( December 11 , 1887 – December 3 , 1981 ) was a Farmer who created the Knott's Berry Farm Amusement Park .
In the 1920s , Walter Knott was a somewhat unsuccessful farmer, whose fortunes changed when he nursed several abandoned Berry plants back to health. The hybrid Boysenberry , named after its creator, Rudolph Boysen , was a cross between a blackberry, red raspberry and loganberry. The huge berries were a hit, and the Knott family sold berries, preserves and pies from a Buena Park, California roadside stand. In 1934 , Knott's wife Cordelia (née Hornaday, January 23 , 1890 – April 12 , 1974 ) began serving fried chicken dinners, and within a few years, lines outside the restaurant were often several hours long. To entertain the waiting crowds, Walter built a Ghost Town in 1940 , using buildings relocated from old west towns. Even after Disneyland opened in 1955 a mere 8 miles away, Knott's Berry Farm continued to thrive. Walt Disney and Walter Knott are rumored to have had a cordial relationship; it is known that they each visited the other's park, and they were both members of the original planning council for Children's Hospital Of Orange County . Early additions to the farm included a Narrow Gauge Railroad , a San Francisco Cable Car , a Pan-for-Gold attraction, the Calico Mine Train Dark Ride and a Log Flume ride. In 1968 , the Knott family fenced the farm, charged admission for the first time, and Knott's Berry Farm officially became an Amusement Park . Because of his interest in American pioneer history, Knott purchased and restored the real Silver Mining ghost town of Calico, California in 1951 . In 1966 , he deeded Calico to San Bernardino County, California . Walter remained active in the operation of Knott's Berry Farm until the death of Cordelia in 1974 , at which point he turned his attention toward extreme right-wing political causes, leaving day-to-day park operations to his children. He lived in a double wide trailer inside the park until his death in 1981 . He is buried at Loma Vista Cemetery in Fullerton , California . The Knott family today no longer owns the theme park; it has since been sold to Cedar Fair . Additionally, ConAgra now carries the "Knott's Berry Farm" brand of Jam and Jelly .
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