the memory palace: Episode 130 (Independence Hall 2: The Legend of Walter Knott)

August 24, 2018 10:13 AM

So Walter Knott went from nothing to owning a 170 acre safety net. As he took the road west, he tried his luck in Orange County. He started growing Berries on another rented lot in a town called Buena Park and sold them in a stand by the road.
posted by eotvos (3 comments total)

Great little story. Perfect TMP
posted by Popular Ethics at 8:45 PM on August 25, 2018

I love the sort of subtle diss at the end.
posted by signal at 4:49 PM on August 28, 2018

I grew up with a mom who grew up visiting the place in the '50s. She went out of her way to take me there in the '80s. I had no idea what its history was. It seemed like a strangely anachronistic thing that had always existed. As I remember, they had a much more interesting range of features for young kids than other parks in southern California. Everything was a lot less crowded than their competitors.

I'm a little sad to learn that yet another fun thing from my childhood was founded but someone hell bent on destroying the world. I suppose I should be used to it by now. But, that doesn't make the podcast any less great.
posted by eotvos at 12:37 PM on August 31, 2018