Editing Walter Knott

{{Short description|Knott's Berry Farm founder (1889–1981)}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Walter Knott
| image              = RonaldReaganWalterCorinaKnott1971 (cropped).jpg
| alt                = 
| caption            = Knott at his 60th anniversary in 1971
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1889|12|11}}
| birth_place        = [[San Bernardino, California]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1981|12|3|1889|12|11}}
| death_place        = [[Buena Park, California|Buena Park]], California, U.S.
| resting_place      = Loma Vista Cemetery, [[Fullerton, California]]
| resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} -->
| monuments          = 
| nationality        = 
| occupation         = Farmer, amusement park owner, businessman
| years_active       = 1920–1974
| known_for          = Founder of [[Knott's Berry Farm]]
| father             = Elgin Charles Knott
| spouse             = Cordelia Hornaday (m.1911–1974; her death)
| children           = 4
}}
'''Walter Marvin Knott''' (December 11, 1889 – December 3, 1981) was an American [[farmer]] and businessman who founded the [[Knott's Berry Farm]] [[amusement park]] in [[Buena Park, California]], introduced and mass-marketed the [[boysenberry]], and founded the Knott's Berry Farm food brand.

== Early life ==
Knott was born on December 11, 1889, in [[San Bernardino, California]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Boysenberry and The Chicken Dinner {{!}} CSUN University Library |url=https://library.csun.edu/sca/peek-stacks/walter-knott |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=library.csun.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-18 |title=Berry man Walter Knott planted himself in Norco in 1920s |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2020/08/18/berry-man-walter-knott-planted-himself-in-norco-in-1920s/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Daily Bulletin |language=en-US}}</ref> His parents were Rev. Elgin Charles Knott, a Southern Methodist minister originally from Tennessee, and Margaret Virginia Daugherty Knott.<ref>Nygaard, Norman E., ''Walter Knott: Twentieth Century Pioneer,'' pp. 93–100, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1965.</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brigandi |first=Phil |date=2019 |title=Pioneer Harvest: The Life of Walter Knott |url=https://www.ochistoryland.com/walter-knott |website=OC Historyland}}</ref> Knott's father was a preacher at a church in [[Santa Ana, California]] when he was born.

When Elgin died of [[tuberculosis]] in 1896, Margaret moved Walter and his brother to [[Pomona, California]].<ref name=":0" /> Walter Knott had aspirations of being a farmer from a very young age, and ended his formal schooling at age 16 (which was legal in California at the time) in order to start working.<ref name=":0" />

== Career ==

=== Early efforts ===
Knott was adept at growing produce, and would rent vacant lots around Pomona to grow produce to contribute to his family's income.<ref name=":0" /> At the time he married Cordelia Hornaday in 1911, Knott was working for a cement contractor.<ref name=":0" />

In 1913, Knott homesteaded on 160 acres in the [[Mojave Desert]] near [[Newberry Springs, California|Newberry Springs]] and made his first effort at farming, which was unsuccessful.<ref name=":0" /> Knott tried farming again in 1917 near [[Shandon, California]]—growing produce to feed the employees of a cattle ranch and selling the excess supply for his own profit. This enterprise proved to be more successful, as Knott and Cordelia made enough money to pay off all his debts and had become a major supplier of produce for the area.<ref name=":0" />

=== Arrival in Buena Park ===
[[File:WalterKnott1948.jpg|thumb|Walter Knott tending to his berry plants, 1948]]
In 1920, Knott went into a partnership with one of his cousins, berry grower Jim Preston, to farm 20 acres of land in Buena Park, California.<ref name=":0" /> In 1923, Knott set up a small berry stand on the property, facing Grand Avenue (now [[California State Route 39|Beach Boulevard]]) to sell their produce to locals and tourists on their way to the beach.<ref name=":0" /> At the end of their original lease in 1927, Parsons decided to go off on his own and Knott purchased the Buena Park farm from his landlord, William H. Coughran.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Ellis |first=Janey |date=March 31, 2020 |title=The History of Knott's Berry Farm |url=https://www.knotts.com/blog/2020/april/the-history-of-knotts-berry-farm |website=Knott's Berry Farm}}</ref>

The next year, in addition to a new house for his family, Knott built an 80-foot-long stucco building on the farm to house a new berry market, a nursery, and a tea room for Cordelia to sell hamburgers, sandwiches, and pies (Cordelia cooked the food in the Knott family kitchen).<ref name=":0" /> When the [[Great Depression]] began in 1929, Knott started buying parcels around the farm as the price of land dropped.<ref name=":1" />

In 1934, Knott introduced the [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] [[boysenberry]], named after its creator, [[Rudolph Boysen]].<ref name=":1" /> The previous year, Knott had secured cuttings from Boysen's dilapidated berry plant—which was a cross between a blackberry, red raspberry and [[loganberry]]—and planted and cultivated it at his own farm.<ref name=":1" /> The plant produced huge berries, and Knott integrated the boysenberry into all of his products as well as Cordelia's tea room menu.<ref name=":1" />

The same year, Cordelia had an idea to serve fried chicken dinners at her tea room.<ref name=":0" /> The chicken was a huge hit and the tea room was expanded into a full restaurant over the next six years. Lines outside the restaurant were often several hours long.<ref name=":2">Merritt, Christopher and Lynxwiler, J. Eric, ''Knott's Preserved: From Boysenberry to Theme Park, the History of Knott's Berry Farm,'' pp. 20–31, Angel City Press, Santa Monica, CA, 2010.</ref>

=== Building an amusement park ===
{{multiple image
| direction         = horizontal
| footer            = Walter Knott and Bud Hurlbut riding on the Timber Mountain Log Ride in 1969
| footer_align      = center
| image1            = WalterKnottBudHurlbutLogRideKBF1969.jpg
| alt1              = picture1
| width1            = 150
| image2            = Timber Mountain Log Ride, Knott's Berry Farm, 1969.jpg
| alt2              = picture 2
| width2            = 170
}}
To entertain the waiting chicken restaurant crowds, Knott built several roadside attractions, exhibits and shops, culminating in the building of a western [[ghost town]] on the property in 1940.<ref name=":2" /> Knott had an interest in American history, particularly the Old West, and purchased buildings from many old ghost towns around the west (California, Arizona, Nevada and other states). <ref>{{cite book | last1=Holmes|first1= Roger |last2=Bailey|first2= Paul | title=Fabulous Farmer: The Story of Walter Knott and his Berry Farm|pages= 125–52|publisher= Westernlore Press, Los Angeles, CA|year= 1956}}</ref> The buildings were dismantled, trucked down to Buena Park, and reassembled on the farm. Knott gradually added to the ghost town over the next few years—including a saloon show, melodrama theater, and a full-scale railroad.

Other attractions came in later years: a [[San Francisco]] [[cable car (railway)|cable car]], a pan-for-gold experience, a stagecoach ride, the [[Calico Mine Train]] [[dark ride]], the [[Timber Mountain Log Ride]] [[log flume (ride)|log flume]] ride, and a Mexican-themed area. In 1968, the Knott family fenced the farm, charged gate admission for the first time, and [[Knott's Berry Farm]] officially became an amusement park.<ref>Holmes, Roger and Bailey, Paul, ''Fabulous Farmer: The Story of Walter Knott and his Berry Farm,'' pp. 125–52, Westernlore Press, Los Angeles, CA, 1956.</ref>

Even after [[Disneyland]] Park opened in 1955 only eight miles away in [[Anaheim, California|Anaheim]], Knott's Berry Farm continued to thrive. [[Walt Disney]] and Walter Knott had a cordial relationship. Knott and Cordelia attended the opening of Disneyland in July of 1955 and Walt Disney visited Knott's on several occasions both before and after Disneyland opened.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Caramanna |first=Carly |date=June 24, 2022 |title=How the surprising friendship between Walt Disney and Knott's Berry Farm's Walter Knott helped make Disneyland |work=[[SFGate]]}}</ref> The Knotts and the Disneys even dined at a local Chinese restaurant not far from Knott's Berry Farm.<ref name=":3" /> They were both members of the original planning council for [[Children's Hospital of Orange County]].

[[File:RonaldReaganWalterCorinaKnott1971.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ronald Reagan]] speaking at the Knotts' 60th wedding anniversary in 1971]]

=== Semi-retirement ===
Walter Knott remained active in the operation of Knott's Berry Farm until Cordelia's death in 1974, at which point he left day-to-day park operations to his children and focused on political causes.<ref>Salts, Christiane Victoria, ''Cordelia Knott: Pioneering Business Woman,'' pp. 75–78, The Literature Connection Books, Buena Park, CA, 2009.</ref><ref>Kooiman, Helen, ''Walter Knott: Keeper of the Flame,'' pp. 171–84, Plycon Press, Fullerton, CA, 1973.</ref>

== Death and legacy ==
On December 3, 1981, just eight days shy of his 92nd birthday, Walter Knott died from complications of Parkinson's disease at his home in [[Buena Park, California]].<ref name="nytimes_knott1981">{{cite web |last=Flint |first=Peter B. |date=December 5, 1981 |title=Walter Knott of Knott's Berry Farm is Dead |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/05/obituaries/walter-knott-of-knott-s-berry-farm-is-dead.html |access-date=September 27, 2019 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Knott is buried at Loma Vista Memorial Park in [[Fullerton, California]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=huF-TGLDIAsC&dq=Loma+Vista+walter+knott&pg=PA122 ''Knott's Berry Farm'']</ref>

Knott's Berry Farm continues to operate year-round today. The Knott family remained owners of Knott's Berry Farm until 1997, when the park was sold to [[Cedar Fair|Cedar Fair Entertainment Company]] (now [[Six Flags|Six Flags Entertainment Corporation]]) for $300 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Granelli |first=James |date=October 22, 1997 |title=Knotts Agree to Sell Park |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-22-mn-45415-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

[[The J.M. Smucker Co.]] owns the "Knott's Berry Farm" brand of jams, jellies, and snack foods—which Smucker purchased from [[ConAgra Foods]] in 2008.<ref>Merritt, Christopher and Lynxwiler, J. Eric, ''Knott's Preserved: From Boysenberry to Theme Park, the History of Knoot's Berry Farm,'' pp. 154–60, Angel City Press, Santa Monica, CA, 2010.</ref> Smucker discontinued selling Knott's branded products in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gelski |first=Jeff |date=January 23, 2024 |title=Smucker Discontinues Knott's Berry Farm Brand |url=https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/25409-smucker-discontinues-knotts-berry-farm-brand |work=Food Business News}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
[[File:Knott Family, Knott's Berry Farm (4724915506).jpg|thumb|right|300px|Walter and Cordelia Knott with their four children at [[Knott's Berry Farm]]]]
Walter Knott married his high school sweetheart, Cordelia Hornaday, on June 3, 1911.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2008/10/24/walter-and-cordelia-knott/ |title=Walter and Cordelia Knott |publisher= Orange County Register |first=Lou |last=Ponsi |date=October 24, 2008 |access-date=September 27, 2019}}</ref> They had four children: Virginia, Russell, Rachel, and Marion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://americacomesalive.com/2017/05/23/walter-knott-farmer-and-theme-park-pioneer/ |title=Walter Knott: Farmer and Theme Park Pioneer |publisher=americacomesalive.com |first=Kate |last=Kelly |date=24 May 2017 |access-date=September 27, 2019}}</ref>

After leaving his business operations to his children following the death of his wife on April 12, 1974, Knott focused his attention on conservative politics. Knott was active in a variety of conservative causes, including founding the California Free Enterprise Assistance and endowing various private schools and colleges.<ref>194, 216</ref> He campaigned for Republican politicians like [[Richard Nixon]] and [[Ronald Reagan]]. Knott also financed the Orange County chapter of the [[John Birch Society]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wisckol |first1=Martin |date=August 10, 2016 |title=Far right in O.C. faces turning point |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2016/08/10/far-right-in-oc-faces-turning-point/ |access-date=October 21, 2021 |website=Orange County Register}}</ref>

Through his time as a struggling farmer and businessman during the [[Great Depression]], Knott became a firm believer in [[rugged individualism]]—that anyone could be successful through hard work, and any form of government intervention was wrong. Critics say this 'Old West' theme of his amusement park was a romantic and one-sided reflection of his beliefs.<ref>Smithsonian Magazine. The Wild West of Knott’s Berry Farm Is More Fantasy Than Reality, (September 7, 2017). https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/wild-west-knotts-berry-farm-is-more-fantasy-than-reality-180964798/
</ref>

Because of his interest in American pioneer history, Knott purchased and restored the real silver mining ghost town of [[Calico, San Bernardino County, California|Calico, California]] in 1951. As a child, Knott spent a lot of time in Calico living with his uncle. During World War I, he helped to build a silver mill in Calico. In 1966, he deeded Calico to [[San Bernardino County, California]].<ref>Kooiman, Helen, ''Walter Knott: Keeper of the Flame,'' pp. 153–58, Plycon Press, Fullerton, CA, 1973.</ref>

Knott appeared on the December 23, 1954, episode of ''[[You Bet Your Life]]'', hosted by [[Groucho Marx]].<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/BXc-A5Z_Yzw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20151221163058/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXc-A5Z_Yzw Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |last=Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life |date=18 October 2013 |title=You Bet Your Life #54-15 Klondike Kate; the Dosses return (Secret word: 'Name', Dec 23, 1954) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXc-A5Z_Yzw |access-date=24 March 2017 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* {{Find a Grave|6081372}}
* [http://www.knotts.com Official Knott's Berry Farm Site]
* [http://www.knotts.com/public/park/haunt/halloween_haunt.cfm Official Knott's Halloween Haunt Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926220937/http://www.knotts.com/public/park/haunt/halloween_haunt.cfm |date=2011-09-26 }}
* [https://www.britannica.com/place/Knotts-Berry-Farm Knott's Berry Farm at britannica.com]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knott, Walter}}
[[Category:1889 births]]
[[Category:1981 deaths]]
[[Category:American anti-communists]]
[[Category:American nationalists]]
[[Category:Amusement park developers]]
[[Category:Farmers from California]]
[[Category:Knott's Berry Farm]]
[[Category:People from Buena Park, California]]
[[Category:People from San Bernardino, California]]
[[Category:California Republicans]]
[[Category:People from Pomona, California]]