Knotts Berry Farm

GhostRider, a massive wooden roller coaster, sits at the heart of the historic Ghost Town at Knott's Berry Farm—a recreation of an Old West mining town dating to 1941. Drawing inspiration from the legends of the California Gold Rush, the experience evokes the haunting tale of a Union soldier and his horse who disappeared into a local mine, giving rise to the myth of a phantom horseman. We crafted an iconic Old West desert landscape for guests to journey through as the coaster races through the terrain, extending the story beyond the ride itself and into the queue and exit experience. The surrounding environments were enriched with authentic-feeling architectural and landscape details, including the redesign of the Pan for Gold attraction, historic-inspired bridges and lighting fixtures, and the restoration of a naturalistic waterfall and stream designed to feel as though they had been carved into the landscape by the waters of the High Sierras. The result is an environment where architecture, landscape, history, and legend converge—creating a richly layered sense of place that transports guests into the rugged spirit of the Old West.