The Origins of the Boysenberry: Where It All Began
Buena Park, California, proudly holds the title of the birthplace of the Boysenberry. In 1920 Walter and Cordelia Knott moved to their 20 acre property in Buena Park. The young family along with their four kids were determined to be successful farmers and soon enough their crop of rhubarb, asparagus and berries were delicious enough to sell at a roadside stand. Business was booming and Cordelia soon opened a tea room where folks came from miles around to buy her fresh jams and jelly. Their good luck continued when a family friend, Rudolph Boysen and Walter Knott created the boysenberry—a cross between a raspberry, loganberry and blackberry. Highlighting their signature new berry, Cordelia expanded her tea room and began making homemade biscuits, fried chicken dinners and boysenberry pies. As the restaurant grew in popularity so did the long wait times, which led to the creation of Knott’s Berry Farm’s first attraction - Ghost Town. Since 1934, over 20,000,000 guests have eaten at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant and it continues to serve the same famous menu. Over the years, the Knott family continued to develop Knott’s Berry Farm into the one of the most popular amusement parks in America. Today, California's first theme park, keeps the berry’s legacy alive with its Annual Boysenberry Festival, serving up delicious treats and celebrating the rich history of this beloved local gem!
Even after the Boysenberry Festival wraps up, you don’t have to say goodbye to your berry obsession—there are still plenty of spots where you can get your boysenberry fix all year round!