Ghost Town Alive Rides Again

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If you’ve been reading the blog at all for the last four years, then you’re well aware of the unique event that Knott’s Berry Farm offers each summer called Ghost Town Alive. If you’re new, well, I’ll explain… Ghost Town Alive is an eight hour interactive structured improv, where the entire area of Ghost Town (or Calico as it is referred to during Ghost Town Alive) is the stage. Various citizens from a mayor to outlaws reside within the town, and enlist the help of Guests to accomplish tasks, which can include delivering notes, playing matchmaker, assisting in a sheriff’s posse, and much more, all ending in a rousing hoedown at the end of the day. Each year the story of Calico has grown, and this year many new faces have arrived, as well as many new activities.

A large banner stretches across the street of Calico reading "Founder's Day!"

Myself standing against a worn wooden building, wearing a blue and green dress that features western images and faux adverts.

As the story has grown, so has the people I share this experience with, and this year I brought with me five friends who were new to Ghost Town Alive, and I made sure they became sworn in as citizens, played cards with the sheriff, interviewed for the newspaper, had friends who were already married get “hitched” and more.

My friends take the oath to become citizens of Calico, as dictated by the town layer, Mr. Bird, a gentleman dressed in a green ensemble and top hat.

The editor of the paper, Mr. Knolls, a tall gentleman with a shirt dark beard, dressed in a maroon shirt, grey vest, and black bowler hat, interviews myself and my friends for the paper.

Myself standing against a worn wooden building, wearing a blue and green dress that features western images and faux adverts.

Sheriff Wheeler, a large man with flowing fading blonde hair, and a vest of red explains a card game within his office.

Citizens of Calico stand on the porch and steps of Town Hall.

My friends Tyler and Cailey get "hitched" inside Town Hall, the Deputy Mayor presides.

Two of the new people to join Calico are Mr. Potts and Mr. Colter, explorers who have an eye for “legendary creatures.” The pair have created a map of various locations where one might spy evidence of these critters, and Guests can embark on a unique scavenger hunt to find them.

A map made by Potts and Colter showcase sightings and information of various mysterious critters of Calico.

Mr. Colter shows off an egg of one of the rare creatures in town, a bizarre sight, as it is blue with pink spots.

Like in previous years, the Mayfield gang, known for no good deeds in the past, sees fit to mess up Founder’s Day once again, this time by decreeing it Mayfield Day, including offering their own games for children to participate in.

A sheet of paper showcasing the games the Mayfields have come up with to celebrate their own holiday, Mayfield Day.

My friends and I chat with Ike Mayfield, a tall, older cowboy with a white mustache and goatee, and dressed in a white shirt and dark brown vest.

The Calico bank, a stone building with steel doors, inside the bank guard sits at a desk.

Ox Mayfield, a cowboy dressed all in black leans out from a stationary train.

Tiny Mayfield, in his cream hat, and shirt, and brown kerchief and vest, is apprehended by a member of the Calvary.

Myself standing against a worn wooden building, wearing a blue and green dress that features western images and faux adverts.

Close-up of my dress, which features blue and green boxes, that have western themed images and text in them, some of which are faux adverts.

Tiny is put on trail with the town judge on the steps of Town Hall.

Clay Mayfield, a cowboy dressed all in black inspects his gun.

Interior of the Calico Gazette, which is covered with past issues of the newspaper, against the back wall a small dest sits, with papers and packages atop it.

Judge Roy Bean, the town judge, an older gentleman, with a white mustache and goatee, dressed all in black, stands on the Town Hall porch.

Myself standing against a worn wooden building, wearing a blue and green dress that features western images and faux adverts.

Myself standing against a worn wooden building, wearing a blue and green dress that features western images and faux adverts.

Mr. Potts and Mr. Colter, two frontiersmen, exit the red schoolhouse.

I get my fortune told by Marley, a new citizen in town, inside Goldie's Hotel.

Mrs. Parnell, the wife of the mayor, leans against the railing of the Town Hall, dressed in a pale gold ensemble, with a little hat perched atop.

The chalkboard of the sheriff's office reads "Founder's Day Hoedown Tonight!"

Myself standing against a worn wooden building, wearing a blue and green dress that features western images and faux adverts.

Myself standing against a worn wooden building, wearing a blue and green dress that features western images and faux adverts.

Ghost Town Alive runs every day through August 11, followed by weekends August 17 through September 1, with the final day being Labor Day, September 2. To learn more, visit Knott’s Berry Farm’s website.

Outfit
Dress: La Bomba, Long Beach, California
Belt: ???
Shoes: Olvera Street, Los Angeles, California
Turquoise: Here and there…

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