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Sometimes things don’t go according to plan… in the most wonderful of ways. These are stories of the happiest accidents around, the kingpins of coincidence, and the wonders that almost weren’t. As chance would have it, you’ve found yourself among Accidental Excellence.
Knott's Berry Farm
It was the 1940s and a man named Mr. Boysen was experimenting with a curious cross between raspberries, blackberries, and loganberries. The berry was delicious, but it seemed doomed from the start. Though certainly intrigued by his creation, Boysen abandoned the experiment due to a lack of growth. But through pure happenstance, the fate of both the berry and another local farmer would change forever. This is the story of Knott’s Berry Farm, a small crop turned produce kingdom, all thanks to the sweet accident of (you guessed it!) the Boysenberry.
Mormon Row Pink House
When homesteaders John and Bartha Moulton made their way to Wyoming in 1907, they built a log cabin to start their new life among the Grand Tetons. Nearly forty years later, they decided it was time for an upgrade. Foregoing the logs, they opted instead for a sturdy stucco framework – but their now-famed, cheery pink paint job was more of a happy little accident than a planned palette.
Point Cabrillo
A logger, a shipwreck, and a juicy rumor of a fortune to be made. It’s the height of the Gold Rush in California, but this story isn’t about anything glittering. Here’s how a failed entrepreneur turned an ill-fated opium voyage into the largest lumber empire in the West.
Jardin des Tuileries
If it weren’t for a jousting accident, the magnificent Tuileries Garden might never have been created. When King Henry II of France died from wounds obtained during a jousting match, Queen Catherine de’ Medici moved to the Tuileries Palace and commissioned the construction of the Garden. Over a century later, it became the first public park in Paris – but not before being owned (and transformed) by a nine year old boy.
Midtown Bowl
Not many can claim the title of “accidental bowling alley owners”, but Aaron Goldman and Tim Schrager are among the rarified few. Midtown Bowl has been an Atlanta staple since the 1960s. Generations of Atlantans have journeyed here to roll at this landmark. Which is why it would strike such customers that it was very nearly shuttered.
