MY TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS AT KNOTT'S


Every so often, people will ask, "What are the best things to do at Knott's Berry Farm? And having gone there so much.....I thought I would post a short guide to what I feel are the Top Ten Things to do there along with my inane commentary on all of them. Remember, "Your Mileage May Vary", these are just my favorites.


1. XCELERATOR
Every park has the "big freaky bad-a** scary ride" that people stand and watch and get up the nerves to go on. Magic Mountain has X. Knott's has Xcelerator. Both are awesome rides. Xcelerator scared me more my first time on it, though.

While it looks a LOT scarier than it really is, this IS the most intense ride in the park, as well as the most thrilling. It's fun just to sit there and watch people waiting in line, and even more fun to watch the faces of people having their first ride while in line. This is every bit as intense as it looks-maybe even moreso. When that light hits green, you will be leaving the station very quickly: 0-82 mph in 2.8 seconds, vertically up 205 feet at 90 degrees, and then a vertical drop of 205 feet right back down into a few twists and turns, the last of which is banked so high you are nearly upside down. All too soon, it's over. But if the line is short, you can ride again pretty quickly. Just ride it.

TIPS: The camera is at the bottom of that drop, so smile or make a big goofy face.Swallow the fear and ride it early in the day before the lines get bad. Wait for the front car, and ride the first or second seat. You are in there, so don't fear falling out. Just have fun with it; it's really not as bad as it looks and a LOT of fun.

2. SILVER BULLET
Like coasters that go upside down? Don't miss this one. Even if the line is long, it moves very fast and if the queue is full, it will still only be about an hour's wait (unless you do the smart thing and wait for the very front row, which is worth it on this one. Front right side is in my opinion the best seat on the ride. 146 feet high, 109 foot drop at a 45 degree angle reaching 55 mph, with 6 inversions (6 and a half if you count the overbank turn after the loop) including a vertical loop of 105 feet and a Cobra Roll (ssssss)....but you will hear all that from the guy on the headset mike while you are waiting to get on. Similar to Batman the Ride at Magic Mountain, but in my opinion, Bullet has Batman beat by a long shot as far as ride experience (review).

Fast, smoother than any coaster you will ever go on, and a lot of fun. Although it does not have a "sickening" effect, I do not recommend eating just before going on. And while this is a great coaster in the daytime, it transforms into GhostRider's Evil Steel Twin at night. It seems to go about 20 mph faster at night.

TIPS: Camera is right after the "cobra roll". Lean into the direction of the turns. Keep your head on the head rest especially in the last part. And WATCH YOUR KIDS! (Wait......sorry....wrong theme park).

3. GHOSTRIDER
The third in Knott's trio of "big coasters", this is my favorite wooden roller coaster in the world, and easily the best on the West Coast. Knott's again beats Magic Mountain in another coaster category, that of wooden coaster. I prefer steel coasters to wood in general but this one is still in my top five.

This is a truly insane ride all the time, but at night it seems to become possessed. And the best part about this one is about halfway through the excitement is only beginning as you tear into the demented second half of the ride. All you can do is hang on for dear life.

TIPS: Cameras are at the bottom of the first drop and at the end of the ride, with a guest voice appearance of the annoying old guy on the Log Ride telling you to "Look To Yer Left, and SMILE!" You must RIDE THIS AT NIGHT! Make this your last or next to the last ride; I prefer to close the night with this one and Silver Bullet. While waiting for the front car, watch for openings in the second seat if you want to get on faster. If the line is filling both the upstaris and downstairs, plan on at least a one hour wait. Best bet is to ride this first thing when the park opens, then head for Silver Bullet. Front seat is the best, if you want the "jackhammer effect" try the very back seat.
4. SUPREME SCREAM
If you want to conquer your fear of heights and get a nice little adrenaline rush at the same time, this is one you have to go on. Yes, it is tall. Yes, the trip up can be scary. But the drop is an exhilarating rush that feels like flying and take it from someone who is slightly acrophobic-it's worth it! Still-even after countless rides-this one still makes me get off trembling. Not due to fear, but just the intensity of the ride itself; it's a huge rush.

One way to have fun on this ride is to think of some random phrase and yell it out right before you drop, or laugh hysterically as it bounces up a few times after the care comes down the initial drop.

TIPS: If the heights get to you, look straight up or at the opposite tower as you are going up. As soon as the car "locks" count in seconds: 1-2-3-4-5-6-DROP. TRY TO AVOID THE YELLOW TOWER until they get it fixed as it sometimes drops without the "thrust", making for a weak ride. If this happens-don't panic-it just means the car didn't catch and you will gently glide rather than plummet towards the earth. Oh yeah-and don't be a jerky by throwing things off the ride. If I ever catch anyone throwing pennies off (as happened recently, supposedly) I think I might want to smack them right in the mouth.
5. TIMBER MOUNTAIN LOG RIDE
Part of "Classic Knott's", this is one of the best Log Flumes I think I have ever been on; the only two even remotely close to it are Splash Mountain at Disneyland and the American Plunge at Silver Dollar City in Branson Missouri.

Not just a typical flume, this one has several drops and lots of cool scenery and special effects along the way, as you journey through a fake "Mountain" around a logging camp (hence the name). There are fake lumberjacks, saws (you don't get cut, though)

TIPS: Camera as you come down the last big drop and also before you enter the loading station. Watch out in two places for potential soakage: once right after the drop in the darkness (and I ain't telling where it is) and once as you round the turn after the big final drop into the lake (right at the spot in the picture at the left). It's really fun to scream horrified screams as you pass by the Silver Bullet plaza, as well.
6. BUTTERFIELD STAGECOACH
It is very cool to see a high tech multimillion dollar rollercoaster whizzing just above a horse-drawn real honest to goodness Stagecoach pulled by real horsies, and as of now, this is the only park where you can see it. Ahhhh-you can smell the nostalgia. Or maybe it's just the fragrance of horse feces. TIP: Try to get the top of the stagecoach if you can.
7. GHOST TOWN SHOPS
Classic stuff. If you have guests that cannot do the coasters, set them free in all the craft shops for a while; they could be there for hours. Unique shops and dining, even the occasional live "Gunfight Show" and lots of nifty Old West memorabilia and artifacts and exhibits. TIPS: Want a good meal for a low price? Head over to the CHOW HOUSE in Calico Square for the Bread Soup Bowls or a personal Pizza and a soda. You can get totally filled up for under $7.00. Don't forget to try a delicious Cinnamon Roll and coffee (regular, Latte, or Mocha, hot or iced) at the Ghost Town Bakery-and say hi to Heidi when you're there! Trivia: The "Blacksmith" in the Gunfight Shows has a film appearance in the Silver Bullet video that shows in the ride's line.
8. MONTEZOOMAS REVENGE
A very "oldie but goodie" ride. Built in 1978 and probably the only roller coaster ever named humorously after a horrible intestinal dysfunction, this short but sweet launched coaster packs a punch. Think of it as sort of a mini-Xcelerator, that launches a little slower and only gets to 55mph, does a loop and goes straight up, goes back through the station backwards, and then backwards up a spike and then straight down. This is a good place to scream. Made even more interesting at night as they dim the station lights at launch time.
TIP: If it is very bright out, close your eyes as you hit the top of the "spike" (shown in picture at left) after the loop lest you be temporarily blinded; don't forget to keep your head against the headrest as well.
9. CALICO MINE RIDE
It's not a roller coaster, but this is a CLASSIC. This is one of those rides that I think Knott's will never and should never lose. Knott's will never be as much of a "themed" park as Disney, nor should it in my opinion-but this is one of the best themed family attractions I have ever seen and helps Knott's keep that balance between extreme thrills and family fun rides. Look out for the giant nose in one of the waterfalls inside; I'm not sure what the intent of that was. TIP: The hill you climb up in the middle of the ride does not lead to a coaster part, but if you get an enthusiastic driver, they might treat you to a high speed finish to the ride.
10. PERILOUS PLUNGE
Ok.....you can tell from the picture this is a freakin' WET ride. You don't get a little wet. You don't even get drenched. You get INSULTINGLY wet. That being said-if you have never ridden this, bring along a spare change of clothes and spend $5.00 for a locker. The drop-which elicited a very real scream out of me, not the fake ones I usually do, is the best part, and worth the soaking at least once. The drop itself is nearly vertical, but you are very VERY strapped in on this ride, as it was refitted with new safety restraints a few years back. Worth a ride at least TIP: Take ANYTHING that you do not want to get wet OUT of your pockets before riding. I'm not kidding.