There’s only one attraction in Orange County that can claim to host exciting rides, lovable characters, rousing entertainment, and the title of America’s first theme park, and it isn’t the so-called magic kingdom. Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, holds that distinction, and more than 80 years after Walter and Cordelia Knott first moved to the land that now sees millions of visitors each year, Knott’s Berry Farm continues to thrill and delight people of all ages.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find the boysenberries originated by Walter Knott in 1930, but you can still enjoy yourself at the first theme area created at the park, Old West Ghost Town. Back in the 1940s, Walter Knott brought in old buildings from real ghost towns in California and Arizona, and they still stand today, where they form the heart and soul of Knott’s Berry Farm.
Now there are a total of six theme areas, including Fiesta Village (in homage to the Spanish contributions to California’s history), the Boardwalk, Camp Snoopy, Wild Water Wilderness, and Indian Trails, each with its trademark attractions. You can see what it was like to travel in the Old West with the Calico Railroad and Overland Trails Stagecoach, both found in Ghost Town. Mystery Lodge within Wild Water Wilderness teaches guests about Native North American culture while feeding their senses. And of course, there are perennial favorites such as the carousel and bumper cars.
But get anywhere near Knott’s Berry Farm and you’ll want to jump on the park’s exciting roller coasters and thrill rides. Back in Ghost Town, guests can subject themselves to the Silver Bullet, a suspended coaster that literally sweeps you off your feet, and GhostRider, an old-fashioned wooden coaster with the longest banked wooden coaster drop in the western United States. At the Boardwalk, Perilous Plunge updates the log ride by sending you down a 115-foot water shoot (Niagara Falls is only 34 feet longer) at a 75-degree angle, or a mere 15 degrees away from a purely vertical edge. Elsewhere at the 
Boardwalk, you can ride up to the sky in Supreme Scream, then drop straight back down to the ground, 254 feet below, in the longest three seconds of your life. True to its name, Wild Water Wilderness holds Big Foot Rapids, the longest manmade whitewater river in California. You’re not only guaranteed to get wet on the giant, unguided raft, you’re virtually assured of having a great time too.
If these attractions sound a little too adult for your little ones, the tykes can head out to Camp Snoopy, home to the beloved beagle and the rest of the Peanuts brood. This park within a park was the first of its kind dedicated to younger guests, and it includes more than 30 rides for hours of enjoyment. Snoopy’s Red Baron, the Log Peeler, and Huff and Puff are the exclusive domain of the kids, while all the family can jump on the Charlie Brown Speedway, the Grand Sierra Scenic Railroad, Woodstock’s Airmail, and the High Sierra Ferris Wheel, to name just a few.
Just because summer is ending doesn’t mean the good times must also draw to a close. As autumn blooms, Knott’s Berry Farm opens it doors for the annual Halloween Haunt, while the holiday season brings another transformation. Ghost Town becomes an 1880s Victorian village, and you’ll be welcomed by wandering carolers and bands. You can also enjoy performances of ?A Christmas Carol? and ?Gift of the Magi? as well as an ice show starring Snoopy, the world’s favorite beagle.
Knott’s Berry Farm has come a long way from its roots as a berry market, tea room, and nursery for plants, but the emphasis on hospitality and family atmosphere remain. Whether your family’s temperament veers toward the superspeedy Xcelerator or the family-friendly Flying Ace Balloon Race, you’ll find plenty of entertainment at Knott’s Berry Farm, America’s first theme park, right here in Orange County.
Knott’s Berry Farm will celebrate the season with their annual Halloween Haunt from September 28 – October 31. For the little ones, Camp Spooky Halloween Treasure Hunt will be open every weekend from October 7-29.
www.knotts.com
