[Fun] Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

[Dustysage]

Put me on the list!

Knott's Preserved is a book coming out April 18th on the history of Knott's Berry Farm. This park is near and dear to my heart. While I have some big issues with the direction the park has taken in the years since its sale to Cedar Fair, it will forever be a part of OC history. The book will detail Knott's history and include lots of great vintage images.

(UPDATED April 5th, 2010 - Event Sold Out!)

Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm - Event Sold Out!

We've got something pretty special for you if you act quick - An exclusive event will celebrate the launch of Knott's Preserved with tours of Knott's Berry Farm, lectures, a dinner, and even some Disney Imagineers! Authors Christopher Merritt (attraction designer and former Imagineer) and J. Eric Lynxwiler (Los Angeles historian and preservationist) labored for more than 15 years to assemble the photos, stories, and history behind the iconic Orange County theme park built by Walter Knott. On April 18th, the book will be released at an all day event in the park where it all began. Order Event Tickets HERE.

Events include tours of Ghost Town led by Orange County Historians Phil Brigandi and Chris Jepsen, Lectures on the early history of Knott's in the Bird Cage Theater, buffet dinner at Ms. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant, and an amazing panel discussion with guests Rolly Crump, Chris Crump, Dean Davisson, John Waite, and Eddie Sotto. And a chance to meet Tony Baxter. Disney fans will recognize the names of many Disney Imagineers in this lineup. You are sure to hear about the intertwined histories of Knott's and Disneyland in this fantastic tale of the History of the original Orange County theme park.

This event has extremely limited availability. This is a great chance to explore Knott's history, meet some current and former Disney Imagineers (including Tony Baxter) and have some famous Mrs. Knott's fried chicken as well.

Space is limited to just a few hundred people, so we recommend that you sign up as soon as you read this. Order Your Tickets HERE Today!

* Please note that orders for the Knott's Preserved event are being taken at Knott's by fax only (see the link for options) and will be processed in the order received. It may take up to a few business days for you to receive your confirmation.

Fishy and I have our tickets, who's joining us?

-Dusty

[DisneyIPresume]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

Awesome! I want to be on that list too!

Thanks for this info Dusty!

[JesterMn]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

Sounds very cool! Also, don't forget about the History of Knott's Berry Farm book from Arcadia press (the ones who do those sepia colored books on SoCal local history). It's been very informative, and it's frankly, it's quite amazing how much history Knott's has! Many building in ghost town date anywhere from 1880s-1940s and 50s, and have come from all over.

[Eagleman]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

I think I like get a copy......I also have passion for Knott's....
I Pray and Hope ....The old gal will have a New Life....not the way it is today!
I know the Knott's Family should not sold the place to CF!

[Dutchman]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

There are a lot of errors in those Arcadia books, but the photos are good.

[DisneyIPresume]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

Sounds very cool! Also, don't forget about the History of Knott's Berry Farm book from Arcadia press (the ones who do those sepia colored books on SoCal local history). It's been very informative, and it's frankly, it's quite amazing how much history Knott's has! Many building in ghost town date anywhere from 1880s-1940s and 50s, and have come from all over.

That sounds like an interesting book. I'm aware of those books as well. In fact some of my ancestors are mentioned in one of them! Specifically they are mentioned in Los Angeles's Little Italy. It is a really interesting book. Well written with wonderful old photographs. So I am sure that this knotts book is equally as interesting. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for this information!

[Bear-y Tales fan]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

I took a look on the site he has made for the book. He's got the cavern music in the cave ride and Best Of All, Knott's Bear-y Tales!! In the Knott's Bear-y Tales section of the website he got the frog forest music,rare photo's,and even video of the old effects in the ride like Wanda's teacup spirits. I really remembered that effect in the ride when working there but i never seen that video that Chris had before though. Also there is a video of the final day before the classic sadly closed by that greedy manager, Terry Van Gorder who wanted to cash in on the Dinosaur Craze and just wanted to go compete with Disney which is a dumb move that he pulled off.

Terry Van Gorder actually had a dislike of Bear-y Tales and thought that a Disney Type ride needs to go but due to complaints we brought them back to the fun-house years ago but stupidly we had to tone down the Disney Look to them by giving them costumes that weren't as good as seen in the ride. All What i can say is that Terry Van Gorder was just Greedy and hated Mostly Disney Stuff.

[aashee]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

Very cool. I will be looking for this book. I have quite a few big KNott's fan in my family.

[weeble]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

Thanks for the update Dusty, Tony Baxter told me about this book while we were in line for author signing of "The History of Knott's Berry Farm" and I've been looking forward to it ever since.

[scrappydawg]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

Thanks for letting us know about this book, Dusty!

[lynxwiler]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm



The finished book has just been sent to the printer! We'll see the final, printed books in a couple months. By the way, Knott's Berry Farm will be selling the hardback version of the book while online retailers will sell the softback.

For the photos of early Knott's Scary Farm, the Knott's Bear-y Tales sketches by Rolly Crump, and for all of Paul von Klieben's illustrations of the Ghost Town-to-be, the book is a wonder.

https://www.knottspreserved.com

[steamboatpete]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

That's sounds interesting. I had a passion for Knott's but after several consecutive disappointing visits, I lost interest. It's probably been 16 or 17 years since I've been there, even though I live less than a half hour from the park. The book will probably bring back a lot of fond memories.

[techskip]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

That's sounds interesting. I had a passion for Knott's but after several consecutive disappointing visits, I lost interest. It's probably been 16 or 17 years since I've been there, even though I live less than a half hour from the park. The book will probably bring back a lot of fond memories.

you haven't missed much. Cedar Fair has turned what was a unique treasure into a coaster stuffed amusement park...

[lynxwiler]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

Great news! Our book signing is confirmed!

The new, hardcover book Knott's Preserved: from Boysenberry to Theme Park, the History of Knott's Berry Farm will have a limited release on Sunday, April 18. Authors Chris Merritt and Eric Lynxwiler will be signing their book at the Chicken Dinner Restaurant along with Tony BaxterKnott's Preserved and get it signed!

By the way, a larger, ticketed event is still in the works. We're planning all-day festivities on April 18 to celebrate the history of Knott's Berry Farm and its many designers. We're pulling together some of the creative forces behind Halloween Haunt, Knott's Bear-y Tales and the Wacky Soapbox Racers to share their stories. So keep an ear to the ground as it's an event you don't want to miss. Really!

[SnorkletsMom]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

The history of Knott's is really interesting. I worked there many years ago and part of our training was a fairly thorough background of the family and the park. I met Walter Knott while I was there. The book looks good, I'd like to read it and I'd like to make that signing at the CDR.

I haven't been there for a long time, the last time I went it was pretty awful.

[AlohaStitch]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

Looking forward to the book. I was the first female stagecoach driver at Knotts. (Back in the day when the family still owned it.) I have a soft spot for the farm that exists today.

[lynxwiler]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

The Knott's Preserved signing is slated for April 18, 10-noon, at the Chicken Dinner Restaurant, but the rest of the day is shaping up very nicely.

Chris Merritt and I will host an all-day, ticketed event at Knott's Berry Farm and you may want to consider going to this one. The ticket price will include all-day admission to Knott's Berry Farm, guided walking tours of Walter Knott's Ghost Town, an audio-visual lecture at the Bird Cage Theater on Knott's early years, a dinner buffet at the Chicken Dinner Restaurant, and to top it all off we'll have an after-hours Q&A at the Bird Cage Theatre.

Now this Q&A is no ordinary gathering for Knott's Berry Farm, but is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet a few of Knott's greatest designers and boosters:

Rolly Crump and Chris Crump who designed Knott's Bear-y Tales;
John Waite who themed the park's early Halloween Haunt events;
Eddie Sotto, the designer behind the Wacky Soap Box Racers;
Dean Davisson

Tickets will go on sale at KnottsPreserved.com this Friday, March 19. Or, rather, a downloadable pdf order form will become available.

[JesterMn]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

This sounds wonderful! I so wish I could go, but I'm working out of town that weekend. Dang.

I definitely am looking forward to the book, though!

[CoasterMatt]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

OMG!!! I SO wanna go to this- but unfortunately, that's my wife's BIRTHDAY!

[Dustysage]

re: Knott's Preserved Event - April 18th at Knott's Berry Farm

Knott's Preserved - April 18th - Event Sign Up TODAY!

We've got something pretty special for you if you act quick - Exclusive Knott's Berry Farm tours and events in celebration of the new book, Knott's Preserved, which celebrates the history of Knott's Berry Farm. Authors Christopher Merritt (attraction designer and former Imagineer) and J. Eric Lynxwiler (Los Angeles historian and preservationist) labored for more than 15 years to assemble the photos, stories, and history behind the iconic Orange County theme park built by Walter Knott. On April 18th, the book will be released at an all day event in the park where it all began. Order Event Tickets HERE.

Events include tours of Ghost Town led by Orange County Historians Phil Brigandi and Chris Jepsen, Lectures on the early history of Knott's in the Bird Cage Theater, buffet dinner at Ms. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant, and an amazing panel discussion with guests Rolly Crump, Chris Crump, Dean Davisson, John Waite, and Eddie Sotto. Disney fans will recognize the names of many Disney Imagineers in this lineup. You are sure to hear about the intertwined histories of Knott's and Disneyland. For those looking for a bit of history on this project, I suggest you read this blog post on the Knott's Preserved web site - HERE

This event has extremely limited availability. Tickets go on sale today and may sell out before the weekend. I recommend that you sign up as soon as you read this. Order Your Tickets HERE Today! http://www.knottspreserved.com/Site/...EventFlyer.pdf

* Please note that orders for the Knott's Preserved event are being taken at Knott's by fax only (see the link for options) and will be processed in the order received. It may take up to a few business days for you to receive your confirmation.