Knott's Bear-y Tales: Return To The Fair is a 4D themed family interactive dark rideunder construction at Knott's Berry Farmtheme park in Buena Park, California. The ride is a sequel to the defunct traditional dark ride, Knott's Bear-y Tales, which operated in the same space from 1975 to 1986. The interactive dark ride will see riders join characters Boysenbear and Girlsenbear as they travel to the County Fair and pass through several scenes reminiscent of the original dark ride. Guests will board red colored vehicles equipped with boysenberry jelly blasters. The attraction is poised to replace Voyage to the Iron Reef, which closed January 5, 2020. In contrast to Voyage to the Iron Reef, Knott's Bear-y Tales: Return To The Fair will include more practical and scenic environments while telling the beloved bear-y tales story. Designed by Triotech in conjunction with Knott's Berry Farm's creative team, the attraction is scheduled to open to the public on May 15, 2020 as part of Knott's Berry Farm 100th anniversary, with the original Bear-y Tales designer, retired Disney ImagineerRolly Crump, serving as a consultant. It will become the third release in the Amusement Dark collection, a branded initiative to construct a variety of video-game-baseddark rides at Cedar Fairamusement parks. Voyage to the Iron Reef was the second dark ride to open under the initiative. Moreover, the fan favorite return of the Knott's Beary Tales story will use 4D technology rather than plain scenery. During the 2019 IAAPA Triotech announcement, Knott's Berry Farm announced fan favorite features of the original ride such as the boysenberry smell and the iconic ride soundtrack: "Welcome One and All" will return in the new version of the ride in 2020. Easter eggs and the catchy theme park song will return as confirmed by Ken Parks who is vice president of entertainment at Knott's Berry Farm.
History
Since the closure of Knott's Bear-y Tales in 1987, park fans have been wanting for the ride to return to the theme park in its former glory. Knott's Bear-y Tales became a fan favorite ride due to its originality, storyline, family friendly ride atmosphere as well as the famous boysenberry smell and catchy theme song played throughout the attraction. This ride has emotionally connected to many Knott's fans despite the ride's original closure as Ken Parks remarked. In 2015, Knott's opened Voyage to the Iron Reef. The ride was initially popular with park visitors but later became disliked by most fans due to the background story and overall ride experience. The ride later suffered from lack of maintenance care and repairs leading to a drop in visitor satisfaction. In early January 2020, Triotech reached out to Knott's as part of their initial 5-year contract. Knott's Berry Farm consulted with Triotech on the possible revival of Knott's Bear-y Tales using the same ride system and layout. Moreover, Knott's saw this as a win- win case since the park could bring back one of its most beloved and iconic rides in 2020 as part of the 100th anniversary. On November 19, 2019, Knott's Berry Farm and Triotech established a joint announcement where the park will bring back Knott's Bear-y Tales as a nostalgic return to Knott's fan in a 4D ride experience. During the joint announcement, Knott's Berry Farm and Triotech announced Knott's Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair will include more practical and scenery and physical sets than Voyage to the Iron Reef.
