In September 2005 the Rotary Club of Buena Park celebrated its 50th Anniversary. Back in 1955, when our club started, Orange County was very different from today. There were orange groves, bean fields, strawberry farms, dairy farms, and of course Knott's boysenberry farm. Norwalk Rotary Club was our sponsor, at the time Norwalk was known as a Dairy town.

In the year 1955, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, while Walter & Cordelia Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant and Ghost Town were enormously popular. Knott's was the meeting location for Buena Park Rotary for many years, and Walter Knott was a member. The club's nickname is still the Ghost Town Rotary in honor of the Knott family. Recently the Club moved its meeting back to Mrs. Knott's Chicken Diner Restaurant.

Our clubs History from the beginning is one of being a leader in the community. It's was the first International service club in the community. The members were and are leaders who shaped both Buena Park and the surrounding area. In 1955 the future Buena Park High School ground breaking was conducted by Rotarians. In 2005 a memorial plaque was presented to Buena Park High School to commemorate their beginnings 50 years ago.

Over the years the Buena Park Rotary has both lead and been partners in city wide events. The club started the Family Western Days theme many years ago that is now known as Silverado Days.