Later on Jackie and I moved our family to within a few miles of the farm. We would drive over for dinner and walk around the Knott's Berry Ghost Town. Jackie and I and our kids have lots of good memories of the Ghost Town. Walter Knott over the years moved buildings from the ghost towns of Southern California to the farm. Walter kept adding attractions to entertain people waiting for their chicken dinner. It was a fun place. I remember seeing Steve Martin in the Bird Cage Theatre.
Parking was free. Entrance was free. No fence. Then they built a fence.
Now it is a 160 acre theme park much like Disneyland which is just a few miles away. Knott's claims that they were the first theme park in the US.
A specialty of the restaurant is boysenberry pie. Walter Knott was the first commercial grower of the boysenberry in 1932. It is a combination of raspberry, loganberry, and blackberry. It was grafted by Rudolph Boysen. If I get to California again I plan to have another dinner at Knott's Berry Farm!
I had forgotten about the ghost town. I don't recall specifically eating in the restaurant, but I remember walking around those buildings as a child. Thanks for reminding me!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was little, my aunt lived in Pasadena, and I got to go to Disneyland a couple of times. It was a long drive from Pasadena - no highway for much of the trip. Miles and miles along two lane roads past orange groves to get to Disneyland. The lines once you got in were very short - mostly you had to wait for people to get off the rides so you could get on. I can't imagine going there today.
Thanks for your comments. Good memories.
DeleteGood plan. That place is a real piece of history. You're right, I have some great memories of Knott's Berry Farm before the fence.
ReplyDeleteIt kinda changed then. I hope the fried chicken dinner is the same.
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