Knott's Ghost Town Alive! is an interactive theme park experience the whole family can enjoy. My son Matthew did not want to leave. He hasn't had this much fun at an amusement park ever and definitely not during our visit to the real Calico Ghost Town. Knott's Ghost Town Alive! is like stepping foot into a real ghost town with real residents interacting with you as you walk through the Calico Ghost Town area of the Knott's Berry Farm park. We received complimentary entry to Knott's Berry Farm during their media day event – all opinions are 100% my own.
Here's what to expect at Knott's Berry Farm's Ghost Town Alive!:
Knott's Ghost Town Alive!
A year after the notorious Mayfield Gang escaped the custody of Sheriff Wheeler, the Mayfield’s are back, and they need YOUR help in reclaiming their town during the Annual Founder's Day Celebration in Calico Ghost Town!
Now through September 4th, Ghost Town Alive! returns to Knott’s Berry Farm for another action-packed summer complete with bandits, cowboys, robberies, judges, a good ol’ western hoedown, and fun for the whole family. Guests can visit the beloved town of Calico and experience an authentic western adventure by becoming a star in this summer’s story of the Wild West, where the power to unlock adventures is in the hands of every guest.
Image courtesy of Knott's Berry Farm
Will you become a town deputy and help Sheriff Wheeler capture the Mayfields or will you help the May Field’s escape again? It was easy to tell who was on what team; Sheriff Wheeler (The Good Guys) wore white bandannas and The Mayfields (The Bad Guys) ;wore black bandannas.
We chose to help the “good guys” by wearing white bandannas to show our support. You can pick up bandannas in the shops of Calico Ghost Town inside Knott's Berry Farm.
Become a citizen of Calico Ghost Town
The Ghost Town Alive! experience centers around making you feel like a real citizen of Calico Ghost Town circa 1885. Ghost Town Alive! offers you a firsthand experience to play an important part in this unfolding story of the old wild west, with specific tasks giving you an essential role as an honorary citizen of Calico. Not only will you have an opportunity to take part in the story, you have influence on how the story takes shape.
Experience a good ol’ western adventure with the return of Ghost Town Alive! at Knott’s Berry Farm. Visit the beloved town of Calico and become a star in the summer’s story of the Wild West.
Ride for the Pony Express
Stop by the Pony Express office and meet with the staff to help deliver packages.
They'll outfit you with a (toy) horse and hand you a package with delivery instructions. Use the map to deliver the package and get a new assignment from the person who you delivered the package to. My son absolutely LOVED this and it was so cute to see all the little kids running around, delivering packages on their “horses” all over town.
Going to summer school
There's a school house with a teacher inside so if you want to send the kids to summer school, drop in! Matthew learned a few words in French during his summer school session.
Reading the paper
There's a scavenger hunt you can take part in while at Knott's Berry Farm and one of the tasks is to read the town paper, the Calico Gazette. Grab one from the paper boy in the middle of town. Share your photos using the hashtag #myghosttownalive for a chance to win prizes (grab the flier at the entrance to the Knott's Berry Farm Park for details on how to enter).
Finding the Bad Guy
Look at that photo of the paper boy again … over on the right hand side, you can spot one of the bad guys, a member of the Mayfields wearing a black bandana.
Work with the Sheriff as a member of his posse to track down and capture the bad guys throughout town. Matthew's taking his job with the posse very seriously!
Shootin gallre
Practice yer shootin' skills at the Shootin' Gallre for just a couple of bucks!
Go to a real life Hoedown!
Each evening, the whole town comes together with live music for a true hoedown the whole family can enjoy!
Image courtesy of Knott's Berry Farm
Watch the Can Can at the Calico Saloon Show
This show is fun and silly, a totally good time with lots of laughs for the whole family. The Can-Can dancers are really good!
We captured most of the day on our Instagram Story, which you can watch in a recap here:
Love all things Charlie Brown? Check out our DIY Charlie Brown Halloween Costume!
Activities the Kids are gonna love…
Outside of the Calico Ghost Town area, there's lots to do for kids and adults alike.
Snoopy's Magnificent Magical Revue
Head to the Charles M. Schulz Theatre behind Calico Ghost Town and across the railroad tracks to watch Snoopy learn how to be a magician with the Peanuts gang.
Rio Grande Southern Train
Rid the Rio Grande Southern line around the park and experience a wild west tradition. The train comes through around every 15 minutes.
Boysenberry Pie
Grab a slice of Bosyenberry pie featuring the Boysenberry that Knott's Berry Farm is famous for creating!
We enjoyed several slices of pie at the Wilderness Dance Hall.
I actually grow Boysenberries in my backyard and grew up eating them here in California … these are from my garden!
Besides pie there are lots of Boysenberry delicacies to enjoy … just walk around the park to find them at the local eateries.
Peanuts, Snoopy, and Knott's Berry Farm Merch
Knott's nailed it with their merch selection!
There are several shops throughout the Park and right out front as well offering cleverly designed shirts and merchandise.
I plan on picking up a few of these clever Knott's Berry Farm shirts for holiday gifts this year.
I gotta get the two shirts above for my daughter Katie and that gamer one … I mean every twee boy could rock that!
Now this Legendary Snoopy shirt? Gotta get that for one of my nephews! I know you know someone you would gift with one of these shirts!
And this Wonder Woman display? En pointe … we snagged one of those awesome trucker caps!
There's so much to see and do at Knott's Berry Farm's Ghost Town Alive! that you can spend the entire day enjoying just the Calico Ghost Town area of the park. You've got until September 4th to enjoy Ghost Town Alive! … when are you taking your summer adventure to Knott's Berry Farm?
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