Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

Knott's Berry Farm

The Fabulous Knott’s Berry Farm Military Discount

by Leave a Comment

Whether you’re stationed in Southern California or visiting, you’ll want to take a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm. This fun amusement park, located in Buena Park, California, offers a fabulous military discount.

I grew up going to Knott’s Berry Farm and especially enjoyed the times we went during school breaks when most other kids were not off from school. We could walk on the rides! I’m not sure that’s even possible today, but I do know you can still have a fun day at the park.

History of Knott’s Berry Farm

The Fabulous Knott's Berry Farm Military Discount

The history of Knott’s Berry Farm dates back over 100 years to 1920, when the Knott family relocated from Central California to Buena Park, Orange County, in search of a fresh start. Walter Knott and his cousin, Jim Presten, an experienced berry farmer, leased land, and Walter began farming berries.

By 1923, he had built a roadside stand on Grand Avenue. The family bought their land in 1927 and built a home with a permanent berry market. They also had a nursery to sell plans as well as a tea room. They called it “Knott’s Berry Place.” Little did they know what it would eventually become.

Berries, Pies, and Jam

Walter was able to buy more land and make a name for himself. In 1932, Walter met Rudolph Boysen, who experimented with berries. Walter was able to get some of Boysen’s cuttings, which were a combination of a red raspberry, blackberry, and loganberry. He planted and cultivated them, and in 1934, he was able to introduce the new bosenberry and sold it in the tea room.

The berries, jam, and pies did well. It was then during the Great Depression that Walter’s wife, Cordelia, had an idea. She started making chicken dinners for her tea room guests. She also served them salad, rhubarb, biscuits, vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy, with berry pie for dessert. She charged them $ 0.65 for the meal.

As you can imagine, word spread about their delicious meal, and so many people started coming to the tea room that they had to keep expanding it until it became an actual restaurant that seated 350 people. Even so, people still had to wait.

To give the people something to do, Walter and Cordelia’s daughter, Virginia, set up a card table selling small gifts, which eventually evolved into a full-sized shop that is still in operation today.

The Fabulous Knott's Berry Farm Military Discount

Ghost Town is Born

It was due to the success and long waits that Walter built a Ghost Town in 1940, inspired by his mother’s journey in a covered wagon to California in 1868. People started coming to see the Ghost Town on its own. Walter hired actors to populate the town and amuse the guests.

Ghost Town expanded in the 1950s with the addition of the Calico Saloon, the Ghost Town and Calico Railroad, and the schoolhouse, which was a favorite of mine as a kid in the 1980s and 1990s. They added amusement rides such as the Calico Mine Ride, which opened in 1960.

Enclosing the Park

In 1968, they enclosed the park and began charging $1 to enter. They also expanded beyond Ghost Town and created Fiesta Village, inspired by the early days of California. On July 11, 1969, my favorite Knott’s Berry Farm ride, the Calico Log Ride, now called the Timber Mountain Log Ride, opened. It was the first log flume ride in the United States.

They continued to add rides and lands to the park, including Montezooma’s Revenge, a favorite of mine as a teenager, and then Camp Snoopy in 1983. There have been many more changes during the years, new rides, attractions, and even a water park.

I have been able to take my own children a couple of times, and it has always been such a fun day!

The Fabulous Knott's Berry Farm Military Discount

Knott’s Berry Farm Military Discount

Knott’s Berry Farm offers several ways for military families to save money.

Military Tribute Days

Military Tribute Days are in November and December of each year. Active-duty military personnel, retired military personnel, and veterans can receive discounted admission tickets to Knott’s Berry Farm. The tickets were $25 last year. You can purchase one for the service member, and five for family and friends. You can buy these online or at the ticket booth.

Regular Knott’s Berry Farm Military Discount

They also have a regular Knott’s Berry Farm military discount. Currently, in 2025, the price is $57 per ticket. Active-duty and retired military personnel, as well as first responders, can purchase up to six of these tickets. They are available online only. You must be registered with ID.me.

You can also find a military rate at the Knott’s Hotel.

Please visit the Knott’s Berry Farm website for the most up-to-date information!

The Fabulous Knott's Berry Farm Military Discount

Knott’s Berry Farm Military Discounts and More

by

Knott's Berry Farm Military Discounts and More

Growing up in Southern California meant we went to amusement parks all of the time. As an adult living in Tennessee, it is so strange to me that we actually have to travel somewhere to go to one. My growing up experience was so different.

One of my favorite places, besides Disneyland, is Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA. I have so many memories there. From going with my 4th-grade class on a field trip to meet up with friends to have fun on all the rides. I remember my brother riding some of the rides over and over again and having so much fun doing so!

Military Discount at Knott's Berry Farm
My brother and I, Knott’s Berry Farm, around 1985

I have been able to take my own boys a handful of times over the years and we are due for another trip sometime soon.

Did you know about Knott’s Berry Farm’s amazing deal they have going on for military service members this fall? In fact, Buena Park is honoring the military this year with not only a promotion for Knott’s Berry Farm but discounts at some of the local restaurants and other attractions nearby.

Here is what you need to know:

Knott’s Berry Farm is offering active and retired military and one guest free tickets from November 3-November 21, and December 2-December 19th, 2019. You can also bring up to 6 friends for a discounted rate. If you are stationed in California or will be visiting, make sure to take advantage of this offer!

Military Discount at Knott's Berry Farm

If you are looking for an interactive dinner show, check out Pirates Dinner Adventure, where you can get adult tickets for $35.11 or children’s tickets for $30.11 when you purchase your tickets online or over the phone using the code, “Military.” Past and present military will receive free admission with a paid adult admission on November 10th and 11th with code, “PDAVET19.”

Medieval Times is also close by and I remember visiting when I was about 7. One of the knights threw me a rose and I still remember this all these years later. You can receive a free Royalty Package update when you purchase discounted tickets on-base at the ITT/ITR/MWR office or get discounted tickets when you book online at www.medievaltimes.com/celebrate-with-us/military.html. 

Military Discount at Knott's Berry Farm
My son’s first roller coaster ride at Knott’s Berry Farm, 2009

Porto’s Bakery and Café offers a complimentary box of pastries to all active and retired armed forces with a US military ID on Veterans Day only.

Rock & Brews offers a 10% off savings on wings, barbecue, burgers, and more.

You can also find a military discount at Santa Maria BBQ, Pizza Studio, SUP Noddle Bar, The Cauldron, Buffalo Wild Wings, Fuddruckers, Chili’s, Denny’s, IHOP, Outback Steakhouse, Olive Garden, Claim Jumper, TGI Friday’s, Black Bear Diner and Dickey’s BBQ Pit in Buena Park!

Are you looking for a hotel in Buena Park?

Here is a list of participating hotels where you can find exclusive military discounts and upgrades, free parking, no resort fees and complimentary shuttle service to local attractions.

If you do visit Knott’s Berry Farm or the local area, make sure to check out Heroes Hall, which is a year-round free museum that features exhibitions, performances, and educational programs that celebrate the legacy of Orange County veterans. Also, make sure to stop by Knott’s Independence Hall, which is an exact brick-by-brick replica of the original. We always used to go over there first before we headed to Knott’s Berry Farm.

You can also find military discounts at other locations in Orange County and Long Beach. Add the Aquarium of the Pacific, Discovery Cube OC, the Richard Nixon Library, the Queen Mary, the Lyon Air Museum, and Bowers Museum to your list.

And of course, don’t forget about Disneyland and the amazing military discount they offer to service members and their families. We got to use it in 2017, and 2018!

Visit www.visitbuenapark.com/Military for a list of all the amazing offers going on during this time of year for members of the military!

We Went to Knott’s Berry Farm and Got a Military Discount

by

We Went to Knott's Berry Farm and Got a Military DiscountWe Went to Knott’s Berry Farm and Got a Military Discount

Growing up in Southern California, Knott’s Berry Farm was a huge part of my childhood. I have so many fun memories of that place too. Like Disneyland, my mom would take us there during our school breaks, for birthdays, or really whenever she found a good deal. We even went there for our 4th-grade field trip to learn about the history of the area and the gold rush.

When we were in California this past July we decided to plan a family trip to Knott’s Berry Farm. My mom, dad, brother, and boys would all be going, and we planned to meet up with my best friend and her kids who live in the area.

We Went to Knott's Berry Farm and Got a Military Discount

Where to get your Knott’s Berry Farm military discount

I knew Knott’s Berry Farm had a military discount. We have always been able to use one since my husband joined and the amount of the discount has been different every time. This trip, I went to my local MWR Leisure Travel Services to buy my tickets here at Fort Campbell.

I was able to purchase tickets for my boys and me as well as my mom. When I bought them I didn’t know my dad and brother were going to come too. I paid $40 for each ticket. Regular price is $75.00 for adults and $45.oo for adults, although sometimes they do have sales on their prices.

We Went to Knott's Berry Farm and Got a Military Discount

If you go to the gate to buy your tickets with the military discount, they will be $48. If you buy them online through Knott’s Berry Farm, they would be $43. On the website they state that the service member has to be there to get that discount, that wasn’t the case when I bought my tickets at MWR.

So if you are planning a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm and you can easily go to an MWR to get your tickets, that would be your best bet. They also have had months where they offer free admission for the military, but that will depend on the year. Last year it was a few weeks in November and then again in December.

We Went to Knott's Berry Farm and Got a Military Discount

If you have never been to Knott’s, know that it is a different place from Disneyland.

Knott’s doesn’t have all the magic that Disney has, but really, who does? But Knott’s can make for a fun day just the same.

My favorite ride is the Timber Mountain Log Ride. My kids were trying to say they copied Splash Mountain but the log ride has been around since 1969 and I have been riding it for as long as I can remember. When Splash Mountain was built, I remember thinking how great it was that Disneyland would now have a log ride too.

We Went to Knott's Berry Farm and Got a Military Discount

There are more roller coaster rides at Knott’s and some parts of the park have a very Six Flags feel to it. There is Camp Snoopy for the little kids and quite a few shows to take in. They also have a water park now that would be an extra ticket. I have never been but heard that park is quite fun too.

We Went to Knott's Berry Farm and Got a Military Discount

Ghost Town is a lot of fun, and we always tend to go there first. They have people dressed up and in character from that time period. Don’t miss talking to the man in jail and visit the old school house.

Food at Knott’s Berry Farm

I have never been too thrilled with the food choices at Knott’s, although I do love their ice cream. We ended up eating lunch at Johnny Rocket’s which cost more than a regular Johnny Rocket’s but felt like we were getting better food than we would at some of the other places in the park. There is also a TGI Friday’s outside the gate that we have been to before.

If you have the time and the money, eating at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Resturant can be a good choice. This is right outside the gate. You can also get a meal from there at the Chicken-To-Go place next door.

Shopping

There are also quite a few fun shops to look at inside the park as well as outside the gate. Make time for those to buy a survivor or to just look at what they have to offer.

If you are trying to decide if you should go to Knott’s Berry Farm, think about what your kids like to do. If you have smaller children your day could be spent in Camp Snoopy and watching some of the shows. If you have older children, you can do more of the big rides and roller coasters.

Have you ever been to Knott’s Berry Farm?