Greetings family, friends and theme park buddies! Attached is a recent submission to the Bay Area Garden Railrod Society newsletter that Ithought that you may enjoy. Even though it's been more than 70 years I still have memories of walking through the mine shaft and panning for real gold at Knott's Ghost Town.....Bill
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MUSINGS OF A THEME PARK FAN
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KNOTT”S BERRY FARM GOLD MINE
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The Gold Mine in Ghost Town is an authentic re-creation of a typical 1849 California Gold Mine complete with Tunnel, Shaft house, Waterwheel and Sluice box. Here you can pan actual gold nuggets with the expert help of the old prospector who shows you how.
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Beginning in 1947 and as a precursor to the immersive Calico Mine Train ride, visitors to Knott’s Ghost Town had the opportunity to follow a gold vein through a dark mine tunnel to a gully where they could pan for real gold flakes. Conceived and created by Walter Knott and park Art Director Paul von Klieben, the groundbreaking interactive gold mine attraction was constructed by using a rented steam shovel to dig a large deep pit in the farms parking lot. Realistic rockwork was created by covering a wooden framework with dirt from the pit, coating it with sprayed gunite and finishing the effect with detailed sculpting and coloring by Von Klienben. Guided by helpful miners, visitors were instructed on panning techniques to sift real gold flakes from the sand that was then placed in glass vials as valuable park souvenirs. In 1998 the gold mine pit was filled in and theming removed to make way for a new ride attraction. After a temporary stay on School House Road between Boot Hill and the Miner’s Bank, a condensed version of the Pan-For-Gold attraction was returned to it’s original location, only now in the shadow of the huge wooden Ghost Rider roller coaster.
Circa 1950’s postcard from the collection of Bill Ralph
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