Here's a "photo-op" location that I don't remember seeing before! A charming outhouse (built by Slanty Sam?) provides a bit of good old fashioned potty humor. That lady seems to be enjoying herself, and isn't that all that matters? Notice the sign in the shrub to the right, informing us that it is a "Tamarix". Wikipedia says that the tamarix was used as a windbreak (no pun intended) and a popular ornamental, and that during the Great Depression, millions of them were planted to help prevent soil erosion.
Each day (presumably during the busy months?) the KBF train was robbed, and each day the robber was shot and kilt. KILT! Crime doesn't pay, except for when it does. You can see the thievin' varmint's hilarious, lifeless corpse about to be hauled away to become tomorrow's hamburgers. This is an interesting view because there is no Calico Mountain yet (it would be there in a year, though); beyond those trees was a stadium for horse shows that nobody wanted to see. Anybody know what that little building is just to the left of the train engine?
Just north of the wagon camp (and right near the lake) was this lovely flamingo pond. And not just flamingos, but chickens, and penguins, all living together in peace and harmony. We could learn a lot from those delicious birds. Notice the parking lot full of awesome cars, all sturdy products from Detroit, I'll wager.
Each day (presumably during the busy months?) the KBF train was robbed, and each day the robber was shot and kilt. KILT! Crime doesn't pay, except for when it does. You can see the thievin' varmint's hilarious, lifeless corpse about to be hauled away to become tomorrow's hamburgers. This is an interesting view because there is no Calico Mountain yet (it would be there in a year, though); beyond those trees was a stadium for horse shows that nobody wanted to see. Anybody know what that little building is just to the left of the train engine?
Just north of the wagon camp (and right near the lake) was this lovely flamingo pond. And not just flamingos, but chickens, and penguins, all living together in peace and harmony. We could learn a lot from those delicious birds. Notice the parking lot full of awesome cars, all sturdy products from Detroit, I'll wager.
Hey, I noticed that when I right-click these photos to see them larger, I no longer get the annoying and unwanted slideshow!
Great Knott's photos! I've seen pics of that "Gone With The Wind" outhouse, but I still don't know where it was located. I wonder what that tall structure was/is behind it?
ReplyDeleteKilt!
ReplyDeleteNo idee what the bldg was to our left in the train pic but from the last letters my guess would be "Miners Hall." Wasn't a miners hall what miners used to go to a fro the spots they mined? Or was that a bordello? Anyway...
"We could learn a lot from those delicious birds."
Mmm. Mmm! It's interesting to hear the admirable way their fowl little minds work.
TM!, hopefully somebody will chime in about the outhouse location. My guess is that it was either near the gold mine or the haunted shack, but it really is just a guess.
ReplyDeleteChiana, it's funny because a 1958 map shows no buildings in that location. A Miners Hall is where people under the age of 18 were allowed to gather!
HOORAY! No more stupid slideshow that takes forever to load! Hope that's gone for good.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I remember the outhouse, now that you show a picture, but can't remember where it was.
The "tamarisk" trees are common in the Southwest and up into the SJ Valley to the north. Their presence makes all this seem even more real. I don't know if they are native or introduced but they really say "desert" to me.
I have never seen pictures of Knotts without the Mine Train Mountain. It looks very empty beyond the train.
JG
nice shots today. i like smorgasbord ;-)
ReplyDeletebefore the Mine Train Mountain, was something else there or was it just part of the "outer limits"? never been but we are definitely going the next time we get to Disneyland.
do they still do the train robbery skits i wonder?
JG took the words right out of my mouth....I noticed last night that the new "picture viewer" or whatever it was called was gone. I wonder if there were a lot of complaints. Change isn't always good!
ReplyDeleteNancy, they do still "rob" the Calico Train at Knott's! I'm wondering if they still have the bandits on the Stagecoach though....it has been decades since I rode it.
TM!, the last time I rode the train ("Knott's Preserved event), there were bandits who walked down the aisle, scaring little kids (without really meaning to). But I don't think they do the shootout in Calico Square anymore, do they?
ReplyDeleteSlide show! I thaought that was just me!
ReplyDeleteDZ
Well, I'm a little late to the discussion, but to answer your questions Major...
ReplyDeleteThe 'Gone With The Wind' outhouse was located between the Miners Bank (the burned structure with no upper floor) and Boot Hill. And the bit of building you see near the train is the edge of the 'Bewitched Village', an amusing animal show that took up the left end of the arena before it was torn down for the Mine Train. Those structures out front were facades meant to mimic Ghost Town.
Ah, thank you OTB! "Bewitched Village"....there's a joke in there somewhere about Elizabeth Montgomery.
ReplyDeleteMajor, I was just at Knott's yesterday afternoon and they did have a shoot-out, but it was in front of the rear entrance to the General Store (on Main St., between the Calico Barn and the Blacksmith Shop). What's interesting is that there was hardly anyone in the park and every ride was a "walk-on" but they were still paying the stunt people to go out there and do a street show. Fortunately, a small crowd did gather around them.
Yes, thanks outsidetheberm! Bewitched Village, I only have one decent shot of that area; I know it was there for a very short time.
ReplyDeleteTM!, I am kind of amazed that they still do the shootouts. And it is a shame that there weren't more people at Knott's.... Connie once described watching the show in the Saloon, and she was the only person in the audience.