KBF's Calico Mine and Timber Mountain

Anyone interested in KBF or dark ride history may find this interesting. The current issue of Via Magazine has a huge article covering parks in general, but it also includes a blurb about KBF's classic Calico Mine Ride and Timber Mtn., which unknown to me, were the inspirations and motivation for DL to counterstrike with the now legendary POC:

http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/wow03.asp

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"Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it"

Haha, that's funny reading how Knott's would be more popular back in the day and how the world famous Splash Mountain was patterned after the Timber Mountain Logging Co.

The resemblances between Splash Mtn and Timber Mtn. are numerous. The last lift hill comes to mind. That part is practically identical.

Both have a smaller drop in the middle of the ride in darkness.

That and the fact that they both wind around their respective mountains through show scenes.

As much as I love Splash Mountain, the 30 year older Timber Mountain has really held up well. I'd say its one of the major selling points for families at KBF.

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The Trip: CP, SFWoA, PKI, KW, HW, IB, SFGAm, MiA and LeSourdsville too.
8 Days- 10 parks. May 2003

The log flume at Knott's is the best I've ridden outside of Splash Mountain and Dudley Do Right. Honestly, its a hidden jewel and a shame that more people don't talk about it.

And to think I almost didn't ride it!

Hey, WE're talking about it. :)

I love that ride. I love tweaky rides that are unique to the park. I think parks would benefit from old-school creativity.

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

Out of all the rides at Knott's that I rode during Coaster Con XXV, the Calico Mine Ride and the Timber Mountain Log ride were by far my favorite rides. They were very imaginative. They should be staple rides at all theme parks (with different themes obviously).

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Zero G Thrills - Moved and Improved

During my only trip to KBF the log flume was closed. I was bummed seeing as I have heard great things about it and I almost always make it a point to ride the flumes at any park I attend. I guess I'll just have to go again sometime.

Oh yeah and who can deny the great interactive audio on Timber Mountain..

"Sit Down! Sit... Sit.. Sit Down! Sit Down! Sit Down!"

That was so much fun. :)

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Kevin Stone
NoLimits Roller Coaster Simulator
http://www.nolimitscoaster.de

Not being a big flume fan, I almost didn't ride it, but due to a little persuasion (thanks, Moosh!), I got quite the kick out of it.

I especially liked the little waterfall that looks like it's going to soak you, but then shuts off just before you hit it. As I don't like getting wet (outside of the morning shower) very much, it was an interesting psych-out. It would've been more interesting had Moosh remembered it and made me sit in the front!;)

After Timber Mountain, I'll be sure to pay closer attention to the flume/dark rides when I hit more parks.

Later,
EV
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"Everybody has desperate days of quiet questioning.
Everybody has times when they feel like they don't fit in."
- Color Theory, So Many Ways, 2001

To me, Timber Mtn. was more of a dark ride in a boat than it was a flume....that being said, it was an excellent dark ride, highly re-rideable at night when the lines get short...to be honest, I like the RIDE part of the flume better at SFMM, but the theming at KBF more than makes up for the reduction in thrill.

As far as Calico Mine, I have to say that the ride *begs* for the Superstition Mountain transformation to a coaster....it would have to be considerably milder than the IN version. I don't believe that it would happen, but it's a great idea....IMHO...;)

These two rides make up for a lot of the old Knotts that has been lost, and I hope the theming lives on to retain that old Berry Farm feel....
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"Ju-ju-just like the bad guy, from Lethal Weapon 2, I've got diplomatic immunity, so Hammer you can't sue, can't touch me...." The Peter Griffin Rap

I don't think we'll see much of a change in these rides anytime soon - especially Calico. People are really attached to that ride.

I hope it stays the same for years to come.

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Without the chaindog, you'd never get up the lifthill...

I'm going to be there on Monday the 15th, and have been looking forward to riding both of these for a while. My only other visit to KBF was a jet-lagged Haunt visit last year with a body clock on eastern time, and I barely limped through three hours before I was too exhausted to stay--just enough time to hit a few of the coasters and catch the Hanging.

If any of you LA freaks can sneak out of work for Monday afternoon, drop me a note.

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http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~bnoble/

Both of these rides are what made my visit to Knott's more than a coaster stop at some random park(read Six Flags). The entire park has so much character, from the Ghost Town to the Fiesta Village. Anyone who skips these rides on a visit to this park is a true coaster whore and is missing out on the full Knott's experience.

On a related note, when did the park officially change it's name from Knott's Berry Farm to Knott's? I noticed that they took great pains to leave Berry Farm out of everything in the park when I was there.

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Bob Hansen
Resident Airtime Whore

who skips these rides on a visit to this park is a true coaster whore

Bob Hansen Resident Airtime Whore

I have no joke here. ;)

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http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~bnoble/

I think there was some airtime on that Calico Mine Ride... there had to be... haha

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Bob Hansen
Resident Airtime Whore

Kick The Sky said:

On a related note, when did the park officially change it's name from Knott's Berry Farm to Knott's? I noticed that they took great pains to leave Berry Farm out of everything in the park when I was there.

Hmmm...I never noticed that, but perhaps they've always done that. Fewer words = less ink. :)

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

Well, when I was in SoCal I saw some TV show or commercial or something and they said that "the locals still call it Knott's Berry Farm" as if that isnt the name anymore. Plus the commericals for the park all called it just plain Knotts. I also noticed that Knott's Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America has seemingly dropped any references to Knotts. Maybe some corporate wide reimaging?

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Bob Hansen
Resident Airtime Whore

Ahhh....they don't market Knott's Berry Farm here as much in San Diego....that's probably why I missed that. Anyway, that's too bad. I hope they don't completely change it. They have 'roots' (pun intended). ;)
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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

Actually, they have taken the Berry Farm out of any advertisements just so that people do not really think it's a "berry farm." The four parts that now make up the Knott's Southern California Resort are now known as - Knott's Theme Park, Knott's Soak City USA, Knott's California Marketplace and Radisson Resort Knott's Berry Farm.

It's still "Knott's Berry Farm" (the entry-way into the parking area and grand entrace still sports that elegant Knott's Berry Farm sign), but any ad references towards the actual amusement park is now Knott's Theme Park.

"Hey there son, want to go to Knott's Berry Farm for your birthday?"

"Knott's BERRY FARM??! Are you kidding? I don't want to see berries! Let's go to the Santa Monica Pier instead....pft! berries..grumble grumble..."

;)

Actually, when my last company planned a release party, I suggested Knott's Berry Farm to my French boss. Later on when plans needed to be finalized he asked me, "So tell me, what is zis 'Farm' zat you speak of? I don't get it, why doo yoo want to go to zis farm?"

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza