Final Notice: Knott's Berry Farm, America's 1st Theme Park, Suspends All Operations

If you are visiting Knott’s Berry Farm today, be aware that you will be asked to leave the theme park earlier than expected.

Yesterday, we saw Knott’s Berry Farm send out messaging that they would be shutting down their theme park entirely much earlier than expected, with only a couple of hours of warning. Today, that same message has been sent as a public notice.

The Knott’s Berry Farm X account shared the news just minutes ago, “Due to inclement weather, Knott’s Berry Farm will be closing at 5:00pm today, Sunday, March 31. Unused tickets purchased for today will be valid until April 28, 2024.”

Due to inclement weather, Knott’s Berry Farm will be closing at 5:00pm today, Sunday, March 31. Unused tickets purchased for today will be valid until April 28, 2024. pic.twitter.com/EIG81uxfAB

— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) March 31, 2024

Tomorrow the park will be open until 10:00 p.m., according to their website, so this five-hour cutback will certainly affect the vacations of some who went to Knott’s Berry Farm this Easter morning without the intention of being kicked out hours early.

At the moment, it is raining in Anaheim with a chance of thunderstorms; however, the weather has not been worrisome enough for any news outlet to cover, as it is just a typical rainy day. It appears that Knott’s Berry Farm may not have enough guests in the park to make a 10:00 p.m. close worth it financially, so instead, they have chosen to shut down the park.

While it may benefit them, it certainly does not benefit the guests who did choose to show up to the park for the day. 

These inclement weather closures have been happening at Knott’s Berry Farm whenever there has been longer stints of rain happening during the day. If heavy rain is set to come in, the park has been known to announce a total closure hours before opening.

That being said, it is currently spring break, and with the Boysenberry Festival in full swing, having to miss out on hours of that experience without any financial compensation is unfortunate.

As the post stated, unused tickets will have around one month to be used; however, when Inside the Magic asked if refunds would be available in the past during these inclement weather closures for vacationing guests who do not live in the area, we were told that all sales are final.

Knott’s Berry Farm did note that “Select California Marketplace locations will remain open until 6:00pm.” This likely means that Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant will be open until 6:00 p.m. instead of the originally stated 9:00 p.m.

Knott’s Berry Farm will likely be very busy as of next week with ongoing spring break crowds. We can already see that just minutes down the road, Disneyland Resort is fully at capacity for April 1 and 2, with Disney California at capacity for the rest of the week. Knowing this, it is not hard to imagine that guests traveling to Anaheim or locals will not want to take advantage of the new late-night Knott’s Berry Farm schedule that is in place.

Should You Visit Knott’s Berry Farm?

Knott’s Berry Farm offers a delightful mix of theme park thrills and historical charm. What began in the 1920s as a roadside berry stand run by Walter and Cordelia Knott has blossomed into a beloved California landmark. The park’s rich history comes alive in Ghost Town, a meticulously recreated wild west settlement complete with storefronts, can-can saloons, and staged gunfights.

For adrenaline seekers, Knott’s boasts a thrilling collection of roller coasters. The iconic GhostRider, a wooden coaster renowned for its speed and dramatic drops, is a must-try. For a family-friendly adventure, the Timber Mountain Log Ride offers a scenic journey through a charming lumber town, complete with a splashy finale. Knott’s also caters to younger children with Camp Snoopy, a whimsical area featuring classic carnival rides and Peanuts-themed attractions.

The park is heavily known as the first-ever theme park to develop a haunt, Knott’s Scary Farm, which turned 50 last year.

No visit to Knott’s Berry Farm is complete without experiencing the world-famous Boysenberry Festival. The 2024 Boysenberry Fest will run daily from Friday, March 8 through April 7, and Friday through Sunday on April 12-28 at Knott’s Berry Farm.

Held annually during the spring and summer, this vibrant celebration honors the park’s signature fruit, a unique cross between raspberries, blackberries, and loganberries. The festival explodes with flavor, offering an incredible selection of boysenberry treats – from fluffy funnel cakes and refreshing drinks to decadent ice cream and gourmet dishes. Live entertainment, interactive activities, and special merchandise booths round out this delightful festival, making it a must-do for any Knott’s Berry Farm visitor.

This is also a special festival as the Smucker’s boysenberry jam is no longer being sold, so the only place to attain this decadent jam is at the park itself!

Do you plan on visiting Knott’s Berry Farm this year?