Family Fun at Silverwood:
Wildest Destination in the Northwest!
(from the print edition, May 2012)
There are very few places on the planet that offer the kind of natural, unspoiled beauty found in North Idaho. Ancient forests, majestic mountainscapes, and pristine lakes and rivers attract nature lovers from all over the world. But among the evergreens and placid streams lurks an entity with a single mission: to scare the daylights out of you.
It’s called Silverwood, and for those that have survived, it’s known as a theme park with attitude. World-famous Tremors, is the biggest and fastest underground wooden roller coaster in the Northwest. And, if the beast gets a hold of you, expect to rocket to 65 miles per hour, suddenly drop 103 feet, and just when you think you’ve given up your last blood-curdling scream, the monster swallows you whole through a series of pitch-black underground tunnels. For the ultimate thrill seeker, Aftershock will get the job done. This newest roller coaster stands 191 feet tall, hits speeds up to 65 mph, and has the added intensity of 6 inversions at up to 4.5 g forces forwards and backwards! Aftershock may be the king of the Silverwood jungle, but it’s by no means the only wild animal in residence. Timber Terror is Tremors’ equally twisted cousin, and Corkscrew will turn your world upside-down…twice. Now if you prefer moisture with your thrills, Boulder Beach Water Park may be more your style, where Rumble Falls and Velocity Peak, gigantic tube and body slides, offer several ways to get to the bottom: screamin’, yellin’, whoppin’ and hollerin’. Or, you can try one of two family raft rides, Avalanche Mountain or the all-new-in-2011 Ricochet Rapids with its 20-foot diameter thrill inducing MEGA tube. If gravity-defying antics are not necessarily your cup of tea, but you still want to stay cool, ride the wild breakers in one of two massive wave pools at Boulder Beach Bay, where the surf simulates the swells of the blue Pacific without the downside…sharks.
Although there are plenty of thrills and chills at Silverwood, owner Gary Norton and his staff have always been proud of the park’s “family friendly” atmosphere. Polliwog Park and Toddler Springs are a kiddie paradise and a huge splash with the little ones. Kid-friendly pools, slides and shallows provide many areas where miniature maniacs can burn off a little energy and cool down at the same time. And, when it’s time to trade turbulent for tranquil, there’s Elkhorn Creek – a relaxing one fifth-mile-long loop featuring lazy turns, a lounging pool and waterfalls. Once you towel-off and head back to the main park, more family activities await: including a steam train and 65 + rides and attractions, Garfield’s Summer Camp, a playground for kids, the Tiny Toot Roller Coaster, the new Butterflyer, Froghopper and more than 65+ kid-friendly attractions. Even if the park doesn’t slow down, you may want to, so relax and catch the Nick Norton Magic Show, and the new-for-2012 bird show.
While many rides at Silverwood are meant to thrill, the scariest part about the park might just be its affordability. One entry fee gives visitors access to the entire park. General admission is $42.99, ages 3 to 7 or 65 and over pay just $21.99.
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Year of Cheers: 25 Seasons of Silverwood
erwood: 25 Years of Cheers
Back in 1987, Gary Norton wondered if anyone would come to visit his new creation – a modestshowcase of vintage planes, trains and automobiles located in a remote area of North Idaho. Although the park drew 100,000 visitors in its first season, it was losing money. So Silverwood began to evolve. Year after year, Norton added new rides and attractions: first a roller coaster, then a ferris wheel, then a log flume. And so began the story of one of the greatest theme parks in the nation. Later, additions of a massive water park and the famous, high-speed “Tremors” roller coaster kept people coming back season after season for more splashes and thrills. Today, Silverwood is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Northwest, and draws over 650,000 visitors every year. This summer, come experience the latest and greatest this amazing theme park has to offer, and help Silverwood celebrate a quarter century of fun!
