Traveling the Globe for the Best Coasters and Theme Parks
We’re back with a Super Poll! We selected 6 heart-pounding roller coasters from California, and we want YOU to VOTE for the one that has the best Airtime!
Below you’ll see the nominees, BELOW THAT, please VOTE!
[poll id=”17″]
I stumbled upon some old pictures of the Timber Mountain Log Ride at Knott’s Berry Farm. I have pictures of its construction and of how it looked in its first couple of years of operations. I sadly had these pictures on my PC for a while now, and quite honestly do not remember where I collected them. Thus the credit goes to someone else. I still thought I’d share them!
Timber Mountain Log Ride wasn’t always planned to be a log ride, originally Knott’s was interested in adding a roller-coaster that would give the impression of flowing through a river, in log-like trains. Arrow Dynamics then decided it was a better idea to add an actual log-flume rather than a coaster, which makes sense after the success Arrow’s first log flume at Six Flags Over Texas had. So the plans were changed and an actual log flume ride was to become the infamous Timber Mountain Log Ride. Though when it opened on July 11th 1969, it was called Calico Log Ride.
Walter Knott (founder and original owner of Knott’s Berry Farm) didn’t approve construction ’til all scenes and ideas were clearly established. Eventually he approved the $3.5 Million project, which was regulated and funded by the Hurlbut Amusement Company, that after construction officially sold it to Knott’s Berry Farm. Here are some construction pictures!
When you see the ride now, it’s quite hard to imagine it once looked like a whole bunch of steel beams!
And then this was what the Calico Log Ride looked like when it opened!
It looked a lot grayer, and more concrete-like than the repainted versions later. 
Here are some pictures of the original scenes!
This locomotive is still in the ride as of today!
These 3 original scenes are no longer on the log ride. 
Back then, as well as today, among the best themed log rides in the world!
I kind of like the original bear better than the newer one! 
At one point the Calico Log Ride became the Timber Mountain Log Ride, here’s one of the older advertisements for it! 
Knott’s Berry Farm and Susan G. Komen Orange County are partnering together again to raise money for breast cancer awareness, services and research in our community by offering special Pink tickets and exclusive pink merchandise during Knott’s Berry Farm for the Cure. January 5 through March 27, guests can purchase a Pink Ticket ($39 adults, $35 Jr./Sr. ages 3-11, 62+), online only at knotts.com. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen Orange County.
Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, has raised nearly $1 million for Susan G. Komen in the last five years. This is the second year the partnership will directly impact awareness and services on a local level within Orange County.
Guests entering the theme park during the time of the promotion will be greeted by a beautifully themed pink Knott’s Berry Farm for the Cure display along with inspirational testimonials by breast cancer survivors.
Additionally, limited edition “pink” t-shirts and specially designed canteens will be available for purchase. A portion of the “pink” merchandise proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen Orange County.
“During the Knott’s Berry Farm for the Cure partnership, guests can honor loved ones,” said Raffi Kaprelyan, vice president and general manager of Knott’s Berry Farm. “The partnership between Knott’s Berry Farm and Susan G. Komen Orange County is an impactful one, as the two organizations come together to advance women’s health by raising money and awareness to fight breast cancer.”
On January 10th, Knott’s hosted a media breakfast where breast cancer survivors joined. After the breakfast where Susan G. Komen OC members spoke along with Raffi Kaprelyan, we headed over to Jaguar where the survivors took a ride for the media. 
The three month long promotion will provide guests with the opportunity to enjoy Knott’s world class entertainment, attractions and specially-themed “pink” décor, while supporting a great cause. The famous Calico Mine Ride, Knott’s Berry Farm Main Gate and the Camp Snoopy waterfall will all glow pink in honor of the campaign.
For the park update that goes along with my visit for Knott’s for the Cure, please click here!
It’s time for a new Knott’s Berry Farm Update! I attended the Knott’s for the Cure media event in the morning, and everything related to that will follow in a different post soon. This update includes many things around the park that were worthy to be included in this update.
Let’s start with Pony Express, which is back to two train operations. I find this very ironic almost, since during the summer it occasionally only operates one train… 
The park has definitely not finished cleaning up after Merry Farm yet! There are a whole bunch of decorations left to put in storage. Though it isn’t half as bad as Magic Mountain, that has hardly stored away anything! 
Though I really like these banners, they’re clearly Merry Farm!
Just like Riptide, La Revoluccion is still awaiting parts from Germany. Meanwhile the ride’s fences, gates, control boxes, etc are being replaced/ moved around quite a lot. 
Boomerang, which is seriously the only coaster running in the rain (even light rain), has received new station speakers. 
Even more exciting, the train has received a new chassis! Meaning that the base of the train has been replaced, with new wheels, etc. It’s smoother, though not very significantly. It’s still a great ride!
Staying on the Boardwalk, Xcelerator will soon receive a brand new Fast Lane waiting line. It’s hard to see in the picture below, but small flags in the grass indicate where the new path will be placed. 
Right next to Xcelerator, Coasters has received a new repaint. So has the interior. 
The neon-signs are awaiting new neon-lights. 
Here’s the poster on the door, and the inside still wrapped up. 
There are quite a few rumors of Calico Saloon closing for a while, to be totally reconstructed as the building is wearing out. The building is visited by many people each day and is quite old. 
The Timber Mountain Log Ride is closed for maintenance. It’s closed ’til January 30th. 
The drop and lift-hill are being worked on most. For example, the entire conveyor belt from the last lift will be replaced. 
The new conveyor belt is ready to be installed and stored under the ride. 
The Calico Railroad was closed for a couple of days, as the park renewed the crossing. New tile and concrete were placed. 
In addition the fences/gates were taken out, and repainted black. (Used to be purple).
Moving on to Voyage to the Iron Reef! There’s still not much to see really, some work has been done inside, and the laser-tag is currently also under construction. The Arcade is only closed due to the construction going on inside, other than that it’s currently used for storage and will reopen with Voyage to the Iron Reef. 
GhostRider, which is so much better with a wet track, will be closed for extensive maintenance, and likely some more re-tracking from January 20th ’til February 13th. 
That was the regular Knott’s Update for now, stay tuned for everything related to Knott’s for the Cure! To check out our new Six Flags Magic Mountain Update with lots of interesting things going on, click here!