Wrangling Rick Takes The Stage

Wrangling Rick, Krazy Kirk, Animal Anders, and Whistling Rick

Last weekend at Knott's Berry Farm, Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies took the stage with a guest musician. Kirk introduced him as Wrangling Rick. Apparently he is a vegetarian, and earned his name by wrangling with cucumbers. Kirk never explained why Rick took issue with cucumbers, but I suppose even vegetarians must have some vegetables they dislike.

Wrangling Rick and Krazy Kirk jam.

Aside from being a vegetarian, Wrangling Rick has another claim to fame: he inspired Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies to add "Sharp Dressed Man," to their set list. He and Kirk then led the group in a crowd-pleasing rendition of ZZ Top's hit song.

When Animal Anders joined Kirk for a fiddle duet, Wrangling Rick then took over Animal's bass. He laid down a strong backbeat that helped the two fiddlers shine.

Whistling Rick

All this proved too much for Whistling Rick. As a regular, he resented all the attention the new boy was getting. So he challenged Wrangling Rick to a duel.

Wrangling Rick and Whistling Rick: dueling banjos.

While Krazy Kirk and Animal Anders urged them on, the two Ricks demonstrated their banjo prowess. First Whistling Rick would try his stuff. Then Wrangling Rick would follow his lead, and perhaps add a little something extra to get on the regular's pecs. When the competition was over, no formal vote was conducted. Nonetheless, Kirk declared that the victory definitely belonged to, um...Rick.

Krazy Kirk says, "See ya!"

The end of the show came all too soon. Krazy Kirk wished us well, and thanked us for our participation in the show. That's the real secret of concerts with Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies: they're not only accomplished musicians, but they enjoy having fun with the audience. Now there's a fact that no one can dispute. Not even someone with a name like Wrangling Rick.

Dragon Dave

Everyone's Smiling at Knott's Berry Farm

It can be scary to go new places. This is especially true at Knott's Berry Farm during October.

You could find yourself in some real hot water. Or worse, facing otherworldly creatures lurking in the water.

But provided you remain vigilant, you should survive these dangers unscathed.

Smiling helps too. It reinforces a positive mental attitude, which can help you defeat any foe, regardless of how scary they seem. A good rule for life, don't you think? (Not to get preachy, or anything).

Ultimately, Knott's Berry Farm may seem scary during October, but everyone's really having lots of fun.
  

But then, everyone's smiling at Knott's Berry Farm, regardless of whatever month you visit, which helps with the whole positive attitude thing, I suppose. (Again, not that I'm getting preaching or anything).

Dragon Dave

Knott's Berry Farm Nostalgia

When I was growing up, my grandfather always loved visiting Knott's Berry Farm. His favorite part was Ghost Town. It's fun to tour Ghost Town now, and watch its costumed citizens demonstrate how they make cloth on looms or arrest criminals. There are so many displays, and examples of history, that you could spend the entire day there, soaking up the history of the Old West. 

Or you could pet the horses that pull the stage coaches around the park, and tell them how pretty they are.

Whenever I mention Knott's Berry Farm, people invariably ask "What's your favorite ride?" While I'm not sure if I have one, I can say that these guys are my favorite attraction. Their name is Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies, and they can play practically any song with a little humor, and in a Country style. They've played together for decades, and hail from the wild hills of Santa Monica. You can listen to their songs, and watch their shows, by liking them on Facebook. But there's nothing like seeing them live in the Birdcage Theater.

As you get older, some loves you keep, and others lose their savor. When I was a kid, I loved Peanuts and Charlie Brown. But my interest in the comics, and the animated TV shows, faded as I grew older. Still, it's nice to see the ice skating show, Boardwalk Beagle, and remember that love of my youth. I think I still have one of my old Peanuts books somewhere. Maybe I should hunt it down and read it.

Dragon Dave

Knott's Berry Farm: Troublesome Rides

It's kind of strange how some rides affect you adversely, and others don't. Two of the rides, which set you spinning, bother my head, and really make me feel sick. But others, such as these spinning sombreros, I'm totally fine with. Strange, huh?

I'm not normally keen on getting wet, as I'll have to walk around wet until I dry off. So I've taken to wearing a windbreaker when I go on Bigfoot Rapids. That shields my shirt from a lot of the splashing. Plus, in the summer, you dry off pretty quickly.

I like the Supreme Scream. They belt you in tightly and motor you to the top of the tower. I suspect most people are scared by the drop. For me, the most frightening part is going up. As it takes a long time to get to the top, you're constantly aware how high you are, and the restraints don't feel like they are nearly enough. But then you drop, and you're having fun again.

One ride that has only an up side for me is the sky cabin. It glides up and down on its central pillar, and slowly revolves to give you a 360 degree view of the park. It doesn't bother my head, and I always feel safe. So that one's definitely a keeper.

Dragon Dave

Knott's Berry Farm: More Than Just an Amusement Park

Knott's Berry Farm can be a noisy place, especially on the weekends. But even with its modern, industrial feel, there are little gardens and flower beds located all over the place, along with water fountains. This helps you feel like you are really in a park.

People aren't the only ones who notice these little touches. 

There's truly something for everyone at Knott's Berry Farm.

Dragon Dave

Old And New at Knott's Berry Farm

My wife and I have been having a lot of fun this year, thanks to our annual pass to Knott's Berry Farm. As it had been fifteen years or more since we last visited, the park took a little getting used to. But Knott's Berry Farm was always changing, even when I was a little child. Occasionally, I'll meet up with an employee or docent who knows the Park's history even better than I, and it's fun to share memories about donkey rides, the Gypsy Camp, the Roaring Twenties, and all the other attractions that have passed along the way. I do miss the light shows, and the fireworks, that they used to set off at night on the lake behind me. With an old church rising up along one shore, the lake had a very pastoral feeling. Now it's all industrial and noisy, with metal and steel rising above the lake, and riders screaming as the Steel Bullet and Jaguar shoot along the tracks. Still, I've come to love those rides, and accept that you can't have something new, without getting rid of something old.

Plus, the old church is located across the street. If I'm in town on a Sunday, supposedly it's even open for a service. In my memory, the church was always closed, only opened up when people hired it for weddings. So not everything old is lost amid the new.

Dragon Dave

Knott's Berry Farm: A Real Bargain

When I was growing up, my family often took me to Knott's Berry Farm during the summer.  It was one of their favorite places, and it soon became mine.  My grandparents would tell me about "the good old days," how the park had developed, and how they had sometimes met with and spoken with the park's founders, Walter and Cordelia Knott.  It wasn't that they could claim close friendship with the couple: it was simply that the two were approachable, and involved in the running of the amusement park they had started.

Knott's Berry Farm wasn't conceived as an amusement park.  Instead, it started as a berry stand.  Later, due to economic necessity, Cordelia started serving chicken dinners.  These became so popular that a restaurant was built, and then various amusements were fashioned, so as to entertain those waiting in line for their food.  

Back then, I didn't care about the park's history: all I was interested in was the rides.  But I had to choose my amusements carefully, as we purchased coupon books, and you only got one kind of coupon.  As my grandparents never made much money, cost was always an important consideration for them.  They bemoaned the fact that they had to pay an entry fee, even if they didn't go on a single ride.  For them, just being there was special.  They didn't mind paying for a few rides if they took me, or accompanied my parents, but they always worried about expenses, and "Prices are so much higher than they used to be" was a common theme.  So sometimes, my family would go there, and I'd only get to go on one or two rides.  (Needless to say, those weren't my favorite visits).  But the fewer rides you took, the longer your coupon books lasted, which meant stretching your dollars, and more trips to the park.

As I was going through some of my grandmother's old papers the other day, I came across the remnants of these old coupon books.  Finding them reminded me of those happy times, and made me reflect on how much things had changed.  Back then, a child's Super Bonanza Coupon book cost $7, and included main gate admission and eleven adventures.  An adult's book was $6.75.  Currently, Knott's Berry Farm charges $26.99 for a child or senior's one-day admission (if you purchase online), and $39.99 for teens and adults.  Of course, you get more rides now, you'd expect to pay more than six or seven dollars, right?  But according to Dave Manuel's Inflation Calculator, $7 in 1975 money equates to $30.43 in today's money.  So maybe admission prices haven't risen so much after all.

It's inevitable that prices will rise with time.  But sometimes, it's nice to discover that you can actually spend less, and get far more for your money, than you would have over thirty years ago.  Now, if only I could trade in my old Super Bonanza tickets for a one-day admission...

Dragon Dave

Related Internet Links
The History of Knott's Berry Farm
Inflation Calculator
Knott's Berry Farm