Silverwood Theme Park is an amusement park located near the city of Athol in northern Idaho, United States, near the city of Coeur d'Alene, approximately from Spokane, Washington on US 95. The park opened on 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 from whom Norton bought it in 1981.
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. In 2009, Silverwood began an annual Halloween event called Scarywood, held during evenings in the month of October. In November, 2025, Herschend Family Entertainment announced a signed exclusive term sheet to acquire Silverwood Theme Park. On March 27, 2026, the sale was completed and Herschend Family Entertainment became the new owner.
Today, Silverwood is the largest theme and water park in the American Northwest. It has more than 70 rides, slides, shows, and attractions. It is also the northernmost theme park in the United States. In 2019, Silverwood co-hosted (along with Rocky Mountain Construction) the Golden Ticket Awards.
Timeline
- 1973: Henley Aerodrome founded by Clayton Henley.
- 1981: Gary Norton buys Henley Aerodrome from the heirs of the Henley estate, lengthening and other improvements are done to the airstrip. Hangar is turned into an air museum.
- 1986: Norton outbids Disney and others for a narrow gauge locomotive for use at the Aerodrome.
- 1988: Walter Deptula, with skills and background operating visitor attractions in Hawaii is hired by Gary Norton as first General Manager. This ensures Silverwood was able to open to the public later that year with a narrow gauge Silverwood Central Railway, an airshow and Main Street shops.
- 1990: Roaring Creek Log Flume (relocated from Kentucky Kingdom), Corkscrew (relocated from Knott's Berry Farm), and Country Carnival.
- 1993: Thunder Canyon
- 1996: Timber Terror (originally named Grizzly). Silverwood also stopped their airshows after the death of pilot Bob Heale in an unrelated accident.
- 1998: Tinywood opens (later Garfield's Summer Camp).
- 1999: Tremors
- 2001: Garfield becomes the official mascot of the park. Tinywood becomes Garfield's Summer Camp.
- 2003: Boulder Beach Water Park opens including Elkhorn Creek lazy river, Wave Pool, Rumble Falls tube slides, and Polliwog Park children's area.
- 2004: Boulder Beach expansion including Velocity Peak speed slides.
- 2005: Trabant and new Sky Diver.
- 2006: Panic Plunge
- 2007: Boulder Beach expansion including second Wave Pool, Avalanche Mountain, and Toddler Springs children's area.
- 2008: Aftershock (relocated from Six Flags Great America).
- 2009: Scarywood debut.
- 2011: Boulder Beach expansion including Ricochet Rapids; theme park addition of Frog Hopper and Butterflyer.
- 2013: SpinCycle and Barnstormer.
- 2014: Garfield's Summer Camp Expansion including: Krazy Koaster, and Puppy Go Round. Kiddie Wheel relocated.
- 2016: Riptide Racer.
- 2018: Silverwood celebrates 30 years, Boulder Beach celebrates 15, Toy Store expanded
- 2019: New Tilt-A-Whirl, Silverwood co-hosts Golden Ticket Awards with Rocky Mountain Construction
- 2021: Stunt Pilot (RMC Raptor), Garfield's Summer Camp re-themed to Critter Camp and Garfield is no longer the park mascot.
- 2022: Timber Terror and Tremors get new 208 Retrak.
- 2023: Timber Terror and Tremors gets a combined 1000 feet of 208 Retrak
- 2024: Boulder Beach expansion with the opening of Eagle Hunt and Salmon Run, Part of the New Emerald Forest Expansion.
- 2025: Herschend and Silverwood Inc. sign an exclusive term sheet for Herschend to acquire Silverwood Theme Park.
- 2026: Herschend becomes the new owner of Silverwood Theme Park.
Scarywood Haunted Nights
In 2009, Silverwood opened Scarywood Haunted Nights, nighttime entertainment consisting of scare zones and mazes. In 2010, Scarywood returned on a larger scale. The main attractions for Scarywood include: Blood Bayou, an indoor haunted attraction; Chuckles 3D Sideshow, an outdoor haunt ; several scare zones and other walk through as well as the Timber Terror: Backwards. In 2020, due to concerns with Covid-19, Scarywood was cancelled. The park did remain open weekends in October without the scary theming though. Scarywood Haunted Nights returned in 2021 with one new haunted house - Pharaoh's Curse. In 2024, Scarywood added a new outdoor haunt, The Swine.
Current Silverwood Theme Park rides
Roller coasters
Other rides
Defunct rides
Current Boulder Beach Water Park slides & attractions
Gallery
References
External links