Bud Hurlbut will not be down for breakfast

[dazyhill]

http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2011/01/ ... ies/66158/


He was the man behind Knott's Berry Farm's Calico Mine Ride and the Timber Mountain Log Ride. He was KBF's closest thing to an Imagineer.
A big creative loss in the theme park world.
RIP and Thank You.

[Freak]

Orange County Register Article

I am EXTRA SAD about this. Bud was a FANTASTIC man! YOU WILL BE MISSED BUD! :( :( :( :(

Bud helped Walter Knott build attractions like The Calico Mine Ride and The Timber Mountain Log Ride. If I remember correctly, he also knew Walt Disney sort of. Walt came and watched him build Mine Ride. He also built a little park called Castle Park.

Sorry, I'm really sad about this.

[Big Wallaby]

I have merged these threads, and I kept our traditional respects.

From the complaining I have heard about KBF and the way it is run, I had never known there was such an inspirational man behind it.

It sounds here like those who knew of him had a great deal of respect for him and his vision. I honestly wish I knew more so I could have more to say.

[Freak]

Yeah, as much as I can't stand the way Knott's is handled now a days, nothing gave me greater pleasure than dressing up in my miner garb, sitting in the cab of our little 2 foot gauge Porter locos, and driving through the mines, tellin everyone what went on in there. Bud made one hell of a ride there, and his locomotives are now 50 years old and work just as well as they did when they were brand new. (Save for a few nicks and scratches ;) ) But really, this is the ONLY part of Knott's I miss: Mine Ride and Log Ride. They could stuff everything else away, but Ghost Town, Railroad, and Mine and Log were what made Knott's Knott's.

He was a REAL cool dude. It wasn't strange if you saw him on Mine Ride every once in a while, riding along listening to the spiel and checking out his mine.

[DisneyMom]

I went to Knott's A Lot when I was a kid, and miss those days :(
Thank You Mr. Hurlbut for some very good memories! :)

[Freak]

A small update to Bud's legacy. Seems that some items in his barn will be sold off for charity, and his barn will be closed up for good.
Article Here

I'm torn. I'm super excited for the people who will be super lucky enough to pick up some of Bud's stuff. I myself own some "Please Keep Hands Inside Mine Car" signs off of Mine Ride, as well as owning a wheel cap that has "Hurlbut Amusements, Buena Park CA" that came off of my locomotive from a rehab. But, I'm also super sad to hear that the barn will be closed up for good. The Orange County Archive also got their hands on some stuff as well, which is good.

Part of me wants to know what will happen to "Train 8" that was built in the same gauge as Calico Mine Ride. You can see the unfinished cab and rest of the loco without the boiler in photo 20 of the slideshow. I've been told is a canary yellow boiler. I'm keen to hear where it ends up...

[dazyhill]

I would love to own a small sketch or drawing of anything of Bud's. Or a miniature figure.
I would love one of his carousel animals, but I know that's out of my space and price range. :(
At least the money will be going to Bud's favorite charities.

[Disneyguy85]

Its always sad when a life is lost. :(

[Main Streeter]

This write up/tribute was written by the brilliant Mark Eades who was a CM @ DL. Mark put much effort into this piece as he is an O C native. I work with his sister in stock. Never knew much abt Bud until Mark's sister shared Mark's O C work. Bud absolutely knew Walt.