1981: Walter Knott dies on Dec. 3—one week before his 92nd birthday.
1983: Camp Snoopy, the park’s six-acre wonderland for kids, opens July 1 as the official home of Snoopy and the Peanuts gang. It is the first area of any amusement park designed solely for kids under 12.
1985: Knott’s Berry Farm is magically transformed into Knott’s Merry Farm® as the park hosts its first Christmas Crafts Festival.
1987: Knott’s foreshadows the dinosaur craze by replacing Knott’s Bear-y Tales with Kingdom of the Dinosaurs,® a trek into prehistory complete with 21 fully annimated creatures and special effects. The expertly timed new attraction helps make 1987 the best on record.
1988: Knott’s becomes only the fourth park in the world to receive the coveted Amusement Business/Liseberg Applause Award, awarded biannually to the amusement park whose management, operations and creative accomplishments have inspired the industry with its foresight, originality and sound business development. Bigfoot Rapids,® and untamed journey down the longest manmade river in the We3st, opens in the Wild Water WIlderness area.
1990: The Corkscrew is replaced by Boomerang, a European-designed roller coaster. Ghost Town celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
1994: Knott’s debuts Mystery Lodge,® a magical journey into the Native American West and its most technically advanced project ever.
1995: Knott’s Berry Farm celebrates its 75th Anniversary with a year of festivities and special events highlighted by the summer debut of Jaguar!,®The Streaking Big Cat of Roller Coasters!
1996: Knott’s rethemes Roaring 20s into The Boardwalk, a colorful tribute to Southern California’s celebrated beach scene.
1997: Knott’s Berry Farm proudly becomes a member of the Cedar Fair, L.P. national family of amusement parks and resorts upon the “friendly” acquisition of the venerable park by the Ohio limited partnership.
1998: Knott’s marks its first year as a Cedar Fair park with five landmark new attractions inclouding Supreme Scream, one of the world’s tallest thrill rides; Woodstock’s Airmail, a kid-sized version of Supreme Scream; and the renovation of beloved Independence Hall. Knott’s caps off 1998 with its biggest attraction in 79 years - GhostRider, the longest, wildest wooden coaster in the West. The 4,533-foot-long, 118-foot-high wooden wonder immediately jumps to the top of roller coaster enthusiasts’ “best ride” lists.
2000: Knott’s enters the New Millennium (and the record books) with Perilous Plunge, the tallest, steepest and - thanks to a 45-foot splash! - wettest water ride on the planet. Also making a splash are California beach-themed Knott’s Soak City water parks in Buena Park and Chula Vista. And all eyes turn twoard SNOOPY and the PEANUTS Characters, who celebrate their 50th Anniversary with a five month, in-park party dedicated to the legacy of Charles M. Schulz. Knott’s also emerges as a vacation destination with the January 2000 debut of the Knott’s Radisson Resort Hotel (now the Knott’s Resort Hotel), featuring luxurious resort amenities and Camp Snoopy themed rooms.
2001: Knott’s makes a splash in Palm Springs with the acquisition of the newest Soak City Water Park in May. The 16-acre water adventure park features more than 20 incredible water rides and attractions!
2002: Knott’s soups up the Boardwalk with the all-new 50s themed roller coaster, Xcelerator. Decked out with flame-emblazoned ’57 Chevys, this coaster launches riders to an electrifying top speed of 80 mph in just 2.3 seconds INTO a 205-foot ascent.
2003: Knott’s and Snoopy celebrate Camp Snoopy’s 20 Years of Cheers. The parkwide celebration includes two new rides and a brand new theatre for the Peanuts Gang to perform musical revues daily.
2004: Knott’s makes waves on the Boardwalk with the addition of RipTide - a soaring, spinning thrill ride with 720 degrees of attitude. Lucy’s Tug Boat debuts as the newest ride in Camp Snoopy. June 2004, marks the 70th anniversary of Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant where the same family fried chicken recipe is still served. Standing over 60 feet tall, Screamin’ Swing is added, launching riders 70 feet into the atmosphere. Knott’s brings 2004 to a close with a bang with the addition of Silver Bullet, the park’s first suspended coaster that includes a vertical loop of 105 feet!
2006: Knott’s Boardwalk gets a swingin’ new addition, Johnny Rockets.® Known for its all-American Diner look and feel, Johnny Rockets is an immediate hit offering delicioius food, swinging servers and great jukebox music.
2007: In 2007 Knott’s debuts its first spinning coaster. Sierra Sidewinder will take you through banks, turns and dips all while rotating on its axis. Located at the entrance of Camp Snoopy, this coaster is sure to put a whole new spin on fun.
2008: Knott’s new Pony Express delivers thrills in 2008. Riders sit astride one of the team’s 16 horses, riders and their steeds are launched at a speed of 0-38 mph in less than 3 seconds. The team covers a 1,300 foot route which includes ascending a height of over 44 ft.
2009: Knott’s celebrates the 75th anniversary of Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant with a celebratory luncheon. In attendance is Marion Knott, the only living child of founders Walter and Cordelia Knott, along with other decendents and city, county and state dignitaries. |
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