Photo TR: Silverwood Theme Park

This is my first photo TR, inspired by LuminousAphid's TR

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=70786

Silverwood Theme Park in Athol, Idaho, is beautifully landscaped, better than any other park I have been to. Boulder Beach is the waterpark. They do not sell day tickets for only one or the other, and it's one price for both parks.

Each summer, my (now) 8 year old nephew reads all summer, and this year, and last, earned himself a day ticket to go to Silverwood Theme Park in the month of September. (My sister, brother-in-law, his brother & sister live about 2 hours south of the park). On Saturday (9/12/15), bro-in-law's mom watched my 2 year old niece, and I went with bro-in-law, sis, & 6 and 8 year old nephews. Nephew's names respectfully withheld on this TR, per sister's request.

Usually, Boulder Beach waterpark closes after Labor Day, but due to warm weather in the 80's, they extended it. Most of my pics of Boulder Beach are still in my GoPro, which is a rarity compared to most parks I go to. I would ask ride ops if it was ok to bring my camera (using the wrist mount I have) on the rides, and they were completely fine with it. That video will be something special I make as an MP4 special memory/private family video. I'm sure TPR has or will eventually have great POV vids anyways.

We first went into Boulder Beach. The boys had never been in an actual waterpark, so this was a treat for them! We started off in the lazy river. They're brave young boys - I thought the water was FREEZING! But to go for a round in the lazy river was a nice way to start them off, but not have them intimidated about the rest of the waterpark. After a round in the freezing water, we went over to the tube slides. My sister went with the 6 y/o while waiting for a double tube, and the 8 y/o nephew and I each went down in single tubes. They really enjoyed it. After arriving with sister, my 6 y/o nephew said "I wanna ride with auntie Kat!" We waited for a double tube, then went down together. He loved it.

After that, they wanted to check out the wave pool. They have two wave pools, but only one was open. We played there for a few minutes, then on to the family raft slides. Only one of them was open, I speculate because the waterpark originally was not going to be open, so there may have been fewer staff.

The boys wanted to go on the island of slides with a tipping bucket, so we finished up with that before changing and going into the main park with the coasters and rides.

The first ride they wanted to go on was the train ride. In the late 80's, Silverwood had won the bid on their authentic steam train ride, beating out Cedar Fair and Disney's bid. The train ride has always been a favorite within the family. There are buffalo off to the side during the journey, and a stunt show along the way. The fake bandits collect money from people on the train, and the monies collected are donated to charity each year.

My 6 y/o nephew is exactly 48" tall this year. He was almost in tears, afraid to go on Corkscrew. It was one of my first ever inverted coasters that I got to ride on (once tall enough) when it was located at Knott's Berry Farm. All these years later, it was fun riding with my nephew and this being his first inverted coaster. His 8 y/o brother chose not to ride it.

In all, many of my pictures before tell a bit of the story of our day. The parks food and pricing are very REASONABLY priced compared to many other parks. A 20 oz. bottle of water that will run $4+ at other parks, ran me $2. After I drank that, kept refilling it at the drinking fountains all day which is how I usually drink. I don't care for american soda fizzies. Corn syrup is just "yuck" to me. At least with Pepsi real sugar and some products, those are more palatable when I am in the mood, but now I'm rambling.

Last year, my sister and I were going to go on Aftershock. We waited in line, sat down on it, and it broke!! This year, we were in the next group to be let on, and it broke! I think my dear sister is not meant to ride Aftershock (but after the rides at Magic Mountain a couple weeks ago, it's not the end of the world). I'd say Silverwood generally does a better job of keeping this running. About 5 years ago, I rode on Aftershock 12 times in a row on a light day, so I know it does actually run at times.

We wound up not having time to ride everything this year. Timber Terror really is an under rated coaster, as there is a good amount of air time. I didn't ride Spincycle this go around, but it's basically like MaxAir at CP, so I took the boys on the kiddy rides while sister and brother in law got to enjoy Spincycle. We also did not get a chance to attend the magic show this year, which is really ashamed since the shows are very good!

I'll start this photo TR with this pic of me doing a silly pose. They have a couple of these signs out in front of Tremors. Yes, I am wearing a Cedar Point shirt

I'm hoping I win a pass. I'd actually go more than once a year - I shall hope to update this thread with an "I won" post, but for now, this was my entry.

While on the train ride, it first passes by the waterpark. These are the slides we first went down with the boys on the first part of the day before going on to the dry ride stuff.

A view while riding on the train. Aftershock (green and blue coaster that was formerly known as Deja Vu before it was bought from Six Flags Great America in 2008).

A slightly better view of Aftershock while on the final leg of the train ride.

Just a fun & spectacular view of the park

Coaster alley! Such a pretty sign to announce where we are.

The mighty Corkscrew which I rode at KBF years ago before it was relocated to Silverwood in 1991. Yesterday, my 6 y/o nephew got to ride it, now in Idaho. It was his first inverted coaster. He enjoyed the ride so much, that he was begging and RUNNING up to get back up to the ride. He enjoyed it! I can't wait to edit the GoPro footage (again, I asked permission, did not sneak it) as the expressions on his face were so precious.

It's very true what a beautifully manicured park Silverwood is. Enjoy these next few pictures of the flowers and beautiful landscaping.

I found that LuminousAphid posted a picture of this too. In line for the log flume ride, this is a retired log they made into a plantar.

An actual log still getting used for the log flume ride. A funny story - before we went on it, the 8 y/o nephew reads it as "Log FLUSH" "Lets go on the Log Flush ride" - funny memory on how he accidentally renamed it.

A view of the path the logs take.

There are ample numbers of restrooms to use, and are pretty clean. This particular restroom with an old toilet seat I found amusing. When you gotta go, you gotta go - and here's a place to do it.

"Clean underwear sold in the gift shop" - That's my little 6 y/o roller coaster buddy pointing to it after our ride on Tremors.

I had to block out nephew's faces (per their parent's request before I posted these) On this trip, the boys LOVED the bumper boats! Me, I prefer to stay dry when I'm in my "dry" clothes until I am super hot or in a more humid climate.

After their ride on the bumper boats, they were DRENCHED! But at least they were smiling and happy about it!

Seems like a very nice, charming park with some good business skills considering that they were able to get Aftershock for just 500k.

Nice trip report, I'm glad you and your family had a good time! If my trip report inspired even one person to go and spread the word about this underrated park, it was worth it Now that I have had a month to look back, it was still the most fun I have had in a great while, and I am really looking forward to going back for Scarywood in October. Cool that your nephew liked Corkscrew- he has good taste in coasters. I thought it was really fun too, and definitely rides better (and is prettier) than out equivalent here in WA.

By the way, did you go on Panic Plunge? This was the surprise favorite of my trip, I couldn't get my older friends to go on it but I thought it was the best ride there besides the coasters. I agree that Timber Terror was excellent in the air time department, especially in the back- I heard there was some retracking done this year (I like to think by RMC down the road but probably too small a job for them now) and that it really helped the ride. The first drop and camelback in particular were super fun in the back. I those lap bars

I also took pictures of the Sky Diver because it looks appropriate, but I'm guessing you didn't conquer that beast; I could not make myself get on that thing. I don't even know if they'd allow a single rider, but I didn't find out.

Over the years, I have been on every single ride an adult can fit on there. Skydiver will not allow single riders, otherwise, I would without a question. I have zero fear of any coasters or rides.