The Log Ride, April 1977
What is it about Knott's Berry Farm's Log Ride that makes it so special? I think it has a lot to do with people's natural affinity for logs. (I spent six hours working on that theory, so I hope you liked it).
There are bigger, scarier, faster, crunchier flume rides today, but the old Timber Mountain Log Ride still holds its own in this crazy mixed-up world. The figures of loggers seen throughout the ride are pretty crude, and yet somehow that adds to the appeal for me. I can't explain it because I'm drunk.
Hey, this picture is very much like the first one! I was über happy to ride this attraction a few months ago when I attended the "Knott's Preserved" event. 
This picture may be blurry, but it's a great action shot. Notice the frightened woman in front with her hands firmly clamped over her face!
8 comments:
I'm going to call the frightened woman, "The Log Lady." Great Log Ride pics, Major!
Nice shots! The TMLR is by far the best log ride on earth. The whole experience is so complete and satisfying. It's long, fast, well paced, and pulls one cool trick after another: dark ride gags, authentic props, neat sound effects, the dark 1st drop (I've heard they've recently lit the drop...booo) and a perfect finale that sprays you without soaking you.
And it never scrapes the bottom of the flume! And it never slows to tortoise speed like some flume rides do. And I love that dark underground river sequence with the waterfalls and that moment where you kind of "surf" on a surge of water from the log behind you hitting the bottom of the first drop. And someone actually shouts "Timberrrr!"
It's everything a log ride could be, and would hold its own at Disneyland. I can't think of any way to significantly improve it.
I haven't been to Knott's since Cedar Fair took over. I do hope they're taking good care of it.
This was always a favorite...loggers? I've never seen any loggers. Maybe I shouldn't ride while drunk.
Actually, those guys left some time back for new jobs as "b-loggers".
Love the log ride, remember my first trip, with my dad when it first opened.
Thanks Major.
JG
Rich T., that underground river and waterfall area after the first drop has been majorly altered. Unfortunately, there is no longer water rushing down to lower levels alongside the flume. Also, the waterfall that used to be there is just sort of a trickle coming out of what looks like a large round pipe. I think this might have been changed about 3 or 4 years ago. I haven't been on it since they've lit the first drop, but I hope they turn that light off real soon!
TokyoMagic, thanks for the update. What a shame--that sequence used to be incredible, dropping into an underground river with the water cascading down, and the roar of the waterfall echoing...It was disorienting in the best possible way!
Still a great ride, I'm sure, but it sounds like one of its most amazing features has fallen into Knott's Yesterfarm.
Major, yes, America loved the Log Ride because clever merchandising made American kids love Log.
You'll recall that Log was a SpumCo toy craze that followed the hula hoop. Knotts was obviously trying to catch the popularity wave.
Here's a period commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP0kWqJJZa4
Great info from TokyoMagic! as usual! I rode the Log Ride not that long ago, and it did seem different compared to my childhood memories.
Katella, I love LOG! It was Spumco's best ad parody.
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