Four From Knott's, September 1969

I've been digging through my box of Knott's Berry Farm slides (yes, only one smallish box of 'em) to see if I've missed anything good. There is one group from 1969 - you've seen some of them before (here and here) - that I decided to scan. You'll see lots of buildings and other features that I had previously deemed "too boring". But since then, I have grown to appreciate the Ghost Town, especially considering how much of it has changed or been lost entirely.

Here's the Fire Department, and for some reason I do have memories of this particular building from my childhood. Mostly of those wrought iron gates! The red box mounted to the left front of the building looks like a modern fire alarm (?); now that I think about it, has there ever been a fire that has gone through Ghost Town? The whole place looks like it would burn in a matter of minutes.


Not many people know that Santa Claus once tried his hand at being a prospector. Obviously he had an eye for the ladies! Some of you may remember the redhead. Anyway, everybody is having a swell time. The ladies hold various vintage Knott's flyers, can you recognize any of them?


This little shack appears to be down in the "pit" where you could pan for gold. I don't know if it had any function except perhaps for storage.


Boot Hill is a place that we always ran to, mostly to feel the heart still beating beneath the grave of one unfortunate resident. Such a cool idea, simple and evocative. Behind them is a brook (from a spring that gushes from the rocks), and beside that rests an Indian family. Walter Knott certainly seems to have had respect for native Americans, showing them as people instead of bloodthirsty killers. Ahead of his time, in more ways than one!