Southern California’s late summer heat usually screams “water park season,” but Knott’s Soak City is throwing a curveball. The Buena Park water park, which shares a backyard with Knott’s Berry Farm, has announced it will not open on Thursday, August 22 or Thursday, August 29.
The notice went out to passholders recently, and while weekday closures aren’t unheard of this late in the season, the timing raised eyebrows. After all, Soak City is one of the few places in Orange County where families can cool off during peak August temperatures. Still, Knott’s has bigger priorities lurking just around the corner, and shutting down a couple of slower days seems to be part of a broader seasonal shift.
Soak City: The Summer Side of Knott’s
For anyone who hasn’t been, Soak City is a 15-acre splash zone stacked with more than 20 attractions. We’re talking body slides, tube slides, a sprawling wave pool, a lazy river, and kiddie play areas. The headliners are thrill rides like Shore Break, where guests drop through near-vertical chutes, and Pipeline, which sends riders twisting through high-speed flumes.
The park has been a staple summer add-on to Knott’s Berry Farm, typically opening from late May through early September. Families will often hit GhostRider or Silver Bullet in the morning, then cool off next door at Soak City for the afternoon. Cutting out August 22 and 29 doesn’t end the season, but it does trim the final stretch before Labor Day weekend—the unofficial finale for Soak City before the fog rolls in.
What Else is There?
Knott’s isn’t just about water slides and roller coasters. Its roots go all the way back to a roadside berry stand in the 1920s, which evolved into a fried chicken restaurant and eventually a full-fledged theme park. Today, Knott’s is known for its classic wooden coaster GhostRider, the looping thrills of Silver Bullet, the vertical HangTime, and—of course—boysenberry everything.
But Knott’s has also carved out a reputation for seasonal events, with none bigger than the juggernaut that arrives every fall: Knott’s Scary Farm.
Knott’s Scary Farm 2025: End of an Era for Two Mazes
Starting September 18, 2025, Knott’s Scary Farm takes over, transforming the park into one of the largest Halloween events in the country. This year, fans will have to say goodbye to two beloved haunted mazes—The Grimoire and Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind.
The Grimoire
The Grimoire had a rough road to get here. The maze was almost scrapped during the pandemic and even had to change locations within the park. Designers revealed that social distancing rules forced layout changes, but the final product—a cursed-book storyline with a Goonies-style adventure vibe—won fans over. This season will be its swan song, and haunt diehards are already planning farewell runs.
Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind
Meanwhile, Mesmer pushed boundaries with its twisted circus and psychological horror themes. Early plans even included giving guests headphones to hear commands as they walked through, but health concerns killed that idea before opening. Even without the tech gimmick, Mesmer quickly became a standout haunt. Its final year will no doubt draw big crowds.
What’s Lurking in the Fog
Knott’s didn’t just dwell on endings. At this summer’s Midsummer Scream panel, the park teased a brand-new maze for 2025. The only clue? A Victorian setting where someone is seen cleaning blood from a carpet. That was enough to set social media buzzing, though Knott’s kept the rest of the details locked away.
Instead, the full reveal is being saved for a separate event: “Nightmares Revealed,” hosted by the Boulet Brothers. That presentation sold out quickly, though a handful of attendees at Midsummer Scream managed to snag tickets. It’s there that Knott’s is expected to unveil the full 2025 Scary Farm lineup.
From Splash Pads to Scare Zones
So yes, the August Soak City closures sting for those looking to squeeze in one last lazy river float. But they also underscore how fast Knott’s flips the switch from summer fun to Halloween horror. Within weeks, swimsuits will give way to scare actors, and the soundtrack of splashing water will be replaced by screams in the fog.
For passholders, the takeaway is simple: get your slides in now, because by mid-September, Knott’s will be in full haunt mode. And as always, the park is making sure that whether you’re chasing water park thrills or braving haunted mazes, there’s never really an “off-season” at Knott’s Berry Farm.
