Melinda Goes to Knott’s Berry Farm

Melinda is back in time for the July 4th celebration with more images from her June 1980 trip to Southern California! This time, she has shared photos from her family’s visit to Knott’s Berry Farm. Once again, I will rely on my better-informed readers, as Knott’s is definitely not my area of expertise! As for the photos themselves, they were shot by Melinda “…with my little Kodak 110 camera of some sort.” Even her recollections of Knott’s are a bit cloudy:

I only have vague memories of riding the log ride at Knott's, and really nothing else about that park. We must have gone there last of the three [theme parks] as there are hardly any photos of it, so we were probably finishing off our last rolls of film for the trip.

Anyone else out there recall the joy of having a few photos that needed to be shot to be able to take the roll to the camera shop to be developed? The first image shown is of the Timber Mountain Log Ride, the one attraction Melinda remembers. The attraction itself looked pretty much the same when I photographed it in October 2014, other than the monstrosity on the right:



I’m going to make a guess that these next two were from the Fiesta Village:





Melinda and family pose in front of the Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge train from the Calico Railroad:



The train was still running when I last visited Knott’s in August 2021:



I’m not sure what this attraction is, but it’s my favorite photo of the batch; you can just feel the centrifugal force as everyone is joyously pushed to one side of their ride vehicle!



Looks like the Flying Ace attraction from Camp Snoopy:



I am assuming this is Knott’s, but another area I can’t identify:



The next three are from a marionette show; Bob Baker, perhaps?







This last one showing an 18' high reproduction of Michelangelo’s Statue of David was from the nearby Movieland Wax Museum, also in Buena Park. It was sold off in 2007 with the rest of the now defunct museum’s holdings. Nope…it wasn’t made of wax. It was actually carved from marble!



Here’s a 1967 ad from Vacationland Magazine for the Palace of Living Art at the Movieland Wax Museum, where the David replica was featured:



See more Knott’s Berry Farm photos at my main website.

Miscellaneous Monday at Knott's Berry Farm

Since this October 1959 image came with a batch of Disneyland shots, I originally thought it must be from the Golden Horseshoe, except for the inscription which clearly states Knott’s. Comparing the stage/curtain to Disneyland, it most certainly is not a match…

whereas it definitely matches this color shot of Steve Martin at the Birdcage from 1965:

Note the sign on the left advertising the Old-Time Melodramas at the Bird Cage in this 1950s shot:

This 1956 photo is another shot in the dark (pun semi-intended).

Perhaps it’s the Knott’s Berry Farm Pitchur Gallery?

The exterior of the Pitchur Gallery and Portrait Artist circa 2018:

This 1956 photo will have you saying “E-I-E-O”:

A closeup of the snack stand:

I wonder if these 1956 kiddie rides would pass a safety inspection today?

I can barely make out what the sign on the post at the left says; something about “No Folks … Please …Free Ride On Merry-Go-Round. Thanks.” Anyone…anyone?

The authentic San Francisco Cable Car that functioned as a parking lot tram:

Wonder if she has any tasty snacks in those bags?

Another vintage 1956 shot from my collection of the SF Cable Car at Knott’s. Apparently these were removed in 1979 and went back to San Francisco.

Last one for today is a 1957 shot of a little boy posing with one of the Indians at Knott’s…and he had the audacity to wear what appears to be a Disneyland Keppy Kap!

See more vintage and contemporary Knott's Berry Farm photos at my main website.