The hootin'-hollerin allure of Knott's Berry Farm's summer staple Ghost Town Alive!
by Todd Martens
Features Columnist
August 12, 2024
"Have you ever pickpocketed?"
No, I have not. At Knott's Berry Farm, it was suggested I give it a try.
Thieving, the man gushed, is freeing, and, by its very nature, comes with a reward - or spoils. But I was in the presence of an unreliable narrator, for I was leading "honest" Cody Sullivan to theme park prison, that is, a single cell in the middle of the Knott's historic Old West-themed Ghost Town. Sullivan's recent crime? Stealing a judge's gavel.
I have never worked for a sheriff's department either, but at Knott's Annual summertime offering Ghost Town Alive! one can roleplay just about whoever they want. As long as it's silly.
On a recent visit, I started my day as a mail courier, which led to me meeting an elixir specialist, where we wondered about a cure to "duck pox," but before any fictional diseases were tackled I was conspiring with a local hotelier, imagining ways to conceal a mice problem. This transpired in less than an hour, as narratives in Ghost Town Alive! come quick and spiral into lunacy. You may encounter someone who is quacking - the aforementioned duck pox - or be pulled aside and handed a sack of play money, a stolen good one Ghost Town "resident was hoping could be used to win the affections of another.
Come ready to contribute. But if you don't, participation will find you. I was standing idly when approached to arrest Sullivan, portrayed by actor Josh Williams.
There is nothing at any theme park quite like Ghost Town Alive! Part Live-action roleplaying game and part the work of improvisational theater, Ghost Town Alive! brings with it daily storylines, including multiple editions of a newspaper, and a cadre of wacky characters. A Knott's staple since 2016 - Ghost Town Alive! has its roots and influences in Disneyland's beloved but fleeting Legends of Frontierland - the experience has matured into one of the most unique and creative theme park offerings in Southern California.
The key to its long-term success? Ghost Town Alive! understands the heart and soul of what makes a great theme park experience: It's the people, and our ability to connect and play with them.
"People's lives are deeply impacted by the work that we do here," says actor Rachel Roman, who plays postmaster Shelly Melson. Before Roman broke character to chat, her Melson had been gossiping about her co-worker, Buttons, noting the latter had been littering. Apparently Buttons had been dropping, well, buttons, throughout the fictional town of Calico.
"There's a range of guests, and ones that you will cherish, like this little kid who comes in," Roman says. "She's my little best friend. We each get our own little besties. Her parents just go on about how she won't stop talking about Shelly. She's so sweet and fun to play with. I was on the other side of this as a kid. I grew up going to theme parks with my dad and was that passholder kid who all the performers knew."
Ghost Town Alive! treats the theme park as a stage, allowing guests to become actors. It's a nod to the roots of Knott's, when the park lacked thrill rides and specialized in Wild West stagecraft. A song-and-dance-style revue runs concurrently with Ghost Town Alive!, all of it lending Calico a lived-in, heavily populated feel. Rovin Jay, show director, says the park employs 45 actors for the performances.
This summer, I got my name printed in the Calico Gazette, learned about misguided experiments that inspired theme park trickery - one involved electricity, a potato and resulted in a late afternoon explosion - and was a jury member in the case of a stolen 200 pound catfish. I was sworn in as a resident of Calico, took a journalistic oath for the town's newspaper - I promised to tell the truth, except "when gossip will do" - and earned my first Calico wooden coin. "You can't spend it on much, but it's priceless in sentimental value," I was told.
Another day I walked into Ghost Town and was asked, almost immediately, if I wanted a bucket of water dumped on me (I did not). I also took part in a plot to use melted cheese to free a prisoner. It made sense in the moment. Theories in Ghost Town Alive! need not be plausible. This is a space where imagination is not just off the leash but untamed.
"It's the thing we used to do when we were 7 or 7 and in the playground," Jay says. "Friends come up and you just create. We're able to do that on a daily basis."
Some of these events happen everyday, but each afternoon - Ghost Town Alive! runs on select days through Sept. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - is also full of off-the-cuff narratives. Perhaps you'll be asked to act in a moving-picture show, participate in a mustache contest, taking a drawing class, help a gang rob a bank or inspire a bashful Calico resident to ask a lady to the afternoon hoedown. Guests, Roman says, "get very invested in our love lives."
To describe the appeal of the show, Jay asks me to visualize a stereotypical theme park advertisement - say a known character holding the hand of a young child.
"It's a promise that you are going to have an unique and personal interaction with a character," Jay says. "We're able to deliver that, and we're able to deliver that organically. It's so funny to me how often we'll have guests come in and say, 'When is the show going to start?' Meanwhile, the bank is getting robbed. These are characters you learn to exist with. You're seen automatically. The moment you step into Ghost Town Alive!, it's, 'Hi! It's nice to see you.'"
To make a theme park feel personal is no easy feat. In fact, designers have long been trying to solve this problem, whether by creating interactive attractions that feel responsive to the guest, or short-lived experiments such as the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, collloquially known as the Star Wars hotel.
The antecedent to Ghost Town Alive!, Disney's Legends of Frontierland (both shared some of the same creative team), lasted a few months. And prior to the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland in 2019, Disney creatives talked heavily of a land filled with actors and live shows, a reality that has never fully materialized.
"I've gone through Galaxy's Edge several times, and have often wondered what it would take to people that town," Jay says. "It would be five or 10 times as many people on the roster. Daily, you'd have to have a couple hundred people just to make it feel alive and organic. There's so many nooks and crannies there. We just have a couple streets that were part of our originial design. The scalability is a challenge."
And to guests, it's an invetment that's worth it.
Janey Ellis, 36, of Anaheim, is a Ghost Town Alive! regular. Ellis recently made the Calico Gazette with a tale of a fence that sprouted legs and walked off its property. Ellis comes to Knott's to experience that sort of "B-plot chaos." "I'm here to see what you can create out of nothing," she says.
"I think this is the future of theme park entertainment," Ellis says. "This is so unique and personal. You're able to drive something for hours on end. This is a real-life video game, or a real-life ['Dungeons & Dragons'] game."
And a reminder that one not need the latest technology. Sometimes a playground, a bit of imagination and the joy of performance will do. Just be careful who you pickpocket.
https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2024-08-12/knotts-berry-farm-ghost-town-alive-review
SUMMER COMES ALIVE AT KNOTT'S BERRY FARM!
by Scott Attula
May 27, 2023
Welcome to the annual Calico Founder's Day! This is the setting of Knott's Berry Farm's live-action-roleplaying experience, Ghost Town Alive. In the heart of the park, Ghost Town comes to life with all the citizens to celebrate the anniversary of Calico. The kooky cast of characters invites all guests to interact and immerse themselves into the evolving interactive storyline from 10am to the big hoedown finale at 4:30pm.
This is a unique kind of experience, one that really doesn't have a rival in Southern California. It truly is a choose-your-own-adventure where you decide just how involved to be and which characters to get involved with. Your actions actually have consequences in the story! Every time you visit Ghost Town Alive, the story will be different based on what has and hasn't been done before.
The experience is carried by the peculiar cast of Calico townsfolk. Between the lawmen, outlaws, post office, newspaper, rappers, bankers, teachers, and other characters, there are tons of paths to choose from. Although, you often might find that stories will spring themselves onto you.
Every year, a new story is developed and this year is quite a doozy. The former owner of the bank has left the deed to the most heinous criminal in Calico. Whoever has committed the most crimes by the end of Founder's Day will receive that title and the deed to the bank! Needless to say, this creates quite a lot of chaos throughout the day as visitors to Calico align themselves with the different outlaw groups in town...or the law to put a stop to it.
Indeed, the story this year creates even more strange and random happenings. While some are scripted, quite a lot is organic. For example, in the middle of a conversation with Judge Roy Bean, he noticed that someone had stolen his painting of the Mona Lisa. It was now replaced with a crudely drawn illustration and a placard denoting this was a painting of the Mona Lisa being painted.
During the course of a quest for the bank, I managed to witness some gold being deposited, bump into an outlaw, watch the bank get robbed, cheer on a fistfight on the saloon balcony, participate in an election for Sheriff, be held hostage in yet another bank robbery, and follow the robbers to jail.
Ghost Town Alive is a lot like completing a ton of side quests while avoiding the main quest...except the outcome is the opposite. While you're attempting to complete tasks and follow story threads between the townsfolk, the main story comes in and changes everything. Or, in some cases, someone else's entirely different quest will come in and intertwine with yours. It's a truly dynamic experience.
Ghost Town Alive ends with the 4:30pm Founder's Day Hoedown where the day's story wraps up. Overall, the level of polish this year may prove to be the best Ghost Town Alive yet. The dynamism is balanced perfectly with the chaos. Even the scripted elements fit in an organic way, including some great choreography and place-making. I hope everyone gets the chance to pop in and experience a taste of their own wild west adventure.
KNOTT'S KICKS OFF SUMMER 2023 WITH GHOST TOWN ALIVE'S 6TH YEAR
by Chris Glass
June 1, 2023
May 31st, 1892, err...2023
Happy Founder's Day!
Since 2016, Knott's has celebrated the summer season with Ghost Town Alive in the parks, an award-winning live-action role-playing event for all ages taking place entirely in the semi-fictional town of Calico. Each year the story progresses, giving the incentive to visit regularly and interact with the fantastic citizens in the town. Progressing in semi-realtime, the year is 1892. And no matter what day you visit, it always happens to be "Founder's Day", a celebration of the day the town was founded. You never know what is going to happen or who you will see. By my count, this year we have 45 citizens to meet and greet and then bamboozle, swindle, buddy-up and aide, for whatever reasons that you want.
While there were obvious reasons the event took a hiatus for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, the return in 2022 was welcomed with open arms. While faces come and go, what's new this year is a number of returning faces from years past. Suffice to say, this year is looking to be a great one and in this article, I'll be covering who's around and what's going on. If you want to avoid story spoilers, which I heavily recommend, please skip the next four paragraphs. This year is a banger of a story and just skip down to the bottom to go tot he important bits.
The main story this year focuses on the unexpected passing of Tate Fortune. The ex-husband of Ms. Cookie Lemon, has passed, and in his will has deeded the town's only bank to the biggest criminal, determined by who seizes his favorite possessions by the end of Founder's Day. In no time at all, factions are formed, each determining what they believe is an item so vaguely described. These happen to be the diamond-encrusted diamond, the Maltese Falcon, a painting of the Mona Lisa being painted, the spare crown of England, and finally the world's largest gold and silver nugget in the shape of the Calico Express.
The factions all take turns trying to seize the items from each other, hoping to be in possession of them by the hoedown, which now comes an hour earlier at 4:30pm. While on its face, it seems to be done for budgetary reason, it also gives more time for the turnaround for Summer Nights on that same stage, and hopefully will be les blisteringly hot during the dog days of summer. The hottest of the hot days can be brutal, especially for the citizens in their multi-layered outfits. We hope this pans out for those reasons. That heat is no joke.
Additionally, there's a circus for kids each day at 3pm which they can participate in to show off their talents. And they can also be mayor of the town for an hour provided they earn enough stamps on a form for doing good deeds. Inside Town Hall, you can even help design a new town layout and make new structures all by yourself to help construct a more-perfect Calico.
A lot of faces have moved on this year, whether they're ostensibly pursuing Ma Mayfield in Oregon, or just retired. This includes the former sheriff, the self-appointed mayor, and others. That has left many vacancies around to fill leading to some power struggles, and of course an election for sheriff. The bandits sure do love to take advantage of that power vacuum. But let's get on with who's around this year.
The Assay office, the first stop most folks, will have a familiar face, Flint Stahlak, along with Zeke's nephew, Zack Connolly, and semi-new face, Cody Sullivan - formerly of the Mad Bucks, who has been reformed and is now helping out!
The bank this year has Wisconsin Wes and Ms. Cookie Lemon around. But this year they have a new guard. One-shot Mayfield, the ex-wife of Tiny Mayfield, has returned to keep an eye on things. Just don't mention it to Tiny.
While the barbershop is kept running by the usual crew of Looking Glass Thurmond and Doctor Linville Carter, Fluke Mayfield is formally working there this summer, too. You can still get all your mustaches and pony rentals right here in this prime spot. But don't pin your hopes on the mayorship at this spot. The doc operates in a strictly non-partisan environment. Helping out those on both sides of the law. But if you do see anything spooky, be sure to let him, and the rest of the Paranormal Investigation Society, know, ASAP. Even if Doc is no longer the president of the society doesn't mean he's still not a member.
Another new face this year is Gilbert Weiztel. He's around town to promote Ms. Cameo Kate's saloon show. But also he really wants too bring the circus to town. There's a lot of blustering in his promotions, but what circus doesn't have that? Abigail Dynamite is also around to help put the circus together, because this town needs all the help it can get. The other familiar face, Mr. John Potts, has returned after four years in the wilderness chasing Bigfoot. He's a bit worse for the wear. A little bonkers. Well, give him a hello if you see him, but don't be surprised if he's acting loopy.
The dress shop sees the return of that power team of Ms. Barbara Gaines and Ms. Theodora "Teddy" S. Delmundo. Curiously, they're holding the spare crown of England in their shop. It would be such a shame if they got distracted and someone swiped it from the shop. This is a prime place to hide from the heat, and unleash your creative spark. We miss the seamstress in the back. It means the shop has to close when both of the ladies are out in Sweetwater (Read: "on lunch"_, something it didn't need to do in years past.
Thelma Kinkade is back at the hotel, in charge this year, no less! And she's acquired help from a new face, Wilhelmina 'Mina' Watson. She's a bit of a card shark and is more than happy to play some games out on the porch. But be careful, it's gotten her into trouble; as if that's any surprise around here.
The schoolhouse, a popular spot for the kids, ironically, has new help this year. Noble K. Johnson, Victoria Noelle, and Nell Elliot are now given a bit of an extra hand from Malcom Barrymore. They have classes throughout the day to make crafts, learn math and even celebrate your graduation!
As mentioned earlier, Sheriff Bryce Wheeler has retired, leaving it in the capable hands of three deputies, Chester Davenport, Skyler Haney, and a new face, Clancy Cunningham! Be sure to keep them abreast of the movement of the stolen goods. These criminals need to face justice.
The Cavalry has slimmed somewhat this year. Private Barrett is going solo this season. Still at the rank of private, he's more than happy to do what he can to protect Calico from the bandits. That means recruiting the youngins to help out with his tasks.
Those explorers, so famous that they got their names put up on the river expedition attraction, can't keep themselves out of town. Somehow Potts has wandered back, after being missing for years, but he honestly can't remember a thing! But with John Coulter and Alfred 'Al' Ladeen, the trio can surely handle themselves. Even if it means lugging around heavy canvas bags labeled "camping supplies" that look suspiciously like missing paintings.
The Mad Bucks, despite being a splintered faction of the Mayfields, are still around. Archie Schafer is nowhere to be seen, but in his stead is a new face, Dirk Scoggins, who goes by the nickname "Itchy" for various reasons. Whether it's for his trigger finger, or the fleas, who knows? While Lane 'The Conman' Winters and Jasper Whitley are still up to no good, Cody Sullivan has actually reformed upon his return and is dedicated to the Assay Office.
It wouldn't be Founder's Day without the Mayfields. This time around, Fluke has left his post at the schoolhouse and is back to wandering into trouble. He's joined by Tiny, Ox, Scruff, 'Dead Eye' Jackson, and Ike. And Clay, despite being in hiding for most of 1891 is back in town, as dusty as ever.
The rumor mill wouldn't be anything without the gazette and post office. This time around, Audrey Morgan, Levin Newman, and Shelley Melson are joined by a new reporter, Ryder 'Ry" Dinkle, and a new postmaster, Brett Eastly. Ryder is as eager as ever to make a name for himself. Brett Just wants to live that dangerous life. He may not be a Mayfield or a Mad Buck, but it doesn't mean he won't give them a helping hand.
And finally, Town Hall is chugging along. Kid Friday, Luke Stillwater, and Judge Roy Bean are joined this season by Henry Wexler, the town planner, and Miss Marybelle Starling has returned, after many years, to be the town clerk. Even if there's no official mayor, these folks are doing what they can to swear in citizens, officiate weddings, and all that nonsense.
Whew, that's nearly four dozen citizens this year! Crazy, right? You don't count the folks, you count the memories and there's going to be a lot this year. The story is far more involved and dynamic this year. Everyone gets to pitch in and be a part of it. Last year we had some issues with elements of the story beats, pacing, and dependency on guests, but brushed off most issues as being on hiatus for an unnaturally long time. It's good to see virtually all of that has been addressed. Like pizza, it's always pretty good.
And, of course, this event evolves every day. What's described now could easily change in the weeks ahead. There's a mystery involving One-Eyed Ike I haven't fully cracked yet. New faces, or old, might still make an appearance. And don't forget the finale on Labor Day which will be chock full of new twists and revelations. I have a few hunches I expect to play out, but I won't reveal them here. I also will likely go back in this article and fix any names I forgot. It's still frightening to me that I typed up all this mostly from memory. This town occupies a good portion of my brain and I can't think of a better endorsement than that.
Normally I would simply write up a review with some silly photos but this year I decided to go all out because one of the other major resources is taking a well-earned break over at Westcoaster. This event is so important and needs to be chronicled through the years. Ghost Town Alive is simply the best way possible to spend your summer. And that's totally due to all the fantastic folks working in front of and behind the scenes.
*Banner images by Chris Glass