New-wave entertainment
ATHOL, Idaho – A $5 million addition to Boulder Beach should help reduce of the crush of people at Silverwood Theme Park’s popular water park.
Boulder Beach will grow by 10 acres, with new attractions including 650 feet of simulated white-water rafting, a second wave pool, and a tiny-tots play area. The expansion is scheduled to open in early June.
“We’re looking at making the overall experience more enjoyable for our customers,” said Marketing Director Nancy DiGiammarco, “… so they aren’t side-by-side in the wave pool.”
On summer weekends, up to 9,000 people a day visit the amusement park near Athol. Nearly all of them cool off at Boulder Beach, leading to crowds and long waiting lines.
About 1,200 people an hour can ride the new slide, which is being designed by Whitewater Industries Ltd. of British Columbia. Rafts carrying four to six people will spin down the chute, dropping 70 feet in elevation and whizzing through a rock-walled canyon. The slide was designed to mimic elements of a real rafting trip, DiGiammarco said.
Lane Hubbard, Silverwood’s general manager, said crews are already excavating the 30-foot-deep canyon. The dirt will be saved to create a 40-foot-tall hill, visible from U.S. Highway 95. Guests will hike through a natural area to reach the top of the slide.
Boulder Beach’s expansion also includes two new restaurants, a beverage bar and a small island between the two wave pools that can be rented for private parties.
Adult admission will rise slightly next year to $34.99. Admission for youth and seniors will remain at $19.99. Admission includes entrance to attractions in both the main park and Boulder Beach.
Nearly 500,000 people visited Silverwood this year. The park, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2007, draws visitors from as far away as Seattle, Portland, Missoula and the Tri-Cities. About 800 people work at Silverwood during the summer months.
The park is a major contributor to North Idaho’s economy, according to the Idaho Department of Commerce & Labor. State officials estimate Silverwood’s economic impact at $58 million, including salaries, retail purchases at the park, and money that guests spend elsewhere on dining, lodging and travel..
Boulder Beach is responsible for part of that success, DiGiammaro said. When Boulder Beach opened four years ago, families started extending their stay at Silverwood to two or three days. She sells season passes to Puget Sound-area families who make a week’s vacation out of a visit to Silverwood.
In a less glamorous, but much needed addition, Silverwood plans to build a new sewer treatment plant south of the park next spring. The treatment plant will allow Silverwood to retire its septic tanks and reuse 4 million gallons of treated water for park irrigation, according to Hubbard.
The treatment plant also paves the way for long-term expansion. At some point, Silverwood would like to build a hotel onsite, DiGiammarco said.