Knott's Berry Farm: The Good Old Days, Pt 1

Dave Bourne of the Wagonmasters shares his memories of the farm.
Part 2: • Knott's Berry Farm: Th...

[@Greg-fz6vc]

Oh yes...I certainly remember traveling from Santa Ana to Knotts on weekends as a boy. We would often eat at the chicken dinner restaurant, have a boysenberry ice cream the watch the evening musical show from a covered wagon or seats in the wagon camp. Those were the days!

[@Yisraela]

I grew up at Knott's. My mom would take us and it was free to get in, in the good old days. My brothers and me couldn't wait to ride "The Calico Mine Train", what great memories. The Chicken Dinner restaurant was a favorite. We shopped for Christmas presents at "Virginia's Gift Shop. As my kids grew it became a favorite place for them as well. Now grown and I live on the east coast, I can still watch the fun videos and enjoy the memories.

[@jimmydcap]

I remember Knotts Back in the early 70's. Wow do I miss living in California.

[@roosterwood]

What fond memories this brings back. My mom,grandma,aunts and more worked for Knotts for many years. Mom is 87 and she always talks about Mrs. Knott and how wonderful she was. My grandma cleaned there house for years. When my grandma and Aunt moved to Hemet CA. Mrs.Knott came up to see them. Her friends were her workers. My dad is 91 and worked for the house movers that moved in a lot of the buildings.

[@larrysalisbury3010]

Sad to hear that dave Bourne past away on January 30.2015

[@lonnyonline]

I grew up in Riverside and would make a trip with my parents atleast once a year. I am 33 now and made a trip last year with my son. Things sure have changed, however you can always count on one thing. There will be a line a mile long to get dinner at MRS Knotts. Love the chicken and apple pie. I can't wait to get home and take my family there again and again and again.

[@TheBoxingGuru]

This video is fantastic. What great feelings it stirs up in an old guy who grew up in So. Cal. and went to knotts at least Monthly. Even if we didn't go in to the park, we'd enjoy the shops things around the perimiter! Can't wait to go back.

[@XHanonXxHosho]

Knott's was my first real job. I loved it.

[@CJ-LagunaBeach]

I was in contact with Billy Beeman before he passed. When I was a child we went to KBF regularly, when it was free. We went to listen to The Wagon Masters all the time. Billy sent me a book about the Wagon Masters and I bought some CD's from him. I have a few of their records and some that are signed. I used to love the gumball machines, the baker that, when you put a penny in, the baker would reach into the cupboard and a gum ball would drop in, and he would spin and drop the gumball in the chute. Even as a kid my favorite things were the Music Box House and the Nickelodeon that payed with the Carousel, and the girls that hit the bells. Oh, also the bottle house and bummpity cars. Thank you for this, it is wonderful.

[@rocknrollproblems3329]

My dad vern sang in the wagon masters . Awesome memories

[@YesYou123333]

@Yisraela Yeah, I remember The Corkscrew. That was around 1975... a year before The Great American Revolution opened at Magic Mountain. I believe The Corkscrew was the first upside down steel coaster in the world.

[@VictrolaJazz]

(!) I'll never forget my trip to Knott's Berry Farm in '51 as a 7 year old in my mother's best friend Olna Sams's brand new '51 Cadillac, along with her daughter Mary who had just graduated from Baylor, Lillie May McDonald. We were walking along and a guy said to my mother "Hey Cora, you must be wearing a really tight girdle!" I was shocked and asked my mother what was going on and of course one of our group had told him to say that!

[@CSM159]

I remember in the late 50s early 60s driving with my family from West Covina to Huntington Beach for the day; we would sometime stop and eat a fried chicken dinner at Knotts Berry Farm and I remember that beach blvd was just a two line road all the way to the beach and the parking lot with its tall trees also across the street was the Aligator farm.......great place.......

[@karavona4758]

thanks so much for sharing. Billy Beeman was my Fourth Grade teacher. Wish there was a CD to buy. I have an album but alas the player doesn't work anymore.

[@rocknrollproblems3329]

I knew the Beeman brothers . My dad sang in the wagon masters with them

[@neffada53]

Irene Schneider, my Grandmother, worked at Knott's around this time, as a puppeteer in the birthday Puppet Garden. Oh, the stories she would tell! She lived to be 100, passed in 2004. She spoke of the Indian fellow (Chief White Cloud?). He wanted her to teach him to drive. She introduced me to him in '68, I had my photo taken with him. Gram's brother, Fred Conner, worked there in the 50's. When we were there, she pointed to an older man and said, "I think that's Mr. Knotts!"

[@bassetbaby67]

This is so awesome, thanks for the memories! My family owned Mott's Miniatures when it was in in Ghost Town. Yup, I'm one of the Mott kids. I loved growing up going there all the time. I miss those days so much, it's just not the same anymore.

[@beyondspace3736]

correct .

[@rekc33]

THANKS FOR SHARING THIS, BROUGHT BACK CHILDHOOD MEMORIES! I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER MY BIRTHDAY PARTY IN ONE OF THE CARS IN TRAIN, IN THE 60'S..........IT WAS THE BEST!

[@DV5100Z]

Great stuff...thanks. I grew up in La Palma (Dairy Valley) and went to Knott's often. I was even on Engineer Bill in 1962! What a thrill to hear someone else remember that show! THANKS!!

[@lpentis]

This is GREAT! We started going in '56...we'd get our bag of boysenberry candy and some boysenberry punch and just wander around. Sure was great to see Sheriff John on stage with the Wagonasters on the video!!

[@deannaauman2622]

My Brother is Eldon Eklund he was 17 when he started working at Knott’s.

[@deannaauman2622]

He was one w the wagon masters

[@seymour1969]

@@deannaauman2622 Of course he was! 👍

[@541mamacita]

Totally awesome! Thank you for sharing! My great aunt is Rachel Cadwalader :) so cool to know a little more history! My sister was named after her! Great stuff!

[@ArcyFatal]

thanks for the kool video. Educational.

[@starfish53]

You know , seeing there's no negative comments on any of the 3 parts you posted, that goes to show that Knotts needs to return to its former self.

[@TheRichie213]

My parents took me to Knott's a few times in the 80's. We would eat there and have brunch. I remember eating biscuits and this raspberry drink.

[@square-on-wheels]

TheRichie213 Boysenberry?

[@Yisraela]

I remember the Corkscrew, my girlfriend and myself rode it for hours when it first opened up! It was so much fun, then the Log Ride came my mom took me when it first opened. Yes, it was great fun.

[@japanesseblossom]

wow i didnt know it will be this this old 0.0

[@bobbakker7129]

We would put pennies on the train tracks and train would flattened them.

[@chaosdemonwolf1]

I remember when you could just walk right into the park right off the street or parking lot.......