TOURISM : Knott’s Is Extending Its Popular Discount Program for Locals

Knott’s Berry Farm reports that its discount program for Southland residents has been so successful that it is being extended through the end of the summer--and then some.

The program gives adults a $5 break off the regular price of $25.95 if they can show a driver’s license or other identification proving that they live in ZIP codes 90000 to 93599. That’s roughly from the Mexican border to Santa Barbara.

The program was supposed to end July 30 but has been quietly extended and is now due to be continued through Sept. 30, park spokesman Bob Ochsner said.

“It’s been great. We’re ahead of our plan, and we attribute much of that to the family pricing policy,” he said.

Disneyland and some other theme parks offered discounts to Southern Californians three years ago after the Persian Gulf War. But the Knott’s gambit marks a major departure, offering deep discounts during the peak summer months when the parks are the busiest.

The price break helped Knott’s this year, enabling it to counter the draw of new attractions and heavy advertising by other parks.