Lawless teen takeover targets iconic SoCal theme park as police warn

Days after Fourth of July chaos devastated Newport Beach, an iconic SoCal theme park appears to be the rioters’ next target.

Knott’s Berry Farm, home to dozens of Old West-themed thrill rides, is already under threat of a teen takeover on Saturday.

Buena Park police are working to identify those responsible for the potentially disruptive gathering.

“We are aware that an unsanctioned event is being planned at Knott’s Berry Farm,” department officials noted on Facebook. “We have been working with park officials and our public safety partners to identify those responsible for organizing this unauthorized gathering.”

“The safety of our community, park guests and employees remains our highest priority,” she added. “We will increase our law enforcement presence and take appropriate enforcement action against anyone who engages in criminal or disruptive behavior.”

Details of the acquisition are unclear, but it is expected to be similar to the Newport Beach acquisition.

The “TikTok Takeover” in Newport resulted in more than 400 arrests, with youth and minors making up the majority of offenders. Videos showed aerial fireworks exploding at close range as people rushed to get out of the way, while another clip showed someone throwing fireworks into a packed crowd.

Separate footage also showed a person wearing a Spider-Man mask climbing a traffic light before leading the crowd in chants of “USA, USA, USA.” Other clips show people carrying broken street signs and looting a nearby Pavilions supermarket on West Balboa Boulevard.

Police are already trying to quash another “beach takeover” for Huntington Beach scheduled for Saturday.

A flyer went out for the disruptive event, marketing it as a “Beach Bash.”

“Dear ‘Beach Bash’ organizers…Thanks for the flyer. We saw it too,” Huntington Beach police wrote, before advising that they may look for the organizers and prosecute them.

“The HBPD Special Investigations Bureau has already identified individuals believed to be involved in the organization and promotion of this event, and those investigations are ongoing,” they wrote.

“Anyone who organizes, promotes, encourages, or participates in criminal activity related to a takeover event may be arrested and prosecuted. Depending on the facts, charges may include Penal Code § 404.6 (incitement to riot), along with vandalism, theft, assault, reckless driving, unlawful assembly, conspiracy, and other applicable offenses,” police added.

The iconic park has previously been shrouded in disruptive behavior from teens and minors.

As a result, the park implemented a policy in 2023 that requires youth 15 and under “must be accompanied in the park by an adult at least 21 years of age to enter or stay at Knott’s Berry Farm after 4 p.m. Anyone 15 years of age or younger found in the park unaccompanied will be kicked out.”

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