.
These are, by and far, my favorite videos from you. I absolutely love seeing the history of a place, and the hidden nods to that history. This video was fantastic!
It was said they had to start charging admission in 1967 to keep the hippies out. My dad used to take us 2 nights a week while mom went to China painting lessons, just to hang out and kill time until it was time to go pick her up. I knew that park inside out!
Phil McGrath Your correct about Knott's having to charge admission to keep the hippies out. I started going to Knott's back when I was a little kid (in the early 1960's) when it was free and only ride there was the train ride. LOL
Oh wow... Thank you for this trip back in time.. you could see the gold sparkling in the sun as they were panning for it...but the price was much higher than 25 cents later or I would have tried it out as a kid. Also a short way down the walkway behind the chicken diner there was a candy shop where you could watch them make it through glass windows. And in the old town an old-timey candy store with rope licorice of several different flavors.. the freshest. I don't know.. but the boysenberry drink and candy and corndogs had alot of flavor back then. The roller coaster by the wagon campfire show ruins it..too bad..because that was one of the key ambiance spots at night with the big campfire roaring and music.. and the old steam train sounds in the background..♨🎶💕🎻
Omg thank you so much this was such wonderful memories for me growing up as a kid riding the stage coach and train, i remember panning for gold and watching shows at the camp theatre so much fun. And those hidden gems are so awesome such a big part of the history of knotts...
Stephen - my name is Nancy and I work at the front gate at Knotts and am in my 13 th year. Many of our guests ask about the Haunted Shack but unfortunately it was dismantled several years ago and no replacement was designed. It sure has a lot of fans who remember is fondly. It too remember it and the old chair sitting on the wall.
It has all been said by others, but you clearly have a passion for these history pieces. Very complete, the amount of research you have done pays off. Excellent!
Thank you for this it brought back so much memories. We lived real close to Knott's back in the 70's my little brother went w/some friends from the neighborhood and he 3 chickens from the park. We never knew until early hrs in the morning long story short my dad made him return the chickens.
I haven’t been to Knott’s in about 8 years and last time I went I didn’t spend much time in Ghost Town, because I was with someone that wanted to focus on the rides. I grew up going to Knott’s in the 80’s (including a class field trip in 5th grade) and most of the stuff you’re showing off I remember! If it’s at all possible I’d love for you to do videos in the schoolhouse and on Mott’s Miniatures. It’s a shame there’s only one peek-in left in the mine and that the barber and Mr Wong are gone from the others. I love your content and have just subscribed, please keep up the great work man!
It's my understanding that those old-timey gasoline powered cars that used to belong along Beach Blvd were sold to the amusement park in Riverside that is now known as Castle Park.
One of those san Francisco cable cars from Knott's is in the back of barn 1 at Orange Empire railway museum. They also have a older cable car that knotts turned into a snack bar too.
I think you've really got something here with the old and new, and as you get more examples, you can maybe even do WDW (I have some old 1975 slides somewhere I mean to scan anyway)
The track layout for the cable cars changed over the years. Sometime in the 60's the two loops were combined to make a rough figure eight through both parking lots on that side of Beach Blvd. For a while it ran between Virginia's Gift Shop and the Cable Car Kitchen and along the wall were the main entrance is now. The original main entrance after they built the wall was where the exit currently is. I think the cable cars kept running right up to the building of Camp Snoopy.
A friend of my Grandparents operated one of the street cars at Knotts. My grandfather worked together with him on the street cars in the City of Chcago. The split rail fence went all the way around Knotts where it had the grass parking lot. Admission was free but you had go pay for any rides in the ghost town. There was a devil in a glass case that turned a crank to operate the volcano. You put in a coin and he turned the crank. There was an organ grinder with a monkey that took money. My grandmother gave me some change to give the monkey. I took one coin and put the rest in my pocket. I handed the monkey a coin and he took the rest out of my pocket.
My boyfriend and I just got back from Knott’s celebrating my birthday. It was our first time going. I went as a baby, barley one years old. So I don’t count going at that time. It was wonderful! I got to drink in the Saloon and watch Can Can Show! I love rollercoasters, but I really found the Ghost Town area the best. Very chill, unlike Disneyland. Love Disney, love old school Disney, but he crowds of today make me not want to go sometimes. I found out also that the Amusement Park in NorCal(Bay Area! Closer to me) California’s Great America is owned by the same company as Knott’s, I can get a season pass for all parks and just visit them all! Definitely will be back to ride more rides and maybe check out the Halloween stuff!
Can you go to adventure city and do a short vlog please, pretty please? It's not far from Knott. The rides can be ridden by adults as well as kids. Allie would love the petting zoo. Keep the vlogs Coming and God bless you.
In the old jail in the ghost town the prisoner would talk to you. I was shocked when I walked up and the prisoner new my name. Said Hi Bobby! I didn't realize it at the time but my grandmother had given the operator my name when we walked in.
I'm a long time fan!! When are you and Allie going to tie the knot and are you going to post the wedding video?!?!?! Keep up the vlogs..they make my day.
I really hope it was all worth it. #ghostrider :/ I still have my little container of gold panned from the original location. Looking at it, it would be difficult to believe it to be worth much. I miss the old Knott's.
My grandma used to work with Mrs. Knotts herself in the chicken diner back before it was a amusement park.
Really..................
I have one of their older cookbooks, my favorite fried chicken recipe.
My sister used to work at the chicken dinner restaurant.
My grandmother was good friends with Mrs. Knott also. The gravy that was served in the restaurant was my grandmother's recipe.
I now work at Knotts at the front gate and have enjoyed over twelve years of this magical place. The Knott family have done more for Orange County than any other. Your vlog is absolutely amazing and I appreciate the research you did before making this fun viewing. I have been a Knotts Berry Farm enthusiast since I was a child so this is really taking me back. And...legend has it that the trellis you showed us is actually a Wisteria vine and was Mrs Knotts contribution to that area. Thank you again. You made this old lady smile !
Nancy
I was 4 years old when I when I went to Knotts the very first time. I’m 65 now. We would just go spend the evening there.I will never forget the sounds and smells. There was like only 3 or 4 rides back then and they were like 25 cents a piece. I miss the old Knotts.
dona lauderdale I remember paper tickets per ride. E tickets were the good ones.
I miss the old park too
I wish TH-cam gave out Emmys because you seriously deserve one for this series.
Crazy to see the old photos and movie clips from the 60s... i went to Knotts many times back in the early 60s, and can still remember the smells and sounds of those days... i surely do miss those olden days at Knotts... it was a blast back then... i could tell you some stories of the original FREE Knotts through the late 70s... fun, fun times, so long ago! Thank you Justin for the memories of days long missed... ❤
My grandma worked at Mrs Knotts chicken diner for many years. She was Walter Knotts favorite waitress and knew him well. I use to talk to her for hours about Knott and Disney who would occasionally join Knott for dinner. My old neighbor was a pool guy in orange County and regularly serviced the Knotts family pool. Mrs. Knotts would give him and his kids park tickets often. They are a wealth of knowledge!
Does anyone else remember trout pools next to a parking lot where you could rent a bamboo pole with some dough bait? They'd charge by the pound for the trout and clean and wrap them for you. Even put them on ice so you could pick them up on your way home. This must have been late 50s or very early 60s. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane Justin.
U should be curator for the Knotts museum. Nobody does better than u
My buddy passed away suddenly a couple of weeks ago. He loved to take his sister's kids to Knott's Berry Farm. I've never been but used to pass by it all the time when I drove to Disneyland from San Francisco (friend lived about 10 mins from Knott's Berry).
Edit to add: I forgot he told me his sister loves watching this channel!
I always remember passing by the volcano and eyeballing the little devil in the box. He kinda freaked me out.
Hey there Justin. Born in 1953 and a native Californian I grew up in Stanton, just a stone throw from the park. I will dig through my photos for you. Knott's was my old stomping grounds as a kid. Thank you for that blast from the past.
Thank you for this video Justin. I love Knott's and I think it doesn't get as much love as other theme parks, so thank you for this look back through history.
Justin, I've been a fan of your channel for a long time and I must say I could spend hours watching your channel. I always find something fascinating and new even if I've been to the location before! If we were friends that would be super cool cuz I would love to see all these amazing places! Plus, your voices always give me a good chuckle.
My dad and my uncles grew up going to Knott's Berry Farm, then myself and my two siblings grew up going to Knott's. Knott's Berry Farm is such an integral part of both generations' childhood - I can't believe how much has changed just since I was a wee lass. In family photos alone we have the history of Knott's documented, and it's so wonderful to have this video where all those old attractions my dad and grandma have described to me, I can see for myself. I know it sounds super lame, but it makes me feel kind of closer to my family, because Knott's was an important part of their lives, then an important part of OUR lives, and in this way I can better understand what they experienced back then. Anyways, thanks for this video, I enjoyed it immensely!
I grew up in Orange County in the 60's & 70's and remember some of the old KBF. Thanks for the nostalgia.
Thank you for this great detailed video. I loved Knotts Berry farm. Many times went from the late 60's all the way up until 2014. I loved Knotts Berry Farm it was like a world of it's own. I loved the train, soap box derby (maybe still there), the little shops, old western set up, the smell of the place, the bottle room, the room that had many buttons, the chair on the wall (which gave an optical illusion), the old stage coach for carrying dead bodies, the stagecoaches, the farm and especially the chicken that played the piano, RIP Ms. Roo Roo, the tunnel from the parking lot into park. I can go on & on. Yes 2014 was the last time I went and will be the last time I will ever go again. All those things are now either a new ride or just pavement an empty space in areas that once was. Whoever took over really took away the history & wonderful atmosphere of the place. It was so special, but however I am happy today that I was able to see all the exciting things that were once there. Thanks again for your video, it's nice looking back at things before my time too.
Dude, as a 70’s baby/80’s kid, I TOTALLY remember and loved Ol’ Nick!
I grew up in Lynwood in the 1960s. When I was young, in one of the Ghost Town buildings, there was a diorama/audio show portraying the Knotts family's journey to California in covered wagons. Is that still there? My Grandma wouldn't take me to Disneyland, it was too much walking for her, but she would happily go to Knott's and go on some of the rides, like the mine train and the old mule powered merry go round.
so that was Nick the devil. loved that little guy many moons ago. It had the neatest sound as he turned the crank.... low rumbling thunder. I so glad you filmed this.
That volcano was an area that people used to try to sneak in...and found that there was cactus planted to welcome them. They got the point in the end to the delight of security! Thanks for the video brings back memories of when I was a kid going to Knotts!
I started going to Knott's Berry Farm when I was about 2 or 3 years old in 1955 - 56. We used to go every year and I loved it so much! I so very much miss all the old stuff that they've taken out! I wanted to show all that old stuff to my children and my grandchildren but I can't now because it's all gone!😩
I remember standing on the grave in the cemetery with the beating heart sound. Cool.
I recently picked up this incredible book called “Knott’s preserved” at one of the stores and it is a boat load of Knott’s nostalgia that’s definitely worth $40.00
Justin! This was fantastic! I’ve never even been to Knott’s but I LOVE it just because of your passion for it and this video was an incredible tribute to their past, present, and future! Can’t wait to see more like this!!!
These Then & Now videos are the best! You put a ton of work into them and it shows. Keep up the good work!
Really enjoyed this, thanks for taking the time to talk about the history of the park!
We used to go to Knott's berry farm at least 4 times a year. Back in the early 60,s. The best chicken restaurant in the whole world was Mrs. Knott's. After you were served Mrs. Knott would come out on the floor and talk to all her customers. My Godparents were very good friends of hers so she always took a little extra with us. Very sweet and lovely lady. That is what made her so happy as to how her customers enjoyed her food. As a young girl I felt like I was talking to royalty. So many great memories of the past. I will be going down south next year and I will definitely stop by and grab one of her famous chicken dinners. Times were so good back then. If you have never been or stopped to look around you are really missing something wonderful. I will be going back down this next summer and you can bet I will be getting her famous chicken. Yum, yum
I remember going to the alligator farm with my Grandma...
I'd been there in 1953, panning for gold on several occasions over the years. You'd never come away empty handed. I'd even managed to find a good sized nugget once. It had to have been nearly an ounce of gold that only cost me 25¢ to pan. The last time I went to Knott's Berry Farm was in about June of 1968. I loved all the effort you've put into this video. After watching your video and several other videos about the Farm, I just told my wife that I'd like to go there for our anniversary this year. I think some of the rides would scare us to death (we're both quite elderly) but the Ghost Town, activities, and food look wonderful, and and would be incredibly refreshing in reminiscing an imaginary, relaxing, and very fun piece of the Old West, in the midst of a modern world. Thank you so much.
I know it's silly, but I LOVE that pistol gag! Gets me laughing every time!
Gee, seems just a bit lonely without Ally and London there with you. Got very used to seeing them accompanying you.
Please keep up the excellent work, Justin. Having visited Knott's in 1962, the old photos jog a LOT of memories. Thanks!
I love these history videos you’ve been doing! They really set you apart for more amateur vlogers. I pray your channel continues to grow like crazy!
I grew up living 1/2 way between Knott's and Disneyland. My grandparents, parents of of course since I was with them, we all knew Walter Knott and his wife. Ate many meals there, rode the train and remember riding the old San Francisco Cable cars. They had a general store, with a candy counter; which had smoking pipe shaped Licorice I ate many of those pipes. Rode the stage and they had an indian village across from the train. They added the chapel; and booked weddings there. The had an old carousel, live seals and had chickens and peacocks roaming wild around the grounds. Remember them adding the fence and begin charging admission. My view was that since Disneyland had opened and charged admission, a way for them to expand the park faster, was to charge admission. Also went to Aligator Farm and pottery shop. 1/2 mile North, was the Hollywood Wax Museum. To the East on LaPalma, was the Buena Park Center. My mother worked Christmas season a couple of times at the "Sear's & Roebuck's" store (later re-branded as Sear's. Right after they built the Independence Hall, then Vice-President Nixon, who was running for President came and did a campaign speech on a stage Knott's built just for the occasion.
The biscuits at Knott’s are so good!😋
Just wanted to say I'm really glad that you're getting a hold of all these old photos/film footage lately and doing these comparisons for theme parks and other such areas! It's great content and the kind of stuff I've always wished someone like you would do. Keep it up.
My brother and I keep hoping someone will post a video of the Devil Guy at work. It was a marvelous contraption. A light would turn on. The Devil Guy would turn the crank and cause some piano hammers to hit a window screen. The sound was amplified and came out through a speaker as volcano eruption sounds.
Knott's Berry Farm and others should be paying you guys for all this documentary work.
It would be really cool if you could do a comparison of The Santa Cruz beach boardwalk from the 1950’s to today.
Dude, I love what you are doing with the past and present, for all the parks. Keep up the good work! Can't wait to see more... Thanks.
Until I found this channel, I always thought it was Knottsbury Farm.
LOL Paul Caskey; That is how my Okie parents pronounced it even though they took us there several times because there was no admission charge. See my other post here.
Berry. He invented boysenberries
Knott's history returns to the Wagon Camp. Krazy Kirt and the Hillbilly's are bring back live western type music to the Wagon Camp. These guy are great! The music is fun and its great to heir professional musicians live. The wagon camp music is a part of Knott's Berry farm history and I love to see its return and family's enjoying the shows. please keep it up!
Thank you!!! Brings back memories when i went to Knott's with my Dad.
Wow Justin, This is the very mostest and very bestest video. What made Knott's unique? Yes it was once all free. I have a lifetime membership Displayed. You could be outside and going to the steakhouse, and see the fun people were having inside.. Panning for gold, Henry's livery, and most of all Jungle Island. Cedar fair, replaced the peek ins statues. Knott's alive makes no sense without them. Justin, Thumbs up times 1 million.
I can close my eyes and smell that green house/ bathroom area😌Love it
These are, by and far, my favorite videos from you. I absolutely love seeing the history of a place, and the hidden nods to that history. This video was fantastic!
I loved riding those old cars next to the hi-way because people would honk when you waved at them!!
It's always the hippies messing stuff up. lol Pretty cool that someone sent old video footage.
Excuse me?
@@chaosdemonwolf1 I second your comment !... Excuse me ???? That guys remark left me totally confused.
It was said they had to start charging admission in 1967 to keep the hippies out. My dad used to take us 2 nights a week while mom went to China painting lessons, just to hang out and kill time until it was time to go pick her up. I knew that park inside out!
Phil McGrath Your correct about Knott's having to charge admission to keep the hippies out. I started going to Knott's back when I was a little kid (in the early 1960's) when it was free and only ride there was the train ride. LOL
Oh wow... Thank you for this trip back in time.. you could see the gold sparkling in the sun as they were panning for it...but the price was much higher than 25 cents later or I would have tried it out as a kid. Also a short way down the walkway behind the chicken diner there was a candy shop where you could watch them make it through glass windows. And in the old town an old-timey candy store with rope licorice of several different flavors.. the freshest. I don't know.. but the boysenberry drink and candy and corndogs had alot of flavor back then. The roller coaster by the wagon campfire show ruins it..too bad..because that was one of the key ambiance spots at night with the big campfire roaring and music.. and the old steam train sounds in the background..♨🎶💕🎻
Grandpa took me to Knott's Berry Farm every Sunday back when admission was free.
Justin, one item you missed is the fact that the Ghost Town had dirt roads not the paved roads of the Ghost Town of today.
I was glad to see the covered trains were there. I loved the camp when I was a kid. My first visit was about 1956 or 57.
Great video! Love these history oriented stories. I know you have more in store - please keep them coming!! This is exactly why I am a Patreon!!
I’ve been to knotts all fifteen years of my life and I never knew they had a George Washington section or a damn rock garden!!
This place has a SOUL that THE MOUSE up the road will never have.
Those the then and now fotos are priceless 💎 gems!!..I love 💕 all of them 😘
Omg thank you so much this was such wonderful memories for me growing up as a kid riding the stage coach and train, i remember panning for gold and watching shows at the camp theatre so much fun. And those hidden gems are so awesome such a big part of the history of knotts...
Is that gravity defying haunted shack still there? The one where they used to have a volunteer come and sit in a chair that was on the wall??
sadly, no. It had to be shut down because it was not ADA compliant.
Stephen - my name is Nancy and I work at the front gate at Knotts and am in my 13 th year. Many of our guests ask about the Haunted Shack but unfortunately it was dismantled several years ago and no replacement was designed. It sure has a lot of fans who remember is fondly. It too remember it and the old chair sitting on the wall.
It has all been said by others, but you clearly have a passion for these history pieces. Very complete, the amount of research you have done pays off. Excellent!
Always, always ALWAYS! Entertaining and educational! Don't quit!
Thank you for this it brought back so much memories. We lived real close to Knott's back in the 70's my little brother went w/some friends from the neighborhood and he 3 chickens from the park. We never knew until early hrs in the morning long story short my dad made him return the chickens.
Amazing how the cable car ride that was in the old parking lot where Camp Snoopy is now is shaped a lot like the Monza circuit in Italy
Im so glad I found your channel. Is awesome to see the vintage Knotts.
Subscribing right now!
I haven’t been to Knott’s in about 8 years and last time I went I didn’t spend much time in Ghost Town, because I was with someone that wanted to focus on the rides. I grew up going to Knott’s in the 80’s (including a class field trip in 5th grade) and most of the stuff you’re showing off I remember! If it’s at all possible I’d love for you to do videos in the schoolhouse and on Mott’s Miniatures. It’s a shame there’s only one peek-in left in the mine and that the barber and Mr Wong are gone from the others. I love your content and have just subscribed, please keep up the great work man!
As always, a GREAT Narration Justin!🤙
You really worked hard on this video! So cool! Thanks for sharing
Hey, I caught the release of a video right as it came out! Notification Squad!
It's my understanding that those old-timey gasoline powered cars that used to belong along Beach Blvd were sold to the amusement park in Riverside that is now known as Castle Park.
One of those san Francisco cable cars from Knott's is in the back of barn 1 at Orange Empire railway museum. They also have a older cable car that knotts turned into a snack bar too.
This is an exceptional look into some of the history of Knott's! I think video deserves a lot more views.
You're at you best with park history, can't wait to see your Disney research... I Love this stuff...keep them coming
Really well done. Informative and entertaining. What more could anyone ask for?
I love these then and nows! Keep it up!!
I remember it well. Excellent work!
Even though I wasn't around when the old ravine was there, i would love to see Knott's bring back something similar to that in that area!!
My grandfather's first cousin, Lock Martin, was 7 ft. 7 in. tall and worked at Knott's Berry Farm as a cowboy.
Love this Justin. I grew up in Buena Park in the 70's and 80s. My brother worked at Knott's so I got to go a lot. As well as with field trips.
I think you've really got something here with the old and new, and as you get more examples, you can maybe even do WDW (I have some old 1975 slides somewhere I mean to scan anyway)
I still have a picture of me with a old Indian chief at Knotts in 1975.
The track layout for the cable cars changed over the years. Sometime in the 60's the two loops were combined to make a rough figure eight through both parking lots on that side of Beach Blvd. For a while it ran between Virginia's Gift Shop and the Cable Car Kitchen and along the wall were the main entrance is now. The original main entrance after they built the wall was where the exit currently is. I think the cable cars kept running right up to the building of Camp Snoopy.
I love knotts history thanks for helping keep the interest in it alive
A friend of my Grandparents operated one of the street cars at Knotts. My grandfather worked together with him on the street cars in the City of Chcago.
The split rail fence went all the way around Knotts where it had the grass parking lot. Admission was free but you had go pay for any rides in the ghost town.
There was a devil in a glass case that turned a crank to operate the volcano. You put in a coin and he turned the crank.
There was an organ grinder with a monkey that took money. My grandmother gave me some change to give the monkey. I took one coin and put the rest in my pocket. I handed the monkey a coin and he took the rest out of my pocket.
Outstanding work, once again. Thank you for putting the research and time into showing us the world in a new way.
I could have easily watched two more hours of that :)
This video is so awesome I had searched for one like a month ago but could not find one.. Thank u soo much for coming through 🤗
Thanks so much for making this video! I just love the history of Knotts. I hope to go see it in person one day!
Do you remember Jungle Island? The merry go round by the lake? Glass beehives?
I wanna go to Knotts now.
I have NEVER been to Knotts Berry Farm in my life, but I think this is way cool!
My boyfriend and I just got back from Knott’s celebrating my birthday. It was our first time going. I went as a baby, barley one years old. So I don’t count going at that time. It was wonderful! I got to drink in the Saloon and watch Can Can Show! I love rollercoasters, but I really found the Ghost Town area the best. Very chill, unlike Disneyland. Love Disney, love old school Disney, but he crowds of today make me not want to go sometimes. I found out also that the Amusement Park in NorCal(Bay Area! Closer to me) California’s Great America is owned by the same company as Knott’s, I can get a season pass for all parks and just visit them all! Definitely will be back to ride more rides and maybe check out the Halloween stuff!
Hi Justin
Love your videos
Keep it up
Can you go to adventure city and do a short vlog please, pretty please? It's not far from Knott. The rides can be ridden by adults as well as kids. Allie would love the petting zoo. Keep the vlogs Coming and God bless you.
Price of gold is currently roughly 30 times it was in 1956. $30 of gold for a quarter, pretty good deal!
In the old jail in the ghost town the prisoner would talk to you. I was shocked when I walked up and the prisoner new my name. Said Hi Bobby! I didn't realize it at the time but my grandmother had given the operator my name when we walked in.
the touch with the gun was class.
Excellent video, thanks for posting, much appreciated : )
I'm a long time fan!! When are you and Allie going to tie the knot and are you going to post the wedding video?!?!?! Keep up the vlogs..they make my day.
That was amazing, great job !
Amazing job Justin....i absolutely love your then and now stuff.....
Awesome Justin. Love the history you provided. Great voices.
Great time travel. Thanks for all the history.
I really hope it was all worth it. #ghostrider :/ I still have my little container of gold panned from the original location. Looking at it, it would be difficult to believe it to be worth much. I miss the old Knott's.
The bank is the same because it’s protected. The fresco art work is unique. Many of those old banks around The O.C.