This is the accompanying press releases.
The second image is of Bud Hurlbut, Walter Knott, Don Koll looking at the attraction model at the ground breaking for the ride on July 29, 1968. The ride opened in the summer of 1969 with great fanfare. The first family to ride the attraction was the John Wayne family and Tony Baxter from WDI was there that day also. (There is a publicity shot showing Tony in line while the Wayne family is riding the drop.)
Here is the accompanying press release.
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12 comments:
What a beautiful model, what are the odds that it still exists? Perhaps Bud Hurlbut has it (maybe Chris Merritt knows). The detail is amazing! I had no idea that this was the very first log ride in the world.
Absolutely fantastic photos.
I'm pretty sure I rode that was I was very young, but don't remember it exactly.
It's uncanny how closely Splash Mountain resembles the model.
Yes - Bud still has it in his shop! Sadly - an employee pitched the Calico Mine Ride one years ago...
Love the way you presented the combination of press materials!
That's terrible news about the Calico Mine model, Chris. Maybe you can make a replica for us?
We have a ton of such images and materials re the Log Ride building and opening at the Orange County Archives. Y'all come visit if you'd like to learn more.
I have very fond memories of when I rode this back in 1976. I didn't realize this was the first log flume ride. Back then Knott's Berry Farm also had one of the only (or maybe the only) corkscrew roller coasters in the world. I would never ride a roller coaster before that but since I didn't know if I would ever get a chnace to ride this type of coaster again I bit the bullet and went on. I then rode it 6 times in a row and have been a roller coaster lover ever since.
I understand that Mr. Hurlbut, who in later years created Castle Park in Riverside, CA, celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this year (2008).
I worked for Bud, for a number of years at Castle park. I have heard many of the stories first hand. He is an amazing and creative man. I was able to visit him a couple of years ago at his shop on Western ave, accross from Knotts. Even at his age I was suprised to see he still go to the office almost everyday. I did hear that his wife Lou had recently passed.
The first log flume ride was actually constructed at Six Flags Over Texas in 1963, and it is still in operation.
Bud came over to see Big Thunder Disneyland in 1980 at Tony Baxter's invitation before the attraction opened. He was very interested in a little tour I gave him of all the mining props and 100 tons of real mine tailings we had around the front Q line and within the attraction at each of the 3 lifts. He returned to his Mine Ride and added more mining and logging props and then invited us over. He inspired us and I quess we inspired him back. Much of Euro Disneylands Big Thunder has Walt's and Bud's influences.
Not the first log flume.
Good morning to all, I happen to have the1968 calico mine ride press kit with photos and the captions for each photo taped to bottom of each picture along with 4 page press article describing everything, there is a total of 4 pictures with captions taped to bottom of each, 1st pic is the model which y'all posted the next 3 I have are scetches that depict the start,midway, and final stages of ride, each pic has purple stamp on back that states "compliments of knotts berry farm and ghost town Buena Park, California,
Also May 16 1968 press kit of "berry patch farmer to entertain magnate" which contains a 2 page article and a picture of mr and mrs knotts in a sports car of 1968 looking at a bushel of berries being displayed by a member of staff grace Marshall, with caption taped to bottom of pic.
Also press release 1 page article "a strange and wonderful visitation at knott's" with a picture with a scetch of uncle Thaddeus testing the serendipity of his greatest invention "the time machine" with caption taped to bottom of pic. To be experienced by visitors every day of the week starting june 7 1968.
Also press release 3 pictures with caption of the revamped ghost town
Also press release dated may 16 1968 2 page article "independence hall goes west" and one pic with caption taped on bottom of pic, and independence hall program magazine colored with several pages with articles and pics printed in it.
Last but not least 3 page press release ""stereo-Rama fourteen " bringing revolutionary sound to life of declaration of independence inside the hall by teaming up with Lansing and a 56 speaker sound system installed
After doing some research I was amazed that knotts berry farm is the first theme park built in America and its history, I feel like I have the holy grail with this press kit! Or were these passed out to visitors as souvenirs? Thanks for taking time to read this and am looking forward to all feedback, Ronald Rose , p s I would like to show all pics and pages but dont know if that would hurt what I have if it is rare or original
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