Walter Marvin Knott (December 11, 1889 – December 3, 1981) was an American
farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials. The term usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock. A farmer mig ...
who created the
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park located in Buena Park, California, owned and operated by Cedar Fair. In 2015, it was the twelfth-most-visited theme park in North America and averages approximately 4 million visitors per year. It features 40 ...
amusement park
An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, as well as other events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central ...
in
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, introduced the
Boysenberry
The boysenberry is a cross between the European raspberry (''Rubus idaeus''), European blackberry (''Rubus fruticosus''), American dewberry (''Rubus aboriginum''), and loganberry (''Rubus'' × ''loganobaccus'').
It is a large aggregate fruit, ...
, and made Knott's Berry Farm boysenberry preserves.
Early life
On December 11, 1889, Knott was born in
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino (; Spanish for "Saint Bernardino") is a city and county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, the city had a population of 222,101 in the 2020 cen ...
. Knott's father was Elgin Charles Knott, a reverend originally from Tennessee. Knott's mother was Margaret Virginia Daugherty. Knott grew up in
Pomona, California
Pomona is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Pomona is located in the Pomona Valley, between the Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley. At the 2020 census, the city's population was 151,713. The main campus of California State Polyte ...
.
Career
In the 1920s, Knott was a somewhat unsuccessful farmer whose fortunes changed when he nursed several abandoned berry plants back to health. The
hybrid
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...
boysenberry
The boysenberry is a cross between the European raspberry (''Rubus idaeus''), European blackberry (''Rubus fruticosus''), American dewberry (''Rubus aboriginum''), and loganberry (''Rubus'' × ''loganobaccus'').
It is a large aggregate fruit, ...
, named after its creator,
Rudolph Boysen
Charles Rudolph Boysen (July 14, 1895 – November 25, 1950) was a California horticulturist who created the boysenberry, a hybrid between several varieties of blackberries, raspberries, and loganberries.
Boysenberry
Rudolph Boysen had experim ...
, was a cross between a blackberry, red raspberry and
loganberry
The loganberry (''Rubus'' × ''loganobaccus'') is a hybrid of the North American blackberry (''Rubus ursinus'') and the European raspberry (''Rubus idaeus'').
The plant and the fruit resemble the blackberry more than the raspberry, but the frui ...
. The huge berries were a hit, and the Knott family sold berries, preserves and pies from a
Buena Park, California
Buena Park (''Buena'', Spanish for "Good") is a city in Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census its population was 84,034. It is the location of several tourist attractions, namely Knott's Berry Farm. It is about 12 mi ...
roadside stand. In 1934, Knott's wife Cordelia (née Hornaday, January 23, 1890 – April 12, 1974) began serving fried chicken dinners, and within a few years, lines outside the restaurant were often several hours long.
To entertain the waiting crowds, Walter built a
Ghost Town
Ghost Town(s) or Ghosttown may refer to:
* Ghost town, a town that has been abandoned
Film and television
* Ghost Town (1936 film), ''Ghost Town'' (1936 film), an American Western film by Harry L. Fraser
* Ghost Town (1956 film), ''Ghost Town'' ...
in 1940, using buildings relocated from
Old West
The American frontier, also known as the Old West or the Wild West, encompasses the geography, history, folklore, and culture associated with the forward wave of American expansion in mainland North America that began with European colonial ...
towns. In 1940 Walter sent his son Russel to Twentynine Palms, California. Russel was helped by a local resident Daniel F. Leahy who took Russel to the Old Calico Ghost Town in the hills from
Barstow, California
Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. Located in the Inland Empire region of California, the population was 25,415 at the 2020 census. Barstow is an important crossroads for the I ...
. "Very soon after this visit Walter purchased a number of Calico's buildings. They were carefully disassembled, trucked, and reassembled in Buena Park." (see pages 160–161 in For Those Who Served by Michael H. Pazeian). Even after
Disneyland
Disneyland is a amusement park, theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney in ...
opened in 1955 only away, Knott's Berry Farm continued to thrive.
Walt Disney
Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...
and Walter Knott are rumored to have had a cordial relationship; it is known that they each visited the other's park, and they were both members of the original planning council for
Children's Hospital of Orange County
Children's Health of Orange County or CHOC is a pediatric healthcare system based in Orange County, California, is committed to being a leading destination for children’s health by providing exceptional and innovative care. Its flagship hospita ...
. Early additions to the farm included the
Ghost Town & Calico Railroad, a
narrow gauge
A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and .
Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structu ...
railroad
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
in the Ghost Town area, a
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
cable car, a Pan-for-Gold attraction, the
Calico Mine Train dark ride
A dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride on which passengers aboard guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain Animatronics, animation, sound, music and Special effect#Live special effects, special e ...
and the
Timber Mountain Log Ride
The Timber Mountain Log Ride is a themed log flume water dark ride at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, United States. The ride is themed after the Knott's Calico Ghost Town. The ride is one of the oldest log flumes in the United S ...
log flume
A log flume is a watertight flume constructed to transport lumber and logs down mountainous terrain using flowing water. Flumes replaced horse- or oxen-drawn carriages on dangerous mountain trails in the late 19th century. Logging operations pr ...
ride. In 1968, the Knott family fenced the farm, charged admission for the first time, and
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park located in Buena Park, California, owned and operated by Cedar Fair. In 2015, it was the twelfth-most-visited theme park in North America and averages approximately 4 million visitors per year. It features 40 ...
officially became an amusement park.
![RonaldReaganWalterCorinaKnott1971](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/RonaldReaganWalterCorinaKnott1971.jpg)
Because of his interest in American pioneer history, Knott purchased and restored the real silver mining ghost town of
Calico, California
Calico is a ghost town and former mining town in San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Calico Mountains (California), Calico Mountains of the Mojave Desert region of Southern California, it was founded in 1881 as a silve ...
in 1951. As a child, Walter spent a lot of time in Calico living with his uncle. During World War I he helped to build a silver mill in Calico. This period in his life influenced his decision to buy the town and restore it. In 1966, he deeded Calico to
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County (), officially the County of San Bernardino, is a County (United States), county located in the Southern California, southern portion of the U.S. state of California, and is located within the Inland Empire area. As of the ...
.
![Knott Family, Knott's Berry Farm (4724915506)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Knott_Family%2C_Knott%27s_Berry_Farm_%284724915506%29.jpg)
Walter remained active in the operation of Knott's Berry Farm until the death of Cordelia in 1974, at which point he turned his attention toward political causes, leaving day-to-day park operations to his children. He supported conservative Republican causes. He was also a member of the
John Birch Society
The John Birch Society (JBS) is an American right-wing political advocacy group. Founded in 1958, it is anti-communist, supports social conservatism, and is associated with ultraconservative, radical right, far-right, or libertarian ide ...
and sponsored its Orange County chapter.
Although Knott was a struggling farmer and businessman during the 1920s and the 1930s
Great Depression
The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...
, he sternly believed in
rugged individualism
Rugged individualism, derived from individualism, is a term that indicates that an individual is self-reliant and independent from outside, usually state or government, assistance. While the term is often associated with the notion of ''laissez-fai ...
, that anyone could be successful through hard work, and any form of government intervention was wrong. Some say this 'Old West' theme of his amusement park was a romantic and one-sided reflection of his beliefs. Knott was active in a variety of conservative causes, including founding the California Free Enterprise Assistance and endowed various private schools and colleges. Knott ultimately developed a friendship with
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...
.
Knott appeared on the December 23, 1954 episode of ''
You Bet Your Life
''You Bet Your Life'' is an American comedy quiz series that has aired on both radio and television. The original and best-known version was hosted by Groucho Marx of the Marx Brothers, with announcer and assistant George Fenneman. The show deb ...
'', hosted by
Groucho Marx
Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (; October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977) was an American comedian, actor, writer, stage, film, radio, singer, television star and vaudeville performer. He is generally considered to have been a master of quick wit an ...
.
The Knott family no longer owns the theme park; it was sold to the
Cedar Fair Entertainment Company
Cedar Fair, L.P., formally Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, is a publicly traded master limited partnership headquartered at its Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. The company owns and operates eleven amusement parks, nine include ...
. Additionally,
The J.M. Smucker Co.
The J.M. Smucker Company, also known as Smuckers, is an American manufacturer of food and beverage products. Headquartered in Orrville, Ohio, the company was founded in 1897 as a maker of apple butter. J.M. Smucker currently has three major bus ...
now owns the "Knott's Berry Farm" brand of jam and jelly (purchased from
ConAgra Foods
Conagra Brands, Inc. (formerly ConAgra Foods) is an American consumer packaged goods holding company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Conagra makes and sells products under various brand names that are available in supermarkets, restaurants, ...
in 2008).
Personal life
Knott's wife was Cordelia Knott. They had four children, Virginia, Russell, Rachel, and Marion. On April 12, 1974, Knott's wife died in
Buena Park, California
Buena Park (''Buena'', Spanish for "Good") is a city in Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census its population was 84,034. It is the location of several tourist attractions, namely Knott's Berry Farm. It is about 12 mi ...
.
On December 3, 1981, just 8 days shy of his 92nd birthday, Knott died from Parkinson's disease in his home in
Buena Park, California
Buena Park (''Buena'', Spanish for "Good") is a city in Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census its population was 84,034. It is the location of several tourist attractions, namely Knott's Berry Farm. It is about 12 mi ...
. He was 91 years old.
Knott is buried at Loma Vista Memorial Park in
Fullerton, California.
''Knott's Berry Farm''
/ref>
References
External links
*
Official Knott's Berry Farm Site
Official Knott's Halloween Haunt Site
Knott's Berry Farm at britannica.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knott, Walter
Amusement park developers
Farmers from California
1889 births
1981 deaths
Knott's Berry Farm
People from Buena Park, California
People from San Bernardino, California
John Birch Society members
California Republicans
People from Pomona, California
Conservatism in the United States