Monday, September 28, 2009

Log Ride, August 1973

"Log Ride"... it doesn't really sound like fun, does it? But it IS fun, by gum. In fact, after all these years it is still one of the best rides at Knott's Berry Farm. Here are two photos of that thrilling final plunge, past that lovably crazy rock work.


Now, from another angle... I wish I was there right now!

10 comments:

PTA Transit Authority said...

Great pics of my favorite thrill ride at KBF.

Chris Merritt said...

I love Bud's "crumpled paper bag" rockwork...

Vintage Disneyland Tickets said...

Wow - these are perfect for the hot weather we've been having! That water looks so much inviting I wanna jump in! Nice pics, thanks Major!

outsidetheberm said...

Speaking of Bud's 'crumpled paper bag look'... as a kid I had always wished the mountain more closely resembled the texture of the nearby Mine Train - like an extension of that rugged range, rather than a separate entity.

Great pics!

Chiana_Chat said...

Love the Timber Mountain Log Ride - a Log Ride sounds like fun to my ears!

How is it holding up? Is it still the same?

TokyoMagic! said...

Didn't a portion of the rockwork in one of the tunnels fall down in recent years?

Rich T. said...

Timber Mountain Log Ride isn't just the best ride at Knott's--It's the best log ride on earth. Disney's Imagineers seemed to get a lot of inspiration for Splash Mountain from it: The flume curving by the final drop, the drop in the dark, the long climb up a dark, spooky cave...

Even with its minimal-tronic figures and crazy stuffed real bear, it perfectly carries its theme throughout. No other log ride actually feels so much like a trip through an old logging camp.

It's got so many unique features: A horizontal conveyor belt through a lumber mill, "dark ride" gags like the toppling barrels and water that *almost* pours on your head...The dark drop, the underground waterfalls, that great moment when it feels like you're "surfing" on a surge of water through that long underground cavern. The final drop is gorgeous, and the the waiting line takes you behind a huge, raging waterfall!

Perfect amount of splashing, too.

Did I mention I like this ride? :)

Chiana_Chat said...

Rich T., you did mention you liked it... and I like it too, for those reason you list plus all the others. I even liked the scents it has when I rode it. Some kind of pine and all that water... awesome ride. IMH it's a better than Splash despite its far more humble budget and tech because unlike Splash, it knows its theme and conveys it well.

Nancy said...

i have always enjoyed this particular ride

ours here is called the Log Jammer, and it sure does live up to its name...only the Thunderbolt attracts a longer line on those hot summer days! ;D

Unknown said...

Man.. the log ride was my favorite ride as a small child at Knott's. In fact... I'm partial to any kind of amusement park water ride now that I think of it.