Thrilling Entertainment at Silverwood

Silverwood Theme Park in the Idaho Panhandle is a fun family attraction. It is not really on your way to anywhere, but if you're traveling Interstate 90, it is only 15 miles or so away from the highway. Follow the signs near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Hours vary for the theme park depending on time of year, but it is generally open May through September. The attached Boulder Beach Water Park has fewer hours since weather is obviously a factor in attendance. After all, this is northern Idaho, in the forest, and it does get cooler here than in the desert of southern Idaho.

Fees are currently $40.99 per person, with graduated fees for seniors and young children. There are specials on certain days such as Father's Day when fathers get in free. If you live in the area, season passes are available which can save quite a bit of money. The fee gets you into both the theme park and the water park. Either attraction can occupy your whole day, so it may be wise to get the two-day pass if you have time to spend two days. This saves about $15 vs. buying two separate one-day passes. It also costs $4 to park. The parking area is just across the highway from the park. Watch for the guided crossing to cross from the parking lot to the underground tunnel to the entrance to the park. I appreciated that this area had been arranged to keep the safety of pedestrians in mind.

When you go in, your purses, camera bags, diaper bags, etc. will be subject to search by guards. This is typical in the post terrorist era. There are several windows at which to buy tickets, so your wait shouldn't be long. We got lucky and were approached by someone who had an extra season ticket, so we got one ticket for free. You can get a stamp on your hand in case you have to go out to your car. This is a stamp that shows only under the wand, so you don't have a hideous temporary tattoo on the back of your hand. You also can get a map of the park. This will come in handy because the park is large and you don't want to wander around trying to find the things you want to do the most.

Silverwood opened in 1988, by founder Gary Norton. It originally started out as a private museum and theme park to display his antique cars, trains, and planes. In 1990, he added several new rides to attract families with children, such as the Log Flume and Bumper Boats. The original Corkscrew roller coaster from Knotts Berry Farm in southern California was brought here. The park expanded again in 1996 and 1999 as the Timber Terror and Tremors roller coasters were added. In 2003, the water park opened with a wave pool, water slides, lazy river, and kid's play area. The water park was expanded in 2004 when a high-speed slide was added and again in 2007, when a family raft ride, toddler play area, second wave pool, and rentable cabanas were added. Silverwood got a 140 foot tall drop tower called Panic Plunge, which goes up 140 feet and free-falls and stops just short of the ground. A brand new ride was added in 2008, called the Aftershock, a huge rollercoaster that suspends you in air while you go backwards up a giant pole and through a corkscrew loop at 65 miles per hour.

Today the theme park contains 65 rides. There are varying degrees of thrills. There are about six rides that are truly for the thrill seekers. These are various types of rollercoasters. If you like to go fast, upside down, and around in a circle, these rides are for you. There are about 20 others that are for adults and teens mainly because of the height you have to be to ride. Then there are numerous regular carnival-type rides for the younger kids and toddlers. Be prepared to wait in long lines for these rides, even the kiddy rides. A couple of the water rides have water guns that spectators can shoot at the people riding the rides. Thunder Canyon and the Bumper Boats have these guns, which are coin operated. If the ride doesn't get you wet, these guns definitely will. It may not be a good idea to ride these rides after dark, because it cools as the sun goes down.

We went on a weekend late in summer when it wasn't very warm outside and the park wasn't very crowded. Yet the lines are long, especially for the popular thrill rides. It can take an hour to go on one ride. I'm not sure it is worth it to wait an hour for a ride that only lasts about 30 seconds. Some of the adult rides are longer but still may only last about two minutes. The carnival rides are the longest in duration but still can take quite awhile until it is your turn. For a ten hour day, you will be lucky to get in eight rides. This allows for time to walk between rides and grabbing a bite to eat. As far as the ride experience goes, people were generally pleasant, no one was trying to cut in line or be obnoxious. The paths of the line were obvious and no one got in the way. The rides seemed safe, if scary (for me). Everyone seemed to be having fun and I did not see anyone getting sick.

Speaking of food, there are several options, ranging from gourmet to fast-food. The park has your typical carnival food such as cotton candy and elephant ears. There are also fast-food type food, such as pizza, hot dogs, corndogs, hamburgers, and ice cream cones. There is also a sit-down dining area with ribs and other more expensive food. This restaurant is a bit on the spendy side. The other options are no more expensive that your typical county fair foods. Food options are located in both the theme park and the water park areas. You are not allowed to bring in any of your own food or drinks so be prepared to buy it here. Most places take credit or debit cards.

Along with the food shops, there is a Main Street area that contains several gift shops. Some are your typical souvenir shops. Others more keep in line with the Victorian theme of the park. There is an espresso shop for the caffeine challenged. There is also the "Mugg Shop", where patrons can place their faces in a cardboard cutout of old west characters and get their picture taken. There are also two magic shows and periodic ice shows to entertain you. Also at Main Street, is an authentic 1915 steam engine. Take the train ride on a fun, relaxing trip around the entire park. The train leaves every hour on the hour. It fills fast so get in line early. There are only about six cars behind the locomotive. We rode the train first, since it is close to the main gate. This was a wise choice both because of the later crowds and also because it helps you orient yourself to where the rides are. The train goes past nice scenery, a herd of buffalo, and an "abandoned" mine.

For complete information, check the Silverwood website at: http://www.silverwoodthemepark.com.