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Silverwood Theme Park.
You want fun things to do with your kids close to Coeur d’Alene? Silverwood Theme park is a “MUST-DO,” you will never forget the experience. Silverwood is an easy 40-minute traffic free drive from downtown Coeur d’Alene Idaho.
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Silverwood Theme park is located: 27843 US-95, Athol, ID 83801
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Silverwood started out as a train ride, and became the largest amusement park in the Pacific Northwest! Silverwood was an airport when Gary Norton purchased the property. In 1988 Gary Norton started building the Silverwood amusement park into what it is today.
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At Silverwood, you can ride roller coasters that make you never want to go home, laugh with your children on the kid-friendly rides, be amazed at the magic show, or get stuffed with caramel apples, homemade fudge, and ice cream. Silverwood has many different attractions and things to see, I would most definitely recommend visiting if you ever come to Coeur d’Alene Idaho.
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What is the actual experience like at Silverwood?
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Once you park your car, there is a long, underground tunnel that will lead you to the entrance. Make sure you cover your ears because children like to scream and hear it echo in the tunnel. When you get to the entrance, you are greeted by kind employees, which starts your fun day.
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Silverwood Theme Park and rides are open from May to September, with SCARYWOOD in October.
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You hear The Entertainer, by Scott Joplin, flowing through the speakers, families laughing, and the screams coming from the people riding the tall and fast roller coasters, such as, Tremors, Timber Terror, Corkscrew, (from Knotts Berry Farm), and Aftershock, (which is the best roller coaster in my opinion).
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You smell popcorn being made, caramel apples being dipped, and food being cooked in the restaurant, called Lindy’s.
When it gets dark, music is playing, anticipation and excitement are building up inside you, this is what the magic show is like, but it only gets better. Nick Norton, travels around learning magic tricks for his amazing magic show at Silverwood. Once the magic show is finished, you race to the “Tilt-A-Whirl”, my sister and I call it, “The Spinning Ride” We Always Go On the tilt-a-whirl First.
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Even though the Amusement park is full of people the lines are usually pretty short and comfortable and the rides have an assortment. So if you like slow or fast rides, you will have an amazing day no matter what. Next, the Corkscrew, Scrambler, and Roundup are next for the daily, “round”, those are more spinning rides that my sister and friends enjoy to start out the day. In this section, you will also find Krazy Kars, Bumper Boats and Antique Cars, rides that are not super high intensity, but for the middle age children.
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Next, the Corkscrew, Scrambler, and Roundup are next for the daily, “round”, those are more spinning rides that my sister and friends enjoy to start out the day. In this section, you will also find Krazy Kars, Bumper Boats and Antique Cars, rides that are not super high intensity, but for the middle age children.
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Next, the Corkscrew, Scrambler, and Roundup are next for the daily, “round”, those are more spinning rides that my sister and friends enjoy to start out the day. In this section, you will also find Krazy Kars, Bumper Boats and Antique Cars, rides that are not super high intensity, but for the middle age children.
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Next, you will enter, “Rollercoaster Alley”, this contains Tremors, Timber Terror, and Aftershock. Tremors and Timber Terror are large wooden coasters that go up and down, making you feel dizzy, but it is incredibly fun. After Tremors, you can by a picture taken of you while you were riding. When my sister was younger she would bring two pairs of shoes. One for the day, and the other that had a heel, so she could be tall enough to ride the rides with me.
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It is about time for lunch now, and there are many different places to get lunch fast. When you are done, Thunder Canyon is next on the list. It’s a water rafting ride where you get absolutely soaked and people can spray you with water. Dripping wet, you come to the Spin Cycle, a ride that spins and goes upside down at the same time, it is good for drying you off.
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Next to that is the Panic Plunge, it goes straight up in the air and suddenly drops to the ground. You feel like you may crash, but it is a true thrill and also a great way to get dried off. Around the corner are the children’s rides, some are only for children and some are for all ages. Next to that is the Panic Plunge, it goes straight up in the air and suddenly drops to the ground. You feel like you may crash, but it is a true thrill and also a great way to get dried off.
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Around the corner are the children’s rides, some are only for children and some are for all ages. The children’s section includes The Butterflier, Frog Hopper, Ferris Wheel and much more. I used to wear my flat flip flops, so I was short enough to be able to ride. The Log Ride, does not get you as wet as Thunder Canyon, but it has a drop and I personally would say it is a children’s ride as well. This is where Garfield’s Summer Camp is located, it has Garfield rides designed for your young ones.
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Next is the game section, where there are lots of different carnival based games. After that, you are back to the beginning, but then it is time for the train ride. It is relaxing, fun, and they put on a stern show where there are robbers and they rob everyone on the train! (All the money goes to a local charity, but it is a fun way to do it) You can also spot Bigfoot and ride a bridge.
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When it is time for a special treat, you can make your way down the old little town. In the little town, there is a candy store, shops, and a restaurant, that has live, Western theme music, it is not as well known, so you will have to find it on your own.
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After that, it’s time to make your way over to Boulder Beach. Yes, Silverwood is so amazing that they added a waterpark to it. There are two wave pools, a lazy river, and many different water slides. This is a spectacular way to end the day.
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My personal favorite part is that it is not extremely crowded, so you can enjoy the sun and talk to friends. My favorite rides are Aftershock and Tilt-A-Whirl. I am a roller coaster junkie, I guess you could say, Aftershock is not as scary and/or exciting to me, as it is to others, but I still enjoy it the most. I always test to make sure I am super secure, even though they are extremely good in making sure everyone is safe and secure.
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I like to scream really loud when we are facing down at the top. If you close your eyes and do not hold on, you feel like you are actually floating, but if you look at the right time, you are facing the beautiful, blue sky. It gives you a feeling that you can not really describe to someone in any other word, but incredible. Next, on Tilt-A-Whirl, I don’t know if this is actually true, but if everyone tips to the side, it will spin fast and to that side.
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Once you run up in line, you want to be careful and watch to see which spinner goes the fastest and spins the most. It also depends on how many people are in it, one person is too light and five people are too many.
What about tickets and parking for Silverwood?
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At Silverwood, you are able to get a season pass, known as a Gold or Silver passes. Gold passes are for you and two friends to get in each time. A Silver pass is just for you to get in each time. Parking is also free with a season pass. Then there are the daily passes or two-three day passes. There is also cabana rentals and group packages.
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If you get the season pass early then it is cheaper. For example, If you buy 4 Silver passes in October 2017, then they will be a lot cheaper if you bought them in June 2018. In the parking lot of Silverwood, there is an RV park, so you can stay there for a few days and not have to drive each time you go.
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I saved the best for last, Scarywood! Scarywood is in October after the season is done. Silverwood spends a lot of money of making it a great and scary experience. There are people dressed up as everything and anything scary. There are haunted houses to walk through and the train ride, hosted by the magician, Nick Norton, puts on a terrifying show. I screamed so much when I went. There are people popping out of corners, screams, smoke, clowns, and men with chainsaws. Sometimes you turn around and there is someone or something following you, it is truly terrifying.
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I would not recommend it for anyone under the age of 16 years because it’s not kid friendly and can be a bit inappropriate. I screamed so loud, I made someone almost deaf. The worst part for me was the chainsaws, just because of how loud they are, can be very intimidating. The chains are not on it anymore, but I really enjoy scary movies and stories, but it was too scary for me, which I thought was weird.
If you have the mindset that you are afraid of your own shadow, then you will be scared of everything. If you get the mindset that it is not real and you are not as scared, then it will be better and not as scary. Unless you really enjoy getting scared out of your mind, then it is meant for you.
Scarywood is a lot of fun but is a lot different from Silverwood in the Summer. I would absolutely recommend going to Silverwood any chance you get being in the beautiful Coeur d’Alene Idaho.
By Lauren Paterson, junior at Christian Center School.
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