Knott's Berry Farm - A retrospective

The servers at the Knott's Restaurant no longer dress in the formal wear. They don't always smile and when you ask for the traditional items that used to appear on the table, they seem to be a little put-out. If you want the traditional menu, ask for what you want.

While you were waiting for your dinner they always brought a bowl of bread and butter pickles. If you ask for them, they still will.

The salad dressing was French only. There were no other choices. If you ask a server today if they know what the original dressing was, they can't tell you.

The menu says vegetables. That translated into cabbage and ham. You get a choice now. Corn is on the menu as well.

I was not happy with the service or the staff. Knott's has been bought out by another company who does not care to carry on the traditions and service required bu the Knott's Family.

Why do we still stand in line to eat there? The fried chicken recipe has not changed and the biscuits are to die for.

Update 4/11/2012 - Had dinner again there and have to say that the service was terrific. In fact, it was so much better, we tracked down the supervisor to let her know that our server deserved a pat of the back.

No matter how old I get, I always ride the train. I remember being scared of the bandits as a small child, I remember my kids being frightened and was delighted when my grandson was. It is a tradition that has carried on. They still have gunfights in the Square.

"Photo courtesy Orange County Archives"

I did not know that this had a name until my grandson asked me what the "Timber Mountain Log Ride" was. "Huh", I said. "Grandma, it the one with the log in the water".

40 years later I find that it just wasn't the Log Ride.

Before the rides and all the other attractions, there was only Main Street. This is the heart of Knott's Berry Farm although the younger children tend to bypass it on the way to the thrill rides. Still, they keep the blacksmith and several of the other shops and we drag our grandson through them so he has an understanding of the past.

"Photo courtesy Orange County Archives"

By the time I finally made it to Philadelphia, the real Independence Hall was more than familiar. The building was re-created brick-for-brick in 1966 and one of my most favorite places to visit even today.

Update 4/11/2012 - I was happy to find they still have the recreation of the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. If the 20-minute show is not showing on a schedule, all you have to do is ask that they start it for you. Great piece of history and very moving to realize what these men did to secure our freedom from England.

Walter Knott at Independence Hall dedication, Buena Park 1966
"Photo courtesy Orange County Archives"