You Disney people have it easy...

[LittleDollClaudia]

It was a regular thing over at Knott's. If Disney is the yuppie park, then Knott's is the ghetto park.

Can't tell you how many times I would see two sets of guys making eyes at each other as they walked through. They would do that head nod and watch out if the others didn't return it.

Whoo, especially during Haunt. Security had their work cut out for them.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

It was a regular thing over at Knott's. If Disney is the yuppie park, then Knott's is the ghetto park.

Can't tell you how many times I would see two sets of guys making eyes at each other as they walked through. They would do that head nod and watch out if the others didn't return it.

Whoo, especially during Haunt. Security had their work cut out for them.

Sounds like a "blast"

I hope the LAPD at least sends some people?

[felinefan]

Yeah, every summer and during other high attendance days at Knott's, Buena Park Police would supplement the Knott's security. Not that security was that great to begin with....

Yep, for sure, Knott's a the ultimate ghetto park.

[Princess Susi]

Yeah, every summer and during other high attendance days at Knott's, Buena Park Police would supplement the Knott's security. Not that security was that great to begin with....

Yep, for sure, Knott's a the ultimate ghetto park.

Worse than Six Flags? I know the Six Flags Park here is no longer a Six Flags. But it had a lot of shootings and gang activity. It is downtown Denver! It used to be called Elitches, years ago, and Six Flags bought it and called it Six Flags Elitches. Then just last year, they sold it and it is now not a Six Flags anymore, it is back to being Elitches and they are trying to dress it up an make it a *Disneylike* Park. They have shows and characters and all that, but it cannot compete. I know I have heard alot of the Six Flags Parks have problems with violence and gang activity.

And Knotts Berry Farm in the early days was a real destination, just like Disney. In fact many families did both Parks when they came to So Cal, that was a given, you went to both! I don't remember going because I was really, really young, probably an infant when my parents took my older sisiter and brother to Knotts. Always brought home jellies and jams from there. It was a clean park and had few problems from what my parents described. I don't know when that all changed. I know I hear alot of bad things about Knotts Park now. When did the deterioration of Knotts begin? :(

It is certainly NOT the same Park at all. Do they even have anything to do with the Knotts family and Jams and Jellies anymore? Can you still buy them there? Or is it *just another theme park*?
sues

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I think you can still get the stuff. Another poster on a thread said that the store is still in operation!!

[mechurchlady]

yes you can buy them in the park. They still keep up the Knott's family appearance even if it is so not Knott's.

http://www.cfmarketplaces.com/acb/stores/6/index.aspx

http://www.knotts.com/camplace/shop.shtml

[Pinkisweet]

Worse than Six Flags? I know the Six Flags Park here is no longer a Six Flags. But it had a lot of shootings and gang activity. It is downtown Denver! It used to be called Elitches, years ago, and Six Flags bought it and called it Six Flags Elitches. Then just last year, they sold it and it is now not a Six Flags anymore, it is back to being Elitches and they are trying to dress it up an make it a *Disneylike* Park. They have shows and characters and all that, but it cannot compete. I know I have heard alot of the Six Flags Parks have problems with violence and gang activity.

And Knotts Berry Farm in the early days was a real destination, just like Disney. In fact many families did both Parks when they came to So Cal, that was a given, you went to both! I don't remember going because I was really, really young, probably an infant when my parents took my older sisiter and brother to Knotts. Always brought home jellies and jams from there. It was a clean park and had few problems from what my parents described. I don't know when that all changed. I know I hear alot of bad things about Knotts Park now. When did the deterioration of Knotts begin? :(

It is certainly NOT the same Park at all. Do they even have anything to do with the Knotts family and Jams and Jellies anymore? Can you still buy them there? Or is it *just another theme park*?
sues

You couldnt be any more correct about Six Flags. That place is so run down. I went 2 years ago, for free with a couple of buddies of mine and it was terrible! The place was missing its "magic", and half of their tvs that I remember that used to play their cartoons we're missing or off. I was nausated with the bathrooms there as well, overall, I would never go back, I was disappointed.

Last time I went before that was around 2000, and it was so much better and kept up.

[felinefan]

Yes, you can still buy the jellies and jams there, but most supermarkets are selling them as well, so you don't need to go there to get them. The jellies are made by Conagra Foods, so I think they just use the name.

As a former Knott's employee, I'd say things started going downhill in the early 90's when Cedar Fair bought Knott's out; by then Walter and Cordelia Knott were gone, and their children, 3 daughters and a son (only one daughter, Marion, is still alive) couldn't keep it up. Several of the rides are falling apart, literally, due to lack of maintenence. The current management is trying to squeeze more money out of the park for themselves, and they're too dense to understand why things are falling down around them.

The cyclone fence out front was put up in the mid-60s to keep the hippies from sleeping in the park; of course, the neighborhood has changed for the worse as well. I think word is going around that Knott's has the worst security, so people bring in knives, guns, etc.. Once I was on the Calico Railroad as a conductor, and a guy was acting up; when the Bandits came through, this guy pulled a knife on them. We called security over the 2-way in the baggage car, and the guy was taken into custody. His wife tried to disown him--"I'm not with him!"-- but he, his wife and son were taken in; I think he went to jail. The wife and son were likely questioned and released.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I'll say it again, thats just sad!!

too bad a company with investment capital dosn't go in and buy, the restore it as much as possible!

and institute Disney type standards for operation!

I'd go again!!

[LittleDollClaudia]

But that is the problem. A big company DID take over and the only time the park is truly busy is in October. Instead of focusing on the family aspect, they have built more and more coasters in its place.

Not that I am against that, but I miss the days going to Knott's for relaxation, not have an unruly crowd of brats acting like animals.