Silverwood Theme Park is an amusement park located in northern Idaho, United States, near the town of Coeur d'Alene, approximately 47 miles from Spokane, Washington on U.S. Route 95. Owner Gary Norton opened the park in June 20, 1988. Originally, the park included a small assortment of carnival rides, a "main street" with shops and eateries, and an authentic steam train that traveled in a 30-minute loop around the owner's property. From 1973 to 1988, the land, along with a fully functioning airstrip, was operated as the Henley Aerodrome, named after the family whom Norton bought it from in 1981.[1]
Over the years, Silverwood has grown in both size and popularity, transforming from a small local amusement park to a regional theme park destination. In 2003, an adjacent waterpark named Boulder Beach Water Park was opened. Entrance to Boulder Beach is included with admission to Silverwood Theme Park. In 2009, Silverwood began an annual Halloween event called Scarywood, held during the month of October.
Cartoon characters Garfield and Odie are the official mascots of the park.
Today, Silverwood is the largest theme and water park in the American Northwest on 413-acre (1,670,000 m2) and boasting more than 65 rides, slides, shows and attractions.[2]
Gary Norton buys Henley Aerodrome from the heirs of the Henley estate and lengthening and other improvements are done to the airstrip. Hangar is turned into an air museum. Old English type inn is built.[3]
1986
Norton outbids Disney and others for a narrow gauge locomotive for use at the Aerodrome.[4]
1988
Walter Deptula, with skills and background operating visitor attractions in Hawaii is hired by Gary Norton as first General Manager to assure the park's opening on schedule
Silverwood opens to the public with the 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Silverwood Central Railway, Main Street shops (including a movie theater), and Country Carnival, which includes a small assortment of carnival rides. The opening is a huge success.
Boulder Beach expansion including Ricochet Rapids; theme park addition of Frog Hopper and Butterflyer
2013
SpinCycle and Barnstormer
Scarywood Haunted Nights
In 2009, Silverwood opened Scarywood Haunted Nights, a nighttime fright fest filled with scare zones and mazes. In 2010, Scarywood returned on a larger, grander scale with more to do. The main attractions for Scarywood are the Terror Canyon Trail, a maze and walkthrough built in the Thunder Canyon ride flume; Blood Bayou, an indoor haunted attraction; the Zombiewood Express, the park's train ride transformed into a haunt and show in the woods where Nick Norton and Elvis hunt zombies; as well as the Timber Terror: Backwards.
A steel roller coaster, relocated from Knott's Berry Farm in 1990. When Corkscrew first opened at Knott's Berry Farm, it achieved two things of historical significance. Corkscrew was not only the first modern inverting coaster in the world, but it also was the first roller coaster to take riders upside down twice.
A wooden roller coaster with a classic out-and-back layout. The ride uses rolling stock from the Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters company. The train utilizes "buzz bars" which allow for a less restrictive ride and greater airtime. Formerly known as the Grizzly until a potential lawsuit from the former Paramount Parks prompted the name change. Since 2010, the train has been reversed for the park's Haunted Nights events every October.
A powered roller coaster themed to a mine train for young children and parents as well. Ride is driven by a rear wheel that runs along a central tread that runs along the middle of the track. Ride has an oval layout and runs over a small manmade creek.
A wooden roller coaster with a twister layout that uses the terrain to its advantage. It features four underground tunnels, the first of which goes under the ride's gift shop. The coaster uses rolling stock from the Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters company. In 2010, the ride was the first to receive "topper track," a new track system designed by Rocky Mountain Construction of Hayden, Idaho. The new system, similar to the companies new Iron Horse I-Box track system is designed to cut down on track maintenance, as well as daily wear and tear. Rocky Mountain Construction had previously assisted with the initial construction of the ride.
30 minute, 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge, steam engine-pulled train ride around park property
SpinCycle
SBF/VISA Group Maxi Dance Party 360
Super Round Up
Roundup ride
Thunder Canyon
White water raft ride
Tilt-a-Whirl
Classic tilt-a-whirl ride
Current Boulder Beach Water Park Slides & Attractions
Ride
Description
Avalanche Mountain
6-Person Raft Slide
Boulder Beach Bay
Set of 2 side-by-side wave pools
Elkhorn Creek
Lazy River
Polliwog Park
Water play complex featuring hoses, slides, shallow water pools, rope bridges, and a giant water bucket above
Ricochet Rapids
4-Person enclosed raft slide
Rumble Falls
4-tube slide complex, featuring four slides, each with their own unique layout, with two enclosed, one fully open, and the fourth half-enclosed, half-open
Toddler Springs
Toddler play complex
Velocity Peak
3-speed slide complex, featuring three speed slides side-by-side, each with their own unique layout, with one enclosed spiraling slide, one open slide, and one half-enclosed, half-open slide with recorded speeds of up to 55 mph
Defunct Rides and Attractions
Ride/Attraction
Description
Air Shows
Ended abruptly in 1996 after an airplane accident and subsequent death of stunt pilot Bob Heale at Fairchild Air Force Base.
Coaster
Molina & Son's kiddie coaster (Replaced by Tiny Toot)
Ice Arena
Now used as a maintenance area as well as a permanent haunted maze known as Blood Bayou for the park's Haunted Nights' events every October.
Monster
Eyerly Monster (Replaced by Trabant)
Sky Diver
Chance Rides Sky Diver (Replaced by current Sky Diver)
Bengal Tigers
Removed after 1996 airplane accident and subsequent death of owner Bob Heale.[5]
Gallery
The lazy river of Boulder Beach
One of the two wave pools in the Boulder Beach Water Park
The lazy river of Boulder Beach
One of the two wave pools in the Boulder Beach Water Park
