Knott's Berry Farm

The story

Knott's Berry Farm is an amusement park of 57 acres in Buena Park, California, and Six Flags owns and operates it.² It started out as a roadside berry stand and grew into a park with over 40 rides and attractions, ten of them roller coasters.²

A day here can mean tackling mammoth coasters and Old West adventures in the authentic 1800s Ghost Town.¹ The park is laid out in four themed areas that draw on California's history and culture.¹ You can also browse the shops of the California Marketplace and visit Mrs Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant, which the park credits with starting it all.¹

History

Walter Knott and his family settled in Buena Park in 1920.² In 1923, the family and Jim Preston began selling berries, preserves, and pies from a roadside stand along State Route 39.² Walter Knott put up a permanent stucco building in 1928, holding a plant nursery, a berry market, and a small tea room.²

In 1934, the family began serving fried chicken dinners in that tea room, which later became Mrs Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant.² Those dinners became a major draw, and the Knotts added shops and attractions to entertain visitors waiting for a seat.² Walter Knott began building a replica Ghost Town in 1940 and opened it the next year.² His intent was to honor the early settlers who journeyed to California in covered wagons, his own forebears among them.²

The site was officially renamed Knott's Berry Farm in 1947, and over the following decades it grew into a modern amusement park.² The Knott family sold the park to Cedar Fair in 1997, and Cedar Fair later merged with Six Flags in 2024.²

What to see and do

There is plenty to fill a visit, from big coasters to little thrills and a marketplace of shops.¹ - **Ghost Town:** Old West adventures await in the authentic 1800s Ghost Town, which began as Walter Knott's replica town.^1,2 - **Fiesta Village:** A themed area paying tribute to California's Hispanic roots.¹ - **The Boardwalk:** A section that channels the Southern California beach lifestyle.¹ - **Camp Snoopy:** The park describes Camp Snoopy as its home of little thrills, and it also offers a High Sierras adventure with Snoopy the beagle.¹ - **Big coasters:** Rides like Silver Bullet and Xcelerator deliver big thrills.¹ - **California Marketplace:** A quaint cluster of shops with treats and treasures, plus Mrs Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant.¹ - **Knott's Soak City:** A waterpark that is part of the wider Knott's destination.¹

Why it matters

Knott's Berry Farm describes itself as California's original theme park.¹ It grew from a small family farm into a destination with rides, shows, and attractions inspired by the history and culture of California.^1,2 For anyone staying in the San Gabriel Valley, it offers a chance to see how a humble berry stand became a family fun destination.^1,2

Getting there

Knott's Berry Farm is in Buena Park, California, near the Anaheim resort area.^1,2 Visitors can find maps, directions, and full visiting details through the park's official site.¹