America’s First Theme Park Started as a Berry Stand With Delicious Fried Chicken – Here’s the Story

Knott’s Berry Farm, California

Before Disney, there was Knott’s.

What started as a Depression-era berry farm became California’s first theme park, complete with a ghost town built from real Gold Rush buildings. The boysenberries and chicken dinners that made it famous? Still there, right next to the roller coasters.

Here are some interesting facts you probably didn’t know about this beloved icon.

A Family Farm Transformed into America’s First Theme Park

The Knott family rolled into Buena Park back in 1920 with nothing but 20 acres. Walter and Cordelia started selling berries and pies from a tiny roadside spot on State Route 39.

Walter wasn’t new to the plant game—he’d been hustling veggies since he was just 10 years old, going door-to-door in Pomona.

Before settling in Buena Park, he worked farms in both Imperial Valley and Coachella Valley, picking up serious agricultural skills.

That humble berry spot became “Knott’s Berry Place” and eventually morphed into the massive theme park we all know today.

A Chicken Dinner Started This Whole Theme Park

On June 13, 1934, Cordelia Knott started serving fried chicken dinners as a desperate move to make money during the Great Depression.

That first meal was fancy for the time—fried chicken with all the fixings: salad, rhubarb, mashed potatoes with gravy, biscuits, and boysenberry pie for dessert.

Fast forward to today, and Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant serves about 1,000 chickens every day, making it the world’s largest single-location chicken restaurant with seating for 1,000 people.

In 2024, they celebrated their 90th anniversary with special chicken feasts running from Memorial Day Weekend through New Year’s Day.

Walter Knott Built a Tribute to American Democracy

Walter Knott wasn’t just a businessman—he was passionate about American history and values. That’s why he built the Independence Hall replica for West Coast families who couldn’t travel to Philadelphia.

Along Main Street, he created themed shops filled with historical relics and scenes that brought history to life.

The Independence Hall replica remains free to all visitors and features an audio presentation about the Constitutional debates.

Throughout the park, Walter’s commitment to preserving American heritage is evident in everything from the authentic Ghost Town buildings to the educational exhibits.

The Boysenberry Almost Went Extinct

In 1932, Walter Knott met Rudolph Boysen, who’d created this wild hybrid berry (part blackberry, raspberry, and loganberry).

Boysen couldn’t make it work—his business partner died, and he broke his back in an accident. Walter took Boysen’s last six plants and made them thrive.

By 1934, his 100 vines produced 2,200 baskets of boysenberries, selling for double the price of other berries at the time.

You can still see actual boysenberry plants growing beneath the Silver Bullet roller coaster today—a living reminder of the berry that started it all.

Theme Parks Started Here

By the 1940s, what began as a simple farm had exploded with attractions—a restaurant, shops, and the beginnings of a replica ghost town.

Walter built Ghost Town in 1940 as a tribute to pioneers like his grandparents, who traveled to California in a covered wagon in 1868.

The construction crew didn’t mess around—they salvaged authentic buildings and materials from actual western towns.

What’s wild is that until 1968, you could wander through most of the park for free. They only started charging when they put up a fence and asked for 25 cents admission.

John Wayne Helped Open the Log Ride

The Timber Mountain Log Ride (originally called the Calico Log Ride) opened in 1969 as America’s first log flume ride, with none other than John Wayne officiating the ceremony.

After a multi-million dollar renovation, it remains one of the most elaborate log flume rides in the United States.

The ride was designed by Bud Hurlbut, who created several attractions at Knott’s and other parks and he operated many of the park’s iconic rides, including attractions at Knott’s Lagoon.

The Calico Mine Ride Pioneered Modern Queue Design

The Calico Mine Ride, which opened in November 1960, wasn’t just a great attraction—it changed how theme parks operate.

This ride introduced the hidden switchback queue, now standard in theme parks worldwide. A team led by Bud Hurlbut created this immersive journey through realistic mining caverns.

In 2014, the ride got a massive update with 50 new animatronic figures, new audio systems, improved lighting, and fresh special effects.

When you ride it today, you’ll experience a 7-minute journey through detailed recreations of gold mine environments, complete with underground lakes, waterfalls, and chambers.

The Carousel Is Older Than the Park

You can ride a piece of history at Knott’s—the 1902 Dentzel Menagerie Carousel operated at Hersheypark from 1902 to 1936 before making its way to Knott’s in 1955.

This isn’t your typical carousel—it features 48 hand-carved animals including zebras, ostriches, and even a lion. The carousel shows off the detailed craftsmanship of the Dentzel family, famous carousel makers of the era.

It was actually the first attraction that Bud Hurlbut (who later created many of the park’s iconic rides) brought to Knott’s, and each animal has been carefully restored to maintain its original artistic details.

Independence Hall Is Scarily Accurate

You don’t need to travel to Philadelphia to see Independence Hall—Walter Knott built an exact brick-by-brick replica right here in California.

It’s so accurate that the filmmakers of the 2004 movie “National Treasure” used it for filming, and the original Independence Hall in Philadelphia actually requested the blueprints during their restoration work.

Walter built it as a free attraction (it’s still free today!) to showcase American history, especially the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Inside, you’ll find displays including a replica Liberty Bell and a recreation of the Star-Spangled Banner flag from the War of 1812.

From Berry Farm to Full Resort

What started as a modest family farm has expanded into a complete vacation destination with Knott’s Berry Farm theme park, Knott’s Soak City Waterpark, and Knott’s Hotel all in one place.

Soak City opened on what used to be a parking lot and has grown to feature 23 different slides—everything from speed slides to tube rides and body slides—plus one of the longest lazy rivers in America.

The water park keeps the Southern California beach town vibe that connects to the Boardwalk area of the main park, creating a unified resort experience for visitors who want to make a weekend of it.

Knott’s Invented Theme Park Halloween Events

Before Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights or any other theme park Halloween event, there was Knott’s Scary Farm.

It started as a three-night event from October 26-28, 1973, and became an instant hit, selling out the very next year. In 2023, they celebrated 50 years of scaring people, making it Southern California’s longest-running and largest Halloween event.

Halloween used to be a slow season until the marketing and entertainment teams came up with the Halloween Haunt concept.

For 2025, Knott’s Scary Farm will run from September 18 to November 1, featuring haunted mazes, shows, and over 1,000 monsters lurking in the fog.

The Peanuts Gang Found Their Amusement Park Home

In 1983, Knott’s became the first theme park to license the Peanuts characters after a meeting between Walter Knott and creator Charles Schulz.

Schulz had one condition for letting them use Snoopy in an ice show—his daughter had to be in it. Since then, the Peanuts connection has gotten stronger, with Camp Snoopy becoming a park highlight.

For the 60th anniversary of Peanuts, the park launched a special nighttime light show. They even renamed their 2,100-seat theater after Charles Schulz to honor his legacy.

Visiting Knott’s Berry Farm in 2025

Knott’s Berry Farm sits at 8039 Beach Boulevard in Buena Park, California. The park stays open year-round with seasonal hours.

• Mobile app available for wait times and navigation
• Admission: $89-99 for adults when purchased online
• Parking: $30 per vehicle