Silverwood Trip Report

[Momzilla59]

We left Seattle around 3:00 Friday afternoon and got to the Howard Johnson's in Post Falls, ID about 9:30 that night. We had a nice room with 2 queen sized beds, something that isn't always easy to find. Up the next morning, grab a quick breakfast on the premises and off to Silverwood we went.

It's hot in Idaho this time of year and Saturday was no exception. The parking lot is on the east side of the highway and the park is on the west. You have a nice underpass to go through to get to the other side. We got parked (parking is $4.00) and stepped into the heat around 10:30 am. Luckily it's a dry heat - but 90 degrees is still hot for us. I had bought tickets at Costco before we left ($28.00 for "adults" over age 7, on site price is $33.00), so we skipped the minimal line at the booth. Silverwood does a bag check before you enter, no outside food or beverage is allowed in.

We entered the park and first thing got a locker. Those are $7.00 with $2.00 refundable when you return the key. Very good thing to get right off the bat, I later heard a CM telling somebody that all the lockers were sold out. The coffee shop is opened in the morning before the park opens at 11, but be warned the line is slow and there was only one person working the whole shop. We got regular coffee which was very good. They also sell espresso and italian soda's. Even after waiting we were still outside before the rope dropped.

For the most part people are pretty well mannered when the rope drops. There were a few kids who ran but we were in line for the coasters right behind them. I say save your energy! We headed straight for Coaster Alley. We got on Timber Terror with a minimal wait, less than 10 minutes. Almost all the wait times were minimal on this side of the park.

I love this coaster! You get great airtime and the drops are very well spaced and timed. Hubby sat out most of the rides, he's not a big carnival ride fan. He's a good sport about waiting while DD and I ride though. Next we headed over to Tremors, a coaster that starts you off with a 100 foot rise and a 108 foot drop. You go underground 4 times during this ride. Stats on this ride say it lasts 1 minute, 40 seconds but it feels Much longer than that! It's a very intense ride that leaves you gasping. Don't forget to smile for the camera and pick up your picture at the gift shop at the exit. Silverwood has picked up some ideas from Disney, but this is the only ride
that exits this way - and the only ride that takes your picture. We got off the ride and talked Hubby into riding with us so we could get our usual family portrait. He was a little green when we got off the ride. We bought our picture (a 5X7 for $9.00) and checked out the other souvenirs. I bought a refrigerator magnet and got DD a hat, both were very reasonable in price.
We rode both coasters over again (we love coasters) and headed over to the Corkscrew. This is a fairly rough ride for a steel coaster. I kept my head back and got bounced around quite a bit, DD kept her head forwards and said she didn't slam an ear once. There actually was a line for this coaster, the first time we've ever seen one. We decided to pass on the raft ride, a slow loading ride with a long hot line. By then we all had an appetite so we hit up the Elephant Ears. They are Huge! We sat around and noshed then decided to head over to Boulder Beach, the water park. Of course we hit up a few carnival type rides on the way - Tilt-a-Whirl and the Scrambler and a ride called the Trabant. Daughter and I both have cast iron stomachs.

Boulder Beach was PACKED. We had to search to find beach chairs by the wave pool. We found one and figured that was all we'd need. We had left everything valuable in the locker. The wave pool was so crowded it made me grumpy. It only took two cycles of waves for me to get tired of kids crashing into me. We went and floated around Elkhorn Creek, also very crowded. The lines for the tube rides were all the way down the stairs and moving very very slowly so we opted to skip those. It was good to get cooled off for a while but I wouldn't go there expecting to ride a lot of rides. You can rent tubes and towels. They also have lockers there but again, you'd better be one of the first people there to get one. Lockers were all gone when we got there around 2 pm.

After we got dried off we went and had a snack of Pizza. I may be overly critical but it's probably the worst deal in the park. It tasted like low budget frozen pizza and was overpriced to boot. You have been warned. (We also tried the bread sticks and those were much better.)

We went over to see the Ice Show, something we'd never done. I was very impressed! Even with a very small ice arena to perform on the skaters were very professional and the numbers were very well done. We especially liked the skater who also juggled. When that show was over we were still too hot to go back outside so we went back across the park and watched the magic show. It was Great!! If you go to Silverwood, take time to see this show. Great slight of hand tricks and wonderful illusions - just stay away from the pizza.

By this time we were slowing down quite a bit. We rode the two woodie coasters again. DD decided she had to drive the antique cars (think Autopia without the pizzaz). There is no telling what is going to appeal to a 14yo girl. We let her "drive" and rode in the back. It cracks me up when she reverts to kidhood like that. I'm glad she still does.

We caught the last train ride of the night (8pm). I really like this ride. The conductor said that the owner had outbid the Disney company for the 1915 steam powered engine. It's a great sit down ride for the end of the day. We rode the merry-go-round and then we were Done.

I was too tired to walk back to the coasters for another ride. We had criss crossed back and forth over the two parks all day and while they aren't as big as the Disney parks that is still a lot of walking. The rides were lit up in all their carnival glory as we went back to the car in the dark.

We had a great time!

For pictures, visit
http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y53...59/Silverwood/

Makarla, just for you
http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y53...rwood%20Menus/

[BFJen]

We're about 6 hours from there and I've thought about taking a trip up - would you say it's kinda like Knott's Berry Farm? or more carnival ride-like?

[Momzilla59]

I'd say it's about halfway between a So. Cal. Theme park and a stationary carnival. It's worth driving up to once or twice for sure.

[BFJen]

I may just have to do that - my sis-in-law just moved to Spokane area, so I may even have a place to stay!

[Melonballer]

i've always wanted to go there. might finally do so this summer.

[Crazy Legs]

thanks for sharing

[Hakuna Makarla]

I want to thank you for the report, and the pictures. I was amazed this place looks so bare. do you think( be honest) that its worth the trip with 3 small kids who do not like coasters?
I love them, but again I am sure I will be the only one riding them.
what else do they have indoors? also I will not be doing the water park now, there is nothing worse then a million people in a water park. Tell me, honestly if this is worth the 6 hour trip to get there., ( and is there plenty of shade?

[sir clinksalot]

Thanks for the report/pictures.

It's so nice to see Knott's old corkscrew still around.

[Hakuna Makarla]

I can not wait to hear more!!! we will be heading there ( if you think itsworth it) in 2 weeks. Is there shade, is there enough rides for the in between crowd.
more more!!

[Momzilla59]

Makarla, yes, there's pretty good shade but it is hot this time of year. The tween age rides are ok but the lines may be a bit long for your kids. We saw some very little kids riding the coasters. Who knows, your kids may like then as well. If your kids like riding carnival style rides they should be ok. There's things I didn't take pictures of such as the Bumper Boats, Paratrooper etc. Check out the park web site to see if you'd think the kids would like it. I didn't mention that the water park has a small people area that wasn't so crowded as the rest of it. I can't say if I'd take 3 small children there but we did see a lot of families with smaller kids - all the kids seemed to be enjoyng themselves too. Let me know if I can anwer anything else for you!

[Jspider]

I haven't been to Silverwood in a while

not since I was a kid really

but I do agree with many of your observations

the Magic Show was awsome and the train ride is alot of fun too

I might head out to Silverwood in another year or two

it's a fun park that's good if you live close enough to it

[Melonballer]

Here are a couple websites for those interested.

The official one.

http://www.silverwoodthemepark.com/

the unoffical one

http://www.rollercoasteralley.com/

[Hakuna Makarla]

question, does the train drop you off in each land, or does it just go around and not drop you off until you are back at the beginning?

[Hakuna Makarla]

Originally Posted by Melonballer

Here are a couple websites for those interested.

The official one.

http://www.silverwoodthemepark.com/

the unoffical one

http://www.rollercoasteralley.com/

I loved seeing the video, I think I will enjoy going here ( if its not that hot )

[Momzilla59]

There is only one boarding place for the train, and that is the Main Street area. It is a complete ride in itself, lasting about 20 minutes or so. I forgot to add there is also a movie theater showing (what else) "Garfield, the movie" as well as a sit and eat and watch a song and dance place. Go and don't let the threat of heat get to you. Even when it was 103° a few years ago the heat wasn't unbearable. It's a nice Dry heat. Just make sure you drink lots of water.
Tremors is usually in the top 20 wooden coaster lists. We've been back four times just so I could ride the two coasters there!