Contemplating the Future Down on the Farm

Andy Mawhinney hopes they never do away with Calico Ghost Town or change the laid-back, country-themed atmosphere that makes Knott’s Berry Farm unique.

“I’m not like a Western nut, but I just kind of like that ghost-town feel,” said Mawhinney, 39, of Placentia, whose family holds an annual pass to the park, the last major family-owned amusement facility in the U.S.

“It’s much less glitzy than Disneyland and if I could only go to one place, I’d pick Knott’s.”

Many of the guests who visited the park Tuesday shared Mawhinney’s sentiments.

“I hope they don’t change it too much,” said Mary Kreger, 85, of Long Beach, as she and her daughter strolled through the shops outside the park. “This is the only place where you can come and shop without having to buy admission.”

Fermin and Martha Reyes, both 48, of Michigan, said they were saddened to hear the news about the park’s decision to sell to Cedar Fair LP, an Ohio-based company that owns four other theme parks.

“It’s nice and quaint here,” said Martha Reyes. “It’s too bad it won’t be family-owned anymore. Anything corporate is not good.”

Tom, 69, of Culver City, who declined to give his last name, said he used to come to Knott’s with his family one Sunday a month to have supper at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant.

“That was 50 years ago when there were no freeways and my dad drove an old Chevy,” he said. “The chicken was famous and it was a big occasion to come here. I still love it. It’s a great place that I hope doesn’t get ruined.”

Many guests, like Charlisa Smyth, 17, of Long Beach, were concerned that corporate ownership would change the park’s character.

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“Family-owned businesses are better because families make them fun,” she said. “Big companies are only in it for the money.”

One of Smyth’s friends, Reyna Guevara, 13, of Long Beach, disagreed: “I think it will be better. Maybe the new owners will bring in more roller coasters.”

Still, Danielle Shriver, 15, of Long Beach said that although she’d like more roller coaster rides, she wouldn’t want it to be turned into a young-crowd-only hang-out.

“The whole family comes here because its a place for everybody, not just teens,” she said.

Many park-goers said they preferred Knott’s to Disneyland and Magic Mountain because the lines are usually shorter.

Orange County firefighter Jack Cheak’s 12-year-old daughter rode Montezooma’s Revenge three times in less than 10 minutes.

Cheak said that the small crowds and laid-back atmosphere make Knott’s a favorite for his family.

“We love roller coasters, but we also love the quiet, country feeling here,” said Cheak, 51. “I’d like portions of the park, especially the ghost town, to be left unchanged.”

After all, he said he still has a framed photograph of himself perched on a wooden horse in Calico Ghost Town, displayed on a shelf at home. “I was 3 or 4 years old and I was wearing a cowboy hat and chaps,” Cheak said. “That pinto is still here and I’d like to get pictures of my kids on it.”

The news of Knott’s sale was delivered to employees through letters Tuesday, said a park waiter who added that he believes the new ownership will only be good.

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Other employees agreed. A ride operator said attendance is low and needs a boost. “I see the same amount of people here every year and it’s not a lot,” he said. “If someone brings in money, then Knott’s can expand and bring in more people.”

Whatever the future, Harry Schaub, 65, of Newport Beach, said he hopes the game booths, the Timber Mountain Log Ride, the Pan for Gold attraction, the stagecoach and Independence Hall will remain.

“These are classics,” he said. “I love this park. This is not Disneyland. It’s entirely different. As big as it is and as big as it might get, I hope it will always have that small country feeling.”