Ghost Town 75th Update!

Knott’s Berry Farm Announces Opening Dates for Ghost Town’s 75thAnniversary, GhostRider, Ghost Town Alive!, and Starbucks!

Knott’s Berry Farm announced today that its celebration of the 75thanniversary of the historic old west Ghost Townwill run May 27 through September 5. To mark 75 years of Ghost Town, Knott’s will reopen GhostRider, the longest, tallest, and fastest wooden roller coaster on the West Coast on May 27 following a complete restoration. As part of the summer 2016 celebration, Knott’s will alsointroduce a new interactive entertainment experience called Ghost Town Alive!. Ghost Town Alive!allows guests to play an active role in shaping what happens throughout the town everyday through September 5.Knott’s also announced that its first Starbucks will open on March 18in the California MarketPlace, just outside the Park’s main entrance, and will offer Starbuck’s world class coffee drinks and entrees.Adjacent to Starbucks is Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, which is currently undergoing a comprehensive renovation and will open in spring 2016.

This morning we had a chance to check out what they have been up to, and a few insights on “Ghost Town Alive” as well as a look at Chicken Dinner Restaurant.

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Jason talks about the opening dates:

Ghostrider and “Ghost Town Alive” – May 27th

Starbucks – March 18th

Calico Saloon – Boysenberry Festival

Chicken Dinner Restaurant – Spring Time

Calico Stage with new summer show – Summer Time

 

Afterward we got to tour a few areas they have been working on.

IMG_0559Our first guide was Lara Hannerman, (Creative Director), she guided us through Ghost Town main street to tell us about “Ghost Town Alive.” First stop was Wagon Camp Theater, an all new stage is being built with updated safety for the performers and a new show is coming, no details on that… don’t want to spoil everything 😉 All those classic peek-ins will have real life characters, some of them you will even be able to go inside! The Shootin Gallery will be redone and themed, I have a feeling it’s going to look like the old one but a little smaller! Miss Doolittles will turn into a Textiles store, Miss Goldies you will be able to go inside and see who rules the town this summer! The Toy Barn will have real life Horses inside, and at the post office you will be able to send out real mail! Ghost Town really is going to be alive this Summer! Making our way to School House Road, The Old Haunt Museum will turn into The City Hall where you can meet the mayor and his wife! The pan for gold will go back to its original location, Turquoise Jewelry will turn into a Bank, they will be relocated to another sight in the park!

Then we got handed off to Jeff Shadic (Manager,Park Deco)

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He showed us inside Calico Saloon, a lot of y’all will be happy with these upgrades.

New sound system, stage lighting, general lighting, A/C, Beer on tap, new furniture and so much more …the details are great, we can’t wait to check it out soon. It will be opening back up Spring time with an all new show!

Then off to the new Calico Stage area! The stage will face towards the water tower at the rail station, to keep that feel that you’re in Ghost Town still.New tech building will go to the left of the calico mine ride (far left) and it will be themed to match the mine ride!

also all the back stage ares are new and modernised for the performers and techs! The left of the backstage area buildings will be themed to match Ghost Town! New show will be coming this summer. The old Calico Stage will turn into a park, seating area, etc, we will see more on that later when they start working on it, not till after spring break!

Also, they are replacing a lot of the roofs around Ghost Town!

Next we meet up with Russ Knibbs, ( Vice President,Food and Beverage) over at Chicken IMG_0601Dinner Restaurant. I love this guy, he’s done some amazing stuff at Knott’s with the food, he came along with park General Manager Ralfi from Canada’s Wonderland! I remember what the food was like before they came and put it this way I went to Del Taco all the time after my knott’s updates.

We are looking forward to the refurbished Mrs Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, they finally created an alternative to having to wait in those long lines, they will get your number and text you when you are ready to be seated, now you can walk around the market place and shop, maybe even go in the park depending how long the wait is. The new outdoor seating area will be a nice place to eat on a summer night! One of the most major upgrades is a full service bar area! The seating capacity is about the same as before, the deco will not be modernized , keeping it to the classic theme! Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant will re-open this Spring!

 

Now off to Jeff Gahagan, (Vice President, Maintenance) to talk about Ghostrider :)))

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As most of us know, they are re-tracking, new trains, as well as re-profiling some of the layout. The midway break run has been removed, so instead of slowing down you will go straight through it. After that mid break course drop the re-profiled that crazy turn right after to make it more smooth but still intense, if you have been on Gold Rusher at Califorina’s Great America you’ll know whats in store. New trains will be from Great Coasters Internatioal, old trains are going to Valleyfair. All kinds of general maintence is being done throughout the coaster, new motors for the lift hill chain, new lights around the track and much more! Ghostrider will re-open May 27th along with the rest of Ghost Town 75th anniversary!

That ended the tour there, after that we visited the park to see what other updates we could spot!

 

 

Our next report will be on the food at this coming Boysenberry Festival!

Thank you for reading be sure to share

Knott’s Network!

Tim & Mary 😉

 

KNOTT’S BOYSENBERRY FESTIVAL IS COMING!

KNOTT’S BOYSENBERRY FESTIVAL INVITES GUESTSTO ADOWN HOME FOOD FEST THIS SPRINGThe Celebration Will Feature Over 70 Boysenberry Inspired Dishes, Drinks and More, PlusLive Entertainment For All Ages, March 19 –April 3

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Celebrate Knott’s historic berry during Knott’s Boysenberry Festival, March 19 –April 3, in Ghost Town,the heart of the theme park. The 16-day food festival features over 70, one-of-a-kind boysenberry inspired fare, drinks and more, the Wine and Craft Brew Tasting Garden,plus live entertainment and fun the whole family will love! From sun up to sun down, the festival features dueling fiddlers, PEANUTSParty in the Park, vinedancing, live music, Jammin’ in the Dark(a nighttime dance party).

Festivalgoers can also shop for the perfect handmade gift at dozens of craft vendors located in Ghost Town.The limited-time festival is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm. In the 1930s Walter Knott harvested the boysenberry, a cross between a loganberry, red raspberry and blackberry, and named the new berry after its originator,Rudolph Boysen. Today, all boysenberries in the world can trace their roots back to Knott’s BerryFarm. In 2015, the Park made delicious history with the debut of the Fun Bun during the Boysenberry Festival.

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Returningin 2016, thewidely acclaimed culinary creationis a deep fried cinnamon roll with boysenberry cheese toppingthat willnot disappoint.During the food fest, over 70 unique boysenberry inspired food, drinks and more will be offered, including the delectable Berry Market Boysenberry BBQsauce which adds the perfect flavor to ribs, BBQ chicken, chicken wings, and more. Other must try itemsincludecrispy deep fried alligator bites that are paired with farm-made zesty boysenberry aioli, deep fried boysenberry ice cream, finger-lickin boysenberry BBQ wings and many more delicious treats. Additional fee for tastings.

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Guests who want to take home the exquisite Boysenberry BBQ sauce, Boysenberry Butter, Boysenberry Mustard and more, can do so by stopping bythe Berry Marketlocated in the MarketPlace and General Storelocatedin Ghost Town. Select items are available on the online Berry Market store.In honor of the famous berry, guests can wine, dine, dance, and buy boysenberry inspired products throughout the winding streets of the Old West.

Festival entrances will feature rustic banners and oversized boysenberries, just ripe for taking that special photo.Walter & Cordelia Knott’s Original Roadside Boysenberry Stand will be recreated for the special event, from which guests can purchase authentic boysenberry plants.unspecified-8

The Knott family sold freshly picked boysenberries from the original stand, and the rest, as they say, is history!As part of the festival, the Wine and Craft Brew Tasting Garden, located inside of Ghost Town’s Wilderness Dance Hall, will featureboysenberry wine, beer and cider, plus an assortment of wine and craft brew labels, in addition to a variety of gourmetfood that’s just bursting with flavor. Just outside of the Dance Hall, towering sculpted topiaries provide shade during warm spring days and twinkle brighter than stars at night.

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The Boysenberry Festival also features an extensive line up of live entertainment. At the heart of all of the excitement is Birdcage Square, located in front ofthe famous Bird Cage Theatre. Here, a stage will be set for daily contests like pie eating, a pie walk, Grandpa’s Boysenberry PJs Contest, where guests will race to stuff the oversized long johns with balloons, and more. In the evening, the Square will have guests kicking up their heels with vinedancing, a down home jug band and dueling fiddlers and banjos!At night, just inside of the Bird Cage Theatre, things get krazywhen Krazy Kirk and the Hillbilliesmount their toe tappin’, knee-slappin’, gut-bustin’ country comedy show that will have audiences clamoring for more! Just across from the Theatre on the Fireman’s Brigadestage,live bandswill play Countrymusic’s best tunes from dusk to Park closing.Right up the road from Birdcage Square, kids can join the classic Bear-y Tales characters in their very own pie making kitchen inside of Ghost Town’s Craft Barn. With the help of Razz Bear-y, Boysen Bear-y and the other Bear-y family members, each beautifully painted scene will follow the world famous boysenberry from field to blue ribbon winning pie! The pint sized chefs can also make their very own delightfully sweet boysenberry tarts complete with a crumble topping. Additional cost applies for tart making. unspecified-9

Located in the Boardwalk area,the iconic Charleston Circle fountain transforms into a beautiful floral fountain, adorned with colorful flowers and boysenberries creating an iconic centerpiece for the celebration. PEANUTSParty in the Parkcelebrates spring in a big way with infectious music, vibrant set design, and an invitation for the audience to be a part of the show! After sundown, Calico Stage will transform into an immersivenighttimedance party, Jammin’ in the Dark,complete withLED lighting effects affixed to the stage where DJHowLy will spin the hottest dance music for all ages. The boysenberry celebration is almost too much fun to stomach!While strolling through the bustling streets of Ghost Town, guests can capture the moment and the memories at boysenberry themed stand-in cutouts, like wanted posters, a boysenberry farming family and more. Festivalgoers can also watch special demonstrations including a chainsaw wood sculpting, glass blowing and blacksmithing. While enjoying the festival, guests may meet Ghost Town’s mayor,Mayor Desmond Ryder and his lovely wife, Josephine. From day to night, Ghost Town has never looked so lively.Springtime fun has also taken root in Camp Snoopy and Fiesta Village. During the limited-time event, the whole family can meet theEaster Beaglein his Camp Snoopy home, blooming with colorful springtime décor. The meet and greet location is the perfect place for shareable moments with the boisterous beagle and his friends –Charlie Brown, Lucy, Sally,and Linus. In Camp Snoopy Theatre, Lucy’s Really BIG Spring Show will showcase the PEANUTSpals singing, dancing, and celebrating springtime. The theater will be filled with the sweet sound of little ones as they singing-along to the to the show’s cheerful tunes! Guests don’t have to be experts at the cha-cha-cha to enjoy nighttime dancing with the Opa OpaSalsa Band in Fiesta Village. Everyone will be sure to take to the floorand dance to the rhythmic beat of popular Latin music. unspecified-5

The Boysenberry Festival is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm, additional cost for food tasting experiences within the event, which also offers a full day of thrilling coasters and family fun rides.

Knott’s has extended hours, 10am to 10pm, fromMarch 19 –April 3, allowing guests extra time to take advantageof all of the limited-time offerings.Join the conversation and share your day of boysenberry fun by using #BoysenberryFestival on Twitter and Instagram. For information about the day you plan to visit and available discounts,

knotts.com, call (714) 220-5200, or download the newly updated Knott’s Berry Farm mobile app for your smartphone.

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