The Haunted Shack at Knott’s Berry Farm was a guest favorite since the time it debuted in 1954, causing fans to rumble when it was unceremoniously removed in 2000. For the (belated) 100th anniversary of Knott’s Berry Farm, a piece of The Haunted Shack has returned. The original experience was a guided tour through several rooms, but among the favorite was a room where two guests would stand in opposite corners, making one appear taller and the other shorter.
Eric graciously modeled the trick for me during our recent visit:
Today, a diagram explains how to accomplish this little parlor trick. It would have been helpful if I had read this beforehand!
This little barrel appears to be held up by falling water:
It’s a nice touch to honor the history, but it also reminds one of how much cooler the original was and what a shame it was removed to begin with. Want to experience what it was like? Drive over to the town of Calico and visit their Mystery Shack:
Back to Knott’s…I do enjoy this other creepy parlor trick that resides as peek-in at the Boot Hill Undertaker:
Love this!
Want to see the original Knott’s Haunted Shack? This video on YouTube shows a guest’s final walk-thru:
See more Knott’s Berry Farm photos at my main website.
Oh, I remember the Haunted Shack, both at KBF and Calico, including the floating barrel.
ReplyDeleteDave, was that lightning effect a Pepper's Ghost illusion, or black light?
Thanks for that video!
JG
Well now I feel terrible that when I was there a few weeks ago I didn't actually go into the park and see that. I would have paid to go in to see just to that. It's fantastic that they rebuilt that for this event. Highly missed.
ReplyDeleteHi JG - Eric confirmed that it's Pepper's Ghost.
ReplyDeleteThis is the Knott's we love. The Haunted Shack was always amusing and charming, good to have at least a bit of it back.
ReplyDeleteThe man-into-skeleton was in Gypsy Camp in the early '70s, appropriately dressed for the area. In the Undertaker's Building was another peekin, the Invisible Man and Woman being served tea by a startled maid. The spooks had elegant 19th century duds which were floating on air, a neat illusion.