Weekend Finds

While preparing our picking list for the weekend we came across an interesting event in Buena Park across the street from Knott’s Berry Farm. The estate sale was advertising carousel horses and a tea cup from a ride. Our interest was definitely peaked.

After browsing the large workshop we found out that it had belonged to “Bud” Hurlbut who was an innovator of trains and other amusement park rides. The workshop was complete with Bud’s silversmith shop and countless memorabilia from Knott’s Berry Farm, Castle Park in Riverside and other amusement parks.

Bud was the creator of the Calico Mine Ride and the Log Ride at Knott’s Berry Farm in the 1960s. He went on to create and own Castle Park in the 1970s. He was involved with the creation of Fiesta Village at Knott’s as well. In fact the office at the workshop had many blue prints for existing rides at Knott’s.

It was amazing to see so much history from the 1950s forward!