The Most anticipated
theme park attraction history book
Bear-y Tales
The complete history of
the whimsical attraction
KNOTT’S
*Only US shipping at this time *Next order cycle closes 01/05/2025, 8:00a PST , ships following day *3 book limit per order*
Explore the complete WHIMSICAL
history of the ORIGINAL
Knott’s Bear-y Tales attraction!
Full color illustrated cover!
Designed by Christopher Merritt, Inked by Susie McLean and colored by Devon Merritt
Beautiful photos and concept
art never before published!
Introduction by designer and
artist, Rolly Crump!
Rare glimpse behind the scenes
of concept and construction!
Designer and artist Rolly Crump found his way to Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California at the invitation of Marion Knott in 1974. This book is her story as well as his. Knott was the first female creative executive of an American theme park, built by her father and mother decades before. Crump was escaping the shadow of his previous employer and looking for an opportunity to spread his wings as a designer. Together these unlikely friends developed and organized a crew of talented artists to build a wild dark ride unlike anything seen (or smelled) before — Knott’s Bear-y Tales! This is the first book to ever tackle the subject, through the interviews and artwork of those who were there.
the untold story as seen in over 1000 images and 320 pages
By Christopher Merritt
& J. Eric Lynxwiler
Introduction by Rolly Crump
12'“x9”, full color
hardcover: ISBN 979-8-218-41932-5
$45.00
Southern California native, Christopher Merritt, has over 30 years of ride and show design experience, creating theme park attractions and environments around the world. He has served as an Art Director and Production Designer at theme parks located in California, Florida, Tokyo, Singapore, and Shanghai. In 2010, with Eric Lynxwiler, Merritt’s Knott’s Berry Farm history book, Knott’s Preserved, was published to critical acclaim. Four years later, Merritt released Pacific Ocean Park: The Rise and Fall of Los Angeles’ Space Age Nautical Pleasure Pier, with co-author Domenic Priore. After five years of research and design, co-authoring with Pete Docter, the coffee table book Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks was released in 2019. Merritt currently lives in Southern California.
Urban Anthropologist J. Eric Lynxwiler is a Knott's Berry Farm historian and a co-author of Knott’s Preserved: From Boysenberry to Theme Park, The History of Knott’s Berry Farm, with Chris Merritt. While attending UCLA, he spent one school year behind the counter of Knott’s original, electric shooting gallery and works today as a graphic designer on Farm signage, merchandise, and the series of Knott’s Berry Market preserves. Lynxwiler has been a volunteer and Neon Cruise guide for the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, California, for 25 years. He has also co-authored books on the history of neon signs in Los Angeles and the history of Wilshire Boulevard for Angel City Press. Lynxwiler currently lives 20.9 miles from Knott's.
Rolly Crump is multi-disciplinary, mixed media artist, designer, and humorist whose work spans generations, continents, and genres. He has been a creator of or contributor to animated motion pictures, theme park attractions, cultural institutions, retail establishments, and museum environments. His work ranges in scale and scope form tiny one-of-a-kind toys to expansive fair pavilions. His "canvases" include surfaces as diverse as river rocks and architectural facades. The one common denominator in Crump's work is humor―he presents everything he creates with a smile and a wink.
Chris Crump started his career in 1973, working with his father, Rolly, as an apprentice carpenter for Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus World. In the late 1980s, Chris started his career at Walt Disney Imagineering, where he worked as a Production Designer and Executive until his retirement in 2016.
During his time as an Imagineer, Chris worked on The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure, and he was also part of the team which received the 2002 Thea Award for Best New Theme Park (Tokyo DisneySea) from the Themed Entertainment Association.
Albert Rodriguez is a dedicated theme park fan and historian with a passionate interest in theme parks, both old and new. His enthusiasm drives him to delve deeply into the history and significance of many dark rides that have entertained guests throughout history. This fervent interest paved the way for his discovery of the beloved Knott’s Bear-y Tales. Providing the opportunity to learn more about Rolly Crump’s remarkable work beyond his contributions to Disney.
Albert is the proud owner of a multimedia project, Kooky Trails. This project initially launched as an attraction specifically designed to pay homage to Rolly Crump’s innovative work on Bear-y Tales, as well as the rich history of dark rides around the world.
