Knotts Berry Farm, California, USA
Airing Date: Mar 20th, 2006
Built on 160 acres of what was once a working berry farm, Knott's Berry Farm fun park blends the perfect mix of old world charm and adrenalin-packed rides.
You wouldn't think that a park full of action-packed rides would be named after a farm, but this place isn't your average theme park - and it has a history like no other.
The Knott family arrived in Southern California in the 1920s, farmed about 20 acres of land and eventually started an eatery called Mrs Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant. While she was busy feeding visitors, Mr Knott got in on the action and built a ghost town as a way of entertaining waiting customers. This became the first of Knott's Berry Farm's six themed areas.
The family kept expanding and today, Knott's Berry Farm has 165 rides, shows, attractions and restaurants.
It's separated into six themed areas, including a six-acre Camp Snoopy - the world's first themed area designed specifically for kids, a Fiesta Village with native Indian culture and a four-acre outdoor river wilderness area that features a white water rafting ride called Bigfoot Rapids.
There are six roller coasters at Knott's Berry Farm, and the Ghostrider is the biggest of the lot. It reaches 118 feet into the air and is one of the longest and tallest wooden roller coasters in the world. This ride includes a massive heart-stopping drop, lots of abrupt twists and turns and scary thrills.
Another fantastic ride is the Perilous Plunge, which is just 34 feet shorter than the almighty Niagara Falls. This water thrill ride in the Boardwalk themed area sends boats plummeting down a massive water chute. If you're not into getting drenched, try the Xcelerator. This ride is definitely for the thrill seekers - it goes from zero to 100 kilometres an hour in 2.3 seconds!
Further Information
Entry to Knott's Berry Farm starts from $20 for children and $60 for adults. For details visit www.knotts.com
